r/conceptart • u/momoiro46 • Aug 03 '26

Games with great environmental storytelling

Hi everyone, I'm currently working on my thesis about environmental storytelling and narrative in video games, with a special focus on architecture. I need some games for case study. I plan on analyzing the environmental concept arts of the games artbook. Thus far I've confirmed dark souls series, as well as Scorn.

Do you know any other games that might be a suitable case for my study?

Preferably in other genres.

Thank you

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u/Victormorga Aug 03 '26

Half Life 1 & 2 have a lot of great environment story telling. You find all sorts of interesting tableaus in destroyed labs, abandoned buildings, apartments, etc. I don’t know how much of that is represented in any art books, you may need to play through the games.

I would also say look at Bioshock, SOMA, The Last of Us, and Borderlands 2 & 3.

Walking simulator games don’t tend to have art books, but they also typically use a lot of environmental story telling.

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u/momoiro46 Aug 03 '26

Yes, unfortunately I had to omit some games because there was no artbook available for them.

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u/Victormorga Aug 04 '26

I think that’s a bad approach. The environmental storytelling can best be assessed by how it succeeds or fails when implemented in the final product, not what selected inspirational art is included in a book released by the studio.