Besides being a good stress relief and being generally fun, video games tell captivating and touching stories. Dramatic, cheerful, optimistic, and sad stories exist on all platforms and in all genres. The list would not have any online titles. There are decent examples of rich narratives in multiplayer games, but this list concentrates solely on the single-player experience. Xbox One is no exception. Choose one of the top Xbox one controllers, grab some snacks, and get ready for games with the best stories for the console.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece created by Rockstar Games and released in 2018. The story of the game brings us to the last days of the Wild West conquering. The civil war is long over; there are not many outlaws left, the USA becomes the land of the law. And, in this new, civilized nation, we take the role of Arthur Morgan, a criminal who wants to find a place to belong.
Arthur is a part of Dutch Van der Linde’s gang. The gang’s last big robbery became a complete mess, and now they are on the run, trying to find land that they could buy and finally left the criminal path behind. The gang is full of racy characters who have distinct personalities and believable interactions with each other.
This story is a masterful combination of personal drama, adrenaline action, and a slice of history in the western setting, with all its bright and dark moments.
Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata by Yoko Taro and Platinum Games is an unusual game in many aspects, and its story is one of them. We take the role of 2B – an attractive android who has to battle cute, little robots for the sake of humanity. It is played as absurd as it sounds. However, such a flashy exterior hides a deep and captivating story.
Yoko Taro presents his plot in three different layers. It means that you have to complete the game three full times to get the true ending. During each of the playthroughs, you will discover new details of the world, characters’ past, and their motives. However, each of these three endings concludes the story. It makes Nier: Automata as deep as you want it to be. For one person, Nier would be an extravagant tale about androids on high heels. The other gamer will discover a deep, intricate plot with mysteries and horror. And people who would reach the very end of the rabbit hole will experience a philosophical story about life, death, and meaning between these two concepts.
Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V is the final chapter of the Metal Gear saga. The intricate story, full of twists and genre’s deconstructions, is one of the series’ visits cards. In MGS: V, we play Venom Snake, a soldier who survived the destruction of his military base and spent ten years in a coma. Now, Venom Snake has to rebuild his legacy and avenge his fallen battle brothers.
The game takes a lot of parallels with the classic novel “Moby Dick.” The theme of revenge unites all the subplots of the game and shows how even the best intentions turn vile under the poison of revenge. The game takes place in Afghanistan and Africa, in the 80th. These locations are full of local stories and conflicts that we must resolve. The decisions we make influence the image of Venom Snake and the legacy that he builds. Naturally, there’s a metal gear threat that we must disarm as well. And, of course, people who built the machine are much worse than the weapon itself.
Metal Gear Solid V is a bitter-sweet ending for one of the most beloved gaming franchises and a proper goodbye to one of the video games’ icons.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch by the indie studio Giant Sparrow was a small revelation in 2017. We play as Edith Finch, a young woman who returns to her home trying to find peace with her past and discover her future. The house of Finches is a place full of:
- Dreams
- Hopes
- Wonders
- Terrors.
The Finches family was big, but each member of it died. Some of them died at a young age, and only one person lived to old years.
The game speaks with the gamer about death and how it comes to people. Despite picking a pretty dark theme, the game manages to tell about it in a comforting and soothing manner. Edith reads about her relatives, close and far, and how they died. Together with Edith, the player goes through all stages of tragedy and learns how to accept death as an inseparable part of life.
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is a small revolution made by Rockstar Games and released in 2011. We play as detective Colin Felps. As the title suggests, we will dive deep into the dark secrets of Los Angeles in the 50th. One of the distinct features of the game is a realistic mimic created via special capturing technology. As a result, each case through which Colin will go has a distinct flavor and expressive acting.
As for the cases, Colin will go through different police departments and will resolve murders, accidents, robberies, and a lot of other nasty episodes of the big city’s life. In parallel to the investigations, we will learn about Colin’s past, his character, and his ideals. Like Red Dead Redemption 2, L.A. Noire is an authentic slice of life from the past, recreated with passion and attention to detail.
Final Words
You may find these games on platforms other than Xbox. In terms of availability, they are not restricted to a single console. So, you may check out razer naga epic reviews and have the same narrative experience on your Pc. Yet, if you prefer to play on Xbox One, these games will definitely please your taste for good stories, and they are available on your favorite platform.