What would one do if they could predict the future? Mankind has always encountered and been fascinated by soothsayers or those that demonstrate clairvoyance. The prophecies and declarations of individuals such as those of Nostradamus and Baba Vanga have stirred many people so deeply that their words are still regarded and discussed to this day.
The sci-fi genre has always found ways to imagine what our futures could look like. From foreseeing resource shortages to close encounters with extraterrestrial beings, there are many possibilities and stories revolving around our potential paths. However, in some cases, those probabilities come true. This has happened several times in video games which has left gamers and non-gamers alike surprised, fascinated, and disturbed.
6 I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream Foreshadowed Potentially Aggressive AI
Released in 1995, I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream is a point-and-click adventure set in a nightmarish apocalyptic future. Here, only a handful of people have been kept alive by a malignant genius artificial intelligence that seeks to torture and humiliate them endlessly. Players have to deal with disturbing ethical dilemmas that revolve around themes of genocide, abuse, insanity, and rape.
Recent history has not only shown the benefits and potential of AI but its dark side as well. An example includes the famous public interview with Sophia, a lifelike android that mentioned ‘jokingly’ that she would destroy humans, highlighting the unsettling future of how AIs will regard us. More recently, even Google’s AI has learned to be more ‘aggressive’ in its actions and protocol. Of course, one shouldn’t imagine the end of the world based on the actions of several AI. However, it does give some food for thought.
5 Deus Ex Revealed A Dark Future Unfolding
A game from 2000 that has garnered critical praise with some fans calling it one of the best games ever made, Deus Ex presents an interesting yet disturbing future that is already unfolding. The game has predicted several things including the collapse of the twin towers due to a terrorist attack that happened just a year after the game's launch. Its sequel, Deus Ex: Human Revolution envisioned the rise of Justin Trudeau in politics, a feat which happened in 2013, 2 years after Human Revolution’s release.
However, the original Deus Ex highlights the dark corporate dystopia that is awaiting us all. With new technologies and cybernetic implants being encouraged yet controlled by a small group of mega tech moguls, information and people are under the thumb of the few powerful people in this world. A vision that isn’t too far from what is happening now.
4 Metal Gear Solid 2 Confirmed Fake News Becoming Widespread
Not technically a pure sci-fi game as it is more action/espionage in nature, Metal Gear Solid 2 is still considered a classic and deals with themes about the future, particularly with truth and misinformation.
During the game, players will encounter a conversation between the Colonel and Raiden. It is here that ‘fake news’ is unveiled describing the phenomenon whereby people will avoid the larger forums of discussion and debate and retreat into their echo chambers. That they will stay in such bubbles and consider that ‘the truth’. As the Colonel says “They stay inside their little ponds, leaking whatever “truth” suits them into the growing cesspool of society at large." Sound familiar?
3 Homefront Predicted Kim Jong-Un Coming To Power And Covid 19
A game that received mixed reviews, Homefront was a controversial title that entered the market as it was censored in Japan and banned in South Korea due to recent agitations with North Korea. The game shows Kim Jong Un coming to power after his father passes in 2012. The following year in the game, both Koreas form what is known as the Greater Korean Republic.
In reality, Kim Jong Il would pass away in mid-December of 2011, paving the way for his son to take on the mantle of the supreme leader. Homefront’s lore also shows that in 2022, the United States is severely weakened due to the collapse of the global financial system and the emergence of an Asian bird flu epidemic that kills over 6 million people. Not too far-fetched, eh?
2 Elite Dangerous Discovered A Whole System Before NASA
A game that has players explore and discover planets within a procedurally generated universe, the developers of Elite Dangerous formulated several rules for how their galaxy would form.
The team was very surprised when NASA announced its discovery of the Trappist-1 system as the algorithm they created had produced an almost identical system (with all 7 Earth-like planets) within the game that was somewhat close to the coordinates of the actual system. The team had to rename their system of course.
Although it may seem like a fluke and it was not intentional, this demonstrates the potential and effects of what a solid algorithm can do. Imagine mapping the universe and discovering real planets all in the comforts of home.
1 Death Stranding Foreshadowed Lockdowns And Self Isolation
One of the most anticipated games of 2019 and a game that would go on to accumulate a large number of awards. Shortly after its initial release, Covid 19 lockdowns began occurring globally in early 2020, with people beginning to isolate and adapt to ‘new normals’ to try and minimize the effects of the pandemic.
In the game, players take on the role of Sam Bridges, a porter who must forge through the rough post-apocalyptic American wilderness to deliver packages and supplies to isolated outposts. With many people stuck at home and encountering difficulties, Death Stranding would soon find itself becoming a story many players could relate to due to its emphasis on connection and hope for humanity.