Video games are an immersive medium. A good story isn’t just engrossing, it can feel like the events of the game are happening to you. A good story will stick with you long after you’ve finished playing.
Sometimes the narrative reacts to your actions, while other times you’re just following a path laid out in front of you like a good book or a movie. Here are some of the medium’s finest moments, no spoilers.
12
The Last of Us
Both games in The Last of Us series have impactful narratives, believable characters, and plot points that will have you on the edge of your seat. I’m going to single out the first game here, not only because it’s the obvious starting place for any newcomer but because masterfully depicts a rapidly changing world and the impact that these changes have on a varied cast of characters.
The Last of Us is a gritty zombie game in which a mutated strain of the Cordyceps fungus turns its hosts into aggressive hordes of infected. The game mostly takes part from the perspective of antihero Joel as he escorts the young Ellie across the United States. The plot twists and turns, particularly in the second game, while the gameplay remains an engaging yet bloody mixture of stealth, action, and exploration.
The Last of Us has been adapted for TV, though the story told in the series diverges from that told in the games.
11
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is a 2010 open-world Western from Rockstar Games, a company better known for the Grand Theft Auto series. It tells the tale of the player character John Marston as he is forced to hunt down members of his former outlaw gang during the dying days of the Wild West.
Players are free to soak in the world as they move between missions, completing side quests and stumbling upon random encounters. The game manages to pack so many Western tropes in, from storming well-guarded forts to buddying up with snake oil salesmen and ambushing stagecoaches.
What follows is one of the finest stories in video games, with top-notch world-building, performances, and the perfect soundtrack.
10
Shenmue
Originally released on the Dreamcast in 1999 (and now available on Steam) Shenmue tells a tale of revenge as you step into the shoes of Ryo Hazuki who takes it upon himself to investigate why his father was killed and who is responsible. The ensuing mystery takes you beyond the confines of your small village to dangerous and far-away places in search of answers.
While some aspects of Shenmue aren’t for everyone, the game represented a significant step forward for open-world gameplay when it burst onto the scene. The story itself is gripping, and you’ll explore many different facets of Japanese culture on your journey. The game is set in the 1980s, which adds even more flavor.
Fair warning: _Shenmue_’s creator Yu Suzuki still hasn’t managed to conclude the saga, even after three games. While it’s the journey and not the destination that counts, you might find yourself waiting a while (or forever) for answers.
9
Firewatch
Having earned a reputation as one of the best “walking simulators” of all time, Firewatch is a must-play narrative adventure that you can finish in an evening. Take on the role of a fire lookout in Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest, an isolated and theoretically peaceful way to spend a summer.
But things aren’t quite as they seem. You’ll soon find yourself investigating some strange goings on, which leads to some genuinely puzzling moments where you’re really not sure which direction the story is going to take. The whole time you’re bathing in the beauty of a rural woodland setting, speaking to a mysterious voice through your walkie-talkie.
The game keeps you guessing, while its short runtime leaves you wanting more (in a good way).
8
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds is a time-loop game and it’s not a spoiler to say that if you know exactly what you need to do, you can complete the game in a matter of minutes. Of course, the whole point of Outer Wilds is to use the time-loop mechanic to your advantage to experience and explore as much of the world as possible in order to unravel the mystery.
Though the game world resets each time the world ends, your own knowledge slowly builds. Each loop gets you a little further as you learn more about the cultures that call the universe home, and the systems you need to manipulate in order to end it once and for all.
The game might have the “loosest” narrative thread on the list since it’s a story that you ultimately need to discover for yourself rather than following a plot, but it’s also arguably one of the most satisfying games here because of it.
7
Mafia
The original Mafia was released in 2002 as an open-world action adventure that broke new ground. In 2020, Mafia: The Definitive Edition was released and though the game is far from perfect the story alone is enough to keep you engaged. Like a good mobster movie, the action takes place as a series of flashbacks while an unfolding conversation keeps the narrative grounded in a “bigger picture” of sorts.
You play as Tommy Angelo, a lowly taxi driver who falls in with the formidable Salieri family in the fictional city of Lost Haven (which is based on Chicago). As the narrative wears on, you see Tommy move from small-time racketeering to big-time organized crime and the toll this takes on him.
Though the shooting is clunky and the driving could be better, the game’s writing, voice acting, and eventual crescendo make it worth seeing through to the end. If you enjoy this, make sure to check out the rest of the series.
6
Spec Ops: The Line
Most games about war see you take on the role of a battle-hardened action movie hero. Racking up hundreds of kills and then base-jumping to freedom or escaping on the back of an ATV during a firefight is no big deal these days. But Spec Ops: The Line hits differently. This third-person shooter puts you in the shoes of Captain Martin Walker as he ventures into a post-apocalyptic Dubai as part of an elite team of soldiers.
Over time, the game tells the tale of a soldier who is haunted by what he sees. The psychological effects of warfare manifest as visual and auditory hallucinations. You have to make moral decisions as part of the story, and the player character’s actions become more violent as your mental state deteriorates. This is not your average Call of Duty or Ghost Recon.
While the gameplay is nothing to write home about, the way the game tells its story makes it worth your time. Unfortunately, 2K has removed the game from sale due to licensing issues which means it’s hard to get hold of outside of physical copies for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Related
Why I’m Not Ready to Stop Buying Physical Games
Digital gaming is convenient, but it comes with an unfortunate cost.
5
Yakuza 0
It is sometimes said that Shenmue walked so that Yakuza could run, and it’s true that there are a lot of similarities between the franchises (and SEGA is responsible for both). But Yakuza 0 writes a very different kind of story, a tale of being fully immersed in Japan’s organized crime world, told from multiple perspectives.
2015’s Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the original title, setting up two of the series’ most important characters: Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. This is a game where a lot of things happen, and you won’t be sat waiting around for the action to start. As the two playable protagonists’ paths intertwine, you’ll be left discovering a tale that’s more akin to a four-season Netflix spectacular than a video game.
While there’s a lot of Yakuza to sink your teeth into, 0 is a great starting point.
4
Sleeping Dogs
It would be easy to dismiss Sleeping Dogs as a mere GTA clone, but that would be a mistake. The game tells the tale of Wei Shen, a cop who goes undercover in a bid to infiltrate a Triad organized crime ring. The game continually throws curveballs that you must navigate through the eyes of the law like being told to prove your loyalty by killing rivals.
The narrative is made even more lively by the existence of police, triad, and civilian missions (with different types of XP awarded for each). The game is dripping in atmosphere, with a lively city to explore, a killer soundtrack, and a narrative that will make you feel like you’re playing a Hong Kong action film.
On top of an award-winning story, the game is notable for its use of melée combat in an open-world setting, which really sets it apart from its True Crime roots.
3
Hades
Rarely do you play a run-based roguelike and come away feeling exhilarated by the quality of the writing, but that’s exactly what happened to me with Hades. In it, you play the role of Zagreus as he attempts to escape from his father’s clutches to reach Mount Olympus. Each run gives you a random assortment of boons that lead to wildly different character builds, keeping the game feeling fresh despite its repetitive nature.
As each run ends, you return to the Underworld and converse with its various residents (including those who fight to stop you from leaving). Successfully escaping is far from the end of the game, and you’ll keep trying just to see more of the story unfold as you go.
Hades deserves a special mention for its truly spectacular voice acting.
2
God of War (2018)
God of War’s 2018 reboot gets a lot of things right. The visuals were groundbreaking for the time (and the game still looks gorgeous, especially on the PC). The combat is satisfyingly weighty while staying the right side of Soulsborne to make it feel accessible. And the story works in an epic tale, befitting the game’s mythological roots.
It’s a blood-soaked yet touching tale of a father struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife while raising his son Atreus. As Kratos, you must travel with your son to the highest peak to scatter your wife’s ashes, though the journey doesn’t go quite to plan. The two must do battle with foes who wish them harm and their own clashing personalities along the way.
Come for the “thunk” noise that Kratos’ axe makes when it returns to your hand after a throw, and stay for the emotionally charged story about growing up and moving on.
1
SOMA
Last but certainly not least, SOMA is a horror-themed narrative adventure that starts out with your player character Simon having a routine brain scan following a car accident. As the scan completes, you wake up in an underwater research facility sometime in the future with seemingly no idea what has happened between now and then.
From here you must navigate the facility and make some difficult decisions that ask you to ponder some of life’s great questions. If you like a game that pushes you to think, while confronting you with the horror of a reality that you ultimately didn’t ask for, you’ll get a kick out of SOMA.
The game is short enough that it doesn’t outstay its welcome, with only a few dull navigation sequences holding the game back.
Burned out on stories and looking for a pure gameplay experience? Check out some of the best simulator games.