Xbox One Games With The Best Storylines

Key Takeaways

• Halo: The Master Chief Collection – A great value-for-money collection of games weaved together with a memorable story.
• Oxenfree – A mind-bending adventure dealing with supernatural elements and time loops.
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition – The story of Shepard and his allies against universe-conquering alien forces.

The Xbox One was definitely a great console, although it faced some hurdles upon launch. Microsoft’s poor anti-consumer practices for this console led to the platform being absolutely smashed by the PlayStation 4 when the consoles launched, even with the company rolling back many quizzical practices like the limitations on game-sharing and the console needing to be online all the time. However, over time, the Xbox One more than proved itself to be a great console with a decent library of games that made it worth checking out.

There is a wealth of great games on this platform, including story-driven experiences that will cause players to experience a myriad of complex emotions with their exemplary narratives that are memorable in every sense of the word. These story-driven games are excellent for a myriad of reasons, making it clear why any fan of unique narratives in video games will have a great time checking out these fun games and enjoying what they have to offer.

Updated on November 28, 2024, by Usama Ali: Despite the Xbox One being outdated in the eyes of many, this console is still a great option for budget gaming and offers access to a wide library of great titles. This includes several narrative-heavy games as well, with these story games on Xbox doing a great job of letting players enjoy immersive narratives where they can lose themselves in the shoes of the protagonist.

34 Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

Documents The Journey Of Queen Meve As She Strives To Take The North Back

The marketing for Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales was an absolute travesty. Fans missed out on a story-heavy Xbox game with a modified version of Gwent simply because players didn’t know what to expect from this title. This, coupled with the exclusive GOG launch, meant that a lot of Witcher fans have no idea what they’re missing out on.

Queen Meve is an important character in the books that many hardcore Witcher fans would be familiar with. Geralt and his group are pretty much forced to swear fealty to the White Queen before escaping to pursue his own quest of finding Ciri. Given how faithful CD Projekt Red has been when it comes to the Witcher universe, it’s no surprise that Thronebreaker is another narrative homerun that forces players to make tough choices as they go through this epic adventure.

33 A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Gripping Story About Two Kids in The Most Grim Circumstances Imaginable

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a heart-wrenching game set in 14th-century France during the Black Death, a period of immense suffering and death. Players follow the story of young Amicia and her ill brother Hugo as they navigate a world ravaged by disease and war.

As they journey through plague-ridden villages, the children must rely on their wits and courage to survive. Amicia and her brother are followed by the Inquisition soldiers, who will kill her instantly if they catch her. Players control Amicia and must use a combination of stealth and limited tools to escape from the soldiers and evade swarms of rats using fire and light. The bond between the siblings is central to the narrative, as they face countless hardships together.

32 Ori and the Will of the Wisps

A Beautiful, Hand-painted Metroidvania Platformer That Tells The Story of a Young Spirit Named Ori

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the sequel to 2015’s critically acclaimed Ori and the Blind Forest. This equally beautiful platform-adventure game continues Ori’s journey to a new region called Niwen, which has new challenges and mysteries. Moon Studios has continued its tradition of deep emotional storytelling, exploring themes of loss, hope, and the power of friendship in Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Along their journey, Ori must confront their own fears and doubts, as well as the dangers that lurk in the shadows. With its breathtaking art style, fluid animations, and precise controls, Ori and the Will of the Wisps offers a truly unforgettable gaming experience.

31 Omori

A Psychological Horror Masterpiece With A Story That Keeps Things Interesting Till The Very End

The RPG Maker Engine has played host to both turn-based role-playing games and creative horror titles. Omori is a game that combines both these avenues in a masterful fashion to craft one of the greatest psychological horror RPGs of all time that fans should check out regardless of which genre they prefer over the other.

The story of Sunny as he slowly makes his way outside and forgives himself for a costly mistake he made many years ago is a fun time that players will love. The horror in this title is tasteful and makes this story game on Xbox feel that much more impactful when players reach the end, dealing with themes of loss, escapism, guilt, and PTSD.

30 Persona 3 Reload

One Of The Most Emotional Stories Ever Told In A Persona Game

Persona 3 is one of the most important games in the series that established a winning formula by combining the spinoff series’ JRPG combat with life sim elements. The end result is an unputdownable experience that was fun at the time, but new fans attracted by the allure of Persona 5 wanted to check out this experience with a fresh coat of paint. Persona 3 Reload certainly delivered on this front.

Despite its pacing problems and clashing tones, Persona 3 Reload is a tearjerker that will make fans bawl their hearts out by the end. This story game on Xbox One is easily one of the best JRPGs on the platform that players can check out. Given how modern Xbox One releases are a dime a dozen, players with this console who want to check out a modern game should definitely pick up Persona 3 Reload.

29 Control

A Mind-Bending Game Set in A Strange, Otherworldly Setting

Control is a third-person action-adventure game where players take on the role of Jesse Faden, a woman who becomes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). The FBC is a secret U.S. government agency dedicated to studying and controlling supernatural occurrences. Control is set within the Oldest House, a mysterious and ever-shifting skyscraper that serves as the FBC’s headquarters.

As Jesse explores the building, she encounters various supernatural entities and challenges. The game’s combat system revolves around using Jesse’s supernatural abilities, like telekinesis and levitation, to fight enemies and manipulate the environment. Overall, Control is a unique blend of action, exploration, and storytelling in a world full of secrets.

28 Undertale

An Anti-RPG With A Thought-Provoking Narrative That Punishes The Player’s Callousness And Indifference

No one expected Undertale to become one of the biggest indie sensations of all time. The anti-RPG encourages players to treat monsters like living creatures who deserve to live like anyone else. This lets players form a connection with this unique world where they get genuinely invested in the livelihood of monsters, trying to ensure their survival at all costs. This leads to an emotional battle that becomes even more supercharged with feelings if players decide to go down the pacifist route.

However, there’s another route that players can opt for if they decide to treat this game like a regular RPG. By hunting down every monster in an area and taking them down one at a time, players can unlock a Genocide route that sends players tumbling down a dark route that the game tries its hardest to prevent players from embarking on. It’s a clever use of gameplay to fuel a narrative that gets really disturbing near the end of the game, when players end up erasing and reconstructing the world, ultimately selling their souls in the process.

27 The Walking Dead: The Final Season

The Final Chapter In Clementine’s Story Of Surviving Against All Odds

The final season of The Walking Dead was a reward for fans who stuck with Telltale and Clementine through thick and thin. Some people felt like the series was losing its luster, with the two seasons that followed the first one being devoid of a lot of things that made Lee and Clementine’s journey such a blast to experience. So, fans were glad to see shades of the same come back for the final season of Telltale’s The Walking Dead.

Clementine’s dynamic with AJ is a blast to experience firsthand, with many players loving how this bond serves as a callback to the first season while having several interesting elements of its own. While some people may argue that the final episode wasn’t as much of a gut-punch as it tried to be, there were still several emotional elements that made this game such a blast to play through.

26 Far Cry 5

One Of The Better Games In The Series With Some Wonderful Performances

Far Cry 5 was a step in the right direction for the series, with many players loving the organic way that the game’s approach to open-world design changed to help modernize the series. While this game shares a lot of common elements with the Far Cry series, it does so without being a pale imitation of everything that fans enjoyed about the past games in the series.

The freeform exploration of a vast open world that is inspired by the American countryside makes for a great time, with the wealth of secrets present in this area being a blast to uncover. Taking out enemies from the shadows before going all-out with a wealth of weapons to blast bases to smithereens never ceases to be amazing. All of this is capped off with some wonderful performances from the Seed family that let players enjoy the demented ramblings of a cult that genuinely believes their insane ramblings.

25 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Become A One-Armed Wolf And Set Out on a Journey Through Japan

Declared the Game of the Year in The Game Awards 2019, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a challenging soulslike game where players carve their own path to vengeance. It follows the story of a boy named Wolf, a shinobi warrior, who is determined to rescue his young lord, Kuro, from the clutches of a powerful enemy.

Wolf is soon given a new name, Sekiro, and a prosthetic arm, as he sets out on a journey through a fictionalized Japan during the Sengoku period. There are strong references to Buddhist mythology and philosophy, exploring themes of suffering and the cycle of rebirth. All of this makes Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice one of the best story-driven games of recent years.

24 Tomb Raider

A Great Reboot That Documents Lara’s Transformation From A Damsel-In-Distress To A Fierce Heroine

The hype around Tomb Raider may have died down again, but the hype surrounding this title’s reboot a decade ago was quite palpable. When 2013’s Tomb Raider was finally released, fans loved the great visuals, action-packed gameplay, and the reimagining of Lara’s character. The end result was a game that felt amazing to play through, eliciting shades of classic Tomb Raider and Uncharted as well.

While the next two games in the series were nowhere near as intriguing, fans of great action-adventure games will love what 2013’s Tomb Raider has to offer. With a new Tomb Raider game coming sooner rather than later, fans will be more than happy to check out a modern rendition of Lara Croft that does justice to her original character while also taking into account all of the development she’s gone through during the Survivor trilogy.

23 Grand Theft Auto 5

An Epic Crime-Laden Narrative Told Using The Perspectives Of Three Unique, Well-Written Protagonists

A game that has lasted for three console generations, the longevity of Grand Theft Auto 5 can’t be stated enough. The game is an absolute gem, allowing players to explore the massive city of Los Santos and its surroundings while engaging in a story with three protagonists who have been written with great and meticulous care.

While there are times when the narrative can get a bit wild, most players won’t mind because of how well-constructed the set pieces are. Michael, Trevor, and Franklin have become embedded in the minds and hearts of millions of players who had the privilege of checking out one of the greatest video games ever made.

22 Halo: The Master Chief Collection

A Compilation Of The Best Halo Games, With Each Campaign Featuring Engrossing Stories And Memorable Characters

Halo is one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time, with each game in the series being a blast to play through for its own reasons. However, there was a point when trying to experience the older Halo games was a challenge because of their dated design and lack of accessibility. All of this changed with the advent of The Master Chief Collection, an excellent collection of all three games with remastered assets and improved support for modern systems.

The games are a blast to play through, and players can now experience the history of the Halo series for themselves. Given how many players yearn for the good old days when it comes to this franchise, there’s no reason why players shouldn’t check out this collection for themselves. Microsoft has done a great job with these remasters, showing other studios how it’s done.

21 Telltale’s The Walking Dead

One Of The Most Emotional Video Game Narratives Of All Time

The Walking Dead is one of the most popular franchises of all time, expanding to several mediums with great success. There are many video games based on it, including an excellent story-heavy adventure game made by Telltale Studios. This game is the reason why the studio ended up being so successful in the first place, allowing players to experience an emotional narrative full of numerous twists & turns.

The bond between Lee and Clementine is something magical that many games have tried to replicate since, seeing it as a winning formula to make an emotionally charged narrative that will keep players interested for quite some time. Players are bound to get invested in their struggles to survive, with the threat of both humans and zombies leading to many tense moments and an emotional conclusion.

20 Ori And The Blind Forest

A Beautiful Metroidvania With One Of The Most Emotional Moments In Gaming History

It’s a testament to how good Ori and the Blind Forest is that it conveys an emotional tale without saying a single word. The game’s beautiful visuals and ethereal soundtrack lend to an amazing atmosphere that makes the game a blast to play through.

The story isn’t the biggest focus of this game, with gameplay playing a bigger role in the grand scheme of things. However, there’s no denying that the narrative of Ori and the Blind Forest is pretty engaging and will captivate players whenever it takes center stage. From the emotional beginning to great character building that invests players without a barrage of dialogue, it’s easy to see why Ori and the Blind Forest became such a huge hit upon its release.

19 What Remains Of Edith Finch

A Riveting Account Of The Finch Family And The Mystery Surrounding Them

What Remains of Edith Finch is one of the many walking simulators that became really popular during the seventh generation of consoles. The title is beautiful to look at, with its slow-paced story being memorable to see unfold.

Discovering the history of the Finch family as the last surviving member makes for a mysterious and enlightening time indeed. It’s one of the best examples of immersive video game storytelling that fans should check out.

18 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

A Fascinating Depiction Of A Warrior’s Journey Who Suffers From Psychosis

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a game that can be quite uncomfortable to play through at times, given the main character’s psychosis and how it is depicted brilliantly in the video game medium. The developers worked with certified psychologists to do justice to the portrayal of this mental illness, and this shows.

The gameplay of this title may be pretty uninspired, but it’s the story that plays a central role here. Fans of great video game stories owe it to themselves to check Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice out. Its themes are heavy-hitting and make later revelations in this ambitious story all the more entertaining to experience.

17 Batman: Arkham Knight

A Fitting End To The Dark Knight’s Adventures With An Engrossing Plotline

Batman: Arkham Knight serves as the final game in the Arkham trilogy that featured the Batmobile in an extended capacity. Some people were mixed about the Batmobile and its integration into the game, but there’s no denying that the rest of the mechanics in the game are solid.

Arkham Knight‘s story is excellent, even if some people feel like the reveal of the villain’s true identity was pretty obvious. The trilogy definitely ended on a high note, even if getting the true ending was a test of the player’s patience. It’s a shame that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League took a huge dump on Batman’s legacy since it’s clear that Rocksteady’s version of Bruce deserved way more.

16 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Another Great Chapter In B.J. Blazkowicz’s Fight Against The Nazis

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is a great game that continues the excellence set by its sequel. The game’s focus on the story was enhanced considerably, even if some cutscenes did end up outstaying their welcome.

The New Colossus looks gorgeous, with its gameplay being pretty engaging as well. Exploring BJ’s backstory made for a great time, even if the ending felt pretty rushed and underwhelming compared to the rest of the experience.

15 Oxenfree

A Mind-Bending Adventure That Deals With Supernatural Elements And Time Loops

Oxenfree is a great indie game with its fair share of puzzles and brain twisters. However, the highlight of this game is undoubtedly the story, which is definitely in a class of its own.

Dealing with the concept of time loops is not an easy topic to breach in the slightest, so props should be given to Oxenfree for sporting a great narrative featuring this concept. The decisions players make in the game feel genuinely impactful and do a great job of personalizing the story for many players.