Greatest-Written Video games Of The Final 10 Years

Gameplay, visuals, music, and narrative. These are the components required to create an ideal online game. To have the ability to nail all 4 of those classes is a miracle and a near-impossibility, however I’d argue that nailing both gameplay or narrative is already an incredible begin for a online game seeking to make its mark in historical past.

Right here, although, we’ll give attention to narrative alone. The writing of a online game is the sum of a very good plot, nice dialogue, lore, and the way all of those are delivered. Numerous video games have proven their narrative prowess for the reason that daybreak of video video games, however as we speak, we’ll solely give attention to titles that have been launched within the final ten years, from 2016 onward, and the way they impressed with their writing. The one exception made shall be for Kentucky Route Zero, which launched its ultimate Act in 2020. We’ll rank them roughly based mostly on total high quality, however to be trustworthy, it is a very unfastened criterion, given all of those titles are pure masterpieces.

Kentucky Route Zero

A Masterclass In Narrative, Delivered In A number of Acts

If there’s one title that pushed the bounds of the sorts of narratives that may be advised in online game format, it is positively Kentucky Road Zero. The sport’s attraction is not simply within the mysterious narrative of discovering the fabled Highway Zero that runs by way of the undergrounds of Kentucky, but additionally in its artwork type.

It is not an apparent story by any means, with little tidbits of lore peppered all through, and leaving many puzzled even after a severe playthrough. As a visual novel, it calls for your consideration, and it invitations you to try to work out what it’s all about at its core, to try to discover some nice that means in every part. Inside an enormous story are many smaller ones as you undertake a number of totally different protagonists, and you will positively be feeling all of the feels on this surreal however lovely expertise of a recreation.

Alan Wake 2

So Absurd It is Truly Good

Alan Wake’s writing has at all times been unusual, to say the least. Some like it, others completely despise it, however I feel there’s one thing to be mentioned about the way it completely works within the service of a surreal, absurd plot a la David Lynch and Twin Peaks, as an alternative of attempting to enchantment to the lots in an try and please and slot in.

Alan Wake 2’s story takes place in two totally different “worlds” and character views, Alan and Saga, with Alan’s horror writings instantly affecting the occasions of the sport. Count on all of the humorous clichés and weird moments you possibly can image discovering in one thing impressed by David Lynch’s disturbing work, combined in with basic Treatment Leisure storytelling. Consequently, it scored the Greatest Narrative prize throughout the GOTY Awards in 2023.

What Stays of Edith Finch

The Most Coronary heart-Wrenching Strolling Simulator

A guide in online game format, What Remains of Edith Finch is an indie title that places story above every part else. With that, it is no shock that it manages to do a superb job at delivering a story that can stick to you for a really very long time. Because the titular Edith, final of her lineage, you got down to uncover what has occurred to the remainder of your loved ones by exploring the tales of particular person members of the family. The sport is not very lengthy, but it surely holds you in a decent, bittersweet, and emotional grip the entire means by way of.

The ambiance, music, and visuals all work to ship these haunting tales coherently, and as such, it is simple to see why it was nominated for seven totally different awards all tied to narrative and storytelling, and scored the 2017 GOTY Greatest Narrative spot. A must-experience recreation for everybody who appreciates a rock-solid narrative and is not afraid of getting a bit teary-eyed.

Silent Hill f

Ryukishi07’s Layered Narrative Will Hang-out You

A recreation designed to be performed thrice over to totally respect the depth of its story, Silent Hill f shows the very best Ryukishi07’s has to supply. It is an extremely needed commentary on societal expectations for ladies in Showa-era Japan, peppered with heavy doses of all issues supernatural, cults (in true Silent Hill type), and Japanese folklore centered on the kitsune. There’s loads of unusual symbolism to dive into, because the writing marries with the sport’s beautiful and horrifying visuals.

And since it is a Silent Hill recreation, nothing is ever fairly because it appears. What’s actual? What is not? It’s psychological horror at its finest, and it is an ideal instance of an unreliable narrator and perspective used as a trick of the attention. With every layer of the story peeled again within the subsequent two playthroughs, Hinako’s story and the true depth of what’s actually occurring in Ebisugaoka, and what every character’s function really is, will make you take a look at your first moments in her footwear with solely totally different eyes. That proper there’s an artwork type of its personal that Silent Hill f completely commits to.

Hades

Winner Of The Hugo Award, And For Good Motive

Hades is a type of video games that did not must lean so onerous into its writing to ship one thing good, however nonetheless did. Its action-packed gameplay alone made it a roguelike hit for Supergiant Video games, but it surely went above and past to additionally hit gamers with a narrative and with dialogue that feels detailed, quirky, and distinctive at each flip. Each particular person has a voice, and it is clear that lots of love went into constructing the world.

The sport can also be full of incredible writing from lore items to interactions with the sport’s numerous characters, and when paired with the superior voice performing, it is an expertise that is nicely definitely worth the literary Hugo Award it obtained in 2021. It was nearly universally praised for its witty narrative and has earned its spot amongst a number of the greatest video video games of all time.

Cyberpunk 2077

A Story That Hits You Proper In The Feels

Few online game worlds and characters really feel as actual as Cyberpunk 2077’s. The dialogue, the primary marketing campaign, and its good DLC, in addition to numerous memorable facet quests that strike deep into your coronary heart with their commentary on megacorporations and hypercapitalism, are all wrapped up in a disgustingly lovely bundle.

From the moments Johnny and V share all through their hopeless journey collectively to the chats we have now with characters like Panam, Songbird, and Judy, it is one recreation that makes you are feeling heavy and uneasy because the credit roll. The town is full of lore that the TTRPG followers will already be acquainted with, from catchy commercial jingles to datashards that make clear what went incorrect with the world. It is lush, it is miserable, and it’ll make you consider how shut we’re to reaching the world of 2077.

Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2

Rockstar Takes No Hostages With Its Writing

A recreation that nailed depth and realism in all elements, Red Dead Redemption 2 made everybody really really feel like they have been in Arthur Morgan’s footwear on the fictional western frontier. The overarching most important plot apart, which in itself is already a masterclass in storytelling, the world can also be brilliantly delivered by way of your interactions with NPCs and companions at camp. It is a recreation that does not simply need you to consider that you simply actually exist on this world; it additionally needs you to care about everybody in it.

It is one other recreation the place the love and a spotlight to element lengthen to each nook and cranny, not simply the floor you scratch whenever you first stroll in. Facet quests and random characters all have one thing to say, and are constructed to really feel such as you’re pores and skin to pores and skin with all of it. It is no surprise it is thought-about one of the vital immersive open-world video games of all time. Whereas it misplaced to God of Conflict (2018) throughout the 2018 GOTY Awards, it nonetheless gained within the Greatest Narrative class and scored a number of nominations and smaller awards in the identical class.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Writing Is Simply One Of The Many Issues It Nailed

At a time when many felt like AAA video games have been beginning to disappoint, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blew everybody away as one of the vital balanced online game experiences. In all classes, from music to gameplay, it in some way managed to ship with equal high quality, and its narrative isn’t any totally different. The story, the lore, and the characters are clearly the results of cautious curation and a labor of affection, a testomony to the sheer expertise and fervour behind the venture.

The dialogue has particularly been praised for feeling real looking and relatable, which is sensible, contemplating that an interview with lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen reveals that there have been talks about striving for HBO collection ranges of high quality in storytelling and character depth. The story is filled with heartbreak, and folks proceed to argue over the sport’s endings, which is a testomony to its enduring high quality and possibly explains why it snatched so many awards on the 2025 GOTY present, together with Greatest Narrative.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian Studios’ Signature Darkish Whimsy At Its Greatest

When you’ve been enjoying Larian Studios’ video games for some time, you will know precisely what I imply once I say two phrases: darkly whimsical. There is a witty quirkiness in the Divinity games that makes them each extremely brutal, whereas additionally inspiring childlike surprise. Baldur’s Gate 3 follows in the identical vein, delivering immensely deep moments along with your companions with whom you develop friendships and extra, in addition to a myriad of quests that each one really feel equally nicely thought-through.

The truth that you might have a lot leeway and freedom as a participant with dialogue choices relying in your construct and decisions goes to point out {that a} staggering variety of strains have been written for the sport, and all of them respect Larian’s signature type. The principle story has many downright terrible and tragic turns, but additionally occasions of nice hope and hilarious comedy (simply attempt leaving Astarion behind within the monastery after blowing it up, and you’ll expertise cinema). It is nearly a miracle how the writers managed to tread that cautious line between totally different themes and feelings so masterfully.

Disco Elysium

Darkish, Witty, And Politically Deep

It is not each day you discover good prose in a online game, however Disco Elysium delivers precisely that. It wowed the gaming world when it was first launched in 2019 with its miserable but charming type and intriguing premise. As an amnesiac cop, the sport dives not simply right into a legal investigation, however to the nitty-gritty of philosophy and politics in a means that’s extremely concise and punchy.

The dialogue feels actual as a result of characters aren’t within the recreation simply to ship the next step in a quest, however quite as a result of they’re a part of the world itself. And that feels very actual, too, absolutely thought-out and delivered by way of the various interactions you might have throughout your investigation. Pair all this up with how narrative-driven the sport is and all of its branching paths based mostly on the alternatives you make, and it is clear a ton of affection was poured into Disco Elysium in a means that you will be hard-pressed to search out in lots of different video games launched within the final ten years.