Favorite Video Game Stories

These are my favorite video game stories. These aren't the only ones I've enjoyed, but to me they represent some of the narrative success that games have found.

Some of the more evocative games with good stories, such as Shadow of the Colossus and the Portal games, don't appear here. While it may seem counter intuitive to leave off such exceptional game stories, for the purposes of this list I am looking at stories with more traditional formats, and games where the narrative is always at the forefront, not gameplay. Continuing with the Portal example, the story and writing are superb, but there is a clear emphasis on the gameplay of puzzle solving and using the portal gun. This contrasts with a game like BioShock or FFX, which can have fun gameplay but I don't think anyone would argue that the bigger focus is on the story. I realize this distinction is a matter of personal opinion, so I'm simply trying to convey my process, not convert anyone into thinking that stories of one type are better than another.

Ordered by release date.