Best Story Games: 10 Games With Unforgettable Stories

The best story games are the ones you still remember years later: The Last of Us Part I, Red Dead Redemption 2, Disco Elysium and Outer Wilds lead the way. This list mixes short stories you can finish in a weekend with epics of over 100 hours, choice-driven games and tightly written adventures. For each one, we tell you why to play it and how long it takes.

Why this list

A great story in a game isn't just a good script. It's a story you live with the controller in your hands: a choice that sticks with you, a character you travel with for dozens of hours, a twist you work out yourself. We picked ten games that each do that in their own way.

We mixed styles on purpose. There's cinematic action, RPGs where your decisions change everything, interactive movie style choice games and an exploration game where the only progression is what you understand. Times come from players on IGDB, to help you fit each game into your schedule.

1. 

   1. The Last of Us Part I

   2022 · Main story 19.5 h

   Joel and Ellie cross an America wrecked by an infection, and their bond is one of the strongest in gaming. This remake modernises everything and includes the Left Behind chapter. About 19.5 hours for the story, an ideal size for your first big narrative gut punch. More ideas in games like The Last of Us.

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2. 

   2. Red Dead Redemption 2

   2018 · Main story 48.5 h

   Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang at the end of the cowboy era. It's slow and incredibly detailed, and that's exactly what makes the story hit so hard. Expect about 49 hours for the story and much more if you get lost in the world. See how long Red Dead Redemption 2 takes.

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3. 

   3. Disco Elysium

   2019 · Main story 19 h

   An amnesiac detective, a murder to solve and skills that talk to you inside your head. There's almost no combat: it all happens in dialogue, with writing that's funny, sad and political at once. About 19 hours for the story. If you love reading, this is a peak.

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4. 

   4. Mass Effect 2

   2010 · Main story 17.5 h

   Commander Shepard recruits a team of specialists for a near-suicidal mission. Every companion has a personal story, and your choices decide who makes it out. About 17.5 hours for the story, but the crew's loyalty missions are well worth the extra time.

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5. 

   5. Life Is Strange

   2015 · Main story 9.5 h

   Max, a photography student, discovers she can rewind time. The five-episode game mixes teen drama, friendship and mystery in a small Oregon town. About 9.5 hours to finish, perfect for a week of evenings. More ideas in games like Life Is Strange.

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6. 

   6. Detroit: Become Human

   2018 · Main story 11 h

   Three androids in a futuristic Detroit, and choices that reshape the story, all the way to main characters dying. At the end of each chapter you see the tree of possibilities. About 11 hours per run, and you'll want another. Also see games like Detroit.

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7. 

   7. Outer Wilds

   2019 · Main story 12 h

   A solar system stuck in a time loop, and you have to figure out why. No upgrades, no items to earn: you progress only through what you discover. About 12 hours, and you should go in knowing nothing. Avoid spoilers, it's honestly the only tip that matters.

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8. 

   8. NieR: Automata

   2017 · Main story 22 h

   Androids 2B and 9S fight machines on an abandoned Earth. Behind the slick, fast action is a moving story about what makes us human. About 22 hours for the story, but the first credits aren't the end: keep playing, the story keeps changing perspective.

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9. 

   9. God of War

   2018 · Main story 30.5 h

   Kratos and his son Atreus set off on a journey through Norse mythology. It's a father and son story, shot as one continuous take, with heavy, crunchy combat. About 31 hours for the story. See how long God of War takes.

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10. 

    10. Baldur's Gate III

    2023

    Larian's RPG built on Dungeons and Dragons, where almost everything you do has a consequence. The companions are unforgettable and you can play it in co-op too. Over 100 hours with side quests, so it's a project for several months. See games like Baldur's Gate 3.

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Tips to choose and enjoy them

Start with how much time you have. If you play one or two evenings a week, go for Life Is Strange, Detroit or Outer Wilds first: you'll reach the ending before losing the thread. Save Red Dead Redemption 2 and Baldur's Gate III for a stretch where you can commit, they're games you live with over time. Our lists of short games and long games can help you balance things.

Then take your time. Read the notes, listen to the camp conversations, do the companion quests: that's often where the story gets its depth. And in choice-driven games, own your decisions on the first run instead of reloading your save, the story will feel much more personal.

FAQ

What's the best story game to start with?

Life Is Strange or The Last of Us Part I. The first takes about 9.5 hours and is very easy to pick up, the second about 19.5 hours with a powerful story. Both are approachable even if you don't play much.

What are some short story games?

Life Is Strange (about 9.5 hours), Detroit: Become Human (about 11 hours) and Outer Wilds (about 12 hours), according to players on IGDB. For more ideas, check out our list of short games you can finish quickly.

Which story games are driven by choices?

Detroit: Become Human and Life Is Strange are built entirely around your decisions. Mass Effect 2 and Baldur's Gate III also let you shape the story, with combat and companions to manage on top.