Gameplay, visuals, music, and narrative. These are the ingredients required to create a perfect video game. To be able to nail all four of these categories is a miracle and a near-impossibility, but I would argue that nailing either gameplay or narrative is already a great start for a video game looking to make its mark in history.
The Best Games of the 2020s So Far – Updated November 2025
These are the best games of the 2020s so far, covering titles from the last 5 years.
Here, though, we’ll focus on narrative alone. The writing of a video game is the sum of a good plot, great dialogue, lore, and how all of these are delivered. Countless games have shown their narrative prowess since the dawn of video games, but today, we’ll only focus on titles that were released in the last ten years, from 2016 onward, and how they impressed with their writing. The only exception made will be for Kentucky Route Zero, which released its final Act in 2020. We’ll rank them roughly based on overall quality, but to be honest, it’s a very loose criterion, given all of these titles are pure masterpieces.
Kentucky Route Zero
A Masterclass In Narrative, Delivered In Multiple Acts
If there’s one title that pushed the limits of the kinds of narratives that can be told in video game format, it’s definitely Kentucky Road Zero. The game’s charm isn’t just in the mysterious narrative of finding the fabled Road Zero that runs through the undergrounds of Kentucky, but also in its art style.
It’s not an obvious story by any means, with little tidbits of lore peppered throughout, and leaving many puzzled even after a serious playthrough. As a visual novel, it demands your attention, and it invites you to try and figure out what it is all about at its core, to try and find some great meaning in everything. Within a big story are many smaller ones as you adopt several different protagonists, and you’ll definitely be feeling all the feels in this surreal but beautiful experience of a game.
Alan Wake 2
So Absurd It’s Actually Good
Alan Wake’s writing has always been strange, to say the least. Some love it, others absolutely despise it, but I think there’s something to be said about how it perfectly works in the service of a surreal, absurd plot a la David Lynch and Twin Peaks, instead of trying to appeal to the masses in an attempt to please and fit in.
Alan Wake 2’s story takes place in two different “worlds” and character perspectives, Alan and Saga, with Alan’s horror writings directly affecting the events of the game. Expect all the funny clichés and bizarre moments you can picture finding in something inspired by David Lynch’s disturbing work, mixed in with classic Remedy Entertainment storytelling. As a result, it scored the Best Narrative prize during the GOTY Awards in 2023.
What Remains of Edith Finch
The Most Heart-Wrenching Walking Simulator
A book in video game format, What Remains of Edith Finch is an indie title that puts story above everything else. With that, it’s no surprise that it manages to do an excellent job at delivering a narrative that will stick with you for a very long time. As the titular Edith, last of her lineage, you set out to uncover what has happened to the rest of your family by exploring the stories of individual family members. The game isn’t very long, but it holds you in a tight, bittersweet, and emotional grip the whole way through.
10 Modern RPGs That Are True Masterpieces
Modern RPGs are a dime a dozen, so when one stands out as an undeniable masterpiece, gamers around the world take notice.
The atmosphere, music, and visuals all work to deliver these haunting tales coherently, and as such, it’s easy to see why it was nominated for seven different awards all tied to narrative and storytelling, and scored the 2017 GOTY Best Narrative spot. A must-experience game for everyone who appreciates a rock-solid narrative and isn’t afraid of getting a bit teary-eyed.
Silent Hill f
Ryukishi07’s Layered Narrative Will Haunt You
A game designed to be played three times over to fully appreciate the depth of its story, Silent Hill f displays the best Ryukishi07’s has to offer. It’s an incredibly necessary commentary on societal expectations for women in Showa-era Japan, peppered with heavy doses of all things supernatural, cults (in true Silent Hill style), and Japanese folklore centered on the kitsune. There’s plenty of strange symbolism to dive into, as the writing marries with the game’s gorgeous and horrifying visuals.
And since it’s a Silent Hill game, nothing is ever quite as it seems. What is real? What isn’t? It’s psychological horror at its finest, and it’s a perfect example of an unreliable narrator and perspective used as a trick of the eye. With each layer of the story peeled back in the subsequent two playthroughs, Hinako’s story and the true depth of what is really going on in Ebisugaoka, and what each character’s role truly is, will make you look at your first moments in her shoes with entirely different eyes. That right there is an art form of its own that Silent Hill f perfectly commits to.
Hades
Winner Of The Hugo Award, And For Good Reason
Hades is one of those games that didn’t have to lean so hard into its writing to deliver something good, but still did. Its action-packed gameplay alone made it a roguelike hit for Supergiant Games, but it went above and beyond to also hit players with a story and with dialogue that feels detailed, quirky, and unique at every turn. Every person has a voice, and it’s clear that a lot of love went into building the world.
The game is also packed with fantastic writing from lore pieces to interactions with the game’s various characters, and when paired with the awesome voice acting, it’s an experience that’s well worth the literary Hugo Award it received in 2021. It was almost universally praised for its witty narrative and has earned its spot among some of the best video games of all time.
Cyberpunk 2077
A Story That Hits You Right In The Feels
Few video game worlds and characters feel as real as Cyberpunk 2077’s. The dialogue, the main campaign, and its brilliant DLC, as well as countless memorable side quests that strike deep into your heart with their commentary on megacorporations and hypercapitalism, are all wrapped up in a disgustingly beautiful package.
From the moments Johnny and V share throughout their hopeless journey together to the chats we have with characters like Panam, Songbird, and Judy, it’s one game that makes you feel heavy and uneasy as the credits roll. The city is packed with lore that the TTRPG fans will already be familiar with, from catchy advertisement jingles to datashards that shed light on what went wrong with the world. It’s lush, it’s depressing, and it will make you think about how close we are to reaching the world of 2077.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Takes No Hostages With Its Writing
A game that nailed depth and realism in all aspects, Red Dead Redemption 2 made everyone truly feel like they were in Arthur Morgan’s shoes on the fictional western frontier. The overarching main plot aside, which in itself is already a masterclass in storytelling, the world is also brilliantly delivered through your interactions with NPCs and companions at camp. This is a game that doesn’t just want you to believe that you really exist in this world; it also wants you to care about everyone in it.
Best PC Games With Low Specs (Low-End & Old PCs)
You don’t need a monstrous PC to see some of the best the platform has to offer. Today, let’s cover the best low-end PC games.
It’s another game where the love and attention to detail extend to every nook and cranny, not just the surface you scratch when you first walk in. Side quests and random characters all have something to say, and are built to feel like you’re skin to skin with it all. It’s no wonder it’s considered one of the most immersive open-world games of all time. While it lost to God of War (2018) during the 2018 GOTY Awards, it still won in the Best Narrative category and scored multiple nominations and smaller awards in the same category.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Writing Is Just One Of The Many Things It Nailed
At a time when many felt like AAA games were starting to disappoint, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blew everyone away as one of the most balanced video game experiences. In all categories, from music to gameplay, it somehow managed to deliver with equal quality, and its narrative is no different. The story, the lore, and the characters are clearly the result of careful curation and a labor of love, a testament to the sheer talent and passion behind the project.
The dialogue has especially been praised for feeling realistic and relatable, which makes sense, considering that an interview with lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen reveals that there were talks about striving for HBO series levels of quality in storytelling and character depth. The story is full of heartbreak, and people continue to argue over the game’s endings, which is a testament to its enduring quality and probably explains why it snatched so many awards at the 2025 GOTY show, including Best Narrative.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios’ Signature Dark Whimsy At Its Best
If you’ve been playing Larian Studios’ games for a while, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say two words: darkly whimsical. There’s a witty quirkiness in the Divinity games that makes them both incredibly brutal, while also inspiring childlike wonder. Baldur’s Gate 3 follows in the same vein, delivering immensely deep moments with your companions with whom you develop friendships and more, as well as a myriad of quests that all feel equally well thought-through.
The fact that you have so much leeway and freedom as a player with dialogue options depending on your build and choices goes to show that a staggering number of lines were written for the game, and all of them respect Larian’s signature style. The main story has many downright awful and tragic turns, but also times of great hope and hilarious comedy (just try leaving Astarion behind in the monastery after blowing it up, and you will experience cinema). It’s almost a miracle how the writers managed to tread that careful line between different themes and emotions so masterfully.
Disco Elysium
Dark, Witty, And Politically Deep
It’s not every day you find brilliant prose in a video game, but Disco Elysium delivers exactly that. It wowed the gaming world when it was first released in 2019 with its depressing yet charming style and intriguing premise. As an amnesiac cop, the game dives not just into a criminal investigation, but to the nitty-gritty of philosophy and politics in a way that is incredibly concise and punchy.
The dialogue feels real because characters aren’t in the game just to deliver your next step in a quest, but rather because they’re part of the world itself. And that feels very real, too, fully thought-out and delivered through the many interactions you have during your investigation. Pair all this up with how narrative-driven the game is and all of its branching paths based on the choices you make, and it’s clear a ton of love was poured into Disco Elysium in a way that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in many other games released in the last ten years.
Best PC Games With Low Specs (Low-End & Old PCs)
You don’t need a monstrous PC to see some of the best the platform has to offer. Today, let’s cover the best low-end PC games.
