Top 10 Video Games Where Nobody Pays Attention to the Story

Top 10 Video Games Where Nobody Pays Attention to the Story Come for the gameplay, stay for the…gameplay, because honestly, who cares about the story? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten video games where nobody pays attention to the story. For this list, we’ll be looking at those video games which are a lot of fun and highly praised, but whose stories are basically non-existent or not important. We aren’t saying that these stories are bad by any means. We’re just saying that the stories are not the reason as to why these games are so beloved.

#10: “Battlefield” series (2002-)

There are a few notable first person shooters with great stories, like “Halo” and “Half-Life 2.” Hell, even the first “Modern Warfare” had a respectable story. But then there are other FPSs which focus solely on the online aspect and leave the story for some intern to write. “Battlefield” is the latter. “Battlefield” has always been known for its multiplayer component, which features a massive number of players and detailed environmental destruction. The campaigns however are usually an afterthought, a quick romp which is over in an afternoon and largely forgotten about by the next day. It’s a great multiplayer experience, but it persistently lacks when it comes to story.

#9: “Monster Hunter” series (2004-)

The “Monster Hunter” series is great for providing players with imaginative worlds and creatures, but significantly lacking when it comes to intriguing and well-told stories. Each game takes on the same basic concept – you are a Monster Hunter, and you must…uh…hunt monsters. It’s not exactly high art, but then again, that doesn’t really matter when you’re busy slaying a massive beast and crafting a new piece of equipment from its bones. Go in, traverse a fun world, slay some monsters and get out; don’t worry about the story. It’s not important.

#8: “Left 4 Dead” (2008)

“Left 4 Dead” is one of Valve’s simplest games: you must get from point A to point B while shooting zombies in the face. It’s not a complex concept by any means, but it’s still an extremely fun game which is still played to this day. That said, there is very little storytelling to be found here. The basic plot is that four survivors of a viral outbreak must traverse various areas to reach an evacuation zone. There is very little in terms of character development or actual plot (minus a significant death), but then again, that doesn’t really matter. What matters is escaping projectile-vomiting monsters, and this game provides those thrills in spades.

#7: “Duke Nukem” series (1991-)

The “Duke Nukem” series, particularly “Duke Nukem 3D,” are absolute classics. “Duke Nukem 3D” is largely considered to be a hugely influential first person shooter due to its level design and sense of humor. However, no one ever praises the stories, and for good reason. Each game follows a cliché plot about alien or robot invasions, and they are all far too silly to be taken seriously. All anyone wants from “Duke Nukem” is kickass action, the man himself, and a great sense of humor. Story be damned.

#6: “Street Fighter” series (1987-)

The “Street Fighter” series has been around for decades, and many of its games, particularly “Street Fighter II,” are fondly remembered as some of the greatest fighting games of all time. But, like most fighting games, most people will just straight-up ignore whatever bits of story there is to focus on the next fight. Sure, the characters are memorable, and it has spawned various media such as anime, comic books and hell, one of the worst movies of all time, but the stories of the games themselves are largely inconsequential.

#5: “Doom” series (1993-)

Like “Duke Nukem 3D,” “Doom” helped to revolutionize gaming and was an enormous influence on the first person shooter genre. The series has remained relevant throughout the years, as “Doom 3” was considered one of the Xbox’s best-looking games, and “Doom” was one of 2016’s greatest releases. Gamers love the fast-paced, bloody violence of the games, and the unique, hellish imagery certainly doesn’t hurt. That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who actually cares about the story and lore of “Doom.” Sure, the reboot had tons of lore and informative collectibles, but it was still overshadowed by its awesome action. The “Doom” series proves that fun gameplay can overcome any shortcoming, insubstantial story included.

#4: “Bayonetta” (2009)

“Bayonetta” was arguably one of the seventh generation’s best games. It was praised for its deep and extremely fun combat system, its sense of humor, and its epic, stylized environments. That said, many people took issue with the game’s story, so much so that it was often considered one of its biggest, if not its only, detractor. Many people found the voice acting campy, and the story both ridiculous and extremely confusing. However, that didn’t stop many critics from showering the game with near-perfect or perfect scores. Like “Doom,” it’s a fantastic example of gameplay over story.

#3: “Pokémon” series (1996-)

It seems as if no one cares that “Pokémon” does not have a substantial story, as the series continues to sell well and remains extremely popular. Like “Monster Hunter,” the “Pokémon” series is well-known for its imaginative creatures and detailed worlds, and aside from some captivating lore, there is little to recommend or care about in terms of story. Sure, the anime produced some great stories, many of which probably made you cry as a child (we still cry over that Butterfree episode), but the games themselves remain largely free of captivating stories, although that is certainly not to its detriment.

#2: “Just Cause” series (2006-)

When it comes to “Just Cause,” an intriguing story should be the last thing on your wish list. This is the type of game where your imagination is your only limit; anything you can imagine, you can do, and the world is so enormous and open to experimentation that the possibilities are endless. It constantly defies the limits and rules of physics and reality, and it is proud of it. The stories the series tells are often poorly acted, illogical, and downright stupid and cliché, but with so many options in what you can do, who cares if the story is a little boring?

#1: “Destiny” (2015)

“Destiny” was a bit of an anomaly when it was released in 2015. It received middling reviews, and many people conveyed their disappointment at Bungie’s new IP, claiming that it was a massive disappointment when compared to “Halo.” That said, it developed a diehard group of fans who would defend it against anyone. But even the fans must admit that “Destiny’s” story was utter garbage. The potential was there, but Bungie squandered it with a shallow plot, a lack of detailed lore, and a horrible performance in the otherwise reliable Peter Dinklage. The game had many strengths, despite what some may say, but a good story was not one of them.