Stop Worshiping Graphics. The Best Games Ever Made Had No Pictures.
Before graphics cards and ray tracing, there were MUDs — text-based multiplayer worlds that forced you to imagine everything. And that’s exactly why they were better. This article explores the paradox of low-fidelity interfaces creating deeper engagement, social bonds, and imaginative agency than today’s hyper-realistic games. The gaming industry’s obsession with realism has come at a cost: your own imagination.