11 Great Video Game Stories (and their respective platforms)

There is a never ending argument as to what the balance of ‘Game VS Story’ should be but in this article it’s not about that. I’m going to focus purely on great and unique stories. For the longest time we simply accepted that video game stories were of a lower calibre compared to their film and television counterparts but I STRONGLY believe that this is no longer the case. So here are 11 games with a great story you can’t afford to miss and where to play them (in no particular order).

The Last of us Part 1 & 2:

Let’s start with the obvious ones. The Last of Us was really the first triple A game to put story at it’s forefront and really shook up the scene with its initial release in 2013. Praised across the board for its story TLOU1 received a 95 on metacritic. The long awaited sequel released in 2020 with one of the greatest video game stories of all time. An in depth exploration into what it means to be human, what it means to choose between love and hate and how what happens to a person once they get engulfed in hate. An absolute must play with the remake of part 1 and TV show coming soon.

Platforms: PS3, PS4, PS5

TWD Seasons 1 - 5:

I’m going to be completely honest, there are a few telltale games on this list but they’re amazing so other devs… step up. The Walking Dead TV show may have been met with mixed reviews as of late but the Telltale Walking Dead games are the complete antithesis of the show. Now released in one big collection, you would expect some duds across 5 seasons, two side stories and 30 episodes but that is far from the case. I recommend getting the collection and just playing through every game in one go. The first season gets the most praise, for obvious reasons, but I genuinely believe that every season is just as good as the first (maybe not season 3 but that’s still an amazing story irrespective just… different). A MUST play for people who love tear jerking emotional beats in their games.

Platforms: PX4/5, XBOX (Not Gamepass), Nintendo Switch (Collection unavailable but every season is on it, just needs to be bought separately)

Oxenfree:

A game that came out of the blue and took a cult community by storm. A video game that knows you exist and breaks the fourth wall without addressing the fourth is a concept that sounds crazy but is entirely done by Nightschool studio with one of my favourite games of all time in Oxenfree. The game follows our green haired protagonist Alex as she meets her new step-brother and wants to introduce to her troubled group of friends on a night at the beach. The game quickly takes a left turn as strange things begin to happen on the island. The story unfolds via a simple radio tuning mechanic and dialogue options that require a genuine amount of thought. But this isn’t where the game shines the most. Being a game regarding regret and time loops, the game NEEDS a few playthroughs in order to understand the full breath of the story. Starting a new game isn’t simply loading a new save, it’s creating a new timeline for Alex to explore. That’s all I will say. Only around 4 hours and available on everything (even linux).

Platforms: PC, PS4/4, XBOX (Gamepass available) Nintendo Switch, PC, Apple OSX, IOS, Android, Linux

Triangle Strategy:

Now a 40 hour turn based strategy game may not be for everyone but let me tell you… the story is insane! The story is a Tolkien/Martin inspired tale of warfare amongst nations and what it means to decide to go to war. You do not get to make choices in this game, instead you have a council of very charming peers who will decide major decisions for you as a community. The only chance you have is to talk to them in order to maybe influence their feelings to the decisions you will have to make. I legitimately put the game down and pondered for an entire day as to which choice to make and how to move forward with the story as it would have some serious ramifications for these characters that ArtDink and Square Enix put so much time into fleshing out. The decisions are never easy, and often, there is no right choice, only the lesser of two wrong choices. The gameplay is also one of the more deep XCOM style games with a great build up/ critical hit mechanic that encourages more daring gameplay. Plus look at this artstyle, absolutely stunning and a wonderfully composed score by the great Akira Senju.

Platform: Nintendo Switch Only

Spec ops: The Line:

Let’s talk underrated games for a second. Spec ops: The Line was really the first game to question what the term ‘humanity’ really means. In an age where society is continuing to question our higher ups and the true influence of authority, it’s very safe today that Spec Ops: The Line was very ahead of its time. You play as a trio of American soldiers going through, what first appears as, a paint by numbers war game. But slowly as you continue the game, you begin to question what it means to label an individual a ‘hero’ when their actions cease to be heroic. The Boys, Black Panther, heck even The Last of Us: Part 2 explore these themes but Spec Ops did it first and they did it well. The gameplay is tons of fun too with a very interesting sand mechanic that can quickly flood an area of enemies to give you an advantage, this game was ahead of it’s time in so many facets and does not truly get the flowers it deserves. A little difficult to find on playstation platforms though as it was removed from PSNow and is not currently on the premium offering for PS+. This being said, lead developer Cory Davis is still pushing for a sequel. After speaking to GAMINGbible, he made it very clear he wants a remake or a sequel and just needs to right people at 2K to give him the all clear.

Platforms: PC, XBOX, PS3.

Tales From the Borderlands:

I’m gonna say it… this one game is better than any Borderlands game ever made (don’t hate me). A real surprise for most gamers as a new story with new characters written by a new team in an already established world is a risk. Where in The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, a decision based game seems kind of obvious, Borderlands didn't strike me as the type of game where this would work but it really, really, really, does. The new characters are lovable and the decisions the game has you make are hard but that all adds to the fun of what this game is. The more I say the more I worry I’ll spoil the genuinely funny moments in this game so just go play it, it’s amazing and has a sequel coming out NEXT MONTH! So let’s be excited for it together. (Plus episode one is free!)

Platforms: PS4/5, XBOX, PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

The Wolf Among Us:

Play it, seriously just play it. The controls aren’t difficult so it allows anyone and everyone to enjoy this great game and great story with a great artstyle and sequel soon to come. PLEASE just play this amazing 10/10 game it will be worth your time. (Plus episode one is free!)

Platforms: PS4/5, XBOX, PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

What Remains of Edith Finch:

If you want a tear jerker of a game, here it is. The best game you will never want to play again because it will rip your soul out and have it for breakfast (in a good way). A game where a deeply sad story slowly unveils itself as you explore the house of the Finch family and learn their secrets and what unfortunate fate became of every member via a great variation of mini games. My two favourites being the cat mini game, where you play as a young child morphing into animals but realise it’s her soul going to heaven, and the fish cutting one, which cut my heart in half. This game won a BAFTA for its efforts and still holds up as one of the greatest stories ever told. Not just in gaming.

Platforms: PS4/5, XBOX, PC, iOS, Nintendo Switch

Telling Lies:

So this game is a weird one. I recommend playing with a notepad and pen because there is alot to remember (and it makes you feel like the cute little detective you are). The premise is simple, you are a mysterious woman who is looking through videos of a man who has something suspicious going on. As you play the game you will pick up on words being said by characters in-game and need to search those words to see what other videos come up. You slowly piece together a timeline of events and uncover the truth of who this man is, who this mysterious woman is, and what happened to everyone in the story. FMV games are making a comeback and Sam Barlow is head a shoulders above everyone else doing it.

Platforms: PS4/5, XBOX, PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

Portal 2:

Portal 2 needs no introduction but this is my blog post and I’ll do what I want DAD!. Portal 1 is an absolute banger of a game but something magical happened in its sequel… It was funny. The game didn’t need a story because the mechanics can carry itself but Glados, Cave Johnson and Nolan North help add the perfect seasoning to a gorgeous steak.

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

Firewatch:

A gorgeous work retreat to the forest as a fire watcher (dude who looks for fires and stuff in the forest) turns into an exploration of love, dementia and spooky spooks. A mechanically simple game, the chill exploration of nature and discovery of a mystery is underlined by a truly heartfelt story of a man coming to terms with his wife’s dementia. Cute conversations with your firewatch leader over radio help unfold the story of this less than 4 hour experience. There are some confusing moments, and a better map would be welcome, but it is a great story that is worth everyone’s time to play.

Platforms: PS4/5, XBOX, PC, Linux, Nintendo Switch

I would love to hear your suggestions too! @newajseyes across all aocials!