Best Story-Driven Games With Great Gameplay

A good story can be an important factor for many players, but games driven by their narrative are often focused on storytelling over innovative gameplay. As a result, while memorable, story-driven games can sometimes feel lackluster to play.

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However, there are a variety of games out there that are able to offer solid gameplay alongside their narratives. Be it the innovative puzzle solving of Duck Detective or the tense action of Alan Wake, there’s something here for everyone.

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Duck Detective

Intuitive, Thematic, & Accessible Puzzle Solving

Released

May 23, 2024

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Language

Developer(s)

Happy Broccoli Games

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Duck Detective is a tongue-in-cheek adventure game with a charming Paper Mario-esque art style and an ensemble cast of quirky characters. The game’s distinctive voice actors, witty writing, and tightly woven mystery do much of the heavy lifting, but Duck Detective innovates with its gameplay.

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Duck Detective puts players in the shoes of its eponymous detective and, through a series of mini-games, tasks them with cracking a mysterious case. These mini-games are intuitive, thematic, and surprisingly engaging despite the lack of challenge, synergizing with the narrative and tone of the game.

7

Bastion

Classic Action In A Unique World

Released

July 20, 2011

ESRB

E10 For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Sporting a truly unique, dreamlike art-style, Bastion is an immediately impressive title driven by a simple but dramatic narrative. This story is elevated tenfold by the game’s excellent narration, injecting moments of true emotion into what would otherwise be standard action sequences.

Despite excelling with its world-building and narrative, Bastion remains a competent action game via intuitive controls and a diverse arsenal of weaponry. More importantly, many weapons are viable in any given situation, and players are given ample customization over their loadout between missions.

6

Undertale

A Unique Twist On RPGs & Bullet-Hell Action

Released

September 15, 2015

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco

Developer(s)

Toby Fox

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Undertale is a distinctive RPG not only for its unique approach to storytelling, but for its quirky combat system. In the game, players are tasked with solving simple puzzles and dealing with a variety of enemies, either through mercy or violence.

All of this is made engaging through a simple but diverse bullet-hell combat system that centers purely around avoiding enemy attacks. With a myriad of unique patterns, Undertale offers a surprisingly diverse set of combat encounters throughout its story-driven adventure. As a result, it’s able to remain a game that’s not only fun to experience, but fun to interact with.

5

Alan Wake

Surreal Horror & A Unique Combat System

Third-Person Shooter

Survival Horror

Released

February 16, 2012

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

With Remedy Entertainment’s sure hand at the wheel, Alan Wake offers a thrilling and surreal adventure that blends horror and action in unique ways. There’s plenty to love about Alan Wake’s Twin Peaks-inspired setting and surrealist horror, but the gameplay itself makes for an efficient engine beneath the hood.

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Alan Wake’s combat system revolves around its fight-with-the-light mechanic, tasking players with utilizing a flashlight to weaken enemies before taking them out for good. It’s not the most complex of designs, but it provides players with a one-two punch that’s satisfying to pull off.

4

Hades

Slick & Expressive Action With A Slow-Burning Story

Released

September 17, 2020

ESRB

T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Despite its nature as an action roguelite, Hades contorts its own structure to make way for a core narrative that drives the experience forward. With mechanics that blend into the game’s setting and story, Hades is able to offer a decidedly thematic experience.

Hades is still, at its heart, a roguelite, and players that don’t enjoy repetition are unlikely to be charmed. However, the game’s diverse arsenal of weaponry and abundance of possible builds keeps the action from becoming stale.

3

Tactical Breach Wizards

Tight Turn-Based Tactics & Witty Writing

Tactical Breach Wizards

Turn-Based Strategy

Tactical

RPG

Systems

Released

August 22, 2024

Developer(s)

Suspicious Developments

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Tactical Breach Wizards is a turn-based tactics game that excels with its puzzle-like level designs. However, it’s driven by an engaging narrative in a unique, urban fantasy setting, elevated by witty writing and a cast of charismatic characters.

Though its story provides a fast-paced structure, supported by stylish presentation, Tactical Breach Wizards’ greatest strength is arguably its mechanical gameplay. Each combat encounter is a tight, neatly-packed experience that can often be approached in multiple ways, thanks to a generous helping of powerful abilities, environmental hazards, and unique squad members.

2

Dishonored

An Expressive Combination Of Stealth, Exploration, & Combat

Released

October 9, 2012

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

​​​​​​​Dishonored is a story-driven stealth game with open-ended level design and a distinctive Steampunk setting that’s wildly immersive. The game’s narrative is relatively simple, but it’s the presentation and delivery of its story that makes it so memorable, supported by unforgettable locations and distinctive characters. However, Dishonored also succeeds with its gameplay, which itself ties into the game’s narrative in a neat package.

Though perhaps a point of contention for some, Dishonored tracks the player’s level of violence throughout the game, and those that want a remotely happy ending will have to pay close attention. Supported by a variety of weapons, items, and supernatural abilities, players are able to approach each mission in a variety of ways, not dissimilar to an immersive-sim. This results in a tremendous level of player agency that allows for a sense of control over an otherwise linear experience.

1

Hi-Fi Rush

Unique Rhythm-Based Action With A Colorful Story

Released

January 25, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Bursting with color and lighthearted charm, Hi-Fi Rush is an exuberant adventure packed with memorable characters and exciting combat encounters. Succeeding not only with its feel-good story and charismatic cast, but also with its innovative rhythm-based action, Hi-Fi Rush is a journey to remember.

Featuring a combat system akin to character action games such as Devil May Cry, Hi-Fi Rush injects a buoyant energy into each encounter by tasking players with playing to the beat. This synergizes with the classic combo-based gameplay that Hi-Fi Rush makes use of, and, combined with an excellent soundtrack, results in gameplay that’s just as memorable as its heartfelt narrative.

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