At School in El Paso, many students find themselves drawn to digital adventures that go beyond simple entertainment. For senior Elijah Rodriguez, they have become a way to explore new perspectives and even reflect on life.
“It’s more of a variety,” Elijah said when asked about his favorite genres. “It’s like a bit of everything—thriller, mystery, horror, adventure, action. It’s a mixing pot.”
Elijah explained that certain titles stand out because of how they bring together story, setting, and character. One of the most memorable for him was The Witcher.
“It’s a role player kind of mythological video game… a beautiful open world game, amazing combat, action-packed. That was a great experience for me. For me, probably one of my top 10 favorite games,” he said.
His gaming journey began early, starting at age three on a PlayStation 2. Since then, he has grown through each new console, with every experience shaping his passion further.
“The first game that I’ve ever played to memory is a game called Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” Elijah recalled. “Not a great game to start at for a young lad, but it set off the chain reaction of video game culture for me.”
Over time, different games have taken turns as his favorites, each one leaving an impression. Titles like Uncharted 4, The Last of Us, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all influenced his love for storytelling in digital media.
“Those games really showed me the variety of video games I could be playing,” Elijah said. “They played a huge part in my life.”
For Elijah, these experiences also go beyond gameplay. They inspire him to think about the values and perspectives he can carry into real life.
“Certain video games have changed the way I see the world,” he explained. “For me, it showed me that I can be a better person, I can be doing better than what I already have done.”
Even music, he noted, adds depth to the worlds he explores, especially in Red Dead Redemption The soundtracks have a way of setting the tone for every moment. “Softer music will play in calmer times, and more rockish kind of music will jump at you during intense moments,” Elijah said. “It really showed me what beauty the world could be.”
