Storytelling has become a major part of video games. Games have become less like minor entertainment, and more like interactive cinema. Some games rise above the rest, though, and lead the industry in scripting. We play these games knowing full well that we will be immersed in a breathtaking story, with twists and unexpected turns.

Keep in mind that these are in no particular order. It would be impossible to rate these stories against each other, as each has its own great style.

Castlevania Series

Most of the Castlevania games revolve around the ongoing war between the Belmont clan and Dracula. The series brought forth exceptional story in a budding industry that needed it. The series takes place along the same timeline as Bram Stoker’s novel, with Castlevania: Bloodlines being set shortly after the book. They even claim that Quincy Morris, one of the characters from the novel, is a descendant of the Belmonts. In Symphony of the Night, players had to assume the role of Alucard, Dracula’s own son. Combining classic literature with new-age story-telling made this series as revered as it is today.

Bioshock

For the few that have been unlucky enough to not have played Bioshock, you missed out on one of the most riveting, beautiful games ever. Bioshock caught our attention for being the first genetically-enhanced shooter, and we kept playing until the surprising end. Not even the greatest psychics or fortune-tellers could have predicted the wild twist in this game. We all had our suspicions about Fontaine, but when we learned his real intentions, we appropriately freaked. Bioshock helped cement in our minds that games could combine gameplay, visuals, sound, and story all in one package.

Portal

Valve has made many games that made us think. Portal takes the cake, excuse the pun. Waking up in a glass cell, with nothing but a toilet and a radio whilst being confusingly lectured by a computer named GlaDOS, this game knew how to keep us interested from the very beginning. We acquired the ‘Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device’ aka Portal gun, and started making the laws of physics our slave. Thanks to the weighted storage cubes, our spring-heel-thingies, a short appearance by the Companion cube, and the promise of cake (the cake is a lie) we defied the odds and refused to assume the submission position. GlaDOS may still be alive, be we can guarantee that Portal had one of the greatest stories ever.

Half life 1-2

In Half Life, we were introduced to scientist-turned-badass Gordon Freeman. Freeman worked for Black Mesa, a research facility in New Mexico. Freeman is conducting experiments on a crystal when he accidentally opens a dimensional rift, and the Black Mesa is overrun by Aliens. The Marines try to stop them, as Freeman goes through the rift to stop the invasion. He is approached by The G-Man, an incredibly mysterious character who destroys Black Mesa and puts Freeman under stasis. Nearly twenty years later, the earth is being ruled by the Combine, a kind of cruel alien police, and Freeman awakens in City 17, an eastern European settlement. He meets the underground resistance, being led by survivors of Black Mesa, and commits himself to help them. The Aliens who originally came through the rift, The Vortigaunts are helping the resistance, as they have become enslaved by the Combine along with the humans. He creates a human revolution, and when Eli Vance and his daughter Alyx are captured by the Combine, he goes to the Combine Citadel. He destroys the dark energy reactor, and The G-Man puts him under Stasis again. The Half Life Series has had several spin-off games, two episodic installments set after Half-Life 2-with a third coming, and is one of the most critically acclaimed series in video game history.

Fallout series

Who said that Nuclear Holocaust is a bad thing? Fallout brought forward an alternate history, featuring 1950s inspired culture and technology mixed with an irradiated wasteland. Communism had conjured up fear of nuclear war, and several ‘vaults’ were constructed with the intention of waiting out the horrors. Fallout told us all that we were SPECIAL. One of the vault dwellers of Vault 13 left his home to get a new water chip for his radiation-proof home. He has 150 days before his fellow vault-mates run out of water. When he completes his task, he meets the “mutant’ who threatens to turn humanity into ‘super-mutants’ with a virus. The Mutant is killed by vault 13’s guardian before he can enact his plan. However, when the man from vault 13 tries to return to the vault, he is exiled ‘for the good of the vault.’ Fallout 2 has you playing as the ‘Chosen One,’ the man from vault 13’s descendant of 80 years. You must save your town, and prove your “chosen’ status. Fallout 3 had us in the nation’s capital as we left the safety of vault 101 to find our father, and to later help him on his mission to purify the water supply for the masses. All the games were highly acclaimed for their innovative gameplay and immersive story. For a series to have every game be as ground-breaking as the last, it certainly denotes excellence.

The Elder Scrolls series

The Elder scrolls series is one of the more obvious choices for this list. If ever there were story-driven games, they would be the Elder scrolls series. Each is known for their massive quests, and beautifully constructed worlds. The first game had us saving the Emperor while searching for ancient artifacts. In the second, we were tasked by the Emperor to investigate the restless ghost of the King of Daggerfall. Morrowind was known to be one of the greatest cult classics of all time, with players pitting the oldest families of dark elves against each other. In the Elder scrolls 4: Oblivion, players had to find and protect the last heir to the throne after the emperor had been assassinated. Oblivion has become the RPG against which all others are judged. Gamers have been searching for something to top Oblivion, story and gameplay-wise, but so far, no fantasy RPG has moved Oblivion fully out of the spotlight. The Elder scrolls series has become such an acclaimed and story-driven powerhouse in the Industry, that the announcement of a new game has always been met with fanfare and awe.

God of War

God of war was one of the biggest and most highly loved action games of all time. The story, steeped in Greco-roman mythology, was lucid and bold. It played through as a series of flashbacks, whilst the main character is plummeting to their self-inflicted doom. Athena wanted to kill Ares, the god of war, but could not because of some crazy rule. She tasked Kratos, who lost his family because of Ares, and used to kill for him. He was all too happy to take up the quest, and use the Blades of Chaos to strike down the arrogant god. His recurrent nightmares plague him, and even though he finally defeats Ares, the gods tell him that they will continue. He decides to end his life, but is stopped at the last minute by Athena, who offers him the position of new God of War. Taking from some of the greatest mythology, and adding some modern brutality, God of War has become a wildly successful and story-based game.

Metal Gear Solid series

To be quite honest, The Metal Gear Solid series is my favorite series of all time. It is well known among avid gamers that they have one of the most in depth and captivating stories of all time. The games tell the sad tale of Solid Snake, clone of the greatest soldier even known, Big Boss. Snake must fight impossible odds, giant walking battle tanks, and his own brothers. In these tactical espionage action games, the story is the main component, making Hideo Kojima’s dream of a playable action movie a reality. Under brilliant writing and direction, the series evolved from the NES saga of Metal Gear Games, to one of the most breath-taking next generation experiences yet. As I said, the Metal Gear Solid series is my favorite of all time, but I realize that there is simply too much story to talk about here. If you really want to know more about these undoubtedly magnificent games, you have to play them.

Silent Hill 2

The Silent hill games have been some of the most well known survival horror games ever made, and Silent Hill 2 introduced one of the most recognizable antagonists of all time: Red Pyramid Head. The Game starts of with James, the protagonist, explaining that his dead wife, Mary, sent him a letter. The Letter explained that she would be waiting for him in their ‘special place.’ He searches Rosewater Park in search of the ‘special place’ but instead finds Maria, who looks like his late wife, but much more provocatively dressed. He and Maria search the Silent Hill Hospital, but Maria is killed by the seemingly tortured soul Red Pyramid head, the manifestation of James’s inner anger. He continues, but as he does, the letter seems to fade, and eventually disappear. After escaping two Red Pyramids, he finds Maria resurrected, but dressed as Mary. He defeats the final boss, and depending on the player’s action’s, one of several ending plays. The mind-bending story and ambiguous endings set the scene for future survival horror games to take more chances and explore the darkest confines of the scariest places of all: our own minds.

Final Fantasy VI

One of the Final Fantasy games had to be on this list, it was inevitable. In the massive Final Fantasy universe, FFVI offered the biggest cast and the basis of some of the most well know FF mythos. In the game, an oppressive regime hopes to control the world by using ancient magic that almost destroyed the world 1000 years earlier. They create magic-infused soldiers, one of whom (Kefka) is driven insane and attempts to not only claim the power as his own, but recreate the world in his vision. He finds the source of the magic power, three statues that house actual gods. He manages to tear the world apart, and the protagonists (the biggest cast in FF history) are scattered across the globe to find him. Most games and movies have that one crazy guy who tries to ruin the world, but Final Fantasy VI’s antagonist actually did it. The story took chances back when games were all about playing it safe. From the very beginning of this game, the player is captivated by the wild story and pioneering gameplay.

Video Games have come a long way in a short time. From the simplest entertainments, like Pong, to the most Immersive stories in entertainment, like those on this list. Keep in mind still that these were in no particular order and that there are only ten on this list. There are many, many other games that deserve much recognition for their stories, but I’ve chosen a select few. Hopefully, games will continue to evolve, and the games on this list will be heralded for pioneering the way for even more in-depth and amazing stories.

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