Video games are an absolutely unique medium in many ways. They can go far beyond simple visuals and audio. They offer players something that almost no other medium does: agency. It is the player that drives the character forward, they are the ones that control the various aspects of a functional world.
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And so, games can try and do much more than simple storytelling through narration, dialogue, or plain exposition. But taking such a huge leap of faith is often too risky for bigger corporations, which is why a lot of unorthodox games come from the Indie scene. And throughout the years, more and more incredible titles have come to light, telling their story their way.
9 Firewatch
Discovering The Narrative Through Exploration And The Radio
Firewatch
Firewatch is a charming and peaceful game that at a glance might come off as a simple fire lookout simulator, but nothing could be further from the truth. The story begins with Henry’s tragedy, showcasing why he decided to leave everything and brave the lonely wilderness.
As the game progresses, the character and the player find out more about the history of the watch tower and its surroundings, as they find odd items and strange markings, and have long conversations with Delilah, Henry’s supervisor. It is an interesting experience, showing that one doesn’t need hours of narration or even dialogue to build a strong story.
8 Journey
Piecing The World Together Exclusively Via Visual Cues
Journey
- Released
- March 13, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Thatgamecompany
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Journey is an incredible video game that offers an engaging story without any spoken dialogue or text. Players embark on a visually stunning odyssey, conveying thoughts and messages with musical soundtracks. The subtlety of the story encourages personal interaction, allowing emotions to flourish in detail.
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Anonymous co-travelers, sharing the same journey, can unite without verbal exchanges, forming surprisingly powerful unspoken bonds. Through stunning graphics and understated interactions, the game transcends traditional storytelling to create an emotional tale, firmly distinguishing itself from the masses.
7 Papers, Please
A Gripping Story, Told Through Documents
Papers, Please
Bureaucracy might not be the most exciting genre to make a game in, but Papers, Please is anything but boring. Set in a fictional dystopian state, players assume the role of an immigration officer. Players are tasked with checking the documents of various characters, either granting or denying passage into the fictional communist state of Arstotzka.
It is honestly quite shocking, just how much story, drama and suspense can be crammed into such a premise. From document discrepancies to character outbursts to bribes and threats, one can never know what awaits them on the next routine inspection.
6 Hades
To Progress The Story, One Has To Win, And Die, Again And Again
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
Hades is an Action Roguelike, set in a world of Olympic deities and mythical creatures. With every new run players will find out more about the world, and every time Zagreus is revived, he is met with fresh lines and dialogues with various NPCs.
In order to get to the true ending, players will need to beat the game quite a few times, improving their skill and expanding their possibilities through various items and powerups. Dying is as crucial as winning, and the game has countless interesting methods to send Zagreus back to the start.
5 Undertale
Making The Most Of The Video Game Medium
Undertale
Undertale has broken many common tropes and formulas in video games, and in doing so has earned its rightful legendary status. From a fresh perspective on turn-based combat to an incredibly unique world, to jarringly varying endings, the game has shocked countless players worldwide.
From the very beginning, players will find out that the story and the rules are anything but ordinary. Besides being a very different game, the narrative makes beautiful summersaults, probing the players to consider their every action and pay very close attention to their surroundings.
4 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Exploring A Difficult Topic, Through Completely New Paths
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Released
- August 16, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice digs very deep into the minds of players, and refuses to let go long after the game is finished. Besides the fantastic visuals and characters, a special mention always goes to the truly phenomenal sound design, which paints a breathtakingly vivid picture of Senua’s state of being.
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The game comes to a point, where neither the protagonist nor the players can truly tell what is real and what isn’t. It tells its own beautiful and important story, with tools that have never been used quite like this.
3 The Stanley Parable
A Game Where Even A Single Step Can Be A Choice
The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable is a mind-bending video game that turns the concept of choice on its head. Players embody Stanley, an office worker, navigating a mysterious narrative guided by a witty and unpredictable narrator. The catch? Decisions don't always lead where expected.
Chaos and humor ensue as the game playfully explores the nature of free will and storytelling. With clever writing and unexpected twists, the game challenges conventional expectations, leaving the nature of choice in video games in question. The game flips many concepts, and storytelling is only one of them.
2 Inscryption
An Absolute Rollercoaster Of A Story, Told Through Trading Cards
Inscryption
Inscryption is best experienced completely blind, going in with an open mind and at least some love for trading card games. To say that the story takes an interesting turn is to say too much, and too little at the same time.
Behind the facade of a simple card battler lies an intricate narrative, beautiful, haunting, and extremely convoluted. But if players embrace the odd feeling that persists throughout the game, they will be rewarded with a unique experience, bordering on spilling over the confines of the screen.
1 Outer Wilds
An Open-World Experience Like No Other
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds shows the players an incredible world that beckons at every turn and completely lets go of their hands. Without too much guidance, players are free to explore the nearby planets and try to uncover the secrets that they hold.
It might take some time for players to even begin to realize what exactly is going on, and even longer to figure out what it is they were sent here to do. A beautiful, intricate journey full of longing, mystery, and the pondering of existential questions, in any order that the players happen to find them.