10 Video Games You Should Play If You Love a Good Story
Recently, there’s been a surge of popularity in the video game industry with battle royales taking over the industry seemingly overnight. Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Apex Legends, Warzone, and so many more have all had their time as the #1 game streamed on Twitch since their releases. While there are certainly no issues with these games being popular, they also get pretty boring after a little while. If you’re bored of swapping back and forth between some of these battle royale titles and you enjoy a good story-based game, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m here to remind you about some of the best video games you should play if you haven’t already (or replay if you have!) that have phenomenal stories to tell! So let’s get into this list shall we?
10. Mass Effect
Developed by BioWare, the Mass Effect series has been incredibly popular with players due to the incredible story it has been able to tell. The story of Mass Effect relies heavily on the choices players make, so if you truly want to experience all of what the games have to offer, you’ll have to go back and replay them at least a few times each! Since the release of Mass Effect, BioWare has been able to publish multiple sequels including Mass Effect Galaxy, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect Datapad, Mass Effect Trilogy, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect: Andromeda APEX HQ, and are currently working on developing a currently untitled Mass Effect game, but it will likely be titled Mass Effect 5.
9. Quantum Break
Xbox exclusive, Quantum Break, is definitely one of the most unique games we’ve seen in quite some time. Made by Control developer, Remedy Entertainment, Quantum Break is a story-heavy video game that doubles as a limited-run television series. At certain points within the game, you will encounter an on-screen pop-up that will prompt you to choose one of two options. After choosing an option, a short live-action episode of Quantum Break will begin. These mini-episodes act as sort-of an addition to the in-game cut-scenes you also experience in the game. It’s a very cool feature – one that I would like to see more of in the future.
8. Uncharted
One of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s most popular game franchises, Uncharted centers around Nathan Drake, an Indiana Jones-like explorer who lives to chase artifacts and get himself into trouble. This is, without a doubt, an absolute must-play if you’re looking for a great story. There have also been quite a few sequels to the first installment including Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, Uncharted: Fortune Hunter, Uncharted 4: A thief’s End, and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Fun fact: Uncharted was the first game that I pretended to be sick to stay home from school to play (please don’t tell my mom).
7. The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us, developed by Telltale Games before they were tragically forced to close their doors, is a wonderful choice-based narrative game as are all Telltale games. The Wolf Among Us is set in a world where your favorite childhood fairy tales are forced to move into the real world and adapt to life outside of their fantasy land. You play as Bigby Wolf, the real-world alias of the Big Bad Wolf from the classic children’s tale. Bigby Wolf is now the sheriff of Fabletown tasked with solving a murder and several other crimes that follow. The Wolf Among Us 2 was unfortunately cancelled with the shutdown of Telltale Games studios, though development was reinstated and an announcement trailer was released at the 2019 Game Awards!
6. God of War
Another incredibly popular title coming from Sony Interactive Entertainment, God of War is the latest installment in the same-titled series. The game puts players back in the shoes of Kratos, the titular protagonist from the God of War series. In previous games, he has been of Greek legend, however in the 2016 sequel, he comes from a viking lineage. This brings a breath of fresh air to the series and it seems like this is the most popular iteration of the character. With God of War 2 coming in 2021, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up and get ready for the sequel’s release!
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man
It seems like PlayStation is definitely the system for all of your spectacular story games as the PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man is one of the most emotional games I’ve played in quite some time. It’s got humor, action, and a heart-warming – albeit heart-wrenching – ending that is sure to bring you to tears. Spider-Man Miles Morales also recently released and it’s also a great addition to the original game, though I have a feeling this means we won’t be seeing a true Spider-Man 2 anytime soon.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a fantastic and story-rich game developed by Respawn Entertainment, developers of fan-favorites such as the Titanfall series, Apex Legends, and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. Jedi: Fallen Order follows Cal Kestis, a Jedi in hiding who is forced to reveal himself and goes on a journey to prevent the Empire from getting their hands on a Jedi holocron. I won’t go into too much detail, so as not to spoil the game for you, so just go play it!
3. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor/Shadow of War
Do you like Lord of the Rings? Do you like stealth combat while also being able to brutalize opponents, forcing your enemies to run away cowering? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may want to give Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor a shot! You play as Talion, a ranger of Gondor in charge of guarding the Black Gate of Mordor. Unfortunately, the Gondorian forces are ambushed and overrun. Talion’s wife and son are killed, sparking his motivation to get his revenge against the Black Hand of Sauron. Talion is also connected to a wraith named Celebrimbor who also has a bone to pick with Sauron’s army. Both Shadow of Mordor and its sequel Shadow of War are excellent additions to the history of the Lord of the Rings and are fantastic story games!
2. Cyberpunk 2077
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 is a complete and terrible mess at the moment, however the game itself is very good! If you can look past all of the game-breaking glitches, pesky bugs, and performance issues, Cyberpunk 2077 has a fantastic story that is sure to satisfy any player that looks for a great story! Though maybe you might want to wait for some patches on console or play on PC…
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is by far one of the best games of the decade. Developed by CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3 is the 3rd installment into The Witcher series and is widely regarded as the best game in the series. With an original Netflix series out now and a second season in development, now is the perfect time to jump into the wonderful story of The Witcher!
