This piece contains spoilers for Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Inside, and BioShock.

You don’t play Far Cry 5. Far Cry 5 plays you.
The idea of games forming control over their players isn’t new. One game in particular explored players’ willingness to simply hit the next objective marker: BioShock. The “would you kindly” revelation at the conclusion of BioShock is one of the moments I wish I could go back and experience for the first time all over again. In that moment, the player realizes every action that they’ve taken during the game hasn’t been by their choice. They played right into Andrew Ryan’s–and the developer’s–hands.
In fact, by following objective markers on a screen, that’s often what we’re objectively doing. As much as we play games, games often play us right back. Indie darling Inside’s entire narrative centers on a prefabricated control of the player. Whether it’s a trophy hunter tracking down every last collectible for little more than a bit of virtual satisfaction, or if you’re just one to run to the next objective marker because it’s where the game told you to go, you are at the mercy of the developers. The people who created the game are playing you. Nathan Drake, Ratchet and Clank, Lara Croft, Master Chief. Every one of their journeys is a massive series of “would you kindlys” from the developers. Would you kindly complete this shootout" Wou...