227: And gameplay can be used as a crutch to excuse a nonexistent story. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is rated 10/10 on Steam and otherwise universally loved despite its simplistic, shallow gameplay. Why? Its story. That doesn't prove that good gameplay isn't important, though (just like Terraria doesn't somehow prove that stories aren't an important part of games). It only shows that a game can focus on the gameplay
or story and succeed. Ideally, a game would have both, couching deep gameplay in a gripping story that provides sufficient reasons for why you're doing what you're doing.
Sarisio: It is great if game has good story, I love good stories. Not a big deal if story is bad as long as gameplay is there. On other side, each time I try to persuade myself to launch Planescape Torment I get horrified at a thought to read so many lines of text and people say that combat in general is... far from being good and game is better completed via dialogues...
You can't replace gameplay in game with anything. Game with bad or non-existent gameplay is like car without wheels, it is like tainted milk in your coffee, it is like bird without wings. Buying game for story is like buying car just because it has your favorite color, despite it having no wheels.
Story-based video games, however, can be replaced by books, there are even printed interactive books with choices and consequences and with beautiful artwork for those who are into this kind of stuff. There are multiple examples of games without any story which are considered to be among best - Tetris, Solitaire, Digger, Pac-Man, Terraria, Minecraft, you name it. Non-video game examples - chess with its various variations, card games, etc., games based almost entirely on pure abstraction.
Why you want to strip a game of its gameplay or stories?
I thought games are better because it can have a great story and gameplay both. Plus interactivity to make you more invested in the game.
When you combine a great story, great gameplay, great interactivity, environment, soundtrack you have something that is a sight to behold.
Of course you have games sucks in both and it will stinks a mile away.
Can you say Solitaire is better then Baldur Gate, Divinity: OS?
There is a limit books and movies can do, with games, the limit is higher comparatively because you can do more. Things a book or movie can do, games can too, and things that books and movie cannot.