Now that video-games have adopted more Hollywood screenwriters to give their work a more immersive and story-driven experience, which games do you believe not only have the best story, but utilize it to the medium’s full potential?
If I had to pick one, I would say the 2011 version of The Stanley Parable.
What are your picks?
Lost Odyssey and Mass Effect both have good writing worthy of any story. Greatly enjoyed these games, especially Lost Odyssey as a story that reveals the past of the mysterious main character in forms of short stories, and the fact that you can keep the main character mysterious really shows the talent of the writers. It's not an easy thing to do. – SpectreWriter9 years ago
While not entirely an original idea, The Last of Us's post-apocalyptic narrative was incredibly character driven and made me care for Joel and Ellie more than I have ever cared for any character in a video game. What makes the game so great is its numerous twists and turns that leave the player on the edge unable to guess what will happen next. – cdenomme969 years ago
I feel Rockstar produces great games (they're known for the Grand Theft Auto series). Though some of their games have garnered a lot of controversy and criticism for misogyny and violence, I think the way they incorporate critical themes and satire into the character's dialogue is very fluid. The games feel like interactive/playable movies to an extent, and character development is really strong (as they're not just typical one dimensional stock characters). – Kim9 years ago
For both it's story and manner in which it is told, I must make mention of Valiant Hearts. More narrative than video game this could become the next generation of the old tired history textbook. If an article were to look at strong story content I would also recommend speaking to the manners in which story can engage it's audience, and the play it has on a game and its mechanics. – ApeX9 years ago
Avalon: The Legend Lives takes the crown for me. As a text based game its writing is its lifeblood and Avalon has some of the most evocative, creative text I've ever seen. Here are a few examples: The final blood-curdling cry conspires with your dramatic stigmata and the weakened form of Bugfrei Zand. The song's coda is a conflagration: Bugfrei Zand raised momentarily by the power of your song, shaking dangerously, unconsciously, helplessly with each rising note. And then he shatters in a torrent of unspeakable body-parts inside and out. Dead; the Bard's final word. Light is blotted out across the land and the very firmament grows black as pitch. The only sight visible is Cornelius, the all-consuming opening his divine arms - wide enough to encompass the world - as He pours forth his faer-essence, gathering an incandescent sphere of pure immortal might. Cornelius turns to Tyranis, god of war, the fulgent globe raised aloft.... Your eyes are filled, all of a sudden, with a burning red light and you feel your skeleton knit together within your ghostly form. Still enveloped in the deep magic of the resurrection you open your blurring eyes to catch the last shreds of skin grow back onto your regenerated flesh. You are whole again; but once resurrected a second conflagration is set in motion: the phoenix rebirth. The rubies of your opalescent spectrum grow enflamed, the crucible of your life-giving reaction sprouting firewings dripping white-hot waterfalls about the location. The phoenix-fire wings spread to their fullest extent, describing an arc above the entire locale raining fire and terror on all sentient witnesses to your magnificent return to life. There's something about good MUD writing that really gets under my skin and makes my pulse race.
– Elsalvador9 years ago
This is great because you can examine the more film-centric approach to story telling that a lot of games have done recently, and extremely well, like The Witcher 3, or take a look/contrast it with more immersive story telling where you're very much a part of the world and uncovering the "secrets" and "story" as you progress: Bloodborne, Dark Souls 1 & 2, Demon's Souls. I've been thinking about this kinda topic for a while so I might dive in in a little bit... – edwinhenry9 years ago
After playing "Metroid Prime 2" I was hooked on possible ideas for a film. It has so much potential, especially in the realm of "Alien". While many games have a amazing stories, several are perfect in videogame format (especially ones with multiple endings and choices, like Dragon Age). I am however, often inspired by the atmosphere of games, they suggest a bigger story that could be told effectively in a film, much like Metroid which while having story is more of just going and completing tasks rather than an in-depth tale, so my point is that it's not always story that could make for a great film adaption of a videogame. – smartstooge9 years ago
The best story I've seen in a game lately is the one in Dust: The Elysian Tale. It's a very rich story and has an adorable Nimbat character guiding and tagging along with the main hero, Dust. The game revolves around stopping the general's forces and also involves Dust regaining his memory as at the beginning he forgets who he was. – AdamThePhantump9 years ago
Thomas Was Alone is a really good example of the writing complimenting the gameplay. Because of the voiceover, you actually care for these little blocks that move about. – FJHockey9 years ago
I second The Witcher 3. It's got a really good, well written story, utilizes all it's game mechanics fully, and it's probably one of the few games where I don't feel like I'm doing busy work. – Helmet9 years ago