Sony's approach in the video game industry always prioritized mature video games to appeal to older audiences. This is why the vast majority of the video games on their consoles boast incredible writing and compelling stories that fans can't get enough of.
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From bright and charming adventures to deep and disturbing stories that will make fans shed a tear, there's no shortage of PlayStation games with quality writing. These titles have convinced many people to stick with PlayStation consoles even during times when the selection of exclusive games wasn't very high.
8 Horizon Zero Dawn
The Game Does A Great Job Of Detailing The Circumstances That Led To The Apocalypse
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most ambitious titles ever made. Guerrilla Games had a lot of work to do if they wished to justify a post-apocalyptic world where humanity had reverted to a tribal structure and robotic dinosaurs roamed the world.
Despite some narrative leaps of logic, most people agree that Horizon Zero Dawn did a great job with the lore and the overarching narrative. The characters in this game may be forgettable, but this is the only part of the title where the writing fails to evoke any strong emotions.
7 Marvel's Spider-Man
The Best Story To Ever Feature In A Game Starring Everyone's Favorite Web-Head
Marvel's Spider-Man
- Released
- September 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Fans were salivating for a high-budget Spider-Man game that did justice to the web-head's personality. With Insomniac at the helm, fans could finally enjoy the same with the release of Marvel's Spider-Man.
It does a great job of humanizing Peter Parker while justifying Otto Octavius' descent into villainy, even if this is something that fans have witnessed before. The writing is the very best it has ever been in a Spider-Man game, especially when it comes to the superhero's quip-heavy approach in combat, where he can't stop blabbering as he beats foes down.
6 Death Stranding
Kojima's Bizarre Writing Is On Full Display Here
Death Stranding
- Released
- November 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Death Stranding was a polarizing game back when it launched, but more and more people have warmed up to this title over time. In a landscape where AAA games always tried to win over players with familiar gameplay loops, Kojima must be lauded for taking risks with his big-budget offerings.
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It's easy to laugh at the Princess Beach dialogues out of context, but fans who give Death Stranding a shot will love the captivating world created by Hideo Kojima. It's a great walking simulator with some combat elements that fans will love if they warm up to the gameplay loop.
5 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Naughty Dog Clearly Learned A Ton Of Lessons From The Time They Spent Developing The Last Of Us' Story
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
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Uncharted 4 is where Naughty Dog went all out in a bid to humanize Drake and his thirst for adventure. This leads to one of the most emotional stories in the series that somehow works even with the sudden inclusion of Drake's brother, who had never been introduced before this point.
Watching Drake trying to become a good husband while dealing with a midlife crisis is oddly riveting. It helps that the technical improvements of this game lead to some of the best action-packed sequences fans can enjoy in a video game.
4 Bloodborne
Boasts The Best Lore Out Of Any FromSoftware Game In The Eyes Of Many
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
Bloodborne is one of the greatest video games ever made, with everything from the combat to the lore being in a class of its own. It's amazing how a game that doesn't force-feed its story to players boasts some of the best writing ever seen in a PlayStation game.
By the time players are finished playing this game, it wouldn't be surprising if they spend hours upon hours reading about the lore to fill in any blanks left by the snippets of the story they experienced. Hopefully, Sony will stop ignoring fan demands and announce either a remaster or sequel to this game (preferably, both).
3 God Of War (2018)
2018's Reboot Of This Popular Series Brought The Storytelling To New Heights
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4
God of War's 2018 reboot is something fans were hotly anticipating, and Santa Monica Studios didn't disappoint. With Cory Balrog at the helm, fans were able to enjoy a nuanced take on Kratos' character that humanized the rage-fueled god in the eyes of many.
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Watching Kratos struggle to be a good role model to Atreus while trying to come to grips with his past makes for a riveting story that is written brilliantly. The only misstep this narrative makes is when Atreus randomly becomes arrogant after becoming a god, only for it to be lazily written off as he understands his mistakes without really facing the consequences of his actions.
2 Final Fantasy 10
The Narrative Is The Strongest Element Of This Amazing Debut For Final Fantasy On The PS2
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
Final Fantasy 10 is considered by many to be the best title in the series, and understandably so. The improved visuals and snappy turn-based combat were obvious improvements, but it's the amazing writing of this series that wowed many fans.
Spira is a beautiful world stuck in a cycle of destruction that can only end after a tragic sacrifice that is repeated over and over again. To prevent this, Tidus, Yuna, and the heroes must fight against Sin and any other people hiding the truth of this cycle, culminating in many hype moments where the voice acting hammers in the urgency of every situation.
1 The Last Of Us Part 1
Joel And Ellie's Relationship Is Beautiful To Witness
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
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
To this day, no PlayStation game has come close to The Last of Us when it comes to the emotions present in the story. From the introduction itself, fans know they're in for a wild ride as they go on the adventure of a lifetime with Joel and Ellie.
Watching the duo slowly learn to trust each other before forming a familial bond is amazing to witness. Even with their relationship being tested numerous times, Joel and Ellie endure and manage to reach the Fireflies, only for fans to experience one of the most shocking and well-written ending sequences in gaming history.
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