Summary
- Some video games with heavy text and no voice acting can still captivate players with rich stories.
- Games like “Suzerain” and “Yes, Your Grace” rely on written dialogue for engaging storytelling.
- Titles such as “Spiritfarer” and “Omori” use compelling dialogue and writing to create emotional and immersive experiences.
Just like movies and books, video games serve as another entertainment medium that captivates players with their stories, characters, gameplay, and visuals. From AAA video games with high production values to small-scale indie titles with a ton of heart, it’s easy to see why the medium is so diverse.
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Some games feature a lot of text without any voice acting accompanying them. This isn’t a bad thing in the slightest, with many people loving how rich the stories of these games are, especially if they have a penchant for reading.
Games will be ranked based on their overall quality.
8
Suzerain
A Game Loaded With A Ton Of Written Dialogue And Exposition
Suzerain
Strategy
RPG
Adventure
Indie Games
- Released
-
December 4, 2020
A political simulator that can get pretty complex at times, Suzerain is a game that can confuse players from the get-go. However, it’s important to keep a grand strategy in mind as players control Anton Rayne and help him bring prosperity to Sordland.
The economy is in a bad state and diplomatic relations are far from great, so it’s up to the player to figure out a way to bring greatness to Sordland while trying to stick to their morals. It’s a hard balancing act that many players may fail at, but the depth of the story shines in its writing and makes Suzerain worth sticking with in the long run.
7
Milk Outside A Bag Of Milk Outside A Bag Of Milk
A Haunting Visual Novel That Deals With Dark Themes
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: December 16, 2021
- Developer: Nikita Kryukov
- Genres: Visual Novel, Psychological Horror
Players who want to check out a game that depicts trauma and psychosis as accurately as possible in the realm of video games will love Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk, a sequel to Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk and more loaded with content.
The game has some disturbing visuals, but players who have the stomach to bear the game’s horrors will love how living a simple existence is a nightmare for people with severe mental issues. It’s a must-play visual novel for fans who want to enjoy something different in the genre and enjoy their fair share of reading.
6
Yes, Your Grace
The Story Of A Struggling Kingdom Is Conveyed Almost Entirely In Text
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date: March 6, 2020
- Developer: Brave at Night
- Genres: Role-playing, Strategy
Yes, Your Grace is an engaging kingdom management and simulation title that boasts a surprisingly engaging story. In a bid to help the kingdom of Davern prosper, King Eryk must make his fair share of alliances to fight against his enemies.
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Without any voice acting, the story is told entirely through written dialogue and narration. It’s largely effective and gets players invested in the safety of Davern and Eryk’s family as they do everything in their power to load up the kingdom’s coffers and keep the people happy.
5
Pillars Of Eternity
The First Game In The Series Has Limited Voice Acting And Conveys Most Of Its Story Via Text
Pillars of Eternity served as a callback to the golden days of the CRPG genre and is largely successful in this endeavor. Players love the rich and diverse setting of this title as players control a Watcher and aid them in their quest to take out Thaos and dispel the Hollowburn curse plaguing the nation of Dyrwood.
The game has limited voice acting, so players will spend a decent chunk of time reading dialogue and narrations. Most people have no problems with this since the story is captivating enough to make full voice acting unnecessary in the grand scheme of things.
4
Spiritfarer
A Beautiful And Poignant Title Where Emotional Scenes Move Forward With Some Hard-Hitting Dialogue
Platformer
Indie Games
Simulation
- Released
-
August 18, 2020
- Developer(s)
-
Thunder Lotus Games
, Kowloon Nights
, Canada Media Fund
The serene beauty of Spiritfarer makes it one of the best and most emotional management games players can check out. Players control Stella, the eponymous Spiritfarer who must help spirits move on to the afterlife.
Despite its charm, Spiritfarer tackles mature concepts and will make players cry more often than not after they bond with a particular spirit. The game may not have any voice acting, but the dialogue is compelling enough to keep players captivated as they go through the motions and help people feel comfortable on the ship.
3
Sunless Skies
An Amazing Sequel With A Haunting Atmosphere That Features Several Mini-Stories For Players To Discover
- Released
-
January 31, 2019
- Developer(s)
-
Failbetter Games
A near-perfect sequel that addresses almost every complaint from the first game, Sunless Skies is a must-play for fans of atmospheric horror titles. Every port lets players read through tantalizing mini-stories that are either wondrous, horrifying, or both.
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The improvements made to the UI ensure that players will be captivated as they read about the events occurring in each port and how the player-controlled captain can influence them. Players choose an end goal at the start of the game and strive to achieve it by any means necessary, with each playthrough feeling just as special as the last.
2
Omori
A Disarming Tale Where The Visuals And Story Work In Harmony To Create An Unforgettable Experience
- Released
-
December 25, 2020
One of the best indie RPGs players can get their hands on, Omori is a beautiful video game full of boundless charm that hides behind this facade to shock and awe players whenever Sunny’s trauma slips through the cracks. It’s a game full of disturbing visuals and imagery that can take a while to get used to.
Once players come to terms with what the game’s trying to achieve, they’ll be left spellbound by a wonderful story as the friend group reconnects and the truth is uncovered regarding their shared tragedy. The game may not have any voice acting, but the amazing storytelling and creepy visuals will demand the player’s attention as they witness the dramatic story unfold bit by bit with some compelling written narration and dialogue.
1
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Two Of The Very Best Games In This Long-Running Series
Ace Attorney fans were left elated when Capcom finally took the plunge and released a translated collection of two spinoff games that hadn’t made their way to the West for the longest time. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles features two of the best games in the series that fans can’t get enough of.
Ryunosuke Naruhodo is a great protagonist, but the crowning jewel of this title is undoubtedly Herlock Sholmes. This hilarious bumbling detective somehow manages to be the best part of the title despite being wrong almost every single time when it came to his deductions, but that’s just a small part of his charm as players read a ton of text in each case and find contradictions to get the correct verdict.
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