The practice of taking notes within video games, while perhaps sounding niche, taps into a long-standing tradition that enhances player engagement and understanding. Games such as Her Story, Fez, and Tunic actively encourage or even necessitate detailed note-taking to unravel their narratives and mechanics.
This tradition stretches back to the foundational years of gaming. The elaborate manuals accompanying games in the 1980s and 1990s served as crucial tools. For titles like The Legend of Zelda, these comprehensive guides offered players vital information for overcoming challenging puzzles and delving into the game's lore, particularly important given the limited memory capacities of early consoles.
Clayton Ashley of Polygon highlights this ongoing legacy, exploring how contemporary titles continue to integrate active note-taking as a core gameplay element. This method of play rewards players who engage with the game world through documentation, fostering a deeper connection with the story and its intricate designs.