Back in 2007, HBO took storytelling to a whole new level with its Voyager project—an immersive, multi-channel experience that pushed the boundaries of how audiences could engage with content. Though the project is no longer accessible in its original interactive form, it remains a fascinating example of what’s possible when innovation meets storytelling.

 

The Voyager experience combined several elements: a website, mobile content, an on-air HBO show, and even an on-the-ground event in New York City. One of its most memorable features was a projection of a building's cross-section onto a real structure, revealing nine apartments and a stairwell. Audiences could explore these spaces using their phones, engaging with storylines that unfolded in real time. It felt like stepping into an interactive version of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, with layers of drama and intrigue waiting to be uncovered.

 

The project’s design was deeply immersive. Starting with a binocular view that opened to reveal the apartments, viewers could click into different units to follow the lives of various characters. Storylines ranged from a mysterious woman in a bathrobe entertaining visitors after her family left for the day to a construction crew sparring with neighbors in the apartment above. These scenes played out in loops, encouraging users to dig deeper and piece together the interconnected narratives.

 

It wasn’t just innovative—it was award-winning. Produced by Big Spaceship and BBDO, Voyager stood out for its production design and ambitious scope. It proved how brands like HBO could leverage their resources to create experiences that transcend traditional media.

 

The project also highlighted the potential of interactive storytelling, a medium still ripe for exploration. Today, we’re seeing similar experiments on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where short-form scripted series mimic real-life vignettes. Projects like these carry forward the spirit of Voyager, showing that there’s still plenty of room to innovate in the world of immersive content.

 

What are your favorite examples of interactive or immersive storytelling?