I recently played through the original Deus Ex. The game had a storyline that was so good it felt at times like it wasn't a computer game but a novel that you happened to be able to play.<p>The authors don't shy away from the big questions, like: are humans really capable of governing themselves in a world of computers? Is technological progress worth sacrificing for social stability?<p>Though there are plenty of outlandish elements to it (secret societies, conspiracies etc) some parts of the game even seem oddly prescient today. There was civil strife, powerful AIs, income inequality - there was even a plague called the Grey Death and a limited supply of medicine that people were fighting over.<p>What video games got you thinking about society this year?
Hollow Knight ... <i>Spoilers</i><p>Although the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown is not as severe as Hallownest, the whole atmosphere does make me feel similar.<p>Also I wonder what was it like in the last few years of Pale King and his bugs who slowly losing their social functions, technology and cognition.
Last of Us 2. It has your standard zombie tropes. But playing it this year and experiencing the politics of Covid-19, the conflicts among the different groups felt more realistic to me.
Death Stranding (themes of loneliness/isolation/virtual connection), Persona 5 (themes of evil/corruption/abuse), The Last of Us 2 and Coffee Talk.
Genital Jousting<p>Subversively about toxic masculinity: <a href="https://youtu.be/8_GzJ4sCSo0?t=301" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/8_GzJ4sCSo0?t=301</a><p>some gameplay (single player is more interesting for the story though): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6VDIrnmi50&feature=youtu.be&t=761" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6VDIrnmi50&feature=youtu.be...</a> (nsfw)
Cobra Kai<p>Surprisingly good series that got me thinking about how cynical the world seems today compared to the 80's as the show is very faithful to the feel of the original Karate Kid.