Last Updated on June 5, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
Video games have evolved tremendously over the past few decades, with developers pushing the boundaries of what gaming narratives can achieve. While early games focused primarily on gameplay mechanics and score-chasing, modern titles now place as much—if not more—emphasis on rich storytelling, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes. The following 9 games represent the pinnacle of interactive storytelling, creating deeply engaging and memorable worlds that will stay with players long after the credits roll.
The Last of Us (2013)
Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Last of Us is renowned for its emotionally impactful story and unforgettable characters. Players control Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting teenage girl Ellie across a ravaged United States. Their journey is an intense and harrowing one, as they encounter hostile survivors and mutant predators known as “Clickers.” What makes The Last of Us so special is the profound bond that develops between Joel and Ellie, whose relationship forms the heart of this story. Striking the perfect balance of exploration, survival gameplay, and narrative weight, The Last of Us is a landmark title that changed player expectations of what a video game story could achieve.
God of War (2018)
The God of War series was once known for its over-the-top action and brutal kills, but 2018’s soft reboot took the franchise in a far deeper direction. Now a father struggling to let go of his past, Kratos journeys through Norse lands with his young son Atreus. What emerges is a profound character study of fatherhood, vengeance, and finding purpose beyond violence. Developer Santa Monica Studio imbues every encounter and conversation with emotional meaningfulness, whether Kratos is teaching Atreus to hunt or coming to terms with his tempestuous nature. It’s a stunning transformation for the franchise, all while retaining its tight, satisfying combat. God of War is quite simply one of the most beautifully crafted video game stories ever told.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
Like its predecessor, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sprawling open world cowboy epic filled with rich historical world-building and complex characters. As outlaw Arthur Morgan, players participate in heists, bounties, and all manner of mayhem across the American frontier. But make no mistake – underneath its wild western adventure lies a deeply moving tale of declining honor in a landscape increasingly at odds with Morgan’s way of life. Side characters are brought to life with tragic nuance, while Morgan’s internal struggle carries real pathos. RDR2 is a technical marvel and the culmination of Rockstar’s decades refining their narrative mastery. It offers a slow-burning, thoughtful journey that will stick with players for years to come.
Bioshock (2007)
Few games are as intellectually and thematically ambitious as Bioshock. Players discover the mysterious underwater city of Rapture, once a utopia designed on objectivist principles that has devolved into chaos and madness. What follows is a creeping descent into this dystopian nightmare, unraveling Rapture’s tragic history through evocative environmental storytelling. But Bioshock also presents thoughtful commentary on ideologies taken to their logical extremes. Combined with superb atmosphere, creepy foes, and epic boss battles, it’s a perfect marriage of gameplay and narrative that has influenced immersive sims ever since. Bioshock proves that video games are a legitimate storytelling medium capable of conveying sophisticated philosophical ideas.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017)
Ninja Theory took bold steps with Hellblade by focusing entirely on one character’s mental illness. Players control Celtic warrior Senua on a harrowing journey through Norse Hell to rescue her loved one. Crafted with input from neuroscientists, Senua’s schizophrenia is authentically represented through disturbing visual and auditory hallucinations. This lends the game a truly unsettling atmosphere that sinks players deep into Senua’s deteriorating psyche. Through it, Ninja Theory presents a sensitive yet unflinching portrayal of mental illness. Senua is also a remarkably empathetic protagonist whose perseverance in the face of immense suffering makes for a profoundly emotional story. Hellblade shows how video games can shed light on difficult real-world issues.
Portal + Portal 2 (2007, 2011)
While puzzle-platformers at their core, the Portal games are beloved just as much for their snarky sense of humor and environmental storytelling. As test subject Chell, players are guided through increasingly devious test chambers by the manipulative yet amusing GLaDOS. Portal laid early groundwork with its twist ending, but Portal 2 expanded the franchise into a hilarious science-fiction romp. Working alongside the bumbling Wheatley, Chell uncovers more of Aperture Science’s secrets and the destructive impacts of its neglectful founder. Both titles are masterclasses in using gameplay as narrative vehicle. The Portal games prove that games don’t need cutscenes or dialogue trees to immerse players in richly crafted worlds and finely told stories.
What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
Anthology games don’t get much more impactful than What Remains of Edith Finch. As the titular Edith returns to her family home, players explore a series of vignettes recounting how each of her relatives met a strange and untimely demise. Through whimsical, fantastical storytelling infused with melancholy, the game taps into universal themes of family, memory, and mortality. Edith Finch tells poignant, creatively presented tales in just a few minutes each, without need for exposition or complexity. It’s a masterclass in using environmental storytelling to immerse players and subtly convey emotional weight. Few games so beautifully memorialize life’s fleeting moments or stick with players as profoundly as this short, bittersweet experience.
The Walking Dead (2012)
While not a game in the traditional mechanics sense, Telltale’s seminal The Walking Dead defined story-based choice-driven gaming. Players control reluctant hero Lee Everett, who cares for orphaned Clementine during the undead apocalypse. Every decision carries moral nuance and consequences, creating immense stakes in this deeply human narrative. Thanks to expert writing and voice acting, Lee and Clem remain two of gaming’s most beloved characters, whose plight of finding warmth and humanity in a cold world is utterly heartbreaking. The Walking Dead season 1 set new standards for creating emotionally intelligent, mature narratives in games and proved choice matters when telling powerful stories.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Taking place during the Cold War era, Metal Gear Solid 3 further developed the stealth-action gameplay the series pioneered. But what made Snake Eater truly exceptional was how it wove major events of the 20th century into a globe-trotting spy thriller featuring series hero Big Boss. Dense with history references, the story is a patriotic journey where Boss must decide where his loyalties truly lie. It explores major ideological themes around warfare, espionage, and what it means to be a warrior in difficult times. With complex boss battles and cinematic presentation, MGS3 is a blockbuster Hollywood spy movie in game form. Its quality storytelling leaves no doubt that video games are on par with other narrative mediums.
From deep character studies to experimental anthologies, these 9 titles represent the pinnacle of interactive storytelling. Each pushes the bounds of their genre while immersing players in fascinating worlds and nuanced narratives that linger long after the credits roll. As games continue evolving, these classics set the bar for emotionally intelligent, mature storytelling that taps into our shared human experience.