Best-Written Games Of The Last 10 Years

Great video games need strong gameplay, appealing visuals, memorable music, and a compelling story. It’s incredibly rare for a game to excel in all four areas, but even mastering just gameplay or story is a fantastic foundation for a game that players will remember.

In this discussion, we’re concentrating solely on storytelling in video games. Strong writing in games comes from a combination of compelling plots, memorable dialogue, rich background lore, and effective delivery. While many games have demonstrated excellent narratives throughout history, we’ll be looking specifically at titles released in the last ten years – from 2016 onwards – and how their writing stood out. The only exception to this timeframe is Kentucky Route Zero, which finished releasing in 2020. We’ll be ranking these games based on their overall quality, though it’s important to note that they are all exceptional works, so the ranking is somewhat subjective.

Kentucky Route Zero

A Masterclass In Narrative, Delivered In Multiple Acts

Few games have explored storytelling in quite the same way as Kentucky Route Zero. What makes it special isn’t just its intriguing story about searching for the mythical Road Zero beneath Kentucky, but also its unique and captivating visual style.

This game isn’t straightforward; it reveals its story in small pieces, leaving many players with questions even after finishing it. As a visual novel, it requires close attention and encourages you to piece together the larger meaning behind everything. You’ll experience a complex narrative through the eyes of multiple characters, and it’s a beautifully strange game that will evoke a lot of emotion.

Alan Wake 2

So Absurd It’s Actually Good

Alan Wake’s writing style is definitely unique – people either love it or hate it. But I think that’s a good thing, because it fits the game’s strange and dreamlike story perfectly. It’s reminiscent of David Lynch and Twin Peaks, prioritizing artistic vision over trying to be broadly appealing.

Alan Wake 2 tells its story through two distinct worlds and the eyes of two characters: Alan and Saga. Alan’s writing as a horror author actually shapes what happens in the game. It’s full of strange and familiar horror tropes, and unsettling moments reminiscent of David Lynch’s films, all wrapped up in Remedy Entertainment’s signature storytelling style. This compelling narrative earned the game the Best Narrative award at the 2023 Game of the Year Awards.

What Remains of Edith Finch

The Most Heart-Wrenching Walking Simulator

What Remains of Edith Finch is a unique game that feels more like an interactive story than a traditional video game. It prioritizes storytelling above all else, and it succeeds beautifully, creating a narrative that will stay with you long after you finish playing. You play as Edith Finch, the last member of her family, as she investigates the mysterious deaths of her relatives by experiencing their individual stories. Though relatively short, the game is deeply moving, bittersweet, and keeps you captivated from beginning to end.

The game’s atmosphere, music, and graphics combine beautifully to tell these compelling stories, which explains its seven award nominations and its win for Best Narrative in 2017. It’s a fantastic experience for anyone who loves a well-crafted story and doesn’t mind a few emotional moments.

Silent Hill f

Ryukishi07’s Layered Narrative Will Haunt You

Designed for multiple playthroughs to fully unravel its story, Silent Hill f showcases the strengths of writer Ryukishi07. The game offers a powerful look at the pressures faced by women in Showa-era Japan, blending this with supernatural elements, cults reminiscent of the Silent Hill series, and Japanese folklore about kitsune. Players can expect rich symbolism woven throughout the narrative, enhanced by the game’s striking and disturbing visuals.

As with any Silent Hill game, reality is constantly questioned in Silent Hill f. The story expertly uses an unreliable narrator and shifting perspectives to create a deeply psychological horror experience. Each time you play through the game – and there are multiple playthroughs – you uncover new layers of Hinako’s story and the secrets of Ebisugaoka. This will completely change how you view your initial experiences, revealing the true roles of each character. This masterful storytelling is what Silent Hill f does best.

Hades

Winner Of The Hugo Award, And For Good Reason

Hades was already a fantastic roguelike game thanks to its exciting action, but Supergiant Games went the extra mile with its story and characters. The writing is remarkably detailed, charming, and fresh, giving every character a distinct voice and showing a clear dedication to world-building. It’s a game that could have succeeded on gameplay alone, but the writing elevates it to something truly special.

The game boasts incredible writing, from its detailed backstory to the conversations you have with characters. Combined with amazing voice acting, it’s a truly special experience – and the 2021 Hugo Award it won was well-deserved. Critics and players alike loved its clever story, and it’s now considered one of the greatest video games ever made.

Cyberpunk 2077

A Story That Hits You Right In The Feels

It’s rare to find a video game world and characters that feel as authentic as those in Cyberpunk 2077. The conversations, main story, and especially the fantastic expansion, along with numerous unforgettable side quests, offer powerful insights into the dangers of unchecked corporate power and extreme capitalism—all presented in a visually stunning and gritty world.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a deeply impactful game, from the bond between Johnny and V to the memorable conversations with characters like Panam, Songbird, and Judy. It leaves you feeling unsettled and thoughtful long after you finish playing. The game is rich with backstory that fans of the tabletop RPG will recognize, revealed through everything from earworm commercials to collectible data fragments that explain the world’s downfall. It’s a beautiful but bleak experience that makes you consider just how close our own world is to mirroring the grim future of 2077.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar Takes No Hostages With Its Writing

Red Dead Redemption 2 truly immerses you in the world of the Old West, making you feel like the character Arthur Morgan. Beyond its compelling main story, the game excels at creating a realistic and engaging world through interactions with the characters you meet and your companions at camp. It’s a game designed not just to make you feel present, but to make you care about the people around you.

This game is incredibly detailed, with a rich world that goes far beyond just what you immediately see. Even minor side quests and characters feel fully realized and deeply connected to the experience, making it one of the most immersive open-world games ever created. Though it didn’t win Game of the Year in 2018 (losing to God of War), it was highly acclaimed for its story, winning the Best Narrative award and receiving numerous other nominations and accolades in that category.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Writing Is Just One Of The Many Things It Nailed

When many gamers were starting to feel let down by big-budget titles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 really stood out as a remarkably well-rounded game. It excelled in every area – the music, gameplay, and especially the story – with consistent quality. The narrative, lore, and characters feel carefully crafted and clearly demonstrate the dedication and talent of the team behind it.

Players and critics alike have loved how natural and believable the conversations feel in the game. This focus on quality storytelling and deep characters was intentional, as the lead writer, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, shared the team aimed for a standard comparable to HBO series. The game is emotionally impactful, and its endings continue to spark debate – proof of its lasting appeal. This quality was clearly recognized at the 2025 Game of the Year awards, where it won several accolades, including Best Narrative.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian Studios’ Signature Dark Whimsy At Its Best

If you’re familiar with games from Larian Studios, you’ll recognize their unique style: a blend of dark humor and playful imagination. The Divinity games are known for being both challenging and enchanting, and Baldur’s Gate 3 continues that tradition. It offers deeply engaging interactions with your companions – you’ll forge strong friendships and even romantic connections – alongside a wealth of quests that all feel carefully crafted and meaningful.

The game offers incredible player freedom with dialogue that changes based on your character and decisions, which means the writers created a huge amount of content. Importantly, everything stays true to Larian’s unique style. The story is full of both heartbreaking moments and genuinely funny scenes – like the hilarious reaction you get when abandoning Astarion after a disastrous mission – and it’s impressive how skillfully the writers balanced these different tones and emotions. It truly feels cinematic at times.

Disco Elysium

Dark, Witty, And Politically Deep

Great writing is rare in video games, but Disco Elysium truly stands out. When it launched in 2019, it quickly gained attention for its unique blend of sadness and charm, along with a fascinating story. You play as a detective who’s lost his memory, and the game explores a crime investigation alongside surprisingly insightful ideas about philosophy and politics – all in a clever and impactful way.

As a huge fan, what really struck me about Disco Elysium is how natural the conversations feel. It’s not like characters are just there to give you quests – they genuinely feel like they’re living in this world, and that makes everything so much more immersive. You really get the sense that a lot of thought went into every interaction as you investigate. Combine that with how much the story branches depending on your choices, and it’s clear the developers put an incredible amount of love and detail into this game – honestly, I haven’t seen this level of care in a game for a long time.

2026-02-03 11:36