Introduction:

What if the game you’re playing—the one everyone says is built by giants—was actually built by scrappy innovators, misfits, and unseen heroes? That’s the journey the Netflix docuseries High Score takes you on. And when you finish watching, you’ll realize: the same scrap-to-stage story applies to more than just video games. It applies to creators, designers, and everyone who’s ever been told they’re “not in the club”.

Summary:

High Score is a six-part documentary series created by France Costrel and directed by France Costrel, William Acks, Sam LaCroix and Melissa Wood. It premiered on August 19, 2020 on Netflix. Across its episodes, it chronicles the birth and evolution of video games from the late 1970s arcades through to the early 1990s shift into 3D graphics. The series features interviews with many of the industry’s lesser-known but pivotal pioneers: for example, Tomohiro Nishikado (creator of Space Invaders), Toru Iwatani (creator of Pac-Man), John Romero (co-creator of Doom) and others. Through these stories, the series reveals how innovation, risk-taking and outsider vision shaped what we now call “gaming culture”.

Why You Should Watch It:

• Because innovation rarely comes from the comfort zone. The show highlights how many groundbreaking games emerged from small teams, mavericks, or people outside the “established club” in tech.
• Because you see yourself in the margin. If you’ve ever felt like the “under-credited” designer, creator, or professional—this series puts those kinds of people front and center.
• Because history is powerful when you re-own it. The familiar names (Pac-Man, Sonic, Mortal Kombat) become meaningful when you learn about the real people who made them—and the battles they had.
• Because it primes you to act. It’s not just documentary; it’s a reminder: when you’re system-adjacent, when you’re the underdog, you still get to play—and even change the game.

Why It Matters:

The core message of High Score is that greatness isn’t solely reserved for the “industry insiders”. It’s earned. It’s fought for. It’s built by people who refuse to accept “no” or “that’s how it’s always been done”. When you watch it, you’ll feel a shift: you start seeing your own potential differently. The same dynamics of invisibility, risk, and creative rebellion that appear in gaming also show up in fashion, design, media—and especially in how we assign credit. It matters because your story matters.

Where to Watch It:

You can stream High Score on Netflix in markets where the series is available. It runs across six episodes, each about 37–47 minutes long.

How This Ties Into ZDROPPED’s Mission:

At ZDROPPED, we don’t just wear clothes—we make a statement. We don’t just showcase talent—we give voice to it. Much like the innovators in High Score who crafted entire worlds while remaining behind the scenes, the designers we work with have been underpaid, under-credited and overlooked by big brands. We remove the logos (the corporate cover), expose who actually built it, and hand the stage back to them. When you buy ZDROPPED, you’re not investing in hype—you’re supporting the insurgent creators rewriting the rules. This series reinforces our belief: the underdog builds the culture. Let’s give them the rightful spotlight.

Final Thoughts:

High Score isn’t just nostalgia for retro gamers—it’s a calling-card for anyone who’s ever been told they don’t belong. You’re at the controls now. This isn’t someone else’s play-through—it’s your level. When you finish watching, you’ll know: the system doesn’t define you; you define the system. Gear up, credit the creators, and take what’s yours. The next high score? It’s you.