The gaming world has entered a new era of mainstream acceptance, with critically acclaimed adaptations like HBO's The Last of Us and Amazon's Fallout series introducing narrative-rich gaming experiences to broader audiences. However, as one TikTok creator recently discovered, not all members of the gaming community are welcoming to newcomers seeking to understand this medium.

TikTok user @taloredwards sparked controversy when she posted a video expressing confusion about how narrative works in video games. Using The Last of Us as an example, she questioned: "When people say 'this happens in the game,' how does that work? I thought every player's experience was different in games like Call of Duty or NBA 2K. If the story is the same for everyone, how is it still a game?"

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The video, which garnered over 224,000 views, received mixed reactions. While many offered patient explanations about linear storytelling in games, others responded with shocking hostility, including telling the creator to "unalive" herself for not understanding gaming fundamentals.

This incident highlights an ongoing issue in gaming communities - the tendency of some players to gatekeep and attack those with less experience. As one commenter noted: "Real gamers help newcomers, not tear them down. The toxic ones aren't true representatives of our community."

Many supportive users suggested beginner-friendly games for @taloredwards to try, including:

• Animal Crossing for its relaxed gameplay
• Various cozy games that focus on creativity rather than competition
• The Last of Us games themselves to experience the original story

This situation serves as an important reminder that everyone starts as a beginner. With gaming becoming increasingly mainstream through high-quality adaptations, the community must decide whether to welcome new players or push them away with hostility.

As one thoughtful commenter put it: "Instead of attacking someone for what they don't know, we should celebrate their curiosity. Every gamer was new once."