While many gamers love a text-heavy RPG or visual novel, others prefer the "less-is-more" approach when it comes to storytelling. Some games manage to tell a grand, sweeping story without uttering a single word, creating striking characters and beautiful worlds without the use of text.
Using music, gorgeous visuals, and iconic characters, games can use a range of tools to develop narrative, even without the use of voice actors or a narrator. From quirky little games about a hairy monster chasing down a cherry to a haunting story about a boy lost in a forest, the following games are a masterclass in telling a story without dialogue.
8 Chuchel
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Kicking off this list with a quirky one, Chuchel is the story of an angry little monster (named Chuchel, of course) on a tricky and ridiculous quest to find his precious cherry. With fun, whimsical animations and a banging soundtrack, Chuchel is a fun way to spend a few hours.
There's no dialogue in Chuchel and little on-screen text, so players must click on the screen to find answers to sometimes head-scratching puzzles. It's intuitive in a strange way, and a good game for kids and adults alike.
7 Journey
Journey is a stunning game. The player must journey to a mountain looming in the distance. With no direction and no dialogue, it's truly an act of exploration. Other players can be encountered from time to time, chatting with each other using a small tinkling sound. Journey has an incredible soundtrack that sets the tone beautifully.
It's a mysterious and beautiful game, a modern classic, and absolutely worth investing a few hours into. Exploring mystical deserts and ancient ruins is an unforgettable experience.
6 Unravel
A beautiful little puzzle game, Unravel tells a moving story without using dialogue. The player controls Yarny, a little creature made from red yarn, as he navigates through beautifully detailed landscapes. Yarny will jump, climb, swing, and lasso along using his own body.
While there are no words (apart from a short, sweet message in a photo album), Unravel tells the story of love, family, and the unbreakable bond between loved ones. Unravel Two is a brilliant couch co-op game, too.
5 Florence
Florence is a short game exploring the main character, Florence Yeoh, as she falls in love with her new partner Krish. Florence has little dialogue. Instead, players are told the story of Florence and Krish's relationship through a series of puzzles. Players must drag-solve jigsaw puzzles, spin the hands of a clock, and witness as adult life starts to interfere with Florence and Krish's dreams.
Florence can be completed in around 30 minutes but has a big emotional impact. It's steeped in sadness and regret but has a small, stubborn flicker of hope, too. Despite the lack of dialogue, Florence's story is clear, and it's the kind of game that lingers long after players have put it down.
4 Untitled Goose Game
Another game with no dialogue, Untitled Goose Game's protagonist has a strong character: a naughty goose with a deep desire to mess with humans. Set in a quiet little village, players are given a list of tasks (like "rake in the lake") and slowly work their way through them, causing chaos and stress for the locals.
It's a funny game, and the angst and despair of the humans are made clear without words. The calm, relaxing soundtrack is interrupted by brief stabs of loud music, warning the player that the locals are about to give chase. Untitled Goose Game is a total joy to play.
3 Abzu
Abzu takes the player on a journey to the depths of the ocean. It's a game about exploration, a chance to swim among fish, turtles, and whales. There's no dialogue, but it does have a beautiful, sweeping soundtrack that will stir up emotions as the player dives deeper into the sea.
This is a meditative kind of game. Players are encouraged to sit back and watch the surrounding ecosystem and enjoy somersaulting in the water as they do so. If players feel frazzled and need a break, this is the game to play.
2 Limbo
Limbo tells a striking story without no dialogue at all. Players control a boy in pursuit of a girl, navigating a daunting (and sometimes deadly) landscape. Players will encounter horrifying creatures, challenging puzzles, and traps (many, many traps). With an incredibly gloomy, stark black-and-white art style, it's an almost overwhelming experience.
Limbo is a celebrated game for good reason and an absolute must-play. Players can interpret the ending themselves (and many opinions are floating around online to consider, too).
1 Ori And The Blind Forest
A surprisingly emotional game, Ori and the Blind Forest is a 2D Metroidvania about Ori, a small white spirit, and Sein, a helpful orb from a Spirit Tree deep within the forest. Players have to solve puzzles and navigate through a magical landscape.
It's a gorgeous game with a surprisingly emotional plot: players will witness Ori losing Naru, their parent figure, right at the start of the game. With no dialogue, the game tells a grand story about life using beautiful visuals and the occasional short flash of text on the screen.