Free Games With The Best Storylines

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 5, 2025 10 Views 21 Min Read
Free Games With The Best Storylines



There’s a stigma that because something is free or cheap, it lacks quality. However, that is far from being true, as some games made by an indie developer often have the best gameplay and a well-thought-out story. Just because a game isn’t an AAA JRPG doesn’t mean it can’t have an amazing narrative; even the most basic of platformers can have that.

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The Nintendo Switch is home to fantastic games like Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild, but there are some great free-to-play titles too.

Free games are also a good choice when you want to try something a little bit different than your usual wheelhouse or more laid-back. In this list, you can find some of the best free games with amazing stories.

Updated January 05, 2025, by Sanyam Jain: It’s getting quite rare to have a free game with a good storyline being released. Thankfully, there’s a unique genre in gaming that relies on being free and having microtransactions, allowing you to enjoy some beautiful stories without spending a dime.

21

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Characters posing with blasters and lightsabers in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

If you’re a fan of the Star Wars franchise and have never tried The Old Republic before, rectify that immediately. It’s an MMORPG where you can make a character in different classes, and each one has their own storyline for you to follow.

They fall under two umbrellas of either the Republic or Empire, so there are a lot of options for customization here. There are many planets on the map to explore and stories to uncover, all set in the Star Wars universe. The game has been running for a long time, so there’s plenty of content to keep you entertained.

20

Doki Doki Literature Club

This visual novel game is the definition of never judging a book by its cover. The title promises something akin to your typical high school story, but it is definitely more than that. The twists and turns in it will surprise you, although some of the narrative is dark, so be aware.

There is a paid version called Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, but the original is completely free on the developer’s website. If you enjoy visual novels that go beyond the norm, it’s definitely worth checking out.

19

Grimm’s Hollow

The reapers waking up Lavender in Grimm's Hollow.

If you enjoy the style of an RPG game but don’t want something that’s very long, Grimm’s Hollow is an excellent choice. The characters are written very well, and it has a good soundtrack and a really pretty color palette.

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You follow the story of Lavender, a girl who passed on but was not able to go into the afterlife. Instead, she ends up in a place called the Hollow, where she becomes a reaper. She finds out that her little brother Timmy is somewhere in the Hollow as well, and goes on a quest to find him. It’s really interesting to see the game’s lore about the afterlife, which contributes to the great story.

18

Honkai: Star Rail

Released

April 26, 2023

Engine

Unity

ESRB

T for Teen

Giving a new spin to the turn-based combat system, Honkai: Star Rail is a beautiful open-world gacha game that takes you through different planets as you ride the Astral Express through the stellar universe. Each planet has a story to tell, but the common theme between them is the Stellaron crisis caused by the Aeon of Destruction.

As you progress through the story, you meet various new characters, and if any of these peak your interest, you can even play as them by pulling for them at the right time! While Honkai: Star Rail’s story has its downsides, it’s still one of the most immersive and emotional stories you’ll experience.

17

The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit

Developed by Square Enix, this game is half visual novel and part adventure. As the prequel to Life is Strange 2, it follows the story of a young boy named Chris who is using his imagination to cope with the death of his mother and his emotionally neglectful father.

There’s not a whole lot of in-depth gameplay here, but it is an endearing little emotional story that seems to frame the mind of childhood in the right way. It’s really worth playing first if you are looking to get into the Life Strange games.

16

La Rana

If you enjoy puzzle games, this short adventure created by students from Southern Methodist University about a frog will please you.

In the story, an ancient temple is cursed, and everything is turned to stone except for one small guardian who takes the form of a little amphibian. They must go on a quest to rid the temple of its poison, save their guardian friends, and restore their neglected home to its former glory. It comes with a story worth visiting and is free to download on the Steam store.

15

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is an open-world free-to-play gacha title from Mihoyo that puts you into the land of Teyvat, where you must go on a quest to find out what happened to your twin sibling. Joining you on the adventure is your companion Paimon. Recruit other adventurers through both the gacha and story completion as you explore the world and participate in the game’s plot.

Each character has their own high fantasy lore that adds a deep component to the story. There are updates and new content added to the game often, usually extending the main story arc. You can also participate in its free events. If you enjoy an open-world RPG with gorgeous graphics, Genshin is an optimal choice.

14

Guitar Girl

art of the protagonist from the game guitar girl

This is a really simple, relaxed game where you play a female character who is an aspiring musician. It plays out in a story similar to a slice-of-life genre anime – the girl is a high schooler who wants to cheer people up with her music. The better you level up your guitar skills, the more followers you get on social media.

The gameplay itself is really simple with just tapping on the screen to play the guitar. The story plays out through the messages your followers send you, the most memorable perhaps being a cat who is acting as a wingman for his owner who is your secret admirer.

13

Dinner With An Owl

a screenshot from the game dinner with an owl

Remember those point-and-click PC visual novel-style games that seemed to be everywhere when you were younger? This is the grown-up version of that with a horror-themed twist.

Play through a story where you go to the home of a dinner-loving owl creature who doesn’t allow his guests to leave. At first, everything in the plot seems obvious, yet there are strange twists and turns you’d never see coming. Fortunately, the game isn’t too scary for those who get easily uncomfortable with horror games, just very creepy and weird.

12

Fate Grand Order

Fate Grand Order
Systems
phone transparent

Released

June 25, 2017

Developer(s)

DelightWorks
, Lasengle

Publisher(s)

Aniplex

Engine

Unity

The Fate anime series is known for its amazing writing, so it’s no surprise that the free-to-play mobile game Fate Grand Order would have an amazing story. You begin your journey as a recruit of a security organization called Chaldea which is attempting to prevent the future incineration of humanity.

Unfortunately, there is a terrible accident that leaves you as Chaldea’s last person able to summon servants or spiritual heroes of the past. These warriors will aid you in your quest to save humanity as you travel to different eras of history to repair cracks in time. There is an option to buy microtransactions to use on the gacha, but it is not at all required to play the game.

11

Gravity Bone

a screenshot from the game gravity bone

For those who enjoy a spy tale, Gravity Bone is a must. Don’t be put off by the funky art style; this is worth playing for the story alone. The premise sounds dull as you go around and do several tasks for the company you work for, but the story makes it.

There are no revolutionary gameplay tactics here, but people who are fans of a visual novel-style format will definitely enjoy this. You can download it for free directly from the developer Blendo Games website or the Steam store.

10

Cry Of Fear

Cry Of Fear is the perfect free game for fans of Silent Hill-style horror games. The story is set in an empty town that is full of monstrous critters and tons of terrifying aspects.

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You must trek through the cold city to find out what is going on. Through the use of many classic horror game methods like immersion, this is definitely an experience you won’t forget. Interestingly, the game started out as a mod, too.

9

Cave Story

Cave Story takes place in the underground parts of an island that is inhabited by a species called the Mimiga, which are peaceful creatures that become ferocious when they eat a specific flower. Outsiders want the hidden artifact on the island called the Demon Crown and will stop at nothing to get it.

Though it has since been ported to many consoles, you can still download the original Cave Story free of charge on the developer’s website. Cave Story has been praised by critics for years and is considered one of the top-tier platformers for its story, art style, and gameplay.

8

Final Fantasy 14

If you’ve wanted to get into the Final Fantasy franchise but aren’t sure where to begin, Final Fantasy 14 is an excellent one to start with. The MMO style offers tons of variation while still delivering a great story that even ties in with previous games.

The base game is free now, along with the Heavensward expansion. Final Fantasy 14 has made its own unique, indelible mark on the MMO scene. Besides, you get to ride gigantic yellow birds.

7

Warframe

Warframe combines elements of a farming sim, story, open world, and shooter. You play a character who goes on a journey to explore the universe. There are many quests to complete and much of the story is one you can choose on your own.

Now, at nearly ten years old, this game has plenty of content to keep you entertained for a long time. The story asks deep, philosophical questions about life – both synthetic and organic. Best of all, you get to be a space ninja-type character.

6

Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is another MMORPG. Like Final Fantasy 14, you can download and play this game for free, but there are also expansions that you can purchase. In Guild Wars 2, you will be able to play through a deep story up until level 80.

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There are five different races to choose from, each with their own unique story and map locations. Guild Wars 2 celebrated its ten-year anniversary in 2022, which means that you can find over a decade’s worth of content packed into the game. If you end up getting hooked, you can purchase the expansions – Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, and End of Dragons.

5

Beneath a Steel Sky

A player speaking to a woman in a bar.

Beneath a Steel Sky is a 2D point-and-click game with a cozy pixel art style. In this game, you take on the role of Robert Foster, who lives in a city controlled by fascist AI. Over the course of the game, you will need to learn the mystery of these dangerous AI.

This is another shorter game that will take you around six hours to get through. In those six hours, though, you will play through a rich story filled with interesting characters.

4

Marie’s Room

A view of Marie's bedroom.

Marie’s Room can be beaten in less than an hour, but that doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in story. In this game, you become Kelsey, who is searching through Marie’s room to find out what happened to her.

Overall, this is a simple walking simulator-type game that involves inspecting various objects. Through this simple gameplay, you will learn about a deep and emotional story.

3

Katawa Shoujo

Katawa Shoujo is a visual novel that takes place in a high school for disabled students. While attending this school, you’ll get the chance to meet five characters with disabilities and get to know them.

Overall, Katawa Shoujo handles living with disabilities respectfully. While there is some ‘adult’ content, you will have the option to completely remove these scenes from the game without losing anything. If you want to play a unique and heartfelt visual novel, we highly recommend giving Katawa Shoujo a try!

2

Guardian Tales

Looking for a cute and classic-feeling JRPG? Look no further than Guardian Tales. This game takes place in Kanterbury, which is being attacked by ‘invaders’. Your role, of course, is that of the Guardian Knight who must save the world.

Along the way, you can find a wide variety of dungeons, bosses, and heroes to join you. There is also PvP content for you to play if you want to put your strength to the test. Overall, this game has a lot of content, with the average completion time of just the main story being 135 hours.

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