Examining first person exploration video games or "Walking Simulators"

A walking simulator is a tongue-in-cheek term for a type of video game which lacks many of the traditional aspects one might expect of the medium. There are usually no goals or win/loss conditions, leaving the player to traverse the game world as they see fit. The phrase is often used negatively and implies that there is basically nothing to do in the game other than walk around.

I strongly disagree with this negative categorization of the genre. I believe first person exploration games can engulf people within an interactive story and it's a feeling that can't be had from watching a film or reading a book. When the genre is done right it can create pure magic and each unique experience makes me dream of the endless possibilities of video games as storytelling devices.

Games like The Chinese Room's Dear Esther (2008) and The Fullbright Company's Gone Home (2013), helped popularise the genre of first person exploration by prioritising atmosphere and story over conventional gameplay. The result is an immersive experience that I believe is unparalleled anywhere else. 

I love this design philosophy as it yields so much potential for me to get creative with my level design. I'm going to use Unreal Engine 4 to create an environment that allows players to fully immerse and experience a non-linear story in an interactive way.

To help focus my art I have tried to define the genre into the following elements:

• Love of storytelling
• Appreciation of Atmosphere
• Attraction to mystery
• Willingness to immerse
• Patience 

I want to utilise these elements to create something magical. I feel that getting these basic rules for myself down will help focus my art.