Videogames Lie to You – And You Love It

Malena Rose Features

Volume 27 Issue 21

Every video game lies to you. Constantly. And you don’t even notice.

Game developers use countless tricks to make games feel smooth, exciting, and fair—when in reality, much of what you see is fake.

The Illusion of a Full Character
In first-person games like *Bioshock*, you might think you’re playing as a full character. In reality, you’re just a pair of floating hands and a camera. Developers skip unnecessary details to save resources and optimize performance.

Fake Skies & Hidden Edges
That endless sky in *Half-Life 2*? Just a painted backdrop that moves to create an illusion of depth. Many games use “skyboxes” instead of rendering real environments. If you could step outside the map, you’d see the trick immediately.

The Difficulty Adjusts to You
Think you finally mastered a tough boss? Maybe. Or maybe the game is secretly making it easier. Many games, including *The Last of Us* and *Resident Evil 4*, adjust enemy behavior based on how well (or poorly) you’re playing. You’re not just getting better—the game is helping you.

Your Health Bar is a Lie
Ever noticed how you survive with a sliver of health left? Many games, from *Doom* to *Assassin’s Creed*, make that “last bit” of health last longer to create tension and make victories feel more dramatic.

Controlled Freedom
Games like *Detroit: Become Human* subtly direct your gaze towards key objects using camera tricks. You think you’re freely exploring, but the game is guiding you without you realizing.

Videogames Lie to You – And You Love It
In *Elden Ring*, objects beyond your vision often aren’t even rendered. Games use “Level of Detail” (LOD) techniques to save processing power—only what you see matters.

These “lies” make games more immersive, fun, and playable. Without them, many of our favorite gaming moments wouldn’t feel as epic. So next time you pull off a clutch win, just remember: the game might’ve been helping you all along.

Malena Rose
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