From Elden Ring to The Witcher: Why Gen Z is Hooked on Game Lore

Gen Z's Love for Lore: How Deep World-Building Keeps Gamers Hooked

Gaming isn’t just about leveling up, beating bosses, or scoring the next high-tech skin. For so many of us Gen Z gamers, it’s about sinking into a world so rich that it feels like a second home, and honestly, the more backstory the better. We’re drawn to those games where the lore is so intricate you could spend hours just digging into the details, discovering hidden stories, and unraveling mysteries that have been carefully buried by developers. Games like Elden Ring and The Witcher 3—they’re not just something to play; they’re whole universes we want to lose ourselves in.

But why are we so obsessed with lore? Why do we keep hitting “replay” just to unearth that one piece of hidden dialogue, or trawl through forums for obscure facts? Let’s dive into what keeps us coming back to these virtual worlds, lore scrolls in hand.

Why We Crave Deep Game Worlds

For Gen Z, gaming is often an escape—a place to get away from the pressures of daily life and explore worlds where our choices truly matter. And when those worlds are rich with backstory and complex histories, it’s like unlocking a deeper level of connection. Unlike games that are all about flashy graphics or pure action, lore-heavy games add layers that feel more human, more alive. It's the difference between skimming the surface and truly diving deep.

Take Elden Ring, for example. Created with the storytelling genius of George R. R. Martin, the game is a vast, open world with secrets buried everywhere. And yet, it doesn’t hold your hand. Players must hunt for context, uncovering bits and pieces of its world from cryptic conversations, item descriptions, and eerie landscapes that tell their own stories.

Kayla, 22, from New York City, summed it up perfectly: “I spent an hour trying to figure out the story behind one of the NPCs in Elden Ring, only to realize I had to piece together everything myself. It was frustrating but also weirdly satisfying because I had to earn the knowledge. It’s like, in a world where everything’s so accessible, finding something hidden feels like a win.”

Lore-Hunting is Our Version of Treasure Hunting

For a lot of us, digging into lore feels like the ultimate scavenger hunt. Games like The Witcher 3 and Dark Souls don’t just hand you all the information. They make you work for it. You’re rewarded with layers upon layers of stories, each one deepening the connection you have with the world and characters around you. This isn’t mindless gaming—it’s active, it’s engaging, and it makes every discovery feel like an achievement.

Max, 20, from Portland, put it this way: “Sometimes, I’ll follow a storyline just to find a random artifact or unlock a backstory about a side character I didn’t even know mattered. It’s like finding buried treasure that nobody else might even notice. You feel like a detective, piecing it all together. It’s super rewarding.”

In The Witcher 3, Geralt’s world is layered with history, politics, and moral dilemmas. Each quest has a backstory, and even the monsters you fight have motivations rooted in folklore and cultural legends. It’s immersive on a whole different level—one that makes the game more than just an action-packed adventure.

The FOMO of Missing Out on Hidden Stories

One of the reasons we get so invested in lore-heavy games is that fear of missing out on hidden details. Gen Z has a reputation for FOMO, and in gaming, that’s amplified when you know there’s an entire subplot waiting for you, if only you can find it. In lore-heavy games, every conversation, every object you pick up, every odd choice you make could unlock a new part of the story.

In a lot of ways, this dynamic makes the game feel endless. It’s as though there’s always more to find if you’re willing to look for it. The more you know, the more powerful you feel in the game, and that sense of knowledge being hard-won makes it even more special.

As Alex, 19, from Miami, said: “There’s this weird feeling of ‘Did I miss something?’ every time I play a game like Bloodborne. I know there’s lore I still haven’t found, and that’s what keeps me coming back. I don’t just want to play—I want to know everything about this world.”

How Lore Makes Us Care About Characters and Choices

One thing that really hits home with lore is how it can make even the smallest side characters or objects feel important. You’re not just mindlessly interacting with the world; you’re building relationships with it. We start to care about characters and outcomes on a level that goes beyond gameplay mechanics. These games feel alive because they let us see their past, their motivations, their regrets, and their dreams. It makes the experience personal.

In Elden Ring, for example, every NPC you meet has their own tragic story, and there’s always a reason behind why they’re stuck in this twisted world. Understanding the pain, revenge, or redemption arcs of these characters adds layers of depth to your choices.

Jessica, 21, from San Francisco, explained it like this: “I felt real guilt in The Witcher 3 when I made certain choices, because I knew the lore behind the characters. Knowing their backstories made them feel real, so every decision felt intense. It was more than just pressing a button—it felt like deciding someone’s fate.”

Why Gen Z Keeps Coming Back for More

At the end of the day, our love for lore isn’t just about getting lost in fantasy worlds; it’s about feeling like these stories are alive and worth caring about. In a generation that’s all about authenticity, lore-driven games feel real, even if they’re entirely fictional. These stories make us feel like we’re part of something bigger, something deeper that goes beyond the screen.

Top 10 Lore-Heavy Games That Gen Z Gamers are Hooked on

1. Elden Ring

• Why Gen Z Loves It: With its cryptic lore crafted by George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring is full of mysteries, from the Lands Between to each NPC’s tragic story. Players dig into item descriptions, environmental cues, and hidden dialogue to uncover the vast, interconnected world.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Geralt’s adventures are set in a world rich with political intrigue, folklore, and morally complex characters. Each quest has layers of backstory, and even minor characters are woven into the overarching lore. The world feels alive, messy, and beautifully flawed.

3. Hades

• Why Gen Z Loves It: This roguelike reimagines Greek mythology, with characters like Zagreus, Hades, and Persephone brought to life in vibrant detail. Every death uncovers new bits of lore, and the gods’ personalities and relationships add depth that keeps players coming back.

4. Cyberpunk 2077 (Updated with Phantom Liberty DLC)

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Cyberpunk 2077 has been fully revamped with patches and the Phantom Liberty DLC, bringing more lore and story depth. The dystopian Night City is packed with stories, from corpo secrets to V’s complicated journey, and players love the intense world-building.

5. Dark Souls Series

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Known for its “show, don’t tell” approach, Dark Souls lets players piece together the lore through subtle clues in the environment and item descriptions. It’s a world where players have to earn their understanding, making each discovery feel hard-won.

6. Horizon Forbidden West

• Why Gen Z Loves It: The post-apocalyptic setting with remnants of old tech, ancient tribes, and a mysterious past makes Horizon Forbidden West a lore goldmine. Aloy’s journey to uncover her world’s history and secrets offers layers of story, environmental details, and cultural depth.

7. Bloodborne

• Why Gen Z Loves It: This Lovecraft-inspired game from FromSoftware has a dark, gothic world with lore steeped in mystery. Players can piece together the history of Yharnam, its eerie rituals, and monstrous transformations through cryptic hints, creating an unforgettable narrative.

8. Starfield

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Bethesda’s latest space RPG, Starfield, offers expansive lore about the universe, with factions, history, and cultures across star systems. Each planet and colony has its own unique story, giving players endless lore to explore as they venture into the stars.

9. Disco Elysium

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Disco Elysium is all about the dialogue and choices you make in a politically charged, morally ambiguous world. It’s packed with lore about the city of Revachol, its history, and its people. Players get to uncover philosophical insights and hidden secrets in a story-heavy, lore-rich experience.

10. Baldur's Gate 3

• Why Gen Z Loves It: Based on Dungeons & Dragons lore, Baldur’s Gate 3 lets players dive into a world of fantasy, with endless choices and storylines shaped by player decisions. The complex backstories of each character and the overarching D&D lore make it a perfect game for lore-enthusiasts.

So, if you’re like me and crave stories that pull you into another world, these games are exactly what you need. They’re not just about flashy graphics or high scores—they’re worlds where every little detail has a story to tell, every NPC has a history, and every hidden clue feels like a piece of a larger puzzle. These games don’t just let us play; they challenge us to explore, to think, and sometimes even to feel things we didn’t expect from a video game.

Whether it's fighting monsters in The Witcher 3, diving into the twisted streets of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, or unearthing secrets in Bloodborne, these games are crafted for those of us who want a bit more from our gaming experience. They’re our escape, our thrill, and our endless mystery.

Stay connected with more deep dives into the worlds Gen Z loves, right here at Woke Waves Magazine. We’re here for every backstory, every hidden detail, and every adventure worth the journey.

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