Xenogears for me. The sheer scale of the story, the themes it explores, the great characters, and all the twists - it really makes for a one of a kind story in gaming.
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What is in your opinion the best story told in gaming?
- Thread starter Slushimi
- Start date
I don't know about the best, but the only gaming story that moved me heavily at the time and continues to touch my soul a year later is Outer Wilds. Truly spectacular bit of storytelling that leverages everything great about video games to deliver a message that is meaningful, relevant, touching, and surprisingly personal.
I love the story Celeste told - perhaps not quite on the same scale as some of the bigger ones already mentioned here but felt it deserved a nod.
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OP
Exactly my thoughts here. For example BOTW is one of those games that while lacking in story is good enough for me to beat it completely, but I'd be hard pressed to finish a game like Astral Chain because the story just isn't interesting enough for me to power through the last few acts
Definitely two games I can't wait to play!
It's Final Fantasy Tactics for me. Political espionage, betrayal, a corrupt church. Everything about it is just so perfect. I can't do it justice with a description. It's something that just has to be experienced.
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Fully agreed haha, have so many games now I'm looking forward to try out!
Yeah if we're counting Visual Novels as games then House in Fata Morgana is a top contender.
Lot of good picks already said, Nier 1+2, kotor, disco, red dead 2, i'll throw in Lisa too
edit: oh oh oh and 999 and detention are good too its hard to decideee
The last of us part 2 is the most invested I've ever been on a story. It's the best story in a video game for me.
Fallout: New Vegas. Such a simple premise, three factions are seeking control of a dam and a city. The motivations and politics behind each faction is just amazing to listen to and experience. Even the one that's without a doubt evil, is still an amazing experience to learn about.
It's a simple story told amazingly well.
It's a simple story told amazingly well.
I can't speak to the overall game storyarc, but each of these individual stories of Lost Odyssey on the Xbox 360 was amazing.
Love, Loss, and Lost Odyssey | Passion For Games (passionforgamessite.com)
Love, Loss, and Lost Odyssey | Passion For Games (passionforgamessite.com)
Oh god, there's too many to choose from.
Horizon Zero Dawn, TLOU 1/2, FF7/8/10, LiS 1 off the top of my head are masterpieces.
And Mass Effec trilogy.
Horizon Zero Dawn, TLOU 1/2, FF7/8/10, LiS 1 off the top of my head are masterpieces.
And Mass Effec trilogy.
- Lost Odyssey
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Ace Combat 5 / Ace Combat 0
- The Last Guardian
- KOTOR 2
- Jade Empire
- Eternal Darkness
- MGS3 /MGS4
- Metro Last Light
- Quantum Break
My favorite story is the list would probably be Shadow of the Colossus. Or Ace Combat 5. I don't know. Too hard to decide.
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Ace Combat 5 / Ace Combat 0
- The Last Guardian
- KOTOR 2
- Jade Empire
- Eternal Darkness
- MGS3 /MGS4
- Metro Last Light
- Quantum Break
My favorite story is the list would probably be Shadow of the Colossus. Or Ace Combat 5. I don't know. Too hard to decide.
The Last of Us Parts 1 & 2. To me, that's an easy call. The best stories are not just interesting, but have strong delivery. The Last of Us has it all.
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. Not only for its lovely, creative, and inspired narrative, but also because of how well it ties its story with the video game medium, and even the DS hardware.
I'll have to say Disco Elysium. It has something going for it that other good stories don't have and that's exceptional prose. Shoutouts to Heaven's Vault, Florence, Wide Ocean Big Jacket, and We Know the Devil. It's just that their scope might be too small to be the "best story told in gaming".
I've actually come to the opposite realization lately; story is almost entirely incidental to my enjoyment of a game, and the more prominent a game's story is, the more likely I am to find it wearying.
That said, my answer for games I've finished is probably Silent Hill 2 or the original Nier.
It's probably actually this, but I need to go back through and actually finish it to say for sure (I got to the town that was shifting over into Carceri, which I gather is pretty far).
That said, my answer for games I've finished is probably Silent Hill 2 or the original Nier.
It's probably actually this, but I need to go back through and actually finish it to say for sure (I got to the town that was shifting over into Carceri, which I gather is pretty far).
The Nier games, 13 Sentinels, and 999/VLR come to mind, mostly because of the way their stories unfold, in ways unique to the medium and not just as linear stories.
Same here.
Silent Hill 2 remains the unbeaten champion to this day for me, not just because it has a great story, but because of how it integrates your gameplay behavior into the outcome.
Not just a game-changer, but it greatly impacted me as a human being and how I think about dealing with terminal illnesses.
OP
OP
The absolute generic story of DQ XI soured my feelings on DQ, is DQV that much of an improvement story wise?
The Last Guardian - A simple and predictable story that's told exceptionally well.
God of War (2018) - What a change from the original games. One of the best games this gen and a fantastic story.
The Last of Us - One of the most emotionally resonant stories told, not just in gaming but in modern media.
The Last of Us Part 2 - They could have been lazy with this story and everyone would have been fine with it, but Naughty Dog did the opposite. They took everything amazing about the first game and flipped it on its head. An unapologetic and brave story that will pull at your heartstrings wether you like it or not.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - No one was expecting to prefer Arthur over John and yet here we are. Watching this story unfold is an experience that is unmatched in gaming.
Portal 2 - A fun story with some truly funny writing. Very few games can make me laugh but this one does it from beginning to end. It helps that it's also one of the best games of all times.
Yakuza Zero - I'm currently playing through this and I must say that the story and characters are one of the main draws. I can't speak more because I haven't finished it yet.
Disco Elysium - I haven't played this yet, but my goodness I can't stop hearing about how exceptional the story and writing are. I can't wait to play it on consoles in March.
Final Fantasy Tactics - A surprisingly good story with a terrible translation.
Metal Gear Solid - A fantastic "action film story", well told and well acted.
God of War (2018) - What a change from the original games. One of the best games this gen and a fantastic story.
The Last of Us - One of the most emotionally resonant stories told, not just in gaming but in modern media.
The Last of Us Part 2 - They could have been lazy with this story and everyone would have been fine with it, but Naughty Dog did the opposite. They took everything amazing about the first game and flipped it on its head. An unapologetic and brave story that will pull at your heartstrings wether you like it or not.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - No one was expecting to prefer Arthur over John and yet here we are. Watching this story unfold is an experience that is unmatched in gaming.
Portal 2 - A fun story with some truly funny writing. Very few games can make me laugh but this one does it from beginning to end. It helps that it's also one of the best games of all times.
Yakuza Zero - I'm currently playing through this and I must say that the story and characters are one of the main draws. I can't speak more because I haven't finished it yet.
Disco Elysium - I haven't played this yet, but my goodness I can't stop hearing about how exceptional the story and writing are. I can't wait to play it on consoles in March.
Final Fantasy Tactics - A surprisingly good story with a terrible translation.
Metal Gear Solid - A fantastic "action film story", well told and well acted.
Well I should qualify that I like simpler stories in games... but yes. V is essentially a revenge story where you start as a child and grow into an adult. It has a Count of Monte Cristo feel to it.
From the top of my head:
- Silent Hill 2
- Portal 2
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
- That Dragon, Cancer
- Dragon Age II
- Silent Hill 2
- Portal 2
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
- That Dragon, Cancer
- Dragon Age II
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I think I enjoyed Control more than anything else in a while, honestly.
Edit: God of War PS4 and TLOU 2 are also massively heavy hitters here also.
Edit: God of War PS4 and TLOU 2 are also massively heavy hitters here also.
Best is too broad of a thing to say, methinks.
Planescape has a lot of brilliance in it. It's also dated in a few ways but it has truly exceptional theming and a lot of great writing on a micro and macro level. Quirky fun characters, tragedy, and a series of mysteries that often have surprising answers but not in a way that feels cheap and just in it to trick you.
Ghost Trick is a joy almost start to finish. You're constantly laughing and smiling (unless you get stuck on a puzzle). It's another mystery that doesn't fuck up at the end with unsatisfying nonsense. Everyone loves missile, and with good reason!
Wolfenstein: The New Order is part of a series that would have you going in with very low story expectations. Instead of a dumb musclehead space marine dude, the protagonist is recontextualised as a kind of warrior poet in his private thoughts who longs for a peaceful life but just can't let those bastard nazis run the world. The plot may be silly, but the cast of characters is exceptional and it's a game that has a lot to say, unexpectedly.
- Planescape Torment
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
- Wolfenstein: The New Order
Planescape has a lot of brilliance in it. It's also dated in a few ways but it has truly exceptional theming and a lot of great writing on a micro and macro level. Quirky fun characters, tragedy, and a series of mysteries that often have surprising answers but not in a way that feels cheap and just in it to trick you.
Ghost Trick is a joy almost start to finish. You're constantly laughing and smiling (unless you get stuck on a puzzle). It's another mystery that doesn't fuck up at the end with unsatisfying nonsense. Everyone loves missile, and with good reason!
Wolfenstein: The New Order is part of a series that would have you going in with very low story expectations. Instead of a dumb musclehead space marine dude, the protagonist is recontextualised as a kind of warrior poet in his private thoughts who longs for a peaceful life but just can't let those bastard nazis run the world. The plot may be silly, but the cast of characters is exceptional and it's a game that has a lot to say, unexpectedly.
Not what I would normally jump to when I think story, but one of the more recent examples for me is the rhythm game, Deemo. The gut punch at the end broke me. :(
I can't believe I forgot to mention this game. What a beautiful and captivating story.