Ready Player One?
Just like in film, attention to detail in gaming can make or break someone’s immersion in the story. Watch enthusiasts are notorious for pausing films and scrubbing through scenes frame by frame to identify what’s on an actor’s wrist, debating whether the watch is functional or even period-correct. But what about video games? In gaming, just as in film, watches, subtle yet powerful accessories in some games, can shape some of the most iconic and memorable moments and mirror fashion and pop culture of horology for an era. Whether they’re tools, symbols, or story anchors, these pixelated timepieces can equally hold a unique place in the intersection of gaming and horology; as films and horology.
When I was invited back on the Zulu Time podcast for an episode of As Seen on Screen series, I brought something to the table that most podcasts don’t usually spotlight: watches in video games. While the series typically highlights the connection between timepieces and cinema, I wanted to explore how video games, like their big-screen counterparts, use watches as subtle yet powerful storytelling tools. From GoldenEye to Tomb Raider and The Last of Us, our conversation covers how these small but meaningful props shape iconic moments in gaming history.
GoldenEye: Bond’s Timeless Gadget
No discussion of watches in video games would be complete without a nod to the 1997 classic, GoldenEye 007. The game, based on the James Bond film, perfectly captures the essence of the suave secret agent, complete with his gadget-laden Omega Seamaster Professional.
The in-game representation of the Seamaster wasn’t just an aesthetic nod to Bond’s signature style of the 90’s—it was a functional tool (with some unreal upgrades). Players used the watch to access menus, and could even select it as a weapon. For me, as a junior high kid playing this game with friends, it was incredibly cool to see a small representation of we see now as the #watchfam in a video game. It wasn’t just a piece of gear; it was a bridge between the new world of 64bit gaming and the culture of horology. And left a mark on me, even today, both as #watchfam and as a gamer.
Tomb Raider: The Adventurer’s Tool
Lara Croft is instantly recognizable for her iconic look—blue tank top, dual .45 pistols, and her unwavering spirit of adventure. Beyond her, at times, overly voluptuous pixelated figure, she’s defined by resilience, intelligence, and resourcefulness. Throughout the Tomb Raider series, her choice of wristwear has reflected these traits.
Horology’s evolution in the 90’s to the 00’s though the lens of the 64bit gamer era can be seen in snapshots of Lara’s adventures, especially when watch partnerships have been involved. From the Tissot worn by Angelina Jolie in the Tomb Raider films to Timex’s TMX clip watch, which not only appeared in Tomb Raider Chronicles but was also integrated into the game’s menu, these timepieces showcase the intersection of gaming, film, and watch culture over the decades.
The Last of Us: A Watch That Tells a Story, Not The Time
Perhaps the most poignant watch in gaming belongs to Joel Miller from The Last of Us. The broken watch, gifted to him by his daughter Sarah, carries immense emotional weight. It’s a reminder of love and loss, as **spoilers** Sarah dies tragically at the beginning of the game. Throughout the harrowing journey of survival, Joel continues to wear that watch, its cracked face symbolizing the fractured world around him and the emotional scars he carries.
Unlike Bond’s high-tech Omega or Lara Croft’s rugged tool watches, Joel’s timepiece is purely symbolic. It doesn’t serve a practical purpose in the game—it’s a visual and emotional anchor. Yet, I’ve often wondered what kind of watch Sarah would have picked for her father. Most in the #watchfam take a watch collector’s and superimpose it onto the character; instead of a gamer’s view who has spent well over 100hrs in the game knowing every little easter egg and emotional plot point twist; all while surviving hordes of zombies.
In the case of this game, there was no partnership or real watch that it emulates. But if I had to make an analogue to it outside of the pixel world, for me, Joel’s watch in the real world have been a Citizen Eco-Drive with a sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock—something accessible, practical, and full of heart in how it was given to him. It’s the kind of watch a daughter might save up for at the local mall, choosing something simple yet thoughtful for her dad. With sword hands and black dial, it is a nod to a military background. A watch like this, priced around $100, perfectly captures the essence of their pre-apocalypse life—a snapshot of normalcy before everything fell apart.
This choice, while not discussed often in other reviews, ties Joel’s watch to a relatable story of family and everyday life. A father’s love encapsulated in a timepiece that carries no pretension, only a father’s value. Joel’s watch was just another subtle way the master storytellers at Naugty Dogs reminded us us that a watch is more than just a tool or a style statement; it’s a symbol of memory, connection, and who we were before everything changed. Now, quick load and get the next hoard of zombies!
Watches in the Game of Life
Video games like GoldenEye, Tomb Raider, and The Last of Us show us that watches in gaming aren’t just props. They’re storytelling devices that deepen our connection to characters and their worlds as we spend countless hours exploring them on our favorite video game consoles. Unlike a film, as a gamer we ARE that chaicter for hours on end. We get emotional, we get nervous, we get exhausted as we play them through their story. The watches they digitally wear, just like a prop in a film, can play just as much of a deep part in the immersive storytelling that could, and should, crane the necks of watch enthusiasts; but perhaps in a more interactive way.
Whether it’s Bond’s high-tech gadget, Lara’s rugged no nonsense tools, or Joel’s symbol of loss and perseverance, these pixels that represents their timepieces remind us why we love both watches and games; their storytelling.
To my fellow gamers, children of the 80’s and 90’s, this episode is for y’all.
Zulu Time Podcast, Ep 113 “AJ’s As Seen on Screen”
Available wherever you like to podcast.
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