Most Written Games of the Last 10 Years

Gameplay, visuals, music, narrative. These are the ingredients you need to create the perfect video game. Being able to achieve all four of these categories is both a miracle and a near-impossibility, but I would argue that achieving either gameplay or narrative is already a great start to a historic video game.

But here we will focus only on the narrative. Video game writing is the sum of a good plot, great dialogue, lore, and how it all is delivered. Since the dawn of video games, countless games have showcased their narrative prowess, but today we'll only focus on titles released in the past decade, starting in 2016, and what impression each game's writing has made. The only exception is Kentucky Route Zero, which released its final act in 2020. I'm going to roughly rank them based on overall quality, but honestly, that's a very loose criteria considering all of these titles are pure masterpieces.

kentucky route zero

A masterclass in narrative told in multiple acts.

If there's one title that pushes the limits of the kinds of narratives that can be told in video game format, it's kentucky road zero. The appeal of this game lies not only in its mysterious story of finding the legendary Road Zero running underground in Kentucky, but also in its art style.

There's a bit of lore mixed up throughout and it's never an obvious story that will leave many people baffled even after playing it seriously. As a visual novel, it demands your attention, invites you to find out what's at the core and try to find great meaning in everything. Adopting multiple different protagonists, there are many smaller stories within the larger story, and you're sure to feel all the feels in this surreal yet beautiful gaming experience.

alan wake 2

It's so absurd that I really like it.

Alan Wake's Writing has always been strange. Some people love it and others absolutely despise it, but I think there's something to be said about how it works perfectly for a surreal and absurd plot like David Lynch's. twin peaksInstead of trying to appeal to the masses to please them and fit in.

alan wake 2 The story is told from the perspective of two different “worlds” and characters, Alan and Saga, and Alan's horror writing directly influences the events of the game. Expect every hilarious cliche and bizarre moment imaginable in a production inspired by the shocking works of David Lynch and blended with classic Remedy Entertainment storytelling. As a result, it won the Best Narrative Award at the 2023 GOTY Awards.

What's left of Edith Finch

The most heartbreaking walking simulator

A book in video game format; What's left of Edith Finch is an indie title that prioritizes story above all else. It's no surprise that this makes for a great way to tell a story that will stay with you for a long time. As Edith, the last member of your lineage, you begin to explore the stories of individual family members to find out what happened to the rest of the family. The game isn't very long, but it keeps you in a tight, bitter, emotional grip throughout it.

Atmosphere, music, and visuals all work to consistently tell this haunting story, and it's easy to see why it was nominated for seven different awards related to narrative and storytelling and earned a 2017 GOTY Best Narrative spot. This is a must-experience for anyone who appreciates a solid narrative and isn't afraid to shed a tear.

Silent Hill F

Ryukishi07's Layered Narrative Will Haunt You

A game designed to be played three or more times to fully appreciate the depth of the story; Silent Hill F Showcasing the best features Ryukishi07 has to offer. This book is an incredibly necessary commentary on the societal expectations of Japanese women during the Showa era, which was heavily intertwined with the supernatural and the cult. silent hill style), Japanese folklore centered around kitsune. As the writing combines with the game's gorgeous and creepy visuals, there are plenty of strange symbols to delve into.

which silent hill Game, nothing is as it seems. What is real? What isn't? It's psychological horror at its finest and a perfect example of an unreliable narrator and a point of view used as a trick of the eye. As each layer of the story is peeled back over the next two playthroughs, the true depth of Hinako's story and what's really going on in Ebisugaoka, as well as what each character's role is, will have you seeing your first moments in Hinako's shoes through completely different eyes. It's an art form of its own. Silent Hill F I promise it perfectly.

brightness

It's a Hugo Award winner for a reason

brightness It's one of those games where the writing didn't have to try that hard to deliver something good, but it still did. The action-packed gameplay alone made this roguelike a hit from Supergiant Games, but more than that, it captivated players with a story and dialogue that felt detailed, clever, and unique at every turn. Everyone has a voice, and it's clear that a lot of love went into creating the world.

The game is also filled with fantastic writing, from the legendary lore to the interactions with the game's various characters, and when paired with the great voice acting, it's an experience worthy of a Literary Hugo Award in 2021. The game received almost universal praise for its witty narrative and established itself as one of the best video games of all time.

cyberpunk 2077

A story that will immediately move you

Few video game worlds and characters feel as real as this. cyberpunk 2077. Dialogue, main campaign, gorgeous DLC, as well as countless memorable side quests that strike you deep inside with commentary on megacorporations and hyper-capitalism, all wrapped up in a sickeningly beautiful package.

From the moments when Johnny and V share their desperate journey together to the conversations with characters like Panam, Songbird, and Judy, this is a game that feels heavy and unsettling as the credits roll. The city is filled with lore that TTRPG fans will already be familiar with, from catchy commercial songs to data shards that reveal what's wrong with the world. It's lush and melancholic, and will make you think about how close we are to the world of 2077.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar doesn't hold writing hostage.

A game with both depth and realism in every aspect, Red Dead Redemption 2 It made everyone feel like they were in Arthur Morgan's shoes in the fictional Wild West. Leaving aside the overarching main plot, which is already a masterclass in storytelling in itself, the world is also conveyed nicely through interactions with NPCs and companions in the camp. This game doesn't want you to believe that this world actually exists. We also want you to care about everyone in it.

This is another game where the love and attention to detail extends to every nook and cranny, not just the surfaces you scratch when you first enter. Side quests and random characters all have something to say, and are made to feel like you're playing skin-to-skin. It's no wonder this game is considered one of the most immersive open world games of all time. I lost to god of war (2018) Still won the Best Narrative category at the 2018 GOTY Awards and received several nominations and smaller awards in the same category.

Claire Obsker: Expedition 33

Writing is just one of many successful things.

At a time when many people were starting to find AAA games disappointing, Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 It surprised everyone with one of the most well-rounded video game experiences. It somehow managed to deliver the same quality in every category, from music to gameplay, and the narrative was no different. The story, story, and characters are clearly the result of careful curation and labor of love, and a testament to the sheer talent and passion behind the project.

The dialogue was praised for feeling realistic and relatable, especially considering that interviews with lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen talked about striving for HBO series-level quality in terms of storytelling and character depth. The story is full of heartbreak, and people continue to debate the game's ending. This is a testament to the game's enduring quality and perhaps explains why it won so many awards, including Best Narrative at the 2025 GOTY show.

Baldur's Gate 3

The best of Larian Studios' signature Dark Whimsy

If you've been playing Larian Studios' games for a while, you know exactly what I mean by two words: dark and whimsical. There is a witty whimsy. theology It's a game that evokes a sense of childlike wonder while simultaneously making them both incredibly cruel. Baldur's Gate 3 Along the same lines, it offers some very profound moments with companions who forge friendships, as well as numerous quests that are equally well thought out by everyone.

The fact that you have so much freedom and freedom as a player with dialogue options based on your build and choices shows that an incredible amount of dialogue has been written for the game and it all respects Larian's signature style. There are a lot of truly horrific and tragic turns in the main story, but there are also moments of great hope and hilarious comedy. (You will experience this if you leave Astarion in the monastery after blowing it up.) movie). It's almost a miracle that writers have managed to tread such careful boundaries between different themes and emotions so well.

Disco Elysium

Dark, witty and politically deep

It's not every day you come across great sentences in a video game, but Disco Elysium It delivers just that. When it was first released in 2019, it shocked the gaming world with its moody yet charming style and intriguing premise. As a cop with amnesia, the game not only delves into crime investigation, but also gets to the heart of philosophy and politics in an incredibly concise and effective way.

Dialogue feels real because the characters are part of the world itself, rather than simply joining the game to deliver the next step in a quest. And it also feels very real, well thought out and conveyed through many interactions during the investigation. All of this combined with how narrative-driven the game is, and all the branching paths you take, it's clear that a ton of love has been put into it. Disco Elysium It's something you won't find in many other games released in the last decade.