Best Story Rich Video Games

Welcome to the Best Story Rich Video Games

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Video games have a near endless potential for story. They present an opportunity for players to actually be a character, not just in their heads but in the actions taken and the dialogue they choose. Unlike TV and film, there's less requirement that it be in the real world, with less need for expensive special effects. The result is a medium that can reach higher emotional points than others, but only when it has a great, story-focused development team behind it.

Needless to say, that's not common, so we've compiled a list of all the best stories in gaming.

The ranking

1

The Last Of Us (2013)

by Dog, Naughty

Naughty Dog tells great stories. That was clear already from its incredible work on the Uncharted series. With this title, however, the development team really mastered the formula. They took all the good parts from th...

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2

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

by Red, Cd Projekt

With the Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red managed to create a game so compelling that it has almost universal appeal. The open world title brings the player to a beautiful, breathing world that's made dark only by the people...

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3

Planescape: Torment (1999)

by Studios, Black Isle

At the time of its release, Planescape: Torment was not a huge commercial success. It didn't sell millions of copies, but it was noted as an amazing title, and almost twenty years later, it stands out even more. Plane...

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4

Alan Wake (2010)

by Entertainment, Remedy

With inspiration from greats like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Alfred Hitchcock, you would expect Alan Wake to have a strong story, and you'd be entirely correct. This psychological thriller lives up to its creators'...

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5

Heavy Rain (2010)

by Aspyr, Quantic Dream &

Heavy Rain is not a perfect game. It struggles with some questionable voice acting, is driven largely by quick time events, and even has some narrative missteps. The scope of it can't be denied, however, and nor can t...

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6

Chrono Trigger (1995)

It may have roots on the SNES over twenty years ago, but Chrono Trigger is still one of the most original and compelling stories in gaming. This title's originality has led to numerous remakes, and it's still playable...

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7

Grand Theft Auto Iv (2008)

by North, Rockstar

Mechanically, GTA IV is not the best in the series. It takes away many of the RPG elements that made San Andreas great, and its car controls are shaky at best. Nor does it have the incredible world of GTA V, or its th...

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8

Portal 2 (2011)

by Press, Future

There are few series as imaginative as Portal when it comes to storytelling. The first game weaves a short tale with puzzles and comedy, but the second stretches into a longer masterpiece that holds even more value....

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9

Silent Hill 2 (2001)

by Tokyo, Konami Computer Entertainment

Horror isn't usually the genre you associate with great stories. By now, movie-goers will be used to the same tired clichés and plot mechanics. Video games, however, are different, and Silent Hill 2 proved that very e...

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10

Life Is Strange (2015)

by Entertainment, Dontnod

This fantastic blend of fantasy and high-school drama manages to create a truly emotional story that explores important concepts. Dontnod Entertainment tells the story of a photographer with a mysterious power to turn...

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11

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (2006)

Plenty of development studios have tried to do justice to the Star Wars name, with varying degrees of success. Knights of the Old Republic got in there early, however, and arguably no game has done it better since. Ko...

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12

Bioshock (2007)

If you're at all familiar with the history of videogames, this title will already hold a place in your heart. But the joy of Bioshock is that it can be discovered by anyone, at any time, and still be a compelling titl...

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13

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty (2001)

by Japan, Konami Computer Entertainment

The Metal Gear Solid series has gone down as some of the best storytelling, not just in video games, but period. But while there are countless titles that deserve an accolade, Sons of Liberty is that title that truly...

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14

The Wolf Among Us (2013)

by Games, Telltale

Telltale came into the spotlight with its adaptation of The Walking Dead, but this title's focus makes for a much more original story. An adaptation of Bill Willingham's Fables, it tells the tale of folklore creatures...

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15

Final Fantasy Vi

While Final Fantasy VII is undoubtedly one of the best in the series, there's plenty of value to be found in its predecessor, too. The sixth installment may not have the same 3D graphics, but it does edge just ahead i...

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16

Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (1998)

by Ead, Nintendo

There's no doubt that the Zelda series holds some amazing storytelling. The reinvention of Link's legend with each telling is the ground for consistently new and interesting tales. This particular title, however, has...

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17

Baldur's Gate 2 (2000)

This faultless improvement on the original title still has a scope beyond many of today's biggest RPGs. Created at BioWare's heights, this game throws you into a D&D inspired world where the protagonist is the subject...

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18

Deus Ex (2000)

This is a title as revolutionary in its story as it is in its mechanics. Deus Ex has been labeled a founding father of the stealth genre, but underneath those accolades is an incredible, original story that still reso...

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19

Half Life 2 (2004)

by Corporation, Valve

There's little bad to be said about this title, which has kept gamers yearning for the next installment for over a decade. It's easily one of the best games ever created, and that owed to its story just as much as it'...

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Trending Books in Best Story Rich Video Games

Half Life 2 (2004)

Corporation, Valve

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Final Fantasy Vi

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Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty (2001)

Japan, Konami Computer Entertainment

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Alan Wake (2010)

Entertainment, Remedy

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Heavy Rain (2010)

Aspyr, Quantic Dream &

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Chrono Trigger (1995)

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Grand Theft Auto Iv (2008)

North, Rockstar

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Portal 2 (2011)

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Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (1998)

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The Wolf Among Us (2013)

Games, Telltale

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