Top 10 Video Games With Great Stories

#10- Halo Trilogy (2001-2007)

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Kicking off our list is the sci-fi epic that took shooters to the next level with it’s plot centered on mysterious rings capable of destroying all life. As the iconic Master Chief, players lead the charge against the alien covenant, and soon discovering the true purpose of the rings and a worse threat hidden within. The story is so expansive there are actually books to fill in the gaps! Though it’s story and style are heavily derivative, Halo gets extra points for it’s social commentary on the dangers of fundamentalism.

#9- Final Fantasy VII (1997)

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As Cloud, a mercenary for hire, players are charged with stopping a corrupt corporation from secretly conducting experiments on the inhabitants, draining the planet of life energy and leaving it in ruins. This lead you and your friends on sabotage missions to prevent the downfall of mankind. Of course, you must also stop a mysterious figure from summoning a doomsday meteor as well, and you just may lose one of dearest friends along the way…

#8- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

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Taking place 4000 years before the films, this game showcases the Sith’s initial attempt to take over the universe. Beginning with your awaking onboard a republic ship that’s under attack by Sith forces, you set out across the Star Wars universe, gathering interesting companions and piecing together your own mysterious past. Ultimately, you will be forced to embrace either the light or dark side force by the time the credits role. Sounds epic because it is.

Taking on the role of the series hero Link, players set out to stop Ganondorf from possessing the Triforce, a relic capable of granting his evil wishes. What makes this the standout entry in the series is that fact that it’s plot not only casts you in a race to find the Triforce first, but transports you from your childhood to a dark future in which you’ve already failed your mission.

#6- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)

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Set during the cold war in the jungles of the Soviet Union, the story focuses on operative Snake as he attempts to rescue a weapons designer, sabotage a new super weapon and prevent World War 3. What eventually unfolds is a twisting plot loaded with heavy-handed melodrama, topped off with a tragic romance to boot. Ya, I didn’t know there were jungles in the USSR either.

#5- Silent Hill 2 (2001)

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A survival horror game, this entry in the series centers on James Sunderland, who has arrived in the titular town at the request of a letter by his dead wife. There he begins to unravel the truth behind her demise. Of course, its plot gets emotional and rather twisted, with the dark reflections of his own subconscious manifesting all around him. Plus it’s got multiple endings, some of which you’d never imagine!

#4- Mass Effect Trilogy (2007- 2012)

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While fans will argue that Mass Effect 2 was the best instalment, the entire three game arc is incredible. As commander Shepard, you set out on a quest to stop the Reapers, ancient machines that cyclically cleanse the universe of all sentient life. Not just epic for it’s main plot thread, the Mass Effect games are bursting with interesting characters, stories and rich lore that make up a dizzying amount of content.

#3- The Last of Us (2013)

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This survival horror centers on a man named Joel who treks across a post-apocalyptic 2033 to escort a girl, who may be the last salvation of mankind, to safety. Unlike most video games, this one didn’t just throw zombies at you, which is does, but piled on layers of subtext, while addressing the human condition and even dealing with serious themes like hope and sacrifice.

#2- The Walking Dead (2011)

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This one has nothing to do with the series of the same name, other than a cameo or two by a few of its core characters. An episodic adventure game, you are thrust into the zombie apocalypse and forced to make tough decisions to survive, all while protecting a little girl. While its story seems simple on the surface, every scenario, decision and possible outcome are earth shattering. Don’t get too attached, you can’t save everyone. #1- Bioshock Infinite (2013)

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