Gameplay, visuals, music, and narrative. These are the ingredients required to create a perfect video game. To be able to nail all four of these categories is a miracle and a near-impossibility, but I would argue that nailing either gameplay or narrative is already a great start for a video game looking to make its mark in history.
Here, though, we'll focus on narrative alone. The writing of a video game is the sum of a good plot, great dialogue, lore, and how all of these are delivered. Countless games have shown their narrative prowess since the dawn of video games, but today, we'll only focus on titles that were released in the last ten years, from 2016 onward, and how they impressed with their writing. The only exception made will be for Kentucky Route Zero, which released its final Act in 2020. We'll rank them roughly based on overall quality, but to be honest, it's a very loose criterion, given all of these titles are pure masterpieces.
Kentucky Route Zero
A Masterclass In Narrative, Delivered In Multiple Acts
If there's one title that pushed the limits of the kinds of narratives that can be told in video game format, it's definitely Kentucky Road Zero. The game's charm isn't just in the mysterious narrative of finding the fabled Road Zero that runs through the undergrounds of Kentucky, but also in its art style.
It's not an obvious story by any means, with little tidbits of lore peppered throughout, and leaving many puzzled even after a serious playthrough. As a visual novel, it demands your attention, and it invites you to try and figure out what it is all about at its core, to try and find some great meaning in everything. Within a big story are many smaller ones as you adopt several different protagonists, and you'll definitely be feeling all the feels in this surreal but beautiful experience of a game.
Alan Wake 2
So Absurd It's Actually Good
Alan Wake's writing has always been strange, to say the least. Some love it, others absolutely despise it, but I think there's something to be said about how it perfectly works in the service of a surreal, absurd plot a la David Lynch and Twin Peaks, instead of trying to appeal to the masses in an attempt to please and fit in.
Alan Wake 2's story takes place in two different "worlds" and character perspectives, Alan and Saga, with Alan's horror writings directly affecting the events of the game. Expect all the funny clichés and bizarre moments you can picture finding in something inspired by David Lynch's disturbing work, mixed in with classic Remedy Entertainment storytelling. As a result, it scored the Best Narrative prize during the GOTY Awards in 2023.
What Remains of Edith Finch
The Most Heart-Wrenching Walking Simulator
A book in video game format, What Remains of Edith Finch is an indie title that puts story above everything else. With that, it's no surprise that it manages to do an excellent job at delivering a narrative that will stick with you for a very long time. As the titular Edith, last of her lineage, you set out to uncover what has happened to the rest of your family by exploring the stories of individual family members. The game isn't very long, but it holds you in a tight, bittersweet, and emotional grip the whole way through.
The atmosphere, music, and visuals all work to deliver these haunting tales coherently, and as such, it's easy to see why it was nominated for seven different awards all tied to narrative and storytelling, and scored the 2017 GOTY Best Narrative spot. A must-experience game for everyone who appreciates a rock-solid narrative and isn't afraid of getting a bit teary-eyed.
Silent Hill f
Ryukishi07's Layered Narrative Will Haunt You
A game designed to be played three times over to fully appreciate the depth of its story, Silent Hill f displays the best Ryukishi07's has to offer. It's an incredibly necessary commentary on societal expectations for women in Showa-era Japan, peppered with heavy doses of all things supernatural, cults (in true Silent Hill style), and Japanese folklore centered on the kitsune. There's plenty of strange symbolism to dive into, as the writing marries with the game's gorgeous and horrifying visuals.
And since it's a Silent Hill game, nothing is ever quite as it seems. What is real? What isn't? It's psychological horror at its finest, and it's a perfect example of an unreliable narrator and perspective used as a trick of the eye. With each layer of the story peeled back in the subsequent two playthroughs, Hinako's story and the true depth of what is really going on in Ebisugaoka, and what each character's role truly is, will make you look at your first moments in her shoes with entirely different eyes. That right there is an art form of its own that Silent Hill f perfectly commits to.
Hades
Winner Of The Hugo Award, And For Good Reason
Hades is one of those games that didn't have to lean so hard into its writing to deliver something good, but still did. Its action-packed gameplay alone made it a roguelike hit for Supergiant Games, but it went above and beyond to also hit players with a story and with dialogue that feels detailed, quirky, and unique at every turn. Every person has a voice, and it's clear that a lot of love went into building the world.
The game is also packed with fantastic writing from lore pieces to interactions with the game's various characters, and when paired with the awesome voice acting, it's an experience that's well worth the literary Hugo Award it received in 2021. It was almost universally praised for its witty narrative and has earned its spot among some of the best video games of all time.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
