This Iconic Sci-Fi Show Feels Just Like An Open-World Video Game

A feature compares ABC’s Lost to an open-world video game, saying its island setting and layered mysteries reward exploration and discovery.

The show’s mission-like plotlines, faction conflicts, and character flashbacks resemble quests, rival groups, and side missions in RPGs.

Its large, explorable world — from the DHARMA Initiative to The Others — helps explain why Lost still feels surprisingly modern.

The comparison underscores Lost’s lasting influence on TV storytelling, especially in how it blends mystery, character arcs, and world-building.