In this article, I will discuss the best story games to play, highlighting titles that offer immersive narratives and unforgettable characters.
These games excel in crafting emotional experiences, allowing players to explore rich worlds filled with complex choices and impactful storytelling. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the medium, these titles promise to engage and captivate your imagination.
Key Points & Best Story Games To Play List
| Game Title | Genre | Notable Features | Themes | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VI | JRPG | Turn-based combat, rich story, large cast of characters | Friendship, sacrifice, redemption | SNES, PlayStation, Mobile, PC |
| Undertale | RPG | Unique combat system, player choices affect story | Morality, compassion, friendship | PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch |
| Chrono Trigger | JRPG | Time travel mechanics, multiple endings | Destiny, friendship, the passage of time | SNES, PlayStation, DS, PC |
| GTA V | Action-Adventure | Open-world gameplay, multiple protagonists | Crime, morality, societal issues | PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Action RPG | Open world, crafting, robotic creatures | Nature vs. technology, identity | PS4, PC |
| Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | Action-Adventure | Cinematic storytelling, platforming, treasure hunting | Adventure, family, loss | PS4 |
| Firewatch | Adventure | First-person exploration, narrative-driven | Isolation, nature, personal growth | PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch |
| Portal 2 | Puzzle-platformer | Innovative physics-based puzzles, dark humor | Problem-solving, control, freedom | PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |
| Persona 4 Golden | JRPG | Social simulation, character development, turn-based combat | Self-discovery, friendship, duality | PS Vita, PC |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Action-Adventure | Open world, narrative depth, character immersion | Redemption, morality, the decline of the West | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
| Mass Effect 2 | Action RPG | Character relationships, choice-driven narrative | Identity, sacrifice, consequences | PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
| Half-Life 2 | First-person shooter | Physics-based gameplay, narrative integration | Resistance, survival, technology | PC, Xbox, PS3, macOS |
| Shadow of the Colossus | Action-adventure | Boss battles, minimalist storytelling | Isolation, struggle, sacrifice | PS2, PS3, PS4, PC |
| Metal Gear Solid | Stealth-action | Tactical gameplay, complex narrative | War, politics, betrayal | PS1, PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
| Immortality | Interactive movie | Non-linear storytelling, mystery solving | Memory, identity, the nature of fame | PC, iOS |
| God of War | Action-adventure | Hack and slash combat, deep story | Father-son relationship, vengeance | PS2, PS3, PS4, PC |
| Telltale’s The Walking Dead | Adventure | Episodic storytelling, player choices | Survival, morality, human relationships | PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Mobile |
| The Last of Us | Action-adventure | Narrative focus, stealth gameplay | Survival, loss, love | PS3, PS4, PC |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Action RPG | Open world, rich storytelling, character choices | Destiny, moral ambiguity, love | PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | RPG | Turn-based combat, deep role-playing | Friendship, choices, exploration | PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
20 Best Story Games To Play In 2024
1.Final Fantasy 6
Lauded for its brilliant narrative, fascinating characters, and emotional impact, Final Fantasy VI is inseparably intertwined with the game’s overarching plot about the struggle against tyranny.
Uniting themes of idealism, love and betrayal, the game revolves around a battle against a repressive empire. The film is one of the very best, as far as its plot is concerned, along with such classics as Chrono Trigger and The Last of Us, sweeping the audience off with its remarkable story and captivating scenes.
- Developer: Square Enix
- Released: 1994
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Android, iOS
2.Undertale
Undertale is popular with its great plots and creative mechanics. Players journey through a land inhabited by monsters and have some degree of freedom concerning the outcomes.
The game broaches the topics of kindness, ethics and self, ensuring that all engagements serve a purpose. Its amazing characters and smart jokes make it an enjoyable Game. ‘Undertale’ along with masterpieces like Final Fantasy VI, and ‘The Last of Us’ is an absolute play for those who adore stories.
- Developer: Toby Fox
- Released: 2015
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
3.Chrono Trigger
All gamers will attest to the specifically lavish reputation of Chrono Trigger, its so praised storyline combined with time jumbo twists being the main reasons for its fame. It also allows the players to impact the story’s multiple endings by going through different time periods and making choices.
Considering the deep character arcs with also the themes of friendship, destiny, and self-sacrifice, the game still remains unforgettable. For lovers of good story-writing, Chrono Trigger can definitely be categorized with Masterpieces such as Final fantasy 6 and The Last of Us.
- Developer: Square Enix
- Released: 1995
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
4.GTA 5
Grand Theft Auto V is a revolutionary open-world title that has been known for its deep story and incredible characters. As the three protagonists, players engage in crime chaos in Los Santos as the story has several struggling arcs which the characters share.
The game raises questions concerning ethics, aspirations, and the outcome of one’s decisions. Due to its distinctive narrative and thrilling world, GTA V belongs in the list of the greatest story oriented games alongside Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Last of Us.
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Released: 2013
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
5.Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is a thrilling action role-playing game that consistently ranks highly on critics’ charts due to its fascinating story and its exquisitely expansive open world.
Players traverse a hallowed Earth, one that has been ravaged by both machines and man, trying to seek the reasons behind their creation alongside their own race’s extinction.
Beautifully done in the game are the ideologies of one’s existence, the evolution of nature and technology and the quest for one’s self.
With its expansive and gripping narrative, as well as character development, it stands out as one of the best oath and story games next to The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
- Released: 2017
- Platforms: PS4, PC
6.Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End crashes the curtains fully on the thrilling tale of treasure hunter Nathan Drake. Incorporating loads of beautiful graphics and compelling story, the players go onto a treasure hunt while dealing with concepts of family values, loyalty, and the price of a treasure hunter’s life.
It provides an experience with deeper character development and emotional interactions, positioning itself among the greatest stories in gaming history, alongside The Last of Us, Red dead redemption two as well.
- Developer: Naughty Dog
- Released: 2016
- Platform: PS4, PS5
7.Firewatch
As a fire lookout can’t be seen in quiet places, great stories surround his involvement as a park ranger in Firewatch. However, the storyline is made vividly clear with ongoing chat sessions with Delilah, providing Henry the player an opportunity to explore Treetops and the various surrounding places, beaches, and valleys or the mysteries beneath.
Not only that, but the artwork and graphics also play a significant role as Firewatch places among the finest scaling games of the story type in lifespan alongside Life is Strange or The Last of Us.
- Developer: Campo Santo
- Released: 2016
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One,
8.Portal 2
Portal 2 is the sequel of the Portal which was also a fantastic puzzle-platform. The addition of creativity alongside great humor enables a captivating story. Players meet once again the funny AI GLaDOS while completing challenging puzzles and learning about the history of Aperture Science.
The game gives players the opportunity to interact with well written plot and characters combined with pretty unusual mechanisms. And for that distinct storytelling Portal 2 is great. Narrative games such as the Last of Us or Half-Life 2 can also be recommended to the people who have played Portal 2.
- Developer: Valve
- Released: 2011
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch (via the Portal: Companion Collection)
9.Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 Golden has won numerous accolades in the JRPG world. Gamers play as a high school aged child who is a part of a murder mystery plot, which also allows the players to interact with various characters throughout the game.
The game presents its players with new challenges of self-discovery, friendship, and development, thus enhancing the narrative.
Highly praised for its story and appealing characters, Persona 4 Golden is on par with some of the best story heavy games like Chrono Trigger and The Last of Us.
- Developer: Atlus
- Released: 2008
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
10.Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a revolutionized action-adventure game respected throughout the industry due to its heavy narrative content and a fully realized large world.
The story is largely centered around Arthur Morgan, an outlaw struggling with loyalty, morality, and the fall of the wild west. The game is masterfully exploring themes of family, atonement and hope.
Because of its strong characters and psychological complexity, it ranks alongside The Last of Us and The Witcher 3 as among the top narrative games.
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Released: 2018
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
11.Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is an action RPG without comparison in its dedication to storytelling and character building. Once again assuming the role of the Commander, players must bring a fully equipped team from the different species.
The game is designed around choices made by the player and progress of the relationships and story. Themes of betrayal, friendship, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas are the core of the story in this, second part of Mass Effect, which is on par with other games with ethically convoluted narrative arcs, such as The Witcher 3 and The Last of Us.
- Developer: BioWare
- Released: 2011
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
12.Half-Life 2
Half Life 2 redefined all the rules of the first-person shooter genre, as well as the entire gaming industry. The protagonist, Gordon Freeman, single-handedly tackles an oppressive regime backed alien forces using both, his intelligence and brute force to overcome physics-based challenges.
This to rave about a game, which also brings to ecstasy themes of oppression, defiance, survival and human endurance. Half Life 2’s captivating storyline and world presentation make it musically dubbed as one of the games with a coherent story in the same line as the likes of BioShock and The Last of Us.
- Developer: Valve
- Released: 2004
- Platforms: PC
13.Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is an enthralling action-adventure video game that stands out because of its impressionistic plot and huge areas. Players are sent on a mission to kill huge creatures to bring back one of their lost beloveds.
Among the players, the topics related to self-sacrifice, isolation, and misuse power find resonance as well. The combination of dramatic content and bright graphics makes the game incredibly interesting – it ranks among the strongest story-based projects alongside “The Last of Us” and “Journey.”
- Developer: Team Ico/Bluepoint Games
- Released: 2005
- Platforms: PS4
14.Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid pioneered the stealth-action genre with its engrossing storyline and multifaceted characters. The player is Solid Snake, who is sent to stop a terrorist group for a nuclear threat.
The game touches upon the issues of war, as well as self, and the ethics of digitalization. For its breathtaking plot and unforeseen events, Metal Gear Solid stands tall among the best story driven games like The Last of Us and BioShock, convincing many fans dedicating part of their attention to other industries.
- Developer: Konami
- Released: 1998
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch (via Master Collection)
15.Immortality
Immortality combines an engaging narrative and creative gameplay in a way unlike any other. Stripped of her identity, the players search for the lost movies of Marissa Marcel, trying to locate the actors in various fragments of tapes.
The storyline examines concepts like one’s self, stardom, and the essence of a story. With such a fresh take and meaningful storyline, Immortality works its way as one of the top narrative driven games along The last of us and Firewatch.
- Developer: Sam Barlow / Half Mermaid
- Released: 2022
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, iOS, Android
16.God of War
The action-adventure game, God of War, is a well-established entertainment game that reshapes the bearing of other games with the emotions of its story and the characters.
The storyline is developed as players control Kratos and his adolescent child, Atreus, who go on a voyage to accomplish personal goals while battling deities and creatures from the Norse mythology.
Concepts like being a father, seeking redemption, or sacrificing everything for a quest make the story good and addicting, and God of War surely belongs in that exclusive club alongside The Last of Us and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studio
- Released: 2018
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
17.Telltale’s The Walking Dead
The episodic adventure game Telltale’s The Walking Dead immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world where they have to make tough decisions. The story focuses on Lee Everett who is trying hard to protect Clementine, his young ward.
The game portrays the complex relationship between survival and ethics as well as relationships nurtured in distressing situations. Driven by emotional experiences and active storytelling, the game is among the best narrative video games which are similar to Life is Strange and The Last of Us.
- Developer: Telltale Games
- Released: 2012
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
18.The Last of Us
The Last of Us is an action game that easily captures gamer’s enthusiasm; it ties up elements of violence suspense, while at the same time revealing a beautifully constructed story.
The main character Many players will come to know Joel and Ellie, traversing through a desolated world engulfed in destruction where every aspect is focused upon love, loss and survival.
The bond they share isn’t only emotional, but along with the journey they undertake: this experience is gripping, making it one of the best story based games along with the likes of Red Dead Redemption two and God of War.
- Developer: Naughty Dog
- Released: 2013
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
19.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a captivating role-playing game that places emphasis on great narrative and worldbuilding. Here we take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer on a quest to save his daughter, making choices along the way that challenge his ethics.
The game highlights love, fate and ramifications of actions players partake in through several quests and dynamic character interactions.
It is safe to say that it is one of the most engaging story games with respect to sub plot implementation, just like The Last of Us and Mass Effect 2.
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Released: 2015
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch
20.Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an expansive RPG with a narrative-driven design located in the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, which all the players have been highly received. Players are able to create distinct characters and indulge themselves in a lore-rich environment where choices and engagement are carefully crafted.
It is with these engaging plots, twists and interesting characters that the game tackles such important topics as friendships, ethics and self-search that places it in a group of the best story based games together with The Witcher 3 and Mass Effect 2.
- Developer: Larian Studios
- Released: 2023
- Platforms: PC, PS5
How We Pick Best Story Games To Play
Narrative depth: Games with detailed plots that can move players on an emotional and cognitive level.
Character development: Focusing on the games which have developed protagonists where character evolution and relationships are touching.
Choices of the player: Games that give the player choices worth remembering that affect the story and gameplay.
Worlds and settings: Games that establish realistic and captivating worlds that immerse players into the details and history of the game.
Ideas and thoughts: Focusing on games that touch deeper ideas like love, loss, loyalty, sacrifice, ethics and understanding the self.
Awarding prizes: Reviews and recommendations from the critics as well as other players come in handy when trying to understand the best games.
Gameplay mechanics: Other players would like to see how the story is enhanced by the gameplay, what innovative features add to the story the game has.
Availability to play again: Those who are creative enough could design games with alternative endings or several levels and make the game worth playing several times.
Emotional experience: Players should play games like this that have been recognized through the ages for creating great emotional touch with the story.
Game changing impact: Games which can be viewed to have been instrumental in shaping the development of the genre or even the whole medium itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best story games are those that provide the player with amazing plots, well-developed characters, and a deep emotional experience that can be easily consumed in several facets.
Games like The Last of Us, The Witcher 3, and Baldur’s Gate 3 are the perfect illustrations of how storytelling can elevate the game experience. Playing such games is not only about fun; rather, they offer great insights on life, relationships, and decisions.
