Games with the best stories?

CountVanBadger

Inventor of the you-know-what
Joined
Nov 5, 2025
Messages
428
Points
93
What games do you think have the best stories? Here's my top three...

3. Tales of Xillia. The story is so good that if it was (faithfully) made into an anime, it would be right up there with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for me.

2. Alan Wake. I'm replaying it right now. The only game I can think of that doesn't feel like a drag when it slows down and makes you walk from one NPC to another so they can yap at you for ten minutes.

1. Kingdom Hearts. Yes, this is absolutely the nostalgia talking. It's the game that first showed me I could enjoy a game for the story instead of just the gameplay. It's not a work of art, but it still holds up as a fun adventure story (until the later games went completely off the rails, anyway)
 

Rosica

Д̙̥̫̰̩̺̼̯̻͙̓͗̽̋̄̅̌̒͗̇р̴̼̫͍̤̜̖̼̠̈̅ͥ̆́̅͌ͩ͝у͋ͭ͛̔͋̈́ͯг
Joined
May 9, 2022
Messages
160
Points
103
Korean games story are surprisingly good compared to their sloppy webnovel. Nikke is a gooner game, but the writings quality exceeds more serious games.
 

ShrimpShady

The One With the Wurlitzer
Joined
Jan 2, 2019
Messages
548
Points
133
The Witcher 3 but specifically the Hearts of Stone DLC. Shit got me locked in while doing hours of Witcher vision inspect item bullshit
 

ArchlordZero

Stage 4 Cancer Shitposter
Joined
Aug 10, 2020
Messages
334
Points
133
Aside from Expedition 33 and RDR2 which was already mentioned, I personally love the story of these games:

Ys 8 Lacrimosa of Dana
The Legend of Heroes Series (Only played Daybreak 1 and 2, Horizons, and Remake)
Final Fantasy X
Blazblue Series
Fate Grand Order
Metro 2033 Series
Mass Effect 2
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2025
Messages
49
Points
18
RDR2 is one of the recent ones that left a deep impression on me.

Expedition 33 is another one. Haven't completed it, but it's first chapter was epic

For those who come after!!
I was about to say - the lack of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ccomments is cruel. Please continue. Story only gets better. To me, it´s the pinnacle of storytelling in every genre Writing/gaming/videography so far. I know that´s a subjective opinion tho!
Clair Obscur mon amie!
 

Grizzly18

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2020
Messages
78
Points
58
I’d say the original mass effect trilogy has good writing, we all know about Andromeda.
Horizon zero Dawn and forbidden west and dlc.
Detroit become human
The fact no one has said Titanfall 2 yet is absurd and the fact they are continuing the story is criminal.
God of war mostly the last two games.
Star Wars Kotor looking forward to the remake game could use some better graphics

I found this on Reddit and yes I did pick a few from the list others I left off because I haven’t played but heard great things about.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShouldIbuythisgame/comments/1lddn8y
 

LeilaniOtter

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2025
Messages
1,213
Points
113
I was always fascinated with Final Fantasy VIII's story-line. The idea of a land of "Gardens" and each one with its own story, but revolving around kids training to become merciless assassins. I really hoped Hollywood would do something with that someday. :love: It had a lot of promise.
 

Rosica

Д̙̥̫̰̩̺̼̯̻͙̓͗̽̋̄̅̌̒͗̇р̴̼̫͍̤̜̖̼̠̈̅ͥ̆́̅͌ͩ͝у͋ͭ͛̔͋̈́ͯг
Joined
May 9, 2022
Messages
160
Points
103
Fate Grand Order
F/GO have both one of the best and worse stories depending on who write the singularity's scenario. Avalon le Fay is peak, but Septem suffers from so much Nero-glazing.
 

Our_Lady_in_Twilight

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2025
Messages
157
Points
63
I loved the Pathfinder games; Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous. The gameplay wasn't the absolute strongest, but I really enjoyed the longform adventure arcs.

Other than that, Mass Effect, early Dragon Age are all great. And anything by CDPR absolutely shows how important the craft of writing is - even when a particular arc is lacklustre overall, the sheer quality of the writing still puts most game storylines in the shade.
 

Bimbanana

A Gentleorc
Joined
Oct 8, 2025
Messages
372
Points
93
Shadow of the Colossus
MGS 3
I was always fascinated with Final Fantasy VIII's story-line. The idea of a land of "Gardens" and each one with its own story, but revolving around kids training to become merciless assassins. I really hoped Hollywood would do something with that someday. :love: It had a lot of promise.
Oh! my very first RPG game
 

RepresentingSilence

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2019
Messages
768
Points
133
I feel obligated to mention the first game that got me into stories to begin with

The legend of dragoon

Not only was it the first game to ever make me actually care about the story it was also the game that helped me get past my learning disability that delayed my learning to read
 

melchi

What is a custom title?
Joined
May 2, 2021
Messages
2,909
Points
153

When I think of games with an amazing story this one is the first that comes to mind.
 

Worthy39

The protagonist's third cousin, twice removed
Joined
Aug 6, 2025
Messages
651
Points
93
That's a tough one, especially since I'm a big fan of environmental storytelling. But in terms of story, I'm going to give it to the original Xenoblade. I feel like the characters were actually a bit better in the third one, but for me, the plot twist in the original is what sells it for me.

Though I also feel like lost in random deserves an honorable mention, at least. It's not really one of the best I've played, but it was very enjoyable, and you definitely get your money's worth.
 
Top