It’s not unusual for games focused on storytelling to sacrifice gameplay depth in favor of broader appeal, offering a more undemanding experience for casual players to appreciate the narrative and emotional beats. However, that’s not always the case. While some titles include flexible difficulty options to allow a comfortable playstyle even for unsophisticated players, there are also story-focused games backed by an impressive level of mechanical complexity, capable of pleasantly surprising even hardcore gamers.
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For players seeking immersion in an exciting story, these AAA games absolutely deliver.
By mastering the best of both worlds, some of the greatest games offer an excellent balance between an exciting narrative and intricately designed systems – approachable, yet deep and flexible enough to satisfy players throughout the journey. Below are such acclaimed examples that represent a masterclass in both storytelling and gameplay.
God of War
A Blueprint for a Gaming Series Reboot
No less than 2018’s GOTY, God of War stands as a perfect example of rebooting and modernizing an iconic gaming series that had started to show its age, welcoming newcomers while respecting its legacy in the most rewarding ways possible. While in its opening hour, God of War might feel overly cinematic and even restrictive at times, the game gradually opens up as players progress, unveiling layered and refined gameplay mechanics that require learning to fully master.
God of War delivers a cinematic and deeply personal story full of memorable characters, a fierce and satisfying combat system with flexible upgrades, rewarding metroidvania-like exploration with hidden secrets to uncover, and spectacular boss battles that sometimes outshine even Hollywood blockbusters. It’s a full package that remains a must-play PlayStation Studios title to this day.
The Last of Us Part 2
An Ambitious Sequel That Takes Risks Head-On
A lot has been said about The Last of Us Part 2 over the years, as it’s easily among the most divisive triple-A games ever made – and that’s what makes it so great and memorable. Instead of taking a safe path (like God of War Ragnarök), Naughty Dog took creative risks in both story and gameplay, unafraid to challenge its own fanbase. Without delving into the details of its ambiguity that most players are fully aware of by now, The Last of Us Part 2 stands as a definite masterclass in action-horror gameplay and ambitious multi-perspective storytelling.
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No matter where someone stands on the direction taken with the story and characters in TLOU 2, it’s hard to deny Naughty Dog’s expertise in delivering shocking twists and emotional revelations at unparalleled emotional levels, all grounded in refined, brutal gameplay that still has virtually no competition five years later.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Punching Well Above Its League
A potential GOTY for 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already cemented its legacy as one of the most praised and discussed games of the year, and rightfully so. For a debut project, Expedition 33 has blown expectations out of the water, surprising even players who thought its early trailers looked suspiciously good.
Without warning, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delivers an emotionally charged story that keeps players guessing until the very end, set in a gorgeous world of rare beauty unlike anything else. It’s coupled with an innovative, parry-focused combat system that blends the depth of turn-based party combat with dynamic engagements and a spectacular combat flow. As compelling to experience as a story and no less absorbing to play, Clair Obscur is an all-timer to be remembered for years.
Cyberpunk 2077
A Major Step Up From the Witcher
All its early-day issues aside, Cyberpunk 2077 represents a major step forward for CD Projekt RED gameplay-wise compared to The Witcher series – all while keeping the same, if not more ambitious, storytelling. It’s also backed by a cinematic first-person perspective rarely seen implemented into narrative design at levels this strong and immersive. While widely praised for its quests, characters, and story, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt actually offers fairly limited gameplay and combat variety (that witcher-y sense is very mid-2010s), and Cyberpunk 2077 feels like a direct response to that.
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These are the absolute masterpieces that any player keen on open-world games should try.
With dozens of new weapon categories to master, both melee and firearm, the addition of proper stealth and hacking mechanics, and several layers of character progression to customize as players see fit, Cyberpunk 2077 is just as engaging in its story, quests, and characters as it is in its combat experimentation. Many players can spend hours creating custom builds and testing them out at enemy camps, discovering new possibilities along the way, which explains the game’s enduring popularity.
Portal 2
From Experimental Project to GOTY Contender
Portal 2 is a truly legendary game from the era when Valve still actively made video games. A masterclass in sequel design, Portal 2 was almost as significant an improvement over the experimental original as Half-Life 2 was over the groundbreaking first game. Narratively rich, with deeper lore and unforgettable revelations about the Aperture Science facility and the supercomputer GLaDOS, Portal 2 brought the franchise to new storytelling heights.
Of course, gameplay and mind-bending puzzles remained at the heart of the Portal 2 experience, with so many additions to the classic portal mechanics, it’s almost unbelievable. From tractor beams, lasers, and light bridges to paint-like gel particles, all supported by extraordinary sound design, Portal 2 for years stood as the perfect video game, even without considering its separate co-op mode, where two players solve intricately designed puzzles as a duo of charming robots.
NieR: Automata
PlatinumGames’ True Masterpiece
Brilliant in every aspect, from action and worldbuilding to music and characters, NieR: Automata blends strong narrative and engaging gameplay so effortlessly that it still feels like a miracle. Absorbing from the very first minutes, with a storyline so intricate and full of mystery that players have to play the game repeatedly to fully understand every character’s motivation and perspective, along with surprisingly sincere messages throughout, NieR: Automata is an emotional rollercoaster elevated by its unforgettable soundtrack.
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And of course, it’s PlatinumGames we’re talking about, so if anyone has doubts about how Nier: Automata plays – leave them where they are. Beyond its highly polished, fast-paced action combat and robust gear options, the game features other playable characters with unique mechanics, like 9S’s hacking mini-game, entirely fresh segments such as full-fledged robot assaults in a flying drone, unexpected shifts in camera perspective, and standout boss encounters that are impossible to forget.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
The Perfect Gaming Sci-Fi Trilogy
Ever since its launch, Mass Effect felt like a game from the future, blending a cinematic narrative RPG players hadn’t experienced before with robust combat mechanics, branching dialogue, and distinct playable classes with their own strengths and weaknesses. Instead of continuing an evolutionary approach, BioWare fully rethought its gameplay direction in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, pushing the sequels closer to traditional cover-based shooters while never compromising the depth of the RPG systems or the spectacular, personalized storytelling.
Re-released years later as Mass Effect Legendary Edition, this standout sci-fi trilogy remains unmatched in its epic narrative full of major decisions with long-term consequences. And even if the combat starts to show its age, the original Mass Effect trilogy still delivers dynamic combat encounters, complete with a wide variety of unique maps, dozens of fantastic abilities, distinct weapons, and reactive enemies, fully immersing players in a high-stakes galactic war.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Timeless Open-World That Never Ceases to Amaze
As years go by, Red Dead Redemption 2 never stops amazing its players, who continue discovering new secrets and mind-blowing details in Rockstar’s monumental western. Featuring what is arguably the most detailed and reactive open world to date, along with sprawling storytelling that lets players truly live as Arthur Morgan and seamlessly leads into the first game, RDR2’s legacy is pretty much unmatched.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is home to some of the most convincing side characters and NPCs in gaming, complete with detailed routines and believable lifestyles. Such care directly enhances the narrative, as players witness the highs and lows of the Van der Linde gang alongside its members, while the freeform gameplay systems make interactions with random strangers feel meaningful. Even some outdated mission design and certain restrictions can’t diminish the colossal achievement pulled by the team with this one.
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