Childhood is definitely much more than just a tool to show a character's past. Here are 7 games that captured the sense of wonder, fear, and the fragile clarity of these early years.
Being a child shaped by crisis upon crisis, Ellie's attempts to make sense of the world she lives in are quite authentic. This makes her reactions—the sardonic humour and a panic that shoots up from time to time—and her memories feel genuine.
Kratos' son Atreus is at once joyful, arrogant, and wistful, often touted as one of the better-written child characters in a video game.
8-year-old Clementine's story is told with a lot of honesty, as one can see her trust, empathy, and fear evolve over time as she grows from a sheltered girl into a resilient survivor.
This psychological horror mobile game from Playdead captures childhood fear and turns it into nightmare fuel.
Nathan Drake’s childhood flashbacks perfectly capture the curiosity that comes with those years, and how it drives the way children think and feel about the world about them.
Despite getting a privileged life that sparked her love for archaeology, Lara Croft's childhood still gave her the courage and mental fortitude that shaped the survival skills she needed for her calling in life.
This offering from That Game Company is so cinematic that one often doubts if it can be called a game at all, or an interactive movie. According to one of the developers, the Children of Light are meant to be free of labels and boundaries, becoming part of a childhood story that is worth being nostalgic about.