Looking for a Story Rich Game That Will Take You On a Great Adventure?
We here at Gamers Decide love a good story to our video games. So we have compiled a list of some of the very best story-based games that should be on your 2016 bucket list.
15. The Walking Dead
Since the launch of season 1 in 2012, this game has won numerous awards and thousands of players. The game features a dynamic play experience in which each and every decision you make changes the world around you. Gamers are hooked on the in-depth story of Clementine.
This year Telltale has announced a season three. The trailer from E3 looks impeccable. The graphics are a stunning improvement over previous seasons and the trailer leaves huge question marks.
If you like the dramatic stories about zombies and people who are just as dangerous as the undead, give this game a look over and try it out.
Hold those Zombies off, Clem!
Sometimes the living are just as bad as the undead
14. The Walking Dead: Michonne
Michonne Trailer
This time, you are playing as Michonne on the floating colony, Monroe, in the Chesapeake Bay.
This game takes place during the katana-wielding heroine’s time away from Rick and the others and follows her back to them. But how she gets there is entirely up to you.
The length of this off shoot is much more brief, boasting only 3 episodes—Telltale even calls it a mini-series—but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack any less of an emotional punch. You must guide Michonne as she deals with demons from her past and battles her surroundings.
Michonne must deal with her demons
And you still get to lob zombie heads off with a katana
13. The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us Trailer
In another episodic adventure from Telltale, The Wolf Among Us is based on the Vertigo graphic novel, Fable. This game also has comic book style artwork.
There is a film noir feel to the game. You’re the hard-boiled big bad wolf sheriff, Bigby Wolf, trying to solve a grisly murder. And some of the monsters you must fight and encounter are the stuff of nightmares since every major character is based on the stuff of legends and lore.
If you enjoy gritty film noir stories based on awesome comic books you should definitely pick this one up.
Interviewing suspects can get heated
A wolf hunting
12. Tales from the Borderlands
Tales From the Borderlands
Filled with the original humor of the Borderlands series, and, in the preview, we even get a hint that Jack is back. If you’re new to the series, buckle up for laughter and midgets with chainsaws and a villain you will love to hate.
You’ll play as two characters: Rhys and Fiona. And your actions as both characters will affect the Pandora landscape. So no matter which character you’re currently playing as, Rhys with ambitions of being the next Handsome Jack, or Fiona, a con-artist, you’ll need to remember that your actions impact your world.
It’s a bird? It’s a plane? No… it’s Zero… Crap.
Wait… That’s not Claptrap…
11. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones Trailer
The future of Westeros is in your hands. You play as several members of house Forrester from the North. You’re caught up in the events of The War of the Five Kings and you must make important decisions that impact the wellness of your house.
If you love the TV series, you’ll run across several of your favorite main characters such as Jon Snow and Cersei Lannister. Brought to vivid CGI beauty with all the darkness you’d expect.
Your story depends on your actions. Choices like killing an attacker and who you swear allegiance to have long-lasting repercussions. And the fate of House Forrester hangs in the balance.
Cersei looks ready to take some names
Remember, killing people is generally frowned upon…
10. Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
Brothers Trailer
In this story, you follow the journey of two brothers who set out to heal their ailing father.
While the graphics are not as visually stunning, the story itself delivers. And there are sweeping, fairytale-esque landscapes to supply any gamer plenty of pretty to keep them interested.
This is really a tale of working together to achieve a goal. You control both brothers at the same time, and each brother has their own personality and their own way of doing things. You’ll need to utilize both brothers’ strengths and weaknesses to advance the story and ultimately save their dad.
Top-down gameplay makes this gameplay unique
The brothers must work together to solve puzzles like this
9. Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter
Devil's Daughter Trailer
The main character in this story is none other than Sherlock Holmes. The whole story revolves around Sherlock’s adoptive daughter, Katelyn, and the occult happenings around her. And Sherlock’s desire to protect her from those happenings.
While lovely, the graphics are not as smooth as some other games. But the story packs a punch. Dr. Watson provides weapons support—he is a former Army doctor after all. Sherlock also receives help from several other sources in this most important of mysteries.
The story will leave you hooked until the end, and it is not to be missed.
This looks a little… sketchy…
Put that keen eye to the test
8. BioShock Infinite
Bioshock Infinite TV spot
Join Booker as he travels to the flying city of Columbia. He has come in search of Elizabeth. Who quickly becomes his partner.
Booker is an ex-Pinkerton PI. Elizabeth has a hidden power: she can open tears in the space-time continuum and pull object from other places. Booker fights with bullets and a special metal claw that allows him to zip around the city rail system.
Never fear, classic Bioshock fans, the expansions—Burial at Sea episodes 1 and 2—bring Elizabeth and Booker’s exploits to Rapture. Bioshock Infinite has infinite replayability with its choice-driven story and challenging settings.
Yes, this is just as terrifying as it looks.
Who knew George Washington could handle a Gatling gun so well?
7. Dreamfall Chapters
Dreamfall Chapters Redux Trailer
Set in three different worlds—Arcadia, Stark, and Storytime—Dreamfall Chapters tells the climactic chapter of the only dreamer left: Zoë Castillo.
Dreamers can exist in multiple worlds at once by dreaming themselves into the other world. Dreamfall Chapters is the follow up to both The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.
And this year you can pick up Dreamfall Chapters Book Five: Redux. The concluding episode of the Dreamfall Chapters saga. So now you can really and fully appreciate Zoë’s story from beginning to end.
Inhabitants of Stark look on in horror
Arcadian man escapes prison
6. D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die
D4 Trailer
Welcome to the strange world of David Young. David Young is a narcotics cop turned PI. He has the unique ability to dive back in time by interacting with items called “mementos.”
For the past two years he has used this ability solely for the purpose of finding answers to his wife’s death. Her last words to him, while dying in his arms, were “look for ‘D’.”
What is truly innovative about this game is its use of movement to control David. His movements sync up to your movements with the mouse. Making gameplay even more intense, yet intuitive.
This is gonna hurt you more than it is gonna hurt me
Even flipping through pages uses the unique movement system
5. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa Trailer
In a tale that could only be from Japan, you play as Makoto, an ordinary high school student who wins a lottery and gets to attend an elite school.
Upon his arrival, he immediately falls unconscious and then has to make his way to the gym. There the students find a robotic teddy bear, Monokume, who informs them that if they want to leave they’ll need to murder someone.
What’s truly original is the 2.5D graphics. The characters are all in 2D and the settings in 3D providing the game as unique a look as the game’s story is.
Class Trials promise blood
Interact with peers in the classroom environment
4. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Danganronpa 2 Trailer
Same school, different setting. No decaying school setting this time. Instead, you and your classmates are whisked away to a tropical island on what is supposed to be a relaxing school trip.
But that doesn’t mean murder isn’t on the planner.
This time you play as Hajime. He lost all of his memories and has no idea even what his special talent is that got him into the elite school.
Again, we are thrown into the 2.5D world. And, again, we must survive the class trials and accusations of others as murder begins to spread.
Remember Monokume? He’s back
Countering can be the only way to save your life
3. I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream Trailer
Based on the award-winning short story by Harlan Ellison, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is set in a post-apocalyptic future. There are only five survivors left of humanity. And they are being tortured constantly by a sentient computer who hates humanity.
The pixelated art style does not take away from the creepy-ness of the reality being presented. It is a point and click style game with very specific action options.
Is humanity worth saving? That’s the question the game asks and it is up to you to find the answer.
There are always lots of options for exploring, some of which might end very poorly for you
Monsters like this exist? Yeah, no thank you.
2. Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut
Lone Survivor Trailer
In another pixelated and very creepy, very dark game you are a masked survivor in a city that has been all but destroyed by a disease. How you survive is entirely up to you.
The game touts 5 different endings and the director’s cut promises to be more polished and less buggy than the original.
So, will you sneak through the game or kill everything in sight? Look for survivors or stick it out alone? It’s all up to you. Just watch out for the creepy things that lurk in the shadows.
Our hero enjoys a quiet moment
And then he has to fight these things in total darkness
1. Undertale
Undertale Trailer
Undertale is a game where no one has to die. Instead, you can defeat your enemies using your awesome dance moves or petting skills.
If you can’t already tell this is an RPG with a lot of humor. Made in bit format, explore a world that is dark yet amusing. You are caught in between the struggle of monsters and humans, but really the game isn’t meant to be an epic struggle like other games.
It’s meant to be fun and funny. Who’d have thunk it?
And it still tells a great story.
The backstory is pretty simple but the story is not
Wiggling is a very expressive language.
Hopefully, this list of games will keep you entertained all year long. From something as indie as Lone Survivor to something as mainstream as Tales from the Borderlands, every one of these games offers unique choices and unique stories to explore.
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