Summary
- Some games prioritize storytelling over gameplay, leading to lackluster experiences for players.
- Duck Detective innovates with intuitive, thematic puzzle-solving, enhancing its narrative.
- Games like Bastion and Alan Wake offer engaging gameplay alongside their unique narratives.
A good story can be an important factor for many players, but games driven by their narrative are often focused on storytelling over innovative gameplay. As a result, while memorable, story-driven games can sometimes feel lackluster to play.
16 Open-World Games With The Best Stories, Ranked
The focus in open-world games is often placed on explorations and player freedom, but some titles manage to tell awesome stories, too.
However, there are a variety of games out there that are able to offer solid gameplay alongside their narratives. Be it the innovative puzzle solving of Duck Detective or the tense action of Alan Wake, there's something here for everyone.
8 Duck Detective
Intuitive, Thematic, & Accessible Puzzle Solving
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
- Released
- May 23, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Happy Broccoli Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Duck Detective is a tongue-in-cheek adventure game with a charming Paper Mario-esque art style and an ensemble cast of quirky characters. The game's distinctive voice actors, witty writing, and tightly woven mystery do much of the heavy lifting, but Duck Detective innovates with its gameplay.
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Duck Detective puts players in the shoes of its eponymous detective and, through a series of mini-games, tasks them with cracking a mysterious case. These mini-games are intuitive, thematic, and surprisingly engaging despite the lack of challenge, synergizing with the narrative and tone of the game.
7 Bastion
Classic Action In A Unique World
Bastion
- Released
- July 20, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Sporting a truly unique, dreamlike art-style, Bastion is an immediately impressive title driven by a simple but dramatic narrative. This story is elevated tenfold by the game's excellent narration, injecting moments of true emotion into what would otherwise be standard action sequences.
Despite excelling with its world-building and narrative, Bastion remains a competent action game via intuitive controls and a diverse arsenal of weaponry. More importantly, many weapons are viable in any given situation, and players are given ample customization over their loadout between missions.
6 Undertale
A Unique Twist On RPGs & Bullet-Hell Action
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Undertale is a distinctive RPG not only for its unique approach to storytelling, but for its quirky combat system. In the game, players are tasked with solving simple puzzles and dealing with a variety of enemies, either through mercy or violence.
All of this is made engaging through a simple but diverse bullet-hell combat system that centers purely around avoiding enemy attacks. With a myriad of unique patterns, Undertale offers a surprisingly diverse set of combat encounters throughout its story-driven adventure. As a result, it's able to remain a game that's not only fun to experience, but fun to interact with.
5 Alan Wake
Surreal Horror & A Unique Combat System
Alan Wake
- Released
- February 16, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
With Remedy Entertainment's sure hand at the wheel, Alan Wake offers a thrilling and surreal adventure that blends horror and action in unique ways. There's plenty to love about Alan Wake's Twin Peaks- inspired setting and surrealist horror, but the gameplay itself makes for an efficient engine beneath the hood.
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Alan Wake's combat system revolves around its fight-with-the-light mechanic, tasking players with utilizing a flashlight to weaken enemies before taking them out for good. It's not the most complex of designs, but it provides players with a one-two punch that's satisfying to pull off.
4 Hades
Slick & Expressive Action With A Slow-Burning Story
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Despite its nature as an action roguelite, Hades contorts its own structure to make way for a core narrative that drives the experience forward. With mechanics that blend into the game's setting and story, Hades is able to offer a decidedly thematic experience.
Hades is still, at its heart, a roguelite, and players that don't enjoy repetition are unlikely to be charmed. However, the game's diverse arsenal of weaponry and abundance of possible builds keeps the action from becoming stale.
3 Tactical Breach Wizards
Tight Turn-Based Tactics & Witty Writing
Tactical Breach Wizards
- Released
- August 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Tactical Breach Wizards is a turn-based tactics game that excels with its puzzle-like level designs. However, it's driven by an engaging narrative in a unique, urban fantasy setting, elevated by witty writing and a cast of charismatic characters.
Though its story provides a fast-paced structure, supported by stylish presentation, Tactical Breach Wizards' greatest strength is arguably its mechanical gameplay. Each combat encounter is a tight, neatly-packed experience that can often be approached in multiple ways, thanks to a generous helping of powerful abilities, environmental hazards, and unique squad members.
2 Dishonored
An Expressive Combination Of Stealth, Exploration, & Combat
Dishonored
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Dishonored is a story-driven stealth game with open-ended level design and a distinctive Steampunk setting that's wildly immersive. The game's narrative is relatively simple, but it's the presentation and delivery of its story that makes it so memorable, supported by unforgettable locations and distinctive characters. However, Dishonored also succeeds with its gameplay, which itself ties into the game's narrative in a neat package.
Though perhaps a point of contention for some, Dishonored tracks the player's level of violence throughout the game, and those that want a remotely happy ending will have to pay close attention. Supported by a variety of weapons, items, and supernatural abilities, players are able to approach each mission in a variety of ways, not dissimilar to an immersive-sim. This results in a tremendous level of player agency that allows for a sense of control over an otherwise linear experience.
1 Hi-Fi Rush
Unique Rhythm-Based Action With A Colorful Story
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PS5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Bursting with color and lighthearted charm, Hi-Fi Rush is an exuberant adventure packed with memorable characters and exciting combat encounters. Succeeding not only with its feel-good story and charismatic cast, but also with its innovative rhythm-based action, Hi-Fi Rush is a journey to remember.
Featuring a combat system akin to character action games such as Devil May Cry, Hi-Fi Rush injects a buoyant energy into each encounter by tasking players with playing to the beat. This synergizes with the classic combo-based gameplay that Hi-Fi Rush makes use of, and, combined with an excellent soundtrack, results in gameplay that's just as memorable as its heartfelt narrative.