Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has drawn fascinating parallels between Victorian-era writing and the narrative of contemporary video games. In a recent reflection, Houser commented on how world-building in iconic titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption 2 resembles the work of great writers like Charles Dickens. During the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, Houser immersed himself in Victorian literature, seeking to infuse its narrative with complexity and a sense of realism that evokes life and death in the 19th century.
It’s not Charles Dickens, but it’s not bad
Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020, has been a fundamental pillar in creating immersive stories in the realm of video games. His focus on a “more novelistic” writing style in Red Dead Redemption 2 aimed to elevate the narrative to a new level, complementing the game’s stunning aesthetics with a plot that explored the three-dimensional lives of its characters. “I binge-read Victorian novels for this,” he stated, describing his desire to capture the essence of an era he considered radically different from our own.
The comparison between Rockstar’s narrative and 19th-century novels is not coincidental. Houser argues that both share an extensive storytelling structure that intertwines various plots while providing a physical representation of the environment, both in literature and in video games. This influence has led many critics to consider Red Dead Redemption 2 one of Rockstar’s best works, highlighting the quality and depth of its story.
Despite his departure from the company, Houser’s legacy continues to resonate in the gamer community, and his work invites reflection on the evolution of storytelling in video games, opening the door to future developments that may merge the art of storytelling with the digital world.
