Indie games that are focused on story

[Alastor3]

Beside the walking simulation like firewatch, rapture, edith finch, etc.

What are some of the best indie game will a good story/characters?

I really liked Banner Saga, Cave Story, Night in the Woods, Fez (the lore is pretty good), Oxenfree, Celeste, Broken Age, Disco Elysium, Obra Dinn, every SuperGiant Games

I feel like ive played them all, the other games are too focused on gameplay and little story.

 

[Rouk']

Aside from those you've named, To the Moon has a pretty good story

 

[Obsonet]

I haven't played it so maybe it's not that story focused but maybe Afterparty?
No idea how good it is though

 

[Lego Killer Moth]

Undertale

 

[Plinkerton]

Celeste doesn't necessarily focus on story but it is an important element of the game. Certainly more so than your typical 2D platformer.

 

[mclem]

I really enjoyed Wandersong.

Her Story is a rather different affair - given the whole premise is piecing *together* the story - but that counts. I wouldn't be surprised if Telling Lies, Sam Barlow's follow-up, also fits the bill, but I've not touched on that yet.

Sunless Sea is way more story-driven than it may appear at first.

 

[pswii60]

Timespinner

A wonderful Metroidvania with interesting story and time travel/manipulation elements.



Based on your love for games like Celeste, Cave Story and FEZ, I reckon you'd like this.

 

[sredgrin]

Undertale, Iconoclasts, Outer Wilds, Observation, Crosscode, Stardew Valley, Unavowed, Wandersong

are all games I'd say have either great stories (Undertale, Outer Wilds) or at least good characters (Crosscode, Stardew) even if their plots are sparse or not always super compelling.

Oh and Lisa the Painful.

 

[Kolx]

Outer Wilds and Undertale have some of the best stories in any video game ever, and the way they tell it makes it extra special.

 

[Jimnymebob]

Thomas Was Alone, outside of the final chapter almost ruining it for me.

I can't really think of many indie games where I've actually enjoyed the story in relation to how big a focus is put on it. Like, I only played Celeste's first 2 or 3 areas, but Madeleine is awful lol, and I guess the game doesn't want me to be on team evil Madeleine, but I am because at least she has sense.

 

[Lyre]

INSIDE
FTL if you like making your own story.

 

[SunBroDave]

Wandersong

It's a Paper Mario game without the turn-based combat or dungeons

 

[kurahador]

Fun game and the story is pretty elaborate and good too.

 

[Yossarian]

Does Kentucky Route Zero count? Not played it myself, but I have heard good things and have it sitting on my hard drive.

Sunless Sea is way more story-driven than it may appear at first.

Click to shrink...

How did I forget this?! Sunless Sea is fantastic.

 

[Anno]

Have you checked out basically everything in the LudoNarraCon sale right now on Steam? All of that should be what you're looking for.

For specific titles I think you should check out King of Dragon Pass, To the Moon, 80 Days, Sunless Sea/Sunless Skies or Heaven's Vault.

 

[shoptroll]

LISA: The Painful RPG

 

[dskzero]

Thomas Was Alone, outside of the final chapter almost ruining it for me.

I can't really think of many indie games where I've actually enjoyed the story in relation to how big a focus is put on it. Like, I only played Celeste's first 2 or 3 areas, but Madeleine is awful lol, and I guess the game doesn't want me to be on team evil Madeleine, but I am because at least she has sense.

Click to shrink...

I need to play this game, I can't believe people say this stuff from those screenshots.

 

[pswii60]

Undertale, Iconoclasts, Outer Wilds, Observation, Crosscode, Stardew Valley, Unavowed, Wandersong

are all games I'd say have either great stories (Undertale, Outer Wilds) or at least good characters (Crosscode, Stardew) even if their plots are sparse or not always super compelling.

Oh and Lisa the Painful.

Click to shrink...

Undertale!! How did I forget? One of my favourite games this generation.

 

[mclem]

I need to play this game, I can't believe people say this stuff from those screenshots.

Click to shrink...

 

[dskzero]

Click to shrink...

I know! It's just so bizarre to think those squares managed so much!

 

[Trelova]

Undertale is a straight topper in this regard.

The writing is consistently super charming, the characters are all lovable, and the story across multiple routes really uses games as a medium to push a genuinely fascinating narrative.

 

[Jimnymebob]

I know! It's just so bizarre to think those squares managed so much!

Click to shrink...

They're really good lol. They all have personalities which combines their shape, colour, and function.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Subsurface Circular
Quarantine Circular

 

[Jimnymebob]

Undertale is a straight topper in this regard.

The writing is consistently super charming, the characters are all lovable, and the story across multiple routes really uses games as a medium to push a genuinely fascinating narrative.

Click to shrink...

I went into this expecting to hate it because of how obnoxious the vocal fans could be, but I absolutely loved it.

 

[Alastor3]

Undertale, Iconoclasts, Outer Wilds, Observation, Crosscode, Stardew Valley, Unavowed, Wandersong

are all games I'd say have either great stories (Undertale, Outer Wilds) or at least good characters (Crosscode, Stardew) even if their plots are sparse or not always super compelling.

Oh and Lisa the Painful.

Click to shrink...

Outer Wilds and Undertale have some of the best stories in any video game ever, and the way they tell it makes it extra special.

Click to shrink...

LISA: The Painful RPG

Click to shrink...

Ohh yeah how could i forget my 2 favorite games outer wilds amazing detective game and Lisa amazing rpg (lisa was basically my top 3 indie game of the last decade)

 

[captainmal01]

Undertale is great and so is Talos Principle if you dig deep.

Aside from those you've named, To the Moon has a pretty good story

Click to shrink...

Have you checked out basically everything in the LudoNarraCon sale right now on Steam? All of that should be what you're looking for.

For specific titles I think you should check out King of Dragon Pass, To the Moon, 80 Days, Sunless Sea/Sunless Skies or Heaven's Vault.

Click to shrink...

To the Moon is one of my most fond games, but it's severely lacking in the gameplay department and probably isn't what the OP is looking for going by the walking sim line.

 

[Thera]

Celeste is one of my GoTG and has a good story, but that's clearly not the focus. Weird to put it here.

Stardew Valley hasn't a story per se, nothing to follow from point A to Z, but the character stories are really great.
Outer Wilds, also one of my GoTG. The story is also most of the puzzles solutions. This is really an experience you need to try.

I didn't played it so others might help (some already did) :

• To The moon
• Subnautica (not sure about this one)
• Minit ?

 

[BinaryTB]

Steam currently has LudoNarraCon 2020 going on:

LudoNarraCon 2024

Global Digital Festival for Narrative Games: May 9 - 13 — FREE for anyone on Steam!

store.steampowered.com

It's "a digital festival celebrating narrative games". It's literally indie games with story, tons with demos.

 

[SteveByDesign]

Virginia.

It is an incredibly emotional game. There is no dialogue, so characters are very expressive in their actions. It is compared to the television show Twin Peaks.

I played it on PS4, pretty cheap can usually find it between 5 and 15 USD.

 

[Deleted member 56803]

Everything by Ice-Pick Lodge. However, I also recommend: Kentucky Route Zero, The Dream Machine, Cryrostasis, Vangers, Killer7, To The Moon/Finding Paradise, SOMA, Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, The Middens Trilogy, A House of Many Doors, Beckett, and LISA.

 

[Deleted member 56803]

Does Kentucky Route Zero count? Not played it myself, but I have heard good things and have it sitting on my hard drive.



How did I forget this?! Sunless Sea is fantastic.

Click to shrink...

I truly recommend KRZ. Not only is it one of my favorite games, it is one of my top pieces of media, period. The way it blends Beckett and Miller's theater styles, the feelings of Marquez's novels, and traditional American Gothic traditions is so damn impressive. One of the few literary games out there.

Also, if you like Sunless Sea, check out the underrated "A House of Many Doors"

 

[Deleted member 56803]

Aside from those you've named, To the Moon has a pretty good story

Click to shrink...

To The Moon has one of the two good autistic characters in gaming.

 

[dskzero]

Everything by Ice-Pick Lodge. However, I also recommend: Kentucky Route Zero, The Dream Machine, Cryrostasis, Vangers, Killer7, To The Moon/Finding Paradise, SOMA, Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, The Middens Trilogy, A House of Many Doors, Beckett, and LISA.

Click to shrink...

I wonder how Cryostasis runs on modern machines.

It was such a mess back then. The plot is absolutely bonkers anyway, such a surreal game.

 

[Bear]

Children of Morta. It's a roguelike but actually has a big focus on the story, which is surprisingly good.

 

[Rosebud]

Undertale
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Detention
Papers, Please (same creator of Obra Dinn)
To The Moon

 

[hiredhand]

Gemini Rue and Thimbleweed Park

 

[Yossarian]

I truly recommend KRZ. Not only is it one of my favorite games, it is one of my top pieces of media, period. The way it blends Beckett and Miller's theater styles, the feelings of Marquez's novels, and traditional American Gothic traditions is so damn impressive. One of the few literary games out there.

Also, if you like Sunless Sea, check out the underrated "A House of Many Doors"

Click to shrink...

Nice! Beckett/Miller mash-up doesn't seem like it'd work on paper, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

A House of Many Doors looks great too!

 

[Alastor3]

I truly recommend KRZ. Not only is it one of my favorite games, it is one of my top pieces of media, period. The way it blends Beckett and Miller's theater styles, the feelings of Marquez's novels, and traditional American Gothic traditions is so damn impressive. One of the few literary games out there.

Also, if you like Sunless Sea, check out the underrated "A House of Many Doors"

Click to shrink...

I loooove sunless sea, so much that im writing a novel that look like it. I'll check out the House of Many Doors!

 

[N.47H.4N]

What Remains of Edith Finch counts? If so,this game is amazing.

 

[Brivs]

Have to contribute, as this thread title is our entire studio's MO. Every game we make is story-docised, and so far we have:

- Home; a 2D horror game where your actions define the narrative
- Alone With You; an "OK Cupid meets Star Trek" adventure game with romance elements
- Worse Than Death; an action-adventure horror game that is all about characters and plot

I'd also recommend CherryMochi's Tokyo Dark, an anime/noir story that's genuinely creepy and completely dedicated to its plot.