The acronym ARG stands for Augmented Reality Games, but that doesn’t really tell you a lot about what an ARG actually is. ARGs are a form of storytelling mainly told online (but not exclusively) that blend the line between reality and fiction. The game part of the acronym comes from the audience participation element to all these stories.
Sometimes this can mean that the audience themselves are needed to trigger events in the storyline, or that the story is presented in an obtuse way and it becomes the audience’s job to investigate. There are many other ways that ARGs interact with their audiences, but these are the main two.
So why should you care? Well, ARGs are becoming more and more evolved as time goes by, and are infiltrating the mainstream. For example, did you know that Slenderman was popularised by the ARG ‘MarbleHornets’? Before then, Slenderman only existed as a couple of creepy photo edits on a forum. And now, Slenderman is up there with the likes of Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees; everyone has heard of Slenderman.
ARGs provide creators with a form of storytelling with almost no limits. Most ARGs unfold over several online platforms, such as Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr. The creative freedoms this allows means that creators can create a story unique from novels or visual media, and blend the two to exist simultaneously. Of course, ARG’s are a product of the horror genre due to the convincing suspension of reality so many achieve.
Let me walk you through the typical birth of any ARG, and how they are discovered (yes, discovered). I’ll use an example from the ARG ‘TheSunVanished’, as it’s a similar story for many ARGs. ‘TheSunVanished’ appeared as a Twitter user with a profile picture of a CNN Breaking News broadcast, stating “RIOTS BREAK OUT AFTER SUN DISAPPEARS”. Their first tweet was made on April 30th 2018, simply saying “Help.” A series of tweets followed, explaining from the user’s POV that the sun has disappeared and they are trapped inside.
The tweets weren’t seen instantaneously, and those that did see them as they were posted had to sit tight to gather the whole story. Patience is the creator’s best friend, as some ARGs can go weeks, months, or even years before they’re noticed. Often, the more obscure the mystery, the more the lines of reality and fiction are blurred, the bigger the success of the ARG.
So I thought I’d write an ARG recommendation list, made up of the ARGs that I think have helped define the genre and some that I just really enjoy.
Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared
Yep, one of the most famous creepy series on YouTube is an ARG! Many fans still to this day argue about what the real message and story is of the series, and their theories can be found alongside the originals on YouTube.
- MarbleHornets
As I said before, MarbleHornets was the true birth of Slenderman, as well as the birth of
ARGs as a format. The series mainly takes place on YouTube but sneaks parts of the storyline and backstory into other online platforms. MarbleHornets ran from June 20th
2009 until June 20th 2014. It may be long but this classic deserves a watch.
- Everyman:HYBRID
The spiritual successor to MarbleHornets, Everyman:HYBRID is the most expansive and intricate ARG I know of. The series started in 2010 and only concluded in January 2019!
The series takes place over multiple platforms and deserves a good investigation to truly grasp its story. The characters are fantastic, and features by far one of the best original villains I’ve seen in ARGs (HABIT). Please check it out, it’s worth the effort.
- Petscop
Petscop is an ARG that takes a video game format to tell its story. The Petscop mystery is still unfolding, and you can find many YouTubers and forums talking about where the story could be leading us.
Unedited Footage Of A Bear
Created by Adult Swim, Unedited Footage of a Bear is one of my all-time favourite ARGs.
The story takes place over one 30 minute YouTube video, packing in as much punch as possible for their message in that time. If you’re new to ARGs and want to dip your toe in,
look up Unedited Footage of a Bear. You won’t regret it.
- Jack Torrence
I wanted to put Jack Torrence on this list because it is one of the few ARGs I have seen which has required audience members to physically investigate places and do some real detective work. I highly recommend looking up the series on YouTube, it’s fascinating how in-depth the creators have gone!
- SeventyBroad
Seventybroad is unique in the way that it is one of the few ARGs that burst into mainstream media, in this case, the British news networks. The story takes place on YouTube but is fleshed out over social media, following George, and unraveling his story. This ARG constantly keeps you guessing and knows exactly how to disguise the truth.
- The Wyoming Incident
A forgotten ARG that has only in recent years been rediscovered, The Wyoming Incident is a story presented as an interrupted broadcast. This ARG is complicated, so I recommend checking out NightMind on YouTube. He investigates ARGs then presents his findings in comprehensive videos for everyone to understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHkW0aKHRc
- Hi I'm Mary Mary
This ARG is fantastic for anyone who wants a spooky story without having to do too much investigation. Hi I’m Mary Mary follows Mary (shock) a girl who has woken up in her house alone and unable to leave. But maybe she’s not as alone as she thinks…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_b4VvmzIVwf8bCC-eoMDzg
Daisy Brown
Although seeming on the surface like a kitschy horror series, with an obviously paper-mache puppet, Daisy Brown is anything but. Daisy Brown explores complex subjects such as abandonment and parenthood, all while presenting an interesting mystery! Tip: When watching the series on YouTube, turn on closed captions…
- House Of Leaves
House of Leaves is a book written by Mark Z. Danielewski and also a fantastic offline ARG. The book presents a different reality, puzzles and cryptograms feature across the chapters. The reader is left to investigate the mystery of the novel and figure out its secrets. I love House of Leaves especially for its online fanbase, who all band together to help each other uncover the answers to some of its riddles.
Before I finish, I’d like to mention one more time the YouTuber NightMind, who has made videos exploring and explaining almost every ARG on this list. If you want to know more about these ARGs but aren’t sure you can commit the time and effort, check out NightMind. He’s how I got started with ARGs and I’ve never looked back.
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