Best Story-Heavy Games Like Horizon: Zero Dawn & Forbidden West

While the modern generation of gaming has had this medium of entertainment reach new heights unlike anything ever seen before, one thing that should definitely be criticized is the fact that most modern AAA developers have simply shied away from making new IPs that add some variety to the mix, preferring instead to stick to pre-established IPs in a bid to ensure sales.

This is what makes the achievement of Horizon Zero Dawn all the more impressive. Guerrilla Games did a brilliant job of crafting a new IP that allowed gamers to experience a new and diverse world that is full to the brim with intriguing lore, an excellent story, and some of the best heart-pounding combat ever seen in a video game.

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The story of Horizon Zero Dawn is incredibly fresh, to the point where most people might feel the presence of a void in their lives after finishing this brilliant title. Thankfully, there are many story-heavy games that will surely scratch the itch that this superb title left behind.

Updated on June 16th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Horizon games are a blast to play, with both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West letting players explore a massive open world full to the brim with mechanical dinosaurs and other such creatures that have become the dominant force in this ecosystem. The games feature amazing combat and fun exploration, and another huge draw of these titles, which one would expect from any Sony first-party product, is the focus on telling a riveting story that will keep players invested throughout. Players who want to check out more story-heavy titles like these two games in the Horizon series will find a wealth of other titles right up their alley, which can help them bide their time until LEGO Horizon Adventures is released. A few more such games have been added to this list in its latest update.

17 God Of War: Ragnarök

Kratos And Atreus Try To Stop Ragnarök And Prevent Odin's Plans From Becoming A Reality

After the deeply personal tale in the first God of War reboot game, fans were more than interested to see how the stakes would be upped in the sequel. This was done deftly with the advent of Ragnarök, all while Odin was trying everything in his power to ensure that this cataclysmic event didn't come to pass. A relatable motive to be sure, but everything means everything, including brainwashing Atreus.

Much like the Horizon games, players will explore a wealth of colorful biomes and deal with larger-than-life enemies, engaging in some amazing combat sequences where they employ all their skills to emerge victorious. The game's narrative is its beating heart, and watching both Kratos and Atreus mature during this quest makes for a moving conclusion.

16 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

Explore A World Where The Na'vi Live In Harmony With Nature While Trying To Stop Humans From Ruining Their Planet

For a game that's attached to such a major IP, it's a shame that the advertising for Frontiers of Pandora was so lacking. Some people weren't even aware that this game was released in December 2023, which is unfortunate since this game's world is breathtaking and something Horizon fans would appreciate.

In terms of the narrative, fans who love the story-heavy focus of the Far Cry games will find the formula in the Avatar game recognizable. This lack of innovation on Ubisoft's may not sit right with some fans, but there's no denying that the graphical performance present in Frontiers of Pandora steals the show every chance it gets.

15 BioShock Infinite

A Mind-Bending Story With Numerous Twists And Turns

BioShock Infinite is one of the greatest first-person shooters ever made. The gameplay is pretty pulse-pounding as is, but it's the story that deserves some credit of its own for being so exciting and memorable.

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BioShock Infinite toyed with the concept of alternate dimensions and delivered a brilliant story with an absolutely gut-punch of an ending. It's a fitting recommendation for fans of story-heavy games like Horizon Zero Dawn.

14 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Organic Monster Hunting In A Game Where Geralt Tries Desperately To Find Ciri Before The Wild Hunt Do

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is still considered by many gamers and critics to be the greatest open-world game of all time, which is pretty high praise indeed. The game is truly incredible and a masterclass in video game design.

It's a shame that CD Projekt Red ruined its reputation with the release of Cyberpunk 2077, but the third game in The Witcher series is still absolutely brilliant. There aren't many games out there with a better plot than this one.

13 Red Dead Redemption 2

The Greatest Narrative Rockstar Games Has Ever Put Together

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best games that Rockstar has ever developed. The sheer level of polish and detail in this game is simply incredible, with its gameplay feeling quite serviceable if a tad bit uninspired.

However, it's the narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2 that sets itself in a class of its own. It's easily the best story of any Rockstar title and features powerful moments that most people won't find in other AAA games.

12 Mass Effect 2

A Sci-Fi Masterpiece Where Shepard Puts Everything On The Line To Stop The Collectors

Mass Effect 2 is a sci-fi RPG that continues Commander Shepard's galactic adventure following the events of the first game. However, he finds himself in a sticky situation after the Normandy crashes and he almost loses his life.

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All 13 Major Assassin's Creed Games, Ranked By Storyline

Though the series has shifted from a stealth game to an RPG-style title, Assassin's Creed games can still tell amazing stories to players.

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However, after Cerberus resurrects and reconstructs him, Shepard embarks on an adventure to defeat the Collectors and figure out what the end goal of the Reapers is. It's an amazing title and arguably the best one of the lot in the entire series.

11 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Features One Of The Greatest Plot Twists In Any Piece Of Star Wars Media

Knights of the Old Republic is another sci-fi RPG released by BioWare. The game was successful from the get-go and established BioWare's reputation as one of the best Western RPG developers around.

The incredible plot twist in this game alone makes it well worth the price of admission for any gamer, regardless of whether they're a Star Wars fan or not. It's easy to see why so many fans are elated at the prospect of a remake of this amazing game.

10 God Of War

Kratos' Journey To Scatter His Wife's Ashes With His Son Makes For A Deeply Personal Tale

There was a time when the story of God of War games served as nothing more than a contrived excuse to slash up as many baddies as possible. However, as gaming has evolved, so has this esteemed series, and one need only look at 2018's God of War reboot to witness the extent of this evolution firsthand.

It goes without saying that God of War is easily one of the greatest video games of the modern generation, and any gamer worth their salt should definitely check out a game with a surprisingly engrossing and personal tale that really hits where it hurts.

9 The Last Of Us

One Of The Best Story-Driven First-Party Sony Games

Of course, it would be downright impossible to talk about games exclusive to the PlayStation without mentioning Naughty Dog and their vast swath of offerings, each of which has become legendary in their own right.

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No other game personifies this best than The Last of Us, a title that focuses on the tale of Joel and Ellie in the middle of a zombie outbreak as they fight for their lives and humanity's survival... Or so it might seem. It's an excellent game, with a tone that serves as a stark contrast to another Naughty Dog IP.

8 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Caps Off Nathan Drake's Journey On A Satisfactory Note

The Uncharted series is considered by many to be the definitive exclusive for the PS3, and Naughty Dog decided to take things a notch higher with Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, which served as the perfect way to cap off Nate's journey and end a brilliant franchise on a high.

Naughty Dog is truly one of the greatest developers on the PlayStation series of consoles, and one need only play this incredible title to understand why this is the case.