The writing in video games have become increasingly important. Obviously, in games where there’s any sort of narrative thread, the better the writing, the more impactful the game will be on its audience.
As the medium has matured, the need for better writing in games have becoming exceedingly obvious to the people who play games (but unfortunately, sometimes not all that obvious to the companies making games). The people who write games well should be awarded accolades befitting of their craft. And they are.
According to the Writers Guild of America, Rise of the Tomb Raider was the best-written game release in 2015. The whole thing was judged by the Videogame Writers Caucus, with Rise of the Tomb Raider beating out Pillars of Eternity, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate and the winner of just about every other gaming award in existence, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Congratulations then, are in order for Rise of the Tomb Raider’s lead Narrative Designer John Stafford, Narrative Designer Cameron Suey, Lead Writer Rhianna Pratchett and additional writer Philip Gelatt.
As a reminder, the WGA judges the scripts, not the games themselves – and they found Rise of the Tomb Raider to feature the best, most emotive and gripping writing. Second to that, the reason your other favourite game released in 2015 isn’t on the list is because any games up for consideration must have had their scripts submitted featuring on-screen writing credits by writers who were members, or who had applied to become members.
Last Updated: February 15, 2016
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:02
Then it must be really, really good. Because W3 had some fantastically well written stories.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:07
I’m just wondering though. If you consider the sheer amount of stories (and really good ones) in Witcher 3. That’s quite something to be competing with.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:08
Quality over quantity is my motto.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:08
Witcher 3 is quantity multiplied by quality. 😀
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:09
No … its story is barely above average. 2 was better and 1 was amazing.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:10
Bloody Baron story though.
That’s better than Witcher 2 story for me.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:11
Yeah Bloody Baron was amazing but it is diluted by the rest of the stories.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:12
I just don’t want to give Tomb Raider any credit ever because it was a timed exclusive, I actually have no problem with it having a better story.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:16
As long as it was not a windows store PC game I have no issues with it as at the time I was swamped with games and Tomb Raider would have sat on the back burner.
Also it was a very well made port so no complaints there cause MK and Batman had same day releases and look how that turned out.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:16
But it’s the principle – said in an old man’s voice (much like Trevor’s)
XD
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:17
Meh. Mass Effect 1 was a timed exclusive to the Xbox and it is still a better PC game. 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:22
How can you speak… if you have no mouth?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:11
That story was amazing.
Heart of Stone’s story is also really good when you see all the pieces coming together – also quite tragic.
RinceThis
February 15, 2016 at 11:01
That wedding scene, BWAHAHAAH
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 11:11
That was a good laugh. His speech at the end!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 15, 2016 at 10:23
The Bloody Baron’s saga gave me chills, it was that brilliant!
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 10:30
Same here. I honestly thought I was helping 🙁
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 15, 2016 at 10:31
No good deed goes unpunished!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:33
Now we all know for next time, screw those kids.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:07
Story was absolutely amazing. Plot were a bit contrived but lets face it. Witcher 3 has at least 5 contrived plots on the first hour of play.
Pharoah X
February 15, 2016 at 23:28
It is good and really worth the purchase.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:06
Yea, but does it have griffons?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:07
Technically, neither does W3.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:08
Damn you! 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:08
Actually it’s about ethics in spelling the names of mythical creatures correctly.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:09
Yeah cause Vampyre is so much better than Vampire. 😛
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:09
Well, Vampyre, technically, is a mortal Vampire.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:10
Depends who you ask.
Cause we could always go into the Dragon vs Elder Wyrm thing. 🙂
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:11
Hmm. Point made.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:14
Obi Wan always made a point.
“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”
VampyreSquirrel
February 15, 2016 at 10:36
^THIS!!!!
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:37
😀
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:38
You’re biased. And a squirrel.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:39
Rich, coming from an Alien.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 10:43
http://i.imgur.com/yWFe0oK.jpg
miaau
February 15, 2016 at 11:31
so, then, where are the legal aliens?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 11:41
According to Sting, in New York.
miaau
February 15, 2016 at 11:48
True, true. Near Bourbon street.
VampyreSquirrel
February 15, 2016 at 10:48
At least I’m from EARTH!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:09
I wouldn’t be surprised if the plural of “Vampyre” is “Vampyrez”.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:09
Damn you ethically!
Ryanza
February 15, 2016 at 10:24
You must understand, when it comes to writing, story, dialog, Pillars of Eternity and Witcher 3, is the best of 2015. I highly doubt that Tomb Raider’s writing is that good.
Boobs, ass, and guns, is all we want from Tomb Raider games. So the writers guild of america is just blowing smoke up their pens.
http://www.xclusivetouch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Angelina-Jolie-Tomb-Raider-Hated-Everything-Smash-gif.gif
Don’t Support DRM. Pillars of Eternity and Witcher 3 had DRM-Free versions.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:25
Played all those games and can honestly say you are wrong in this particular instance. Hell X-Com has a better story than pillars.
Ryanza
February 15, 2016 at 10:32
Did you just mention xcom. Aliens plus repeat. Repeat the alien agenda gameplay. There are just some games I like to play with cool dialog and writing and xcom’s boring alien story is not going to be one of them.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:55
X-Com 2 has an amazing twist to the whole alien thing. Can’t really say much but be sure it is not nearly as cut and paste as you may think.
Spy Master Tokashi
February 17, 2016 at 17:38
tbh, you are wrong… your opinion does not matter, so be gone!
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:32
Not an Angelina fan… so if that’s the case, bring on the DRM.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 10:34
Angelina? Where? In the gif?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:34
Dynamic Rack Magnification?
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 10:35
Those are just socks dude.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:37
Well in that case, nice sock drawer.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 10:39
There is only one sock-wielding hero and that is Sockarang.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61S6IZa0QlL.jpg
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 10:52
You’re forgetting someone…
RinceThis
February 15, 2016 at 11:02
I love how you have changed that to ‘versions’ LOL
Darren Peach
February 15, 2016 at 12:24
Have you ever mailed someone in a work related topic and mistakenly typed ” don’t support drm ” ?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 15, 2016 at 10:25
I’ll only know whether Rise of Tomb Raider is as good as they say it is when I pick up a PS4 copy (from a bargain bin) in 2017. Until then, Witcher 3 rules supreme!
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 10:30
LOL, sorry, but it’s still funny….????????????
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 10:32
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/PRoNlMo_700w_0.jpg
Ryanza
February 15, 2016 at 10:26
Is that award a “time exclusive” award. I’m sure The Witcher 3 will win the award months from now.
Lars Anderson
February 15, 2016 at 10:47
Better than Witcher 3? Lol…no way.
Ghost In The Rift
February 15, 2016 at 10:56
Meh American Mentality, was never a fan of Lara’s stories, plus Yennefer over Lara ANY DAY!!!!!
RinceThis
February 15, 2016 at 10:59
Mmm…
RinceThis
February 15, 2016 at 11:00
Must be good! Though I am a little tired of Lara.
Truth Hurts!
February 15, 2016 at 11:19
They must all be high or something. While TW3’s story was great in most places, Rise’s story almost put me to sleep it was so boring. The ending was so predictable and cliche ridden it should have had “to be continued” written at the end.
Time to wait for the reboot’s reboot.
Darren Peach
February 15, 2016 at 12:07
I wonder if Tomb Raider was a easy pick because the franchise is somewhat mainstream ? I personally think The Witcher 3 had a far more compelling narrative and tone.
Jonah Cash
February 15, 2016 at 12:08
I love Rise of the Tomb Raider. Played about 6 hours yesterday alone…
oVg
February 15, 2016 at 12:46
How does that work? The Witcher 3 had over 50hours worth of recorded dialogue.
Krabby Paddy
February 15, 2016 at 18:39
Have to say that this might raise the expectations too high, for those that haven’t played Rise of the Tomb Raider yet. Now I think it is a great game that I’m enjoying (if you like the 2013 game you’ll enjoy this one), but the story isn’t THAT amazing and I personally wouldn’t rate the story writing better than The Witcher 3.