The Top 10 Greatest Video Game Stories (Ever)
04. Alan Wake
This one really stands out in the realm of tightly-developed stories, not because it is very memorable -- it isn't -- but because the development team chose to tie the story tightly to the character, making this one of those games that while you are playing it you are closely held into it, but once you break free from it, the longer the absence, the more it starts to seem like a hazy bit of nightmare.
Add to that the leveraging of some of the most effective hooks in film noir and a compelling series of small mysteries to be solved, then pack all of that into an action-adventure game that has been fused with the essence of survival horror AND the basic shooter, and what you get is Alan Wake.
Oddly considering its popularity you would think that the publisher would have encouraged the studio to begin pumping out sequels on an annual basis, but no, that didn't happen. Probably because the quality of the story is one such that any follow-on would require at least that level of creativity and creation -- which despite the wide variety of really great games on this list, is a lot harder to pull off than you might think.
Literally created to be what the developer calls a “Psychological Thriller” the game -- and its story -- breaks a lot of rules for video games. But in doing so, it takes a collection of myths and embraces them, then takes a simple element like the absence of light and turns it into a monster that is both dangerous and weak at the same time.
The real question you are left wondering at the end of this game is what real-world author is it based on?
Not having KOTOR on this list is a sin.
Skyrim's story is pathetic, makes no sense and is full of typical fantasy tropes. Dragons really? Also it has the sad Chosen one plot which only really makes sense if you're a Nord, because due to the lore only Nords have ever been of Dragon blood and blah, blah, blah.
Morrowind has a MUCH better story, which I don't want to spoil. The world is original and unique. However I am shocked Planescape Torment isn't on here.
Was the 360 your first console?
what about Eternal darkness, the way the chapters were woven together was very good
Skyrim Is Cool Game...
How about The Longest Journey or Grim Fandango?
Skyrim's story did suck. That shouldn't even be on this list.
Skyrim has a lot going for it, but it's story is terrible. There is NO character development at any point in the game for any character. That said, the LORE(completely different than the story) is fantastic as always, the game world is nice, and the immersion is there.
Planescape: Torment?......Go kill yourself.
Where is Morrowind ?
10-Dark Sector
9-Halo:Reach
8-Mass Effect
7-Uncharted
6-Red Dead Redemption
5-Fallout 3
4-Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
3-Heavy Rain
2-Grand Theft Auto V
1-The Last of Us
My name is John I., and this is my list. Any one agree?
Agreed!
Skyrim's main story line is one of the shittiest story of all "big" games... Most of side-quests have better story than main plot. I quit playing main story line in 2/3 (after first defeat of "evil dragon") because it bored me as hell.
Played 300 hours of Skyrim, wait it had a story? o.O
Starcraft one should definitely be in anyone's top ten story lines.
Last of Us has passed Skyrim for most awards for a single title, I feel it deserves the title of best story ever.
Skyrim --' wtf????
Puts Skyrim but not Morrowind or Oblivion. Honestly, it took me 2 to 3 years to actually start the main quest past the Thalmor Embassy.
Everyone forgot one game...Indigo Prophesy..aka..Fahrenheit!
Stupidity at it's finest. R u seriously gonna tell me that Halo is not on the list? U r seriously out of ure mind
Red dead redemption, is the greatest story by far.
No Red Dead Redemption... hmm think I pressed the wronk link
gta 5 is not worth the best story... but most of this games sucks story sucks if you compare it to the real great games. LA Noir WTF? Grom fandango has the best story of all games. batman arkham asylum has also a very good story, witcher 2 should also be top 10
whre tf is gta 5??????
That seems like an odd thing to say about skyrim. I didn't notice any considerable depth to Skyrim's story over the previous 3 games. I was really confused by the dragon business by the end of the game, actually.
Legacy of Kain beats all of those games' storylines.
Last of us after LoK.
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I totally agree. It is awesome that someone else appreciated that series as much as I did. I was hoping it would be on this list.
Where indeed is Planescape Torment?
I found that shining diamond over ten years after it was published and even though it looks quite ugly by todays standards, the story and the dark, twisted, gruesome and utterly marvelous fantasy world is just gripping. Forget Nirn, forget Arda, this is a world that actually has a soul and spirit. And it's not just a world, but so much more. That game will stay with you forever.
Oh how I would love to get lost in the Planes again in a completely new story..
WOT? You didn't even include Planescape:Torment?
It has the best story any RPG game ever had, Period.
This list in insulting. Kingdom hearts (the first one), ff6-10, loz oot, sonic adventure 2. Mario has a better story than skyrim and it's recycled every year lololol
FO Vegas is the worst Fallout storyline so far...... wtf.
Metal Gear Solid??!!!