Summary
- PlayStation's strong suit lies in exclusive single-player experiences, making their consoles a prime choice for narrative-driven gamers.
- Until Dawn, Uncharted 4, and Returnal offer immersive storytelling, captivating narratives, and engaging gameplay experiences.
- God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon Zero Dawn provide compelling narratives that explore complex character dynamics and emotional depth.
A major reason why the PlayStation brand has dominated console gaming is because of its focus on exclusive single-player experiences. While Sony has experimented with PC releases, it's clear that their PlayStation lineup of consoles remains a major focus.
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Players who have owned some of the best PlayStation consoles around have been treated to some amazing story-driven experiences. Players love the idea of immersing themselves in these epic narratives that will have them on the edge of their seats.
8 Until Dawn
Channels The Energy Of Campy Teen Horror Movies With An Interesting Story To Match
Until Dawn
- Released
- October 4, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Horror
While Until Dawn prides itself on its campy horror moments, that should take nothing away from the strong writing and great performances that carry the narrative. Players will feel a palpable sense of fear whenever they try to outrun a Wendigo or stay as still as possible to fool these blind monsters.
As the details of the curse come to light, players slowly realize the true nature of the Wendigos. It makes for a chilling revelation that strengthens the plot and compels players to ensure that all characters survive, no matter what.
7 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Nathan Drake's Final Adventure Is A Memorable One
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- Released
- May 10, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End boasts the best narrative in the entire series, showing how much Naughty Dog has evolved since the release of their first three games. Nathan Drake's midlife crisis makes for a surprisingly engrossing sight as this beloved adventurer struggles to live a simple, boring life.
The thrill of the hunt entices him to embark on one final adventure after his brother reappears in his life. As one would expect, Elena isn't too thrilled after finding out, leading to some emotional moments that culminate in an amazing finale.
6 Returnal
The Loop Selene Finds Herself Stuck In Takes A Wild Turn
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
The mind-bending plot of Returnal will catch players unawares, especially if all they were expecting was a AAA roguelike experience. Selene's backstory is a chilling one to experience as she strives to escape the planet of Atropos and its accursed time loop.
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As players slowly but surely make progress, more revelations come to light that make players question Selene's actions. The way the game's story is merged with its roguelike elements makes for a tantalizing combination that will keep fans coming back for more.
5 Heavy Rain
Despite Some Narrative Contrivances, The Plot Is Thrilling
Heavy Rain
- Released
- February 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
David Cage is sometimes criticized for his direction and writing, but there's no denying that his games end up being riveting high-budget experiences that fans of great video game stories will seek out time and time again. Heavy Rain is no exception here.
After his only son is kidnapped, Ethan must move heaven and earth to find Shaun and free him from the hands of the Origami Killer. It's a tense narrative where death awaits the player at every corner and forces them to re-evaluate every choice they make.
4 Horizon Zero Dawn
The Lore Of The Game Is Off The Charts
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
At first glance, Horizon Zero Dawn seems like a game that relies on the strengths of its unique setting and gorgeous narrative as opposed to the narrative itself. However, it's not until the game opens up and the story's scope opens up that players realize just how excellent the writing is.
Players will love uncovering the secrets of the world and figuring out how humanity regressed. This, coupled with Aloy's enjoyable personality, makes her a fun character to control during the events of Zero Dawn.
3 Persona 5 Royal
Joker And The Phantom Thieves Change The Minds Of Various Corrupt Adults And Uncover A Massive Conspiracy
Persona 5 Royal
- Released
- October 31, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
Persona 5 is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, and Royal somehow enhances this experience even more. It adds a new playable character and an epilogue that focuses on the Palace of Takuto Maruki.
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The narrative of the original game is solid and the extension is worth checking out for fans of the series. Despite its slow pacing, the life sim and dungeon-crawling elements are captivating enough for players to accept and even enjoy the narrative's slow burn.
2 God Of War
The Reboot Focuses On An Intimate Story And The Tantalizing Bond Between Father And Child
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Bringing back Kratos in the realm of modern gaming would've required a ton of work. The God of War protagonist was too one-dimensional, and changes needed to be made for his character to appeal to current-gen gamers.
This was done by giving Kratos the responsibilities of a father and making the narrative as intimate as possible. Scattering the ashes of his dead wife is a respectable goal that arguably helps the narrative of the 2018 reboot flow better than its sequel, which balloons in scope.
1 The Last Of Us
Joel And Ellie Worm Their Way Into Players' Hearts With A Beautiful Story
The Last of Us Part I
- Released
- September 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Joel and Ellie's adventures in The Last of Us have gone down in gaming history as one of the best experiences fans can expose themselves to. During a mission to save humanity, Joel regains the love he had for life and refuses to let any harm befall Ellie.
The sobering narrative exposes how humans can be complete monsters, even when compared to the mindless Infected. The story narrative indirectly contributed to the negative fan reception for The Last of Us Part 2, who felt that the story was nowhere near as compelling as its predecessor.
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