Gaming, as the most complex art form, is a fertile ground for telling interesting, tragic, emotional, philosophically grounded, or however else we might characterize them, stories. Throughout all these years, we've received various games across different genres that left a deep memory in the hearts of many players.
For that reason, in this text we will highlight just a few of the best stories in the history of gaming that are available on PC at this moment. We'll make sure to cover as many genres as possible in this endeavor so that everyone can find something for themselves. It should be pointed out that it's impossible to put all good games on one list, and that the rule applies that this list is strictly tied to PC games, as well as that only one game from the same franchise can be on the list.
NOTE: The list only includes games I have played personally. For all those that didn't make the list, but you think should be there, write them in the comments so they can end up in part two.
10. BioShock
The year is 1960, and you play as Jack, the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the nature of the situation you find yourself in, you are left with no other choice and thus discover the entrance to a monumental underwater city called Rapture, built by visionary Andrew Ryan for other members of the elite. As usually happens, this utopia quickly turned into a dystopia after the discovery of ADAM—a substance that grants humans supernatural abilities, but at the cost of their sanity. Guided by the voice of the mysterious Atlas over a radio link, Jack must survive to uncover the true story behind the dark fate of the fallen city.
On the gameplay side, BioShock is a rather influential and iconic first-person shooter (FPS) where the core gameplay consists of combining classic firearms with plasmids—genetic modifications that give the player many abilities like firing electricity, fire, using telekinesis, and much more. Oh yes, there are philosophical themes, Big Daddies, and the wonderful atmosphere of an underwater city.
9. Deus Ex
For great works, it's often true that they are either timeless in the context of the themes they address or visionary. As for Deus Ex, it definitely falls into the second category, and considering it came out right at the turn of the century, it can be said that it predicted pandemics and terrorism quite well, and how they would affect civil liberties. Likewise, given that the main character—JC Denton—is a modified agent of the anti-terrorist organization UNATCO, the fight against terrorism very quickly turns into a global conspiracy involving secret societies, AI, and corporations all vying for control over the future of humanity. Sound familiar?
This is a cult immersive sim / first-person action RPG that set the standards for player freedom. Every obstacle in front of us can be overcome in multiple ways—classic armed combat, stealth, hacking, or even dialogue.
8. SOMA
After a routine brain scan in the modern world, protagonist Simon Jarrett wakes up in the mysterious, abandoned underwater research facilities of the PATHOS-II company, decades in the future. Uncovering what happened to the planet and the remaining forms of "life," Simon is confronted with terrifying revelations about what actually constitutes the human soul, consciousness, and identity.
Developed by Frictional Games, SOMA is a narrative first-person sci-fi horror adventure. Gameplay revolves around exploring gloomy underwater stations, solving puzzles, and avoiding grotesque creatures. The game relies less on cheap jump scares and much more on creating a deep psychological discomfort and existential dread that stays with the player long after the credits roll.
7. Red Dead Redemption 2
The year is 1899, and the era of the so-called Wild West is slowly coming to an end as the laws of modern civilization tighten the noose around the last outlaws. It's up to us to take on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang that is bursting at the seams due to internal conflicts. However, that isn't the only problem Morgan will face, but we'll leave that for you to explore, as the final product is a tragic personal story that weaves through plenty of serious themes, including the price of freedom and failed ideals.
Red Dead Redemption is an open-world action western that emphasizes realism and exceptional detail, which is characteristic of Rockstar Games. In that regard, it's up to us to explore a massive map that excellently simulates a living world, and alongside a great main story, there is also a large amount of very good optional content with its own mini-stories waiting to be discovered.
6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt, a professional monster slayer, sets out in the third installment of the acclaimed series to find Ciri—his adopted daughter who is fleeing from the Wild Hunt. The main narrative arc of Witcher 3 is more than solid, but where this game truly reaches real heights is in its side quests. Most side quests are mini-stories of their own and carry a deep emotional impact, tragedy, and moral dilemmas that the player must live with even after making a crucial decision.
The Witcher 3 is an open-world RPG that combines fast-paced sword combat with magic and potions. Beyond the story, where this game really excels is its magnificent open world packed with excellently designed content that will drag any gamer off on a mini-adventure miles away from where they need to go for the main quest.
5. Fallout: New Vegas
Even today, 16 years after its official release, debates are still held over who deserves to control the Mojave Wasteland. Every faction has its good points and its fundamental flaws, and it's up to us—a courier who gets robbed, shot in the head, and left for dead over a mysterious chip they were carrying—to pass the final judgment.
Fallout: New Vegas was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and is a first- or third-person action RPG that offers the player a fairly complex character-building and decision-making system. Its main features are top-notch dialogue, dark humor, and plenty of tough choices where no obviously good or bad option exists.
4. Planescape: Torment
From today's perspective, it could certainly be said that the very beginning of Planescape: Torment is one big cliché involving The Nameless One waking up inside a morgue without knowing anything about himself, his life, who he is, or how he ended up there. Although this might not sound all that enticing, the story of Planescape: Torment itself is one of the most complex stories ever told in gaming history, involving a journey through the bizarre, dark multiverses of Dungeons & Dragons in search of one's own identity and the cause of immortality. Then there is the famous philosophical question: "What can change the nature of a man?" We'll let you answer that one yourselves.
Planescape was created at a time when the CRPG genre was at its peak and relies entirely on text, classic dialogues, and making decisions that carry consequences. The quality of writing itself is on the level of top-tier sci-fi literature and is imbued with philosophical themes. There is also a combat system for those who choose to resolve some conflicts with weapons, but it sits in the background and isn't overly developed.
3. Disco Elysium
You wake up in a trashed hotel room with severe amnesia caused by substance and alcohol abuse, having hit rock bottom in life. However, shortly after, you find out that you are a police detective who ended up there to solve a murder case. While it sounds like the beginning of a bad detective movie, it is light-years away from that. Solving the crime is just the surface level of what is happening here, while piecing your identity back together, questioning your political views, and fighting your own demons that represent different aspects of your mind form the second and deeper level.
Disco Elysium is a revolutionary isometric narrative RPG without traditional combat, where every situation is resolved through dialogue or inner monologues. Disco offers massive depth in terms of character customization through a skill system, and the quality, success, and importance of the game are best judged when taking into account that it started a whole new subgenre known as "disco-like."
2. Pathologic Classic HD
In Pathologic, the very start of the story depends on which of the 3 playable characters you choose, but what is certain is that you arrive in, or are already in, a town struck by a mysterious plague for which there is no known cure, and whose origin is up to us to uncover so we can find a cure and save the town. I like to describe Pathologic as a Dostoevsky novel ruled by madness, and since we have the opportunity to experience the same events from 3 different perspectives through 3 different characters and 3 different approaches, we also get to experience the true nature of that madness, as well as the people we actively communicate with over all 12 days we are there.
Pathologic is without a doubt mostly focused on narrative, but likewise, in a sick, dying world, you also need to survive, so a heavy emphasis is placed on survival mechanics, meaning we must regularly eat, drink, sleep, and also watch out so that none of the infected transmit the disease to us.
1. NieR: Automata
The plot of Automata is set in the distant future where humanity has been exiled to the moon following an alien invasion. The player takes control of androids 2B, 9S, and A2, who are members of the YoRHa military unit sent to Earth to free the planet for the humans who wish to return. Right from the start, the story dives into philosophical themes, the meaning of life, what truly makes a human human, and many others. It is necessary to beat the game 3 times to uncover all secrets and learn the true reality of the world.
Genre-wise, this is an action RPG title born from a joint collaboration between PlatinumGames and visionary Yoko Taro. The gameplay system itself forms a unique mix of hack-and-slash combat, bullet-hell shooter mini-games, and elements of classic adventures alongside perspective shifts. Add to that one of the best soundtracks ever, and everything listed makes this game a must-play.
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