The most logical way to satisfy your insatiable appetite for playing video games is to, well, play some video games. However, there are other ways to satisfy your need for video games!
One of the most enlightening ways to scratch your itch is to watch video game documentaries. A good video game documentary not only gives you an hour or two of entertainment, but also teaches you something you didn't know before.
And there are plenty of quality video game documentaries out there, with most of them available to stream online or through a movie rental service. Top 5 places to rent movies online Top 5 places to rent movies online. Renting movies online is a great way to enjoy entertainment today. We compare the best online movie rental services for price, quality and selection. Read more . In this article, we've compiled a list of the best video game documentaries and where you can stream them!
King of Kong:A Fist Full of Quarters is probably the most famous video game documentary of all. The film, which was directed by Seth Gordon, covers the story of Steve Wiebe as he tries to get the highest Donkey Kong score from previous record holder Billy Mitchell.
The story was incredibly interesting when the movie was made in 2007, but it's even more compelling now that Billy Mitchell has had all of his records taken away from him.
Where to stream: Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store
This is one of the most fascinating aspects of what it takes to make a video game. The documentary became part of Double Fine's Kickstarter campaign for a new game. The game, which eventually became Broken Age, is a point-and-click adventure. And whether you like the genre or not, this documentary is fascinating!
Double Fine Adventure is divided into 20 episodes. You can get in and out without the same level of commitment that a movie normally requires. However, your overall time commitment will be much longer, as each episode is 30-40 minutes long.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to watch the struggle of bringing a video game from idea to reality as a dedicated community grows more and more impatient.
Where to stream: Direct, Steam
This is my favorite documentary mentioned here, but as a dedicated Dota 2 player I can be a bit biased.
However, even if you're not a Dota player, this documentary is still an entertaining look at what players at the highest levels go through to prepare for gaming's most lucrative tournament. It's one of those documentaries where the subject isn't that important:it's a story about people.
Free to Play:The Movie follows the stories of three professional Dota 2 players as they prepare to compete for a $1 million prize pool (international prize pools have grown substantially since then). If you're curious to see behind the scenes of a major eSports event, this is definitely the documentary for you.
Where to stream: YouTube, Steam
This movie gives us an amazing sneak peek into the world of indie game development. It follows the creation of Super Meat Boy, FEZ, and Braid, which were incredibly successful titles. Of course, that success didn't come easy, and Indie Game:The Movie documents that struggle.
Indie Game:The Movie has won its fair share of awards and has received praise from game journalists and other developers alike for the very real way it depicts the struggle to create video games. 5 Free Game Development Software. Tools to create your own games. 5 free game development software tools to make your own games. Here are the best free game development software and tools you can use to start making your dream game today. Read more . Even though it was released in 2012, it is still highly visible.
Where to stream: Direct, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube, Microsoft Store
Naughty Dog is responsible for some of the most beloved video game franchises of all time, including The Last of Us, Uncharted, and Crash Bandicoot. The company was making games for the Apple II, and the legacy runs deep.
So when you get the chance to go behind the curtain and see how things are done at such a prolific and beloved developer, you should jump at the chance.
The documentary plays like a trip down memory lane, celebrating some of the beloved studio's accomplishments. Any hardcore gamer will love all the interviews and information in this movie.
Most importantly, Naughty Dog's 30th anniversary documentary is both entertaining and informative, which is what truly separates a good documentary from a bad one.
Where to stream: YouTube
Before Fortnite completely took over the gaming world, Minecraft captured the imagination of gamers of all ages. This interesting documentary covers the history of Mojang, the team behind Minecraft..
As expected Markus. "Notch" Persson, the well-known face of the company, appears in the film, and he is the character.
The movie picks up right after Minecraft blew up on the scene. You get the thrill of a developer realizing their creation is really taking off in a big way. The documentary not only introduces the creators of the game, but also shows the players.
A lot of Minecraft YouTubers are in the movie, so it affects a pretty diverse section of people.
Where to stream: Direct, iTunes
Is there a bigger name for the rise (and fall and rise) of video games than Atari? The Atari 2600 really put home gaming on the map, but that success didn't come without some very serious problems.
Atari:Game Over chronicles the rise and fall of one of the biggest names in video games, and it's pretty tragic. The fact that a company can achieve such success and then almost completely kill off games is quite shocking.
The lens through which the story is told makes this film stand out. The Atari tale is interwoven with the tale of a team trying to unearth the site where Atari is believed to have dumped numerous copies of E.T. the alien.
The production values on this documentary are top notch, as it started out as an Xbox Originals movie and was later ported to other platforms. Atari:Game Over is worth watching even if you know the end result, as the history lesson is fascinating.
Where to stream: iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Store
Completing this list is a very broad film. Instead of focusing on a specific company or history, this documentary tries to tell the general history of video games and how they got to this point.
The film tells the story of gaming rising from a niche hobby to a gigantic business that is one of the most beloved forms of entertainment.
Video Games the Movie comes from the minds of executive producer Zach Braff and CliffyB (aka Cliff Bleszinski, the name behind Unreal and Gears of War) and they really do a great job with the broad theme.
If you have a family that just can't seem to "get" their gaming hobby, sit down and watch this with them and see if it helps them understand why gaming is important.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Microsoft Store
If you take the time to kick back, relax, and watch all these documentaries, you'll know more about video games than most people. Even the so-called experts..
You will learn about sports, retro gaming, indie games, AAA development, and just about every other aspect of gaming. However, keep in mind that video games are addictive. 6 Psychological Reasons Why Video Games Are Addictive 6 Psychological Reasons Why Video Games Are Addictive Video games are addictive by nature. In this article, we explore what makes video games so addictive, even more so than movies and TV shows. Read More
