Written by Luna
In our daily lives, opportunities to experience the excitement of novelty are rare, as monotonous routine tasks often bind us. We find ourselves obeying societal norms and moral codes while the allure of the mysterious remains attractive.
Why do mysteries attract people?
Mystery works can easily create tense, high-pressure atmospheres that trigger viewers’ deep excitement. This emotional experience can provide a unique thrill, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the storyline and forget about the worries of real life. In addition, mystery works often involve exploring human nature, morality, and deep, secret desires, making the characters’ struggles more relatable to the audience and creating a more engaging atmosphere.
One of the critical features of mysteries is that the plot could be more predictable. Sometimes, we can find the tropes that apply in a movie or TV series plot that take away from the enjoyment of the experience. However, in the world of mystery, the only thing an audience can predict is unpredictability.
Unraveling the mysteries remains appealing.
When discussing suspenseful movies and TV series, there are always some notable ones that are frequently mentioned. For instance, the works of Arthur Conan Doyle have been continually adapted for the screen, particularly his stories about Sherlock Holmes. For these types of works, the audience is familiar with the plot; why do they continue to captivate audiences even after they’ve uncovered the mysteries? Holmes and other famous detectives almost become a symbol of high intelligence. Even with some knowledge of the answer, viewers can still feel the excitement of re-experiencing the story and the thrill of rediscovering the resolution in other ways. Furthermore, screenwriters add more new puzzles into the old settings to involve the audience in trying to solve the mystery.
New ways to experience.
People find satisfaction not only in the mysteries of passive media. By selecting video games or other interactive platforms, they are willing to take the chance to experience the stories closer.
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for mystery games in China; people enjoy spending 6-8 hours with friends or even several strangers, immersing themselves in the pure mystery of role-playing physical games called “Murder Mystery Games” (剧本杀). Murder mystery games are a genre of party games where each player receives a different script and takes on a role in the story. The entire process is usually led by a host known as the DM (Dungeon Master). During the gameplay process, players follow the instructions written on their scripts. All the characters have secrets and personal missions; the individual goal is to keep your secrets and complete your missions without being detected by other players to ensure your victory.
As we have seen, suspense and mystery bring a playful unpredictability to people who engage in this practice, and the whole experience is adventurous and shrouded in mystery. We are fascinated by mystery works and find relief in exciting stories to escape from monotonous life and to stories filled with excitement. Let’s continue to explore the mystical world.