Summary
Story-driven video gameshave become all the rage for players who want an emotional hook to keep them engaged. It’s easy to see why some video games with excellent writing become so popular, spawning multimedia franchises that make the most of their captivating settings and lore.
Some of the best story-driven franchises players can check out are full to the brim with delectable narratives for players to sink their teeth into. These franchises may not be consistently brilliant but do just about enough to keep fans wrapped around their proverbial fingers for the long haul.
8Telltale’s The Walking Dead
The Developer Turned Into A Household Name After This Series Exploded In Popularity
Telltale had developed its fair share of adventure games with laidback gameplay, but it wasn’t untilthe release ofThe Walking Deadthat they enjoyed mainstream attention. Lee and Clementine’s adventures are riveting and end on an emotional note that sets the stage for more dramatic continuations.
While the second and third games had some faults that were hard to deny,The Final Seasonfelt like a return to form for the series that brought the focus back to Clementine and her relationship with AJ. It’s a great ending to the series that shows how far Telltale had come after the first game, even if events surrounding the company during this title’s episodic releases were anything but smooth.
7Uncharted
All Games Features Amazing Dialogue, With The Fourth Game Upping The Narrative’s Emotional Stakes
Most people remember the PS3Unchartedtrilogy for its amazing scripts and breathtaking action. Even if the story itself could be rather threadbare at times, the amazing voice acting and motion capture more than made up for this issue.
However, withUncharted 4, Naughty Dog was more experienced and decided to enhance the title’s storytelling chops. Along with its fair share of over-the-top action,A Thief’s Endboasts a deep and compelling story about an aging Nathan Drake who tries to resist his thirst for adventure to live a regular life, which turns out to be way harder than he expects.
6BioShock
A Trilogy Of Story-Driven FPS Games With Wild And Inventive Stories
BioShockis a seriesthat fans love for its immersive storytelling and action-packed gameplay. Using a combination of guns and Plasmids (or Vigors) made for a great time as players took out their enemies in style.
The first game’s story is legendary and still hits to this day, the second game felt like it was retreading the same ground but made up for it with theMinerva’s DenDLC, and the third game wowed players with its ambitious narrative that explored parallel universes even if some elements of the plot haven’t aged well. Any fan of story-driven titles will have a blast playing any one of these three games, although it’s recommended to play the game in chronological order to get the bestBioShockexperience.
5The Last Of Us
Emotional Games That Tackle Humanity’s Struggles In The Wake Of A Zombie Apocalypse
Theimpact ofThe Last of Uswas so resounding that it set the foundation for a chilling post-apocalyptic zombie franchise in no time. Joel and Ellie’s adventures let players form a bond with this duo in no time, which is why the events of the second game angered many players.
While the reception toThe Last of Us Part 2was divisive, most fans will agree that the way its story is told is still in a class of its own. The amazing motion capture and the narrative’s impact on players are incredible and make it clear whyThe Last ofUsTV adaptation was such a hit.
4Persona
Slow-Burn Stories With Massive Payoffs In Each Title
The integration of life sim elements with traditional JRPG gameplay turnedPersonainto one of the best modern JRPG franchises in no time. The stories of these games start slow before eventually revealing the central conflict that players will help resolve.
The charming characters, engaging narratives, and immersive settings of these worlds make it clear why players seeking out a well-told story will be entertained by any game in this series. Even the first two (technically three) titles have some great narratives for fans to sink their teeth into as long as they can get over the dated gameplay of these titles.
3Yakuza/Like A Dragon
The Serious Main Stories With High Stakes Are Juxtaposed Perfectly With Some Of The Game’s Goofy Content
It’s amazing how theYakuzafranchise has slowly evolved to become one of the most engaging story-driven open-world franchises in no time. The underworld is full of colorful characters who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty, with the protagonists being just as roughshod and brutal whenever the situation demands it.
The best part about theYakuzagames is how they combine a serious and emotional narrative with some of the goofiest side content players can enjoy in a video game. It’s a juxtaposition that somehow works and lets players enjoy the best of both worlds as they get immersed in the small yet dense worlds of these titles.
2Mass Effect
Commander Shepard’s Trilogy Is A Memorable Journey, While Andromeda Has Its Moments Despite Some Issues
Commander Shepard is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, with this character’s epic story taking place across three of the greatest action RPGs ever made. Aside from a disappointing ending, theMass Effecttrilogy is full of many highlights that fans will love.
EvenAndromedahas some standout moments in the narrative, even if players felt like it was a step back from previous entries in the series. Thankfully, the original trilogy’s high-stakes story more than makes up for this misstep, helping it stand out as one of the best narratives fans can experience in a video game franchise.
1The Witcher
Geralt’s Adventures Were Amazing To Witness And So Will Ciri’s
It’s inspiring to see how CD Projekt Red has become one of gaming’s biggest companies after starting from humble beginnings. Even with its dated combat and presentation, the first game in theWitcherseries is excellent for its narrative alone, which is way more ambitious than fans expected.
The Witcher 2carried forward this excellent writing with a new real-time combat system that was fun to mess around with despite its challenges. All of this culminated in an incredible third game that is hailed by many as one of the greatest RPGs ever made with a compelling story to boot, and it seems likeThe Witcher 4will continue this trendgiven how consistent CD Projekt Red’s storytelling chops have been. Hopefully, the release won’t be as botched as that ofCyberpunk 2077.
