8 Photography Games – Snap, Shoot, Record, Reminisce

“While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.” – Dorothea Lange

Introduction

Many of us enjoy taking screenshots whilst playing games, especially the pretty ones! A lot of games include a specific photo mode to allow players to edit the images, adjusting things such as saturation, exposure, and the point of view. However, there is also a vast array of games that either centre themselves around photography or make it an integral part of the gameplay. This can be in the form of players taking photographs or exploring memories, and therefore a narrative, through photographs, or even getting creative with photographs through activities such as curating photo albums.

Below is a list of eight games in which photography features prominently. They range from wholesome family-friendly games in which the protagonist takes photos documenting different animals to save her island home, to disturbing horror games that see the player tackling the intricacies of photography and developing images in a dark room.

“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” Diane Arbus

Photography Games

Alba – Review HERE

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a charming game in which the player must explore a Mediterranean Island as Alba, helping out and taking photos along the way. It was developed by Ustwo Games, the creators of the Monument Valley series of puzzle games and Assemble with Care.

The Star Named EOS – Review HERE

The Star Named EOS is the latest game from Silver Lining Studio, creators of Behind the Frame. It is a charming narrative-focused puzzle adventure that centres around photography and reminiscing.

Toem – Review HERE

TOEM: A Photo Adventure is a charming hand-drawn adventure game in which players embark on a photo-filled expedition through an array of charming landscapes filled with quirky characters and cute critters.

Instants – Review HERE

Instants is a wholesome puzzle game in which players must compile photo albums by deducing the chronology of a series of family snaps, slowly getting to know the family in the process.

“To the complaint, ‘There are no people in these photographs,’ I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.” – Ansel Adams

Flutter Away – Review HERE

Flutter Away is a short, cosy, nature exploration and photography game set in the Amazon rainforest. Players take on the role of a butterfly researcher and can take cute photos, meet animal friends and keep a journal of all the important discoveries!

Beasts of Maravilla Island – Review HERE

Beasts of Maravilla Island is a 3D adventure game in which players take on the role of a young wildlife photographer exploring Maravilla’s magical ecosystems to discover extraordinary creatures, learn their behaviours, and, most importantly, photograph their majesty. 

Pupperazzi – Review HERE

Pupperazzi is a super cute collectathon-style game about taking pictures of adorable doggos in order to improve photography skills and equipment and to gain social media following. Its simple premise belies the multiple fun and engaging aspects of the game and there is plenty for players to do!

Martha is Dead – Review HERE

Martha is Dead is a brand new psychological horror from LKA, developers of Town of Light. Set in Italy in 1944, it follows Giulia, the daughter of a German soldier, as she attempts to come to terms with her twin sister’s death. It is an emotive and disturbing story that spans genres and blurs the lines of reality. The most prominent mechanic beyond exploration is photography.

“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Summary

There is quite an array of photography-themed games available, including many that haven’t been listed here, such as Lushfoil Photography Sim and Season: A Letter to the Future. Digital photography negating the need for a dark room and significantly reducing development times, as well as the availability of more attainable entry points such as smartphones, means that photography is becoming an increasingly accessible hobby. It makes sense, then, that photography is starting to feature more prominently in entertainment media such as video games. The above is a list of games in which this is done well, and with a variety of different approaches, and I would happily recommend all of them to fans of their respective genres, but also to anyone who enjoys photography!

Looking for more themed lists of game recommendations? You may enjoy these articles:
10 Indie Games That Will Make You Cry! – Six Great Indie Games about Cats! – 10 More Uplifting Games for Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing – 5 Great Indie Games about Bees!