Breaking Down “Unnecessary Long and Unnecessary Colon” Game: A Gamereactor Review

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The Name Game: Are Video Game Titles Getting Out of Hand?

by Archyde News – March 23, 2025

The Power of a Name (and the Peril of Too many Words)

In the fiercely competitive video game industry, a name can make or break a title. With the market more saturated than ever, even AAA studios need a catchy, memorable name to cut through the noise. Think of recent successes like Atomic Fall, Split fiction, or Astro Bot. These titles are concise,descriptive,and roll off the tongue. They don’t leave gamers wondering if they need a pronunciation guide.

But then there are the others. The ones that make you pause, reread, and maybe reach for a caffeine boost. Consider, for instance, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The article from March 28, 2024, highlighted this title, joking that “a word with up to 11 syllables almost made me spit out my monster while watching The Game Awards at 4 a.m.” Even industry giants like Naughty Dog aren’t immune to this trend.

The issue isn’t just long names; it’s often the unnecessary addition of colons that separates phrases that don’t need separation. games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden suffer from this trend. As the article noted, “When you hear them announce or read them on the store page, they are all slapped in the face like a slap.” It’s time for developers to consider editing some of these titles. But why is this happening?

The Colon Conundrum and the Quest for uniqueness

The use of colons in titles isn’t inherently bad.For established franchises like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or Warhammer, it makes sense to leverage the brand recognition first. But even sequels can fall victim to unnecessary length. The article cites examples like The Kingdom of Heaven: Save II and Death Stranding 2: on the Beach. While accepting Hideo Kojima “always gets a pass as he is Kojima,” the writer questions the need for the extra facts in the title.

One of the biggest reasons for this trend is the sheer difficulty of finding a unique name in today’s crowded gaming landscape. With thousands of games released each year, developers are under pressure to stand out. However, adding unnecessary words or phrases often has the opposite effect. A concise title like Black Myth: Wukong, despite its colon, is memorable and effective.

Naughty Dog and the Franchise Factor

The article specifically calls out Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, speculating that the lengthy title may be tied to the game’s future as a franchise. The presenter, Geoff Keighley, introduced it as the first in Naughty Dog’s new IP. Is that why the game has such an odd name?

Naming the first Uncharted game Uncharted: The First One,or adding the first part of The Last of Us when it was released in 2013 would have made no sense,the author argues in March 2024. Uncharted and The Last of Us are classics for a reason, the article states. The naming conventions are an indicator.

Beyond Intergalactic: A Wider Problem

The trend of overly long and confusing titles extends beyond just one game or studio. The article raises questions about several recent releases: “Who is Krell? Why is she unkown? What exactly is the Flag of Sparks? Why do you need to tell us this is Zau’s story without any other Kenzera story? Am I playing Bloom or Rage?”

These questions highlight a essential problem: developers are sometimes prioritizing franchise potential over creating a strong, memorable first impression. It’s as if they’re trying to cram too much information into the title,sacrificing clarity and impact.

The JRPG Exception and the Single-Word Offenders

The author then states, they “haven’t touched on the overly long names that anime titles, JRPGs and other games sometimes get, because at this point it feels like it’s just a key part of the genre.” Lengthy titles have become almost a tradition in the Japanese Role playing Game. But what about games,that while avoid colons,fall flat?

The article also points out that even single-word titles can be problematic. Returnal,the article notes,is “still the worst game I remember lately,even tho it was definitely a grate game before Intergalactic came out.” The author believes good gameplay will always trump a bad title.The article concludes hopefully, stating “Maybe we can see more than less length and colon, and soon I will have an aneurysm as TGA 2027 reveals the metal man: people made of metal: some skin, bones and flesh.”

The American Outlook: What Works in the U.S. Market

For the U.S. market, clarity and conciseness are key. American gamers tend to respond well to titles that are easy to understand and remember. Think of iconic games like

What game title from the last year has stood out in your opinion and why?

The Name Game: An Interview with Game Title Specialist,Dr. Anya Sharma

An Archyde News exclusive – March 23, 2025

Introduction

Welcome back to Archyde News. Today,we delve into a fascinating trend plaguing the video game industry: the increasingly complex and often unwieldy titles. To help us understand this phenomenon, we have Dr. Anya Sharma, a renowned Game Title Specialist. Dr. Sharma, thank you for joining us.

the Colon Conundrum

Archyde News: Dr. Sharma, our readers have been asking: why are video game titles getting so long and complex? We’re seeing titles like “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” even from established studios like naughty Dog. what’s driving this?

Dr. Sharma: Its a multifaceted problem, really. Firstly,there’s a desperate scramble for uniqueness.The market is saturated. Developers believe longer titles help them stand out. Then,there’s the franchise factor. Studios often try to build a brand from the get-go, even with their first game, which leads to verbose titles.

Brand Building vs.Playability

Archyde News: You mention the franchise factor. Do you think that focusing on future installments at the expense of a memorable first impression is a misstep?

Dr. Sharma: Absolutely. While a title like “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” might hint at a larger universe, it potentially hurts initial player engagement. A concise, impactful title is crucial for grabbing attention. It’s about balance, recognizing the importance of a strong brand identity and the value of a strong first impression. Clarity needs to come first, as the name is the first thing that most players will face.

The American Outlook and Genre Exceptions

Archyde News: We’ve noticed a difference between markets. Do different types of gamers react differently? Such as, are Japanese Role-Playing Games held to the same standards?

Dr. Sharma: In the U.S. market, clarity and conciseness is key. Think of games like “Atomic Fall” or “Astro Bot.” They are instantly understandable and memorable. However, JRPGs often have incredibly long titles, which seems to be accepted as part of the genre’s identity. Cultural context plays a huge role.

The Future of Game Titles

Archyde News: Where do you see this trend heading? Will we see a shift back to more concise titles?

Dr. Sharma: I’m optimistic. While franchise ambitions will persist, developers are starting to understand the power of a well-crafted, concise title. I hope to see a move toward names that stay in players’ minds long after the game is closed. Shorter titles with a strong impact are the future, even with the use of a colon.

Final Thoughts

Archyde News: Dr. Sharma, one final question: Considering all the factors, which game title from the last year has stood out in your opinion and why?

Dr. Sharma: That’s a hard one! Personally, I’ve liked the games that have avoided both excessive length and colons. A great title can make so much difference.

Archyde News: dr.Anya sharma, thank you again for your insights. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.

Dr.Sharma: The pleasure was all mine.