Creators of the Worlds: Top 5 Game Designers

We're accustomed to the idea that writers craft their own worlds. In extreme cases, it's the scriptwriters and directors. However, these worlds don't exist solely in cinema and literature; they thrive in the realm of games. The recent release of Alan Wake 2 on October 27th reaffirmed this once again. Critics readily bestow upon this game the title of the best horror of the year, likening it to films of the genre.

While many habitually consider games as something unserious, that's no longer the case. The worlds of numerous video games rival their counterparts. Today, let's discuss the creators of gaming worlds – the game designers.

Richard Garriott 

Photo: Richard Garriott, Source: GettyImages

The "father" of the MMORPG genre and developer of Ultima, Lineage 2, and Tabula Rasa, Richard began his foray into programming in childhood, writing numerous simple games on Apple 2 while still in school. In 1981, he released the first part of the renowned Ultima (not yet Online), often hailed as the progenitor of role-playing games. Although Richard's early games may now be considered basic with primitive graphics, Ultima Online, released in 1997, marked a breakthrough in the MMORPG world. While Ultima wasn't the first game in this genre, it was the first to achieve global popularity, paving the way for many other MMORPGs. Richard Garriott became an icon for game enthusiasts and game designers for many years.

Fun fact: Richard Garriott is the first person in the world to visit both the North and South Poles, outer space, and the ocean's depths. Not the typical image of a geeky programmer, wouldn't you agree?

Hideo Kojima 

Photo: Hideo Kojima, Source: X

And, since we mentioned cinema in the introduction, we can't overlook one of the first to attempt blending gameplay with a cinematic storyline. Metal Gear Solid is undoubtedly a milestone in the gaming industry. It paved the way that many others followed.

MGS stood out not only for its excellent gameplay but primarily for its narrative—a storyline suitable for a good film, engaging dialogues, and overall cinematic quality, vividly portrayed in numerous cutscenes. While cinematic scenes in games are now commonplace, back then, it was groundbreaking.

Since the release of the first Metal Gear Solid in 1998, over twenty years have passed, but many still remember the adventures of Solid Snake. The game is rightfully considered one of the greatest and most important video games of all time by many critics.

Shinji Mikami 

Photo: Shinji Mikami, Source: X

Speaking of cinematic qualities, how can we forget the creator of the Resident Evil series? The one on which Paul Anderson based a whole series of films featuring his wife's adventures.

Some call Shinji Mikami the father of the survival horror genre, but that's not entirely accurate. The famous and equally beloved game Alone in the Dark predates Resident Evil. However, in terms of instilling horror, Resident Evil surpassed its competitor. Its main advantage lies in its atmospheric quality; playing it was genuinely frightening. Even scarier than watching a horror movie on TV. After all, it's one thing when a zombie kills another blonde on the TV screen, and quite another when it kills the hero you're controlling. Regardless, we immerse ourselves more in games than in movies.

Sam Lake 

Photo: Sam Lake, Source: X

Since we mentioned Alan Wake 2 in the introduction, it's impossible not to recall its creator. Especially considering that Alan Wake 2 isn't his first game, and he gained fame through the innovative and also very cinematic Max Payne.

Remarkably, a small Finnish studio instantly became famous in 2001 after the release of Max Payne. What seemed like a typical noir action game was infused with new life because the creators integrated cinematic elements not only into cutscenes but also into gameplay.

The game particularly delighted Matrix fans as it allowed experiencing slow-motion effects in the game, which was unprecedented at that time. It's amusing that Max Payne was not only enjoyable to play but also fascinating to watch others play.

Sam's new wave of success came after the release of the first Alan Wake, positioned as a psychological action-thriller. Interestingly, the game is divided into episodes stylized like a TV series, with each episode having a setup, plot development, and resolution (culminating), concluding with a mandatory cliffhanger ending, setting the stage for the next episode.

Neil Druckmann 

Photo: Neil Drukmann, Source: Instagram

What comes to mind when you hear the title Uncharted? Just don't say the film with Spider-Man as Nathan Drake. And if I mention The Last of Us? Recall the acclaimed HBO series? I'll remember Druckmann because he's the mastermind behind these worlds.

Some say many players bought PlayStation specifically for his games. Of course, that's an exaggeration, but not too far-fetched. After all, Nathan Drake from Uncharted (the game, not the film) is not much inferior to the famous Indiana Jones.

As for The Last of Us, it's challenging to say anything other than that it's a fantastic story. The popularity of the series released in spring only confirms this.

Certainly, this list could go on, but unfortunately, even websites have their limits. I hope you understand the main idea – games are not as unserious as some might think. It's an art form, rapidly evolving.

And as a bonus.

GSC Game World 

Photo: Serhiy Hryhorovych, Source: Stalker-fandom.com

It's not just a Ukrainian company but also its head, Serhiy Kostiantynovych Hryhorovych (the word GSC is an abbreviation of the founder's surname, name, and patronymic in English). Certainly, Hryhorovych cannot be included in the list of great game designers, not only because he is not a game designer but also because GSC's contribution doesn't reach a global level. But when talking about games, how can we not remember the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series? When we mention Chornobyl, many recall the HBO series created by Craig Mazin, but I specifically recall S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl.

By the way, this year anticipates the long-awaited release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. However, it's not certain they won't postpone the release again, especially since a playable version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl (enhanced by fans from the leaked spring build) recently surfaced online. Most likely, developers will take another pause. Nevertheless, we urge everyone to wait for the official release because piracy is not a good practice.