Summary
- Immortality - Sam Barlow's game blends full-motion video with choose-your-own-adventure elements, uncovering the sinister backstage of a movie actress's vanishing.
- The Red Strings Club - This cyberpunk adventure delves into humanity and an existential conspiracy, offering unique gameplay with intriguing puzzles.
- The Stillness of the Wind - A melancholic tale of solitude and family, this game portrays aging and dementia in a bittersweet reflection on life.
Narrative Adventure Games are some of the most enjoyable experiences for those who love storytelling and to immerse themselves in fictional worlds, their characters, and the meta-narrative constructed around them. But in most cases, these games do not gain enough relevance to become the center of attention, so players might have skipped some of the best titles.
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From a unique game made with full-motion video, to a cozy game about rising from the ashes of your family legacy, this list spotlights some of the best Narrative Adventure Games you might have missed, but they're must-plays for those who enjoy this story-driven genre.
8 IMMORTALITY
The Dark Fate Of A Movie Actress
Immortality
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- August 30, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Violence, Blood, Sexual Content, Nudity, Use of Drugs, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Sam Barlow
- Publisher(s)
- Half Mermaid Productions
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Created by the legendary Sam Barlow (Silent Hill: Origins, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories) IMMORTALITY narrates the mysterious disappearance of an actress who was the protagonist of three movies, but the films never got out of the can. Something sinister is going on behind the cameras, and players need to discover what it is and find Marissa before it's too late.
It is a great game, with a solid narrative, and particularly interesting style since it combines pre-rendered cinematics fully enacted by real actors with choose-your-own-adventure elements. Its story is quite gripping, and reveals the different shades of grey behind the cost of being an artist.
7 The Red Strings Club
A Cyberpunk-ish Masterpiece
The Red Strings Club
- Released
- January 22, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
The Red Strings Club is a tremendous game that mixes cyberpunk and transhumanism into a setting that will transport players to the limits of reason. In this game, players assume the role of several characters which including a Bar owner/information broker, a hacker and part-time detective, and an escapee android, to unravel a dangerous corporate conspiracy that could topple the world order.
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The story dives into what it means to be human and deeper philosophical considerations like the existence of the soul. Besides the high-stakes main storyline, the players will have to solve tons of interesting puzzles, which include serving drinks, talking out information out of clients, exchanging secrets, and crafting robot parts using pottery.
6 The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit
Heartwarming And Heartbreaking
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
- Released
- June 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature - Use of Alcohol, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Set in the same universe as Life is Strange, this game acts as a sequel to the first game and prequel to Life Is Strange II. In this narrative adventure game, players assume the role of Chris, a child who dreams of becoming a superhero.
But the story is not as naive as it might seem at first glance: Underneath all the cuteness of a boy playing with his imagination, lies a grieving father, trying to cope with the death of his wife, and the struggles of a family of two to stick together despite being broken. It's truly a wonderful game, with a lot of interesting links that open the door to Life is Strange II.
5 The Hex
Dark Zany Humor, Just What The Doctor Ordered
- Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
- Release Year: October 2018
- Available on: Steam
Filled to the brim with dark humor, The Hex is a quirky narrative adventure game that blurs the line between roleplaying and videogames, with a sinister touch of theater of the absurd. Through the eyes of six different characters, players will experience horror, comedy, and tragedy all in one masterfully developed storyline.
The Hex is one of those games that convinces players that the best stories are not always accompanied by a high-end animation or enormous open-world games that struggle to fill the void between POIs.
4 Wandersong
Colorful, Lovely, An Enthralling Experience
Wandersong
Wandersong
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 85%
- Released
- September 27, 2018
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Greg Lobanov
- Publisher(s)
- Greg Lobanov
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- 2D, Platformer, Adventure, Indie Games, Rhythm
is a lovely side-scrolling narrative adventure, which has a Bard as the main protagonist. Players control this minstrel as he roams the world, searching for the missing parts of a powerful song that will help him save his world from an untimely end.
The players control the world, the emotions, and even the environment using songs to solve puzzles and progress further on their quest. It is a cozy but story driven experience that will suit the taste of all those who love simple but fun games.
3 The Stillness Of The Wind
Melancholic, Deep, And Cozy
The Stillness of the Wind
- Released
- February 7, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone 10+ // Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Indie
An old lady, the sole resident of an abandoned village, tends to her goats and elaborates cheese out of their milk as she goes on with her solitary life. Her family, miles away from here (in the big city), writes to her from time to time, and their letters arrive through the hands of wandering merchants who come in to trade goods in exchange for her dairy products.
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A game that is both cozy and sad, a deep reflection of what it means to be human. The sadness of its storytelling is being silent observers of how the story evolves as Talma (the protagonist) receives concerning news about her family, as she starts to suffer from the terrible effects of senile dementia. As her condition worsens, she reminisces about what once was and what will never be again. In The Stillness of the Wind, players will discover the magnificence of a life well-lived and the sadness of abandonment.
2 Wildermyth
Live A Story, Live A Thousand
Wildermyth
- Released
- June 15, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
A game that will procedurally generate a story based on a main campaign, but the outcomes and challenges of the heroes that are the protagonists will always be different, no matter how you play it. Wildermyth is the perfect story-driven adventure, with high doses of tactical combat, dark fantasy, and most importantly: True player agency.
The impact of the decisions the players take will change forever the characters' lives. Some will form unbreakable bonds of friendship or love, some will marry, some will retire from adventuring to be teachers, others will have children, and have their children succeed them in time. But there are others that will not have a happy ending, and will sacrifice themselves for the greater good, or be cursed forever and become that which they fought to destroy. It is an incredible game, and can even be played in cooperative mode.
1 Mirthwood
A Story About Leaving The Past Behind, And Starting A New Adventure
Mirthwood
- Released
- November 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Farming, Simulation
Mirthwood is an incredible game that combines the original Fable aesthetics with some of the most important aspects of a cozy game. In this universe inspired by the old myths and folklore about the Fae, the Elves, and other supernatural beings, an exiled player will have to make do with a disheveled farm, repairing the homestead until it becomes a new home.
But the truth about their origin will soon be revealed, and the magic of this new land will call for them to explore beyond the limits of their new home. A paradoxical adventure that makes use of the synergy between the call for adventure and the nesting syndrome: Some players will become outstanding adventurers, and some others will decide to settle down, marry, and raise cattle. It is up to them.
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