RV There Yet? The Best Game I’ve Never Played
RV There Yet? is possibly the most entertaining game I’ve never played. My vicarious pleasure regarding this title has come exclusively from watching two popular YouTubers, JackFrags and WillFromWork, play through the game over a series of videos. It has been immensely amusing to watch and I have empathised a great deal as the group of four players has struggled with the game’s unpredictable mechanics and their own team’s dynamic. I could go and buy RV There Yet? myself but I doubt if I would ever have a gaming experience anywhere close to what I’ve watched online recently. So in some respects watching these videos has been an interesting alternative as I’ve been entertained, which ultimately is the point of video games. Perhaps there is a deeper philosophical point here that the game developers should reflect upon, as they’ve lost a potential sale. However, that is separate discussion for another day.
RV There Yet? is a cooperative adventure video game developed and published by Swedish game studio Nuggets Entertainment. It was released for Windows on 21st October last year. During the past few months it has gained traction and cult status mainly through word of mouth and being streamed. The game has players control a beat-up RV and attempt to navigate it through challenging terrain while returning from a camping trip. The game emphasises careful driving, obstacle management and teamwork in multiplayer mode, as players work together to avoid damage and complete the journey. The RV is fitted with two winches, front and back, which are often integral to traversing the terrain. Animals such as mountain lions, eagles and goats are also a source of danger. The games cartoony aesthetic and collision physics are also very amusing. RV There Yet? can be played either solo or co-operatively. Hilarity ensues.
What I found so amusing when watching this game being played on YouTube was the way the players personal pathology and their approach to problem solving would vary. Attention spans would wander often resulting in disastrous choices and decisions. The group dynamic between JackFrags, WillFrom Work, TommyRage and Bongeh in these videos is another factor that made things enjoyable. The group banter and the affable nature of those involved made the proceeding very relatable. If I were playing, I would be the logical individual trying to shepherd those players with less focus. It is this emergent game play and the entertainment that stems from it that makes this genre of games so popular. There is no requirement for skill or min-maxing. It’s about being in the moment and taking your fun where you find it. These games do not have any form of gatekeeping. The only barriers to participating are owning the game and having friends.
Prior to writing this post, I went online to find a video review of RV There Yet? The first video I saw wasn’t a critique of the game but more of a rant against this genre which some have rather scathingly labelled “friendslop”. I instantly disliked this trite epithet as it is clearly intended to circumnavigate any critical thinking and debate. Instead it seeks to create a biased binary position and is ultimately a pejorative term. Games such as RV There Yet? are not intended to be a skills based grind. Yes they’re contrived and simplistic but that doesn’t invalidate them. Yes, it does help having the right group of friends to get the most out of such games and these highly condensed videos show all the best parts of a far lengthier gameplay session. However, despite this curation, the fun is organic and often that’s the best kind of fun. Sometimes I despair of the blinkered mindset of competitive gamers who cannot countenance anything outside of their own experience. They seem a singularly po-faced demographic.
There was a time when I would’ve been a little envious when watching the likes of these four friends having such an entertaining gameplay experience. However, I realise nowadays that there are multiple factors that contribute to such things happening and you cannot always replicate them yourself. Sometimes, just watching someone else doing “the thing”, rather than doing it yourself, is the next best option. It’s one of the reasons sports attract audiences. Is RV There Yet? an entertaining game. Not by default. But it does offer the potential for entertainment and that potential doesn’t ask much from the players. Overall, I see that as a good thing. Therefore, ignore the fun police. There’s none so blind as those who cannot see, to coin a phrase. And if you, like myself, cannot play the game personally for whatever reasons, checkout someone else’s gameplay on YouTube. It will raise a wry smile.
