If we had to pinpoint a single person as history's greatest and most acclaimed writer, William Shakespeare would surely be among the very top picks. Over 400 years after his death in 1616, the British bard's famous works, from Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet and Othello, continue to be staples of the classroom. He had a way of developing characters, blending comedy and tragedy, and writing narratives that twisted and turned in the most surprising ways. We may often need to translate some of the more archaic language, but the sheer confidence of a writer who simply created his own words when no existing ones seemed to fit is unrivaled.
8 PlayStation Games With The Best Writing, Ranked
These PlayStation-produced games provide players with incredibly rich stories, due in part to the amazing writing behind each scene and dialogue.
There are some video game narratives, too, that have become the stuff of legend. It's an often-underrated aspect of the medium, but a brilliantly written narrative can keep players enthralled by a game just as an Elizabethan English audience would have lapped up Shakespeare's plays (as some modern audiences still do). Yes, we have our tongues firmly planted in our cheeks here with the Shakespeare comparison, but it's always nice to celebrate the work of great writers.
6 Hades
A Constantly Evolving Tale
The very best entries in a genre satisfy its existing fans while even bringing new ones into the fold. A common criticism of roguelites and roguelikes is that there's typically only the core loop to keep players coming back, and no real narrative to speak of. Hades changed all this, with Supergiant Games developing the adaptive narration and impactful stories of their earlier titles like Bastion into something even more engaging.
The interactions between Zagreus and the other residents of the House of Hades begin quite simply, but as his bond with each one develops, some incredible depth is revealed. There are dalliances with multiple different romantic partners, in the sort of protracted relationships that define many a Shakespeare play. The Olympians from which Zagreus acquires his boons never miss a chance for a grandiose speech, either, and while pursuing the true ending, the extent of the family drama surrounding Zagreus, Hades and Persephone becomes clear. The best part is that the dialog, again, reflects your actions in the game, with bosses commenting on a certain item in your inventory for instance. It's clever, multi-faceted writing.
5 Pentiment
A 16th Century Murder Mystery
The thing about a murder mystery is that it has more impact the more depth there is to the characters, and the more information you have. There should be subtle differences in stories, small yet significant incriminating details, and varied backstories for a fascinating cast of characters. 2022's Pentiment is acclaimed for the quality of its plotting, but it makes an unusual decision too: It isn't ultimately confirmed who the killer is. As young artist Andreas Maler, you proceed through an idyllic Bavarian town, with each act of the game punctuated by harrowing crimes and disturbing events that Maler (and later Magdalene) must piece together.
Pentiment: All The Animals You Can Pet
By petting as many cats and dogs as possible in Pentiment, players can get the achievement A Regular Saint Francis. Here's how to pet all the animals.
Pentiment is instantly eye-catching with its painterly artwork, and the way scenes transition as though to another page of a manuscript just reinforces that concept. As does the fact that there are a lot of books to consult and a huge amount of dialogue to engage in with the locals. For those lacking an interest in the history of the period, in particular, this could have made the game a real chore, but RPG veterans Obsidian Entertainment really show their writing chops here. The first act, in particular, presents and fleshes out motives for numerous NPCs and relationships the protagonist shares with them, to the point that the player must draw their own conclusion just as Andreas himself does. Everybody you speak to has their own account of events and their own potential motives and stories to tell. This makes for some of the most engaging NPCs in the business, and also lends a very strong sense of Shakespearean intrigue to the game.
4 Disco Elysium
A Wordy Wonder Of An RPG
The RPG genre often leans fully into action, resulting in varied, dynamic combat but a real lack of emphasis on story. Rather sparce cutscenes and conversations between characters, on the way to the next setpiece, do the heavy story-telling lifting. Disco Elysium, however, is not a game for fans of such experiences. You are tasked with bringing the perpetrators of a murder to justice, and your investigation across the city of Revachol will prove enlightening in every possible way. In another parallel with Pentiment, the game is incredibly dialogue-heavy, and only in very specific circumstances will you find yourself in anything like a conventional RPG battle. As such, it's essential that the dialogue is strong enough to carry the game essentially by itself.
Fortunately, that's absolutely the case. As of the Final Cut edition of the game, every word is voiced, and brilliantly so to boot. Its greatest strengths are the fact that every character you speak to has some new interesting insight to offer, and the degree to which you can tailor conversations to the personality you've developed for Harry DuBois. He might be aggressive and confrontational, more reserved, or he might even be conversing with a supernatural entity that nobody else can see. In first playthroughs in particular, players are encouraged not to research too much but to ride the wave, engage in sidequests, and simply absorb the narrative.
3 What Remains Of Edith Finch
Investigating A Family Legacy
What Remains Of Edith Finch may appear to be a little insubstantial. After all, according to How Long To Beat, a completionist run takes around three hours. What's important, though, is what's packed into those three hours, and there isn't a single moment wasted here. Room by room, we take in the Finch family home, see those family members who lived there through Edith's eyes, and reflect on the much-ballyhooed family curse.
What Remains of Edith Finch: How to Eat A Rabbit
What Remains of Edith Finch has players learn about the Finch family, and that includes eating rabbits as part of the ongoing story.
Many of William Shakespeare's best works revolve around the concept of broken families and the troubled relationships they share, and this title explores that fantastically too. We are playing 'as' Edith through the words presented in her journal, which is now in the hands of her son. Recollections and tales of the events of Finch ancestors' lives take on a fantastical element, embellished through different art styles and narrative techniques. In one instance, we experience memories of a weekend hunting trip through the lens of a camera, narrated by those who were there, and then return to the Finch home with Edith discussing moments from her ancestors' lives as she walks through their rooms in the house. The writing is not elaborate prose, by and large, but real, natural dialogue, and all the more powerful for it.
2 Final Fantasy 9
A Deeply Shakespearean Epic
Final Fantasy 9 was the last entry for the original PlayStation, and it seemed that Square were feeling particularly nostalgic at the time. It was a more whimsical, classical take on the series, and one that would be heavy on the theatrical. After all, it opens with the Tantalus troupe putting on a theatre performance and Vivi, elsewhere in Alexandria and unknown to the crew at the time, trying to get in to see the show. It was simply cover for Tantalus's real plan, of course, but what with all the "prithee" talk and dramatic swordfight scenes, not to mention the referencing of a legendary playwright, there are connections to Shakespeare's world here. Even if the game is set after his time and (quite significantly) on a different planet.
It's not just about ruffled collars, though. The game tempers its light-hearted moments with the most dramatic and tragic, and vice versa, as so many of Shakespeare's plays do so well. Its villains, Queen Brahne, Kuja, and Garland (each in their own different ways as the narrative progress) are commanding presences that steal the show as though they're on center stage. What's most important, though, is the dialogue itself, and the characters' growth throughout. Each of the three mentioned could be regarded as antagonists, yet they all have their vulnerable moments, their reasons for what they're doing, some limited redemption. We also get to see the development of Zidane and the rest of our party members (if just a little from Amarant), plus the impact of warfare on regular citizens and their resilience to rebuild. It's a deep and multi-faceted tale, and quite a creative and unpredictable one, brimming with the heaviest of themes like the nature of life itself. A four-disc PS1 masterpiece.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Getting To Know Geralt And Co
In a truly masterful RPG, detail is key. On an individual level, we want to learn more about our protagonist, party members, and companions. We want to be intrigued by them, to grow attached over time, to to truly care about and root for them. That feeling that they've really been on a grand, grueling adventure and been changed by it. Zooming all the way out, we also want that same care and attention to be poured into the world's lore as well, for it to be fleshed out and have a history and sense of place. These are the things that keep us invested in 100+ hour experiences, and CD Projekt Red got them so right with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Geralt may seem like a taciturn and rather one-dimensional warrior, but there's so much more to him. The hardships he faces in his unique position as a Witcher and his developing relationship with those crucial figures in his life mean we truly come to empathise with him as the adventure goes on. He's perfectly voice-acted and wonderfully written, which is the key. Even more than that (and what really brings life to the world) is the fact that the NPCs are too. From Dandelion's shenanigans to the plight of the Bloody Baron, this world is populated by such a wide variety of intriguing characters.
Best Games To Play If You Like The Witcher 3
Players who have completed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can try out these similar games if they want to go through another action-packed experience.