TheGod of Warseries isone of the biggest franchiseson the PlayStation, but it was clear thatthe series needed to be rebootedafter a long hiatus to make it relevant for the current generation of consoles.
So, it was pretty evident that Cody Barlog and Santa Monica Studios had a massive task on their hand when it came to theGod of Warreboot. Not only did they need to modernize the combat for a new era of gaming, but they also needed to work extensively on the graphics and performances present in the game to make them even remotely comparable to the standards of new-age titles that had wowed fans on the PlayStation 4.
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Not only didthe 2018God of Warmanage to meet all these expectations, but some can say that it surpassed them as well. The biggest — and perhaps the most surprising — standout of the game was its narrative, which was truly sublime in every sense of the word. For people who loved the story of the newGod of Warand wish to play more games in the same vein, here are ten story-heavy games that are worth one’s time.
10Silent Hill 2
Any horror game fanaticwill recommendSilent Hill 2across the board when it comes to talking about some of the greatest video game stories of all time.
The story of James Sunderland is told in a brilliant manner, coupled with some truly horrifying imagery and an ending that will stick with players long after they finish this brilliant title.
9System Shock 2
It would’ve been easy to mention theBioShockseries when it comes to mentioning games with excellent video game stories, but what one may not realize is the fact that this esteemed series by Ken Levine was actually inspired by another title that the director had a major hand in.
System Shock 2is one of the most legendary video game titles that no one has played, which is quite a shame — the game is revolutionary when it came to integrating state-of-the-art gameplay mechanics along with a brilliant story to allow for one of the greatest video games ever made.
8Half-Life 2
Another sequel to a beloved game that managed to do way better than its predecessor,Half-Life 2is a classic that no fan of excellent video games should miss out on.
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The familiar face of Gordon Freeman is now joined by several new and welcome characters, including the much-beloved Alyx Vance. Suffice to say, anyone who likedHalf-Lifewill fan in love withHalf-Life 2due to the variety of improvements it makes across the board, story or otherwise.
7Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines
However, there was another title that was released on the same date asHalf-Life 2and was criminally overlooked for the same reason. It’s a shame, sinceVampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlinesis considered by many to beone of the finest role-playing experiences around, in no small part due to its brilliant story.
Regardless of whatever character the player might choose inVampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines, they can rest assured that the game will still feel tailor-made for their character to make the most out of their skillsets to allow for an amazing experience indeed.
6Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian Entertainment has been a pioneer when it comes to the development of role-playing experiences, and no other game personifies their massive wealth of experience in this genre best thanFallout: New Vegas.
While initially released in an extremely buggy state and overlooked by the majority of players,Fallout: New Vegasended up wowing players due to the sheer depth of its narrative and gameplay mechanics, making it genuinely possible — and enjoyable — to get through the entire game without a major focus on combat.
It’s an excellent titlethat still remains immensely playable to this day, mainly due to the incredible mod support of the community.
5Horizon: Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games had a huge task on their hands when it came to developing a new IP in the form ofHorizon: Zero Dawn. Not only did they have to justify a story that would serve as an instant hook for gamers, but the gameplay also needed to be exciting enough to keep fans engaged for the long haul.
The end result was nothing short of incredible —Horizon: Zero Dawnended up wowing critics and fans with a well-realized world that expanded organically as the viewer’s understanding of the game improved, leading to a highly enjoyable game that has also released on PC so that more players can enjoy this amazing title for themselves.
4Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificeis a game that is also based around Norse Mythology, making it quite familiar for gamers who just finishedGod of Warand wish to play games in a similar setting.
Hellbladeis an incredibly personal tale that can certainly be a lot to handle at times due to the sheer weight of the material being handled here, but there’s no denying the fact that the game is still an excellent one that any fan of narrative-driven gaming would enjoy.
3Spec Ops: The Line
Any person who loves themselves a great third-person shooter would certainly loveSpec Ops: The Line… although not for the reasons they would initially assume.
Spec Ops: The Linedoes a brilliant job of curbing expectations midway through the title, showing players the hubris of the decisions they’ve been making in war-themed shooters all this time and the real-world ramifications they could possibly have.
2The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about games with a great narrative without mentioning the masterpiece that isThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt— a sensational title that still stands strong as one of the greatest video games ever made.
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It’s this game that truly put CD Projekt Red on the map when it came to delivering excellent role-playing experiences, with the story of Geralt ending on a satisfying note with this brilliant title.
1Cyberpunk 2077
At this point, it’s genuinely hard to believe that gamers finally have access toCyberpunk 2077— a game that had been delayed so many times that most people were convinced this much-anticipated title would never release.
However, the game is finally out… and it’s everything that players wanted it to be and more. While the game might be riddled with bugs,the overall experience is just so incrediblethat it overshadows all these meaningless technical faults.
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