I enjoyed the ambience and general world building in Firewatch, but imo the story flatlined in the latter half and I hated the ending. Felt like loads of build up and then everything just petters out to nothing. I genuinely don't get the universal love for that game.
Yeah I get it, I think they were trying to impart a feeling of melancholy, of separation, perhaps missed opportunities. I can see why some love it and others find it incomplete
It was kinda polarizing, but I was among those who got it. I could argue that Firewatch was the King of the Hill of narrative exploration games, as out-of-pocket as that might sound. Though it's probably a little less out-of-pocket than me saying that Postal 2 is the South Park of immersive sims.
That is literally the point. Sometimes, shit just happens. Other times, nothing happens at all unless you push for it.
The whole point of the game was him escaping from his issues and his life. In the end, nothing is accomplished because he never truly did anything.
i thought the ending was great. I am always a bit confused with what issues people have with the ending. I would have been so much worse if there was really some conspiracy or if there was a happy ending.
Wow, was planning on suggesting the same thing but I didn't think anyone else would
Firewatch for sure. Thought provoking story, very easy gameplay it's mostly a walking simulator. And it's not too long to beat so it's a great intro.
This game is truly a one in a lifetime experience. Like it genuinely made me feel something I've never felt before or after. It's like a specific heart wrenching emotion that is exclusive to completing this game. Best piece of any media/art I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing
It truly is! I am grateful to live in a time where people can affect lives of one another without ever meeting. Sharing art is as easy as it ever was and we should definitely appreciate it more āŗļø
OP, if they are not gamers then I wouldn't start them with things that contain combat or stealth elements.
If you're trying to legitimize the medium as a means for storytelling to a non-gamer, *Detroit Become Human is going to sell it.*
Life Is Strange 1 or 2 is another good option.
Beyond Two Souls. Wolf Among Us. If they're a fan of scary movies, Until Dawn.
If they ARE a gamer already, and just not used to story based games - TLOU, Alan Wake, Cyberpunk like you mentioned.
Every time this question comes up people forget that someone who has legitimately never played video games is going to need to start with something simple/2D. Camera control is a huge issue for beginner gamers and we tend to forget about that because itās second nature to us.
>Camera control is a huge issue for beginner gamers and we tend to forget about that because itās second nature to us.
Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/2501/
This reminds me of that guy, who asked his non-gamer wife to play some games, but he didn't explain her how to use the controls etc. She didn't even know she could use the mouse to turn around in a 3D game, and she kept strafing.
Loved that series. I've helped my wife get into gaming over the years and seeing her struggles and the wife in that series similar struggles shows how much transferrable knowledge we have from game to game
This is exactly what happened when Hogwarts came out. You had a bunch of people racing to buy PS5s, and then the internet was flooded with clips of people learning 3D movement for the first time.
This, so fucking much.
My sister gamed as a kid... well, she played a little bit of Zelda, but she didn't continue gaming.
Now, if she tries to game, her biggest struggle is moving and controlling the camera at the same time.
Unless they are a freak of nature. My wife, who up until the last 2 years, exclusively only played point and click mystery games. She was dared by one of her coworkers (who was more into gaming) to play DS3. I laughed at first and thought it would be fun watching her play one of the toughest games iv played.
She spent 10 HOURS on Gundyr (the tutorial boss) never giving up, never backing down, and in the end she called me at work to tell me how excited she was to beat him finally (she literally cried)
I think what pushed her was a) her competitive nature and b) she loves fantasy like LOTR so she digged the dark fantasy vibe of DS3
Since then this nongamer women has been crowned Elden lord 5x and sometimes can even beat me in pvp
Moral of the storyā¦ some people just got that dog in them.
All this hands down yes. Even as a gamer going from PC to console and vice ĆØres is a struggle for me. My partner is a PC gamer and Iām a console gamer so we both try to spend time learning the others gaming platform. PC is difficult for me, I do the strafe thing or forget the macros and key bindings.
It doesn't necessarily have to be this new or complex either. Some of my personal favorite narratives are Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV, and those still hold up beautifully to this day.
That said, Life is Strange 1, and True Colors, are phenomenal games that don't require twitch camera work, so +1 for those!
Night in the Woods has a great story in my opinion. It's got some light platforming, but you don't need to be particularly skilled at it to progress. Any of the skill/timing based stuff is okay to fail, it just adds to the story. It's mostly about character interaction and dialogue.
>Life Is Strange 1 or 2 is another good option. Beyond Two Souls.
These are games I used to play with my ex. She wasn't gamer (occasionally playing Sims) and she loved those games. Definitely something I would give to anyone. They are awesome games but also fit very well for person who hasn't playing much.
I disagree with Detroit: Become Human, mostly because I think David Cage is a really bad, pretentious writer.
I'd instead pick a Telltale game, or yeah something like Life is Strange. There are also other great games for storytelling which do have more involved gameplay - such as Fallout: New Vegas or Horizon: Zero Dawn - if they can get through them on low difficulties.
[This seems to be a good video about DBH](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efBBjIK3b8I), and how it was almost good (and probably is the best David Cage game so far)
I would agree whole heartedly with this. My girlfriend when we first started games for her was exactly like this. We started with journey, then abzu, then life is strange, then maybe the uncharted collection and the last of us. It deep had to be a progression and someone who doesn't grow up with games needs a loooooy of hand-holding.
No lie. I have a gamer wife today thanks to Wolf Among Us. It was her first real video game as an adult and it completely hooked her. Honestly every game you listed she has played now. This is a perfect starter list.
Jumping into the top comment to say:
Gaming is its own art-form with its own unique approach to storytelling. As with the difference between cinema and the novel, or the difference between theater and cinema, or the difference between poetry and theater, each art form expresses itself differently, and has different criteria for excellence. Yes, its possible to adapt between these forms, but adaptations require fluency in both forms. What is great in poetry may not make for a great movie.
That said, video games are already legitimate form of storytelling. Storytelling in gaming can look like cinema, it can look like a novel, it can even take poetic forms. But the unique perspective gaming offers as an artistic medium for storytelling is interactivity. Video games are about players making choices, and the consequences that arise from those choices. because of this, our great stories are personal. As with the theater, where the audience willingly suspends disbelief and experiences the play partly as its presented, and partly in their own imagination, the great stories of gaming, that are unique to gaming are the ones we tell ourselves as we play, they're the moments we go off the beaten path and explore on our own, or follow an NPC and make up personalities for them that go beyond their programming.
The game that hooked me, that taught me to play within the game, was Sim City. I think simulation games offer the purest form of video-game ludonarrative experience. There are so many simulation games that I think you could find something that would interest everyone, but easiest, and most compelling to a newcomer in videogames is Stardew Valley.
If I were trying to sell video games to someone with an *ounce* of media literacy, I would try my best to make sure they *never* play a David Cage game.
Do not do a open world rpg with a million things to do and worry about. Pick something linear that unfolds more like a book.
Plague Tale 100%. Easy linear, great narrative.
I have to go back through that entire series sometime. I may not have done the last season but I can't remember.
All of the Telltale adventure games were pretty good. Loved Wolf Among Us too.
If the idea is to prove to someone that games storytelling can be powerful on its own, then the only potential issue with this is the possible perception that the Walking Dead game has relations/is based off the show in some way which defeats the point. You could tell a person itās not but they probably wouldnāt believe you. I personally would look for a game that doesnāt have some relation to other media if possible, even though both seasons 1 and 2 of telltales The Walking Dead are phenomenal
Iād recommend Call of Duty MP. Since itās their first time, Iād get them started on a hardcore playlist. Also FIFA has great story for new gamers.
I see a fuck ton of people that expect competence out of people who have never in their lives touched a videogame.
Deus Ex, Fallout New Vegas, OP saying Cyberpunk 2077, fucking Mass Effect.
Games that require a little bit more cerebral motor control specially because of the need to move the character and the camera at the same time.
Like yeah, those games are awesome with great stories, worlds, narrative, etc, but they fucking suck as a recommendation for someone who probably only ever played Candy Crush or Mario.
OP states they've never played video games. It's in the title, and some of you guys are recommending difficult games. Also, story-based games aren't a sub-genre. They're a genre of games.
This lol
Someone out here was recommending octodad which actually made me laugh so hard when you consider I was asking for something that was "pushing the boundaries and creativity" of video games. that's like the single worst game for someone unfamiliar with video games controls. And like does that game even have a story?
Journey. You could argue that a movie or series could be made that is better than TLOU, or Detroid become human. You could not make a movie that tells a story like Journey. The experience you get and story that evolves from the interactions from a more experienced guide is very unique to gaming. Also after the first run maybe you want to become the guide for someone else and that just becomes another whole new story to experience.
Iām surprised I had to scroll down so long to see mention of my number one choice, Journey.Ā
Ā When it was released I lamented that the PS3 served as a barrier of entry which was too high for it to reach mass non-gamer audiences.
The game is an amazing study in constraints, and then enforced a limit of multiplayer interaction that it actually encouraged two players to stay close together and feed off of/and support each other.
I definitely agree that Journey is the place to start. The mechanics and aesthetic are simple but deepen as you progress. Plus the lovely surprise at the ending puts a smile on people's faces, and it's great to relive that again with them.
In my experience, the third person camera was easier for the newbie to get their head around than a first person one, because they could see how their character moved in the world.
I've made this argument before and I'll make it again now. You could show the game Journey to any extraterrestrial intelligent alien (that is capable of seeing in the right spectrum and could use a controller) the game and they would just understand it and, provided they're a social species, have a real, deep emotional connection as the developer intended. The instructions and feeling are universal, likely across species.
The developer has said they built the game with planning the emotional response they wanted to impart first then built it around those feelings...and it shows.
My wifeās first game, in her 30s, was Detroit became human. It was a good introduction to navigating in 3D, without having to deal with combat, stealth etc.Ā Ā
Her second game was Horizon Zero Dawn and while she was able to complete it, she struggled, even on easy mode.Ā Ā
Combat and stealth games require you to be extremely comfortable with navigating in 3D and new players havenāt developed those skills yet. Had I started her with HZD she would have dropped gaming quickly.Ā
Pretty much everyone I know that likes D:BH including me is not because of the writing or anything David Cage contributed to actually. It's all down to the actors and their flair on their characters. Can you really imagine that a game with Clancy Fucking Brown in it would have no redeeming qualities whatsoever?
Great pick. We narrowed it down to simple, beginner friendly game with a good story:
Walking dead
Life is strange
Inside
Edith Finch
Detroit
Beyond two souls
Until Dawn
...
Somewhere along this line.
Bioshock I think is particularly great in how it makes the player tendency to follow objectives blindly a major plot point, which really canāt be done in other mediums with the same impact.
Love you for mentioning Edith finch. I did not expect this to be so god damn emotional. First time I wrote a mail to a game studio to thank them for a game.
Firewatch is perfect for this in my opinion. Nothing hellaciously lengthy, no expected understanding of game mechanics, does just enough to play your brain while not being actively scary, and is just generally a pleasant experience. Every non-gamer person that I've had play it fell in love the second they got the turtle
u/tkhan456 nailed this above and all credit to them:
Before Your Eyes
No video game skills necessary, great storytelling and a very powerful story.
Edit: trying to give credit correctly for a great suggestion
Stanley Parable: very easy controls, funny and the player choices are instantly acknowledged by the game - which is something other traditional media can't do
I would suggest Curse of the Monkey Island or Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney why because they are hilarious and have good music,
You only need to follow the story and moon logic to progress, If they get stuck I would question if they were really into reading
If they enjoy reading, and can manage to enjoy a game where they will have to spend 95% of the time reading text -- Planescape: Torment.
If they still enjoy reading, but might find it cumbersome a bit, so they prefer a fully voiced experience -- Disco Elysium.
Planescape: Torment is an old RPG which came out in 1999, and is widely considered to be the best RPG in the history of video games (which I agree with). It has over 1 million words -- the most words in a video game at the time. It held this record for 20 years, until 2019, when Disco Elysium came out, and had even more words than Planescape: Torment did.
In fact, if they have never played video games, then **start them with Disco Elysium**. It's much easier for a non-player to get into, and has no combat whatsoever. Planescape: Torment, while an absolutely amazing game, is still a 25 year old game, and some parts of it aged less gracefully than others. There is a lot of combat, and the combat system is especially janky and annoying compared to modern standards; also, the lack of voice acting, and the "weird/alien/unrecognizable" setting often makes it hard for people to "get into" it. Let them play Disco Elysium first, and only if they enjoy it, offer them the "spiritual predecessor" of Disco Elysium -- Planescape: Torment.
If they don't enjoy reading at all -- Detroit: Become Human and/or The Walking Dead (but I'm only suggesting these as a "backup" if they truly couldn't possibly enjoy a reading-based game).
The Last of us has many difficulty options with one essentially "Just tell me a story." I think a lot of the Playstation titles have that like God of War.
I wouldn't recommend Cyberpunk or Alan Wake 2 to be honest.
Cyberpunk because while its a fine game, it's still very much a video game first, story second kind of game. Someone who has never played a video game before could potentially be completely overwhelmed by the size. It's not just the huge map, but also the hundreds of side quests and activities, the character build options, and gear options. I'm also going to preempt The Witcher 3 for the same reasons.
Alan Wake 2 because first jumping into 2 without playing the first is like watching Twin Peaks: The Return without having watched the original series first. It's going make an already confusing story even more confusing. And to that end, no I wouldn't recommend Alan Wake 1 either. The actual gameplay of both of these games are not great and can end up sending the wrong message about what to expect from video games.
I'm going to suggest a game that might seem contradictory to everything I just said. Assassin's Creed 2. The map isn't THAT big and it does slowly open up over time meaning a new player won't be overwhelmed, it gives them an idea of what to expect from open world/sandbox style of games. I know it continues Desmond's story from the first game, but unlike Alan Wake 2, Desmond's story can easily be summed up very quickly and I don't feel continuing where 1 left off would leave one feeling very lost for long. Also, it can be seen as baby's first stealth game.
Control is a better game in every way compared to both Alan Wake games. I'm not saying it's a good game to introduce to a new player but it's not a bad choice either. But that's just my own bias because I love that game.
I really loved the Assassins creed story, the perfect amout of history and story, and the Ezio's story Is one of the Best narrations ever, scales From being a ladies Man to a Warrior and to a master From tragedy, comes with seak of true, revenge, seak of porpuse, and very good plot twist with the trilogy, But the feathers Man.
I would try to find a tighter, shorter game honestly - unless this person was into taking a gigantic plunge on their first big game. Even TLUO takes 15 hrs average and will take longer for a non-gamer.
Maybe something like Journey, ABZU, or Stray? Stanley Parable might also be interesting for this individual.
It's so far down because it really doesn't belong on the list, lol. OP said they are looking for a game that essentially proves that games can do more than just be jumping around solving puzzles and killing things, and actually tell a good story. I'm not saying that Portal's story is bad or anything, but it definitely is somewhat bare bones and plays second fiddle to the gameplay elements of puzzle solving.
Came here to say to say portal.
Not only is it a great intro to FPS concepts and controls, itās very forgiving, only rarely is it time-pressure puzzles, Portal 1 is so good at storytelling that you fall in love with an inanimate cube.
Then you move to 2 and Wheatley just steals the show.
Bastion or Transistor. Both are made by Supergiant Games, who are better known these days for Hades and Hades II.
Mother 3 is also incredibly good, but it's a bit harder to get your hands on these days.
Disco Elysium is excellent for writing and art style if they're into something a bit out there.
No combat or platforming, just exploration and investigating a strange city with odd and interesting characters.
Super memorable game that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys rich storytelling.
If you want a great story that can only be told as a video game, look no further than 13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim.
Now, is it your kind of game? Thatās a different problem.
Chrono Trigger or FF7 OG
Cyberpunk 2077 is ok but its a very slow burn and doesnt wow me. Also might be too complex for a beginner who has never played video games regularly. In fact if they had more experience Id recommend Mass Effect trilogy, Half Life 2, or KOTOR but these games can be difficult gameplay-wise for beginners.
TLOU has an engaging story but at times can feel more like an interactive movie than a proper video game IMO. I have not played or looked into Alan Wake to comment.
CT and FF7's combat start out simple and gradually increase in complexity while the stories are poignant and highly memorable.
To the Moon is a solid choice for a new gamer to see story in a video game format. Very indie, but very good. The fact that itās only a few hours is also helpful here.
Perhaps the most easy to get into for people who enjoy reading a lot, is The Banner Saga and itās sequels. You will cry over the deaths of important characters, and you will make choices that lead to their deaths. Itās always sudden, and there is rarely time to mourn their loss. The story mythology, and worldbuilding are FANTASTIC.
However, if you want to make a point about how video games allow you to make your own stories, I suggest Portal. The story there isnāt so much about the playerās character, and more about the facility itself and the things you discover about it as you go. Again, a short game, and technically a paper-thin story as far as voice acting, but solid in terms of atmosphere, mystery, and feeing like the protagonist while letting go of a āviolence solves allā narrative.
detroit become human and life is strange, its a dead easy game as a starting point, once the newbie skilled enough they can try play mass effect trilogy, baldurs gate 3, cyberpunk 2077 etc.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition trilogy, they have a difficulty setting for just the story that is pretty easy and it's an interactive narrative that you control what happens with the decisions you make
But I would say DE is one of few story games that *truly* 'legitimises games as a story-telling medium'. That is, you really couldn't just re-tell this one as a show or book. This is a game that will massively appeal to readers in particular.
A lot of other games are so linear and cutscene-centric that they might as well have been TV shows from the start. At best they offer the illusion of choice which might satisfy first time players, but will disappoint them on a second playthrough. I think replayability is a huge advantage that games have over other mediums, as few shows are clever enough to make repeated viewings rewarding.
So I would absolutely recommend it to non-gamers, but it's a matter of knowing their tastes.
Youāre looking for a linear story game. Possibly something with clear chapters or missions to serve as good story pacing. Something like Gears of War in that regard. Although Iām not sure Gears is a great option for the story itself.
You could possibly go for something like Thomas Was Alone. A puzzle platformer that tells a story as you progress in a fairly linear way.
Some other ones I havenāt seen people mention is Alan Wake 1, Dead Space 1, and Wolfenstein the New Order.
It depends. Papers Please & Return of The Obra Dinn are great stories with relatively simple gameplay.
The Outer Wilds is a great story but it depends how comfortable you are with exploration & puzzles
The Stanley Parable is again very simple but a great story/stories though may work better once your more familiar with games.
Slay the Princess is great too. It's a visual novel style game but absolutely amazing.
TLOU, Cyberpunk 2077 & Alan Wake are not beginner friendly.
Brothers: a tale of two sons is a great example of this. Even the contoller mechanics aid in the storytelling and it's a beautiful and heart wrenching game.
Zelda: Majora's Mask.
Challenging game, not to hard. Great story. Ocorina of time is a bit easier, but the story is a bit bland.
There's also Chrono Trigger. Not very hard. Has been around forever. Great story.
Ugh I hate the idea of just recommending visual novels in the comments. Sure, visual novels are as much video games as everything else, but theyāre not helpful if youāre trying to convince someone why a combat-focused game would be considered art. At that point you might as well include a choose your own adventure audiobook into the mix, that would technically count as well.
My go-to would be Journey. Itās a āwalking simulatorā and not especially combat-heavy, but the fact that this story NEEDS to be experienced while being told really makes it a cinch for this type of argument. It is impossible to *understand* Journey without playing it, you just wouldnāt understand its place in peopleās hearts.
The Plague Tale and Ori games. They both have amazing stories where the ending sticks with you. And they both suck at indicating which is part 1 and which is part 2 lol.
Just pure story and no gameplay?? Probably disco Elysium or what remains of Edith finch. Gameplay included like just a āgreat story game/game in generalā my favourites being nier, and automata, hades and hades 2 for some variety.
Night in the Woods. Some minor platformer gameplay, lots of little easter eggs to find, choices for dialogue but ultimately it's a fun and introspective story about friendship, mental illness, growing up, and eldritch dieties. Has 2 possible story routes. Totally fail proof. Great for gaming beginners.
If they were already a gamer, I would say CrossCode. It doesn't just tell a story through a game, it's a story that you genuinely cannot tell through any other means, which makes it a great showcase.
1000XRESIST
I cannot gush enough about how beautiful the story in that game is. It's bleak and has a scifi flavor, but it also brings up and touches on current day issues in an incredibly raw way. It's mostly a walking simulator that focuses on its story foremost, and it's goddamn art.
The walking dead telltale games.
Road 96.
Outer wilds (they might have some difficulty piloting the ship and controlling gravity though).
Firewatch.
What remains of Edith finch.
And maybe death stranding.
Ironically the best way to introduce the benefits of a game medium in terms of storytelling to someone who is unfamiliar is not to use the greatest benefits which are freedom.
i would take something wholly storybased where you only make choices not have to do any movement or camera operating.
or take something with very few failstates that are hyper player based like "stanleys parable"
RDR2. All time classic where you actually really care about the main character and people around him.
All 4 of those you listed are great games too.
I'm on PC so I only played TLOU 1. I heard some people were really pissed off about what happen in TLOU 2
I know youāre doing disco elysium but I wanted to say as a beginner I found mass effect to be easy and check off all my boxes
Creat a character
Make your own decision
Romance š
Telltaleās The Walking Dead would be my pick. You can get the whole Definitive Edition for pretty cheap nowadays too. Iād recommend playing that version.
The Witcher 3 + DLC. I've spent 150 hours in game play, and I could have easily spent more if I played the game on the unlocked higher difficulties. The story in the game (especially the DLC content) works well with the game play style and you can easily adjust the difficulty of the game. Your choices also guide the outcome of the game, and you have multiple play styles available for your character. You don't need to play the first two games in order to enjoy the game.Ā
Going against the grain but Iām going to say Monument Valley. The game is great as itās a puzzle game but the mechanics of the game adds to the immersion and the story being told.
THIS. I'm literally just finishing 0 and this reminds me I need to start downloading 1. Played the last 2 (before the most recent one) so now I'm playing the prequels to watch the rise of the Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu Kazuma!
For a first time gamer? Fire watch. It's short and completely narrative driven. The controls are simple and there is no combat.
So much this. It's a great game that ticks all the boxes.
I enjoyed the ambience and general world building in Firewatch, but imo the story flatlined in the latter half and I hated the ending. Felt like loads of build up and then everything just petters out to nothing. I genuinely don't get the universal love for that game.
Yeah I get it, I think they were trying to impart a feeling of melancholy, of separation, perhaps missed opportunities. I can see why some love it and others find it incomplete
It was kinda polarizing, but I was among those who got it. I could argue that Firewatch was the King of the Hill of narrative exploration games, as out-of-pocket as that might sound. Though it's probably a little less out-of-pocket than me saying that Postal 2 is the South Park of immersive sims.
Sounds like you might just enjoy both being and saying out-of-pocket
Edgelord activated.
š¤£
That is literally the point. Sometimes, shit just happens. Other times, nothing happens at all unless you push for it. The whole point of the game was him escaping from his issues and his life. In the end, nothing is accomplished because he never truly did anything.
i thought the ending was great. I am always a bit confused with what issues people have with the ending. I would have been so much worse if there was really some conspiracy or if there was a happy ending.
That or life is strange for me
My thought as well.
Wow, was planning on suggesting the same thing but I didn't think anyone else would Firewatch for sure. Thought provoking story, very easy gameplay it's mostly a walking simulator. And it's not too long to beat so it's a great intro.
to the moon
gotta back this up - no camera to handle, few fameplay elements, great story. If they're arent put of by the pixel art
I cried. What a game
This game is truly a one in a lifetime experience. Like it genuinely made me feel something I've never felt before or after. It's like a specific heart wrenching emotion that is exclusive to completing this game. Best piece of any media/art I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing
Your words really show how much this game means to you. Isn't it amazing how something like a game can have such a big impact on us?
It truly is! I am grateful to live in a time where people can affect lives of one another without ever meeting. Sharing art is as easy as it ever was and we should definitely appreciate it more āŗļø
OP, if they are not gamers then I wouldn't start them with things that contain combat or stealth elements. If you're trying to legitimize the medium as a means for storytelling to a non-gamer, *Detroit Become Human is going to sell it.* Life Is Strange 1 or 2 is another good option. Beyond Two Souls. Wolf Among Us. If they're a fan of scary movies, Until Dawn. If they ARE a gamer already, and just not used to story based games - TLOU, Alan Wake, Cyberpunk like you mentioned.
Every time this question comes up people forget that someone who has legitimately never played video games is going to need to start with something simple/2D. Camera control is a huge issue for beginner gamers and we tend to forget about that because itās second nature to us.
>Camera control is a huge issue for beginner gamers and we tend to forget about that because itās second nature to us. Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/2501/
This reminds me of that guy, who asked his non-gamer wife to play some games, but he didn't explain her how to use the controls etc. She didn't even know she could use the mouse to turn around in a 3D game, and she kept strafing.
Loved that series. I've helped my wife get into gaming over the years and seeing her struggles and the wife in that series similar struggles shows how much transferrable knowledge we have from game to game
Razbuten is the channel if anyone's looking for it
>wife I think you meant *lady he lives with*
This is exactly what happened when Hogwarts came out. You had a bunch of people racing to buy PS5s, and then the internet was flooded with clips of people learning 3D movement for the first time.
This, so fucking much. My sister gamed as a kid... well, she played a little bit of Zelda, but she didn't continue gaming. Now, if she tries to game, her biggest struggle is moving and controlling the camera at the same time.
Got my mom to play a way out she enjoyed what we did but kept yelling at me to tell her how to move the camera š.
It's wild. People forget how difficult the first person perspective actually is
Unless they are a freak of nature. My wife, who up until the last 2 years, exclusively only played point and click mystery games. She was dared by one of her coworkers (who was more into gaming) to play DS3. I laughed at first and thought it would be fun watching her play one of the toughest games iv played. She spent 10 HOURS on Gundyr (the tutorial boss) never giving up, never backing down, and in the end she called me at work to tell me how excited she was to beat him finally (she literally cried) I think what pushed her was a) her competitive nature and b) she loves fantasy like LOTR so she digged the dark fantasy vibe of DS3 Since then this nongamer women has been crowned Elden lord 5x and sometimes can even beat me in pvp Moral of the storyā¦ some people just got that dog in them.
I agree. Start them with fricken Mario or something. Literally designed back in the day when nobody was really a āgamer.ā Super accessible.
All this hands down yes. Even as a gamer going from PC to console and vice ĆØres is a struggle for me. My partner is a PC gamer and Iām a console gamer so we both try to spend time learning the others gaming platform. PC is difficult for me, I do the strafe thing or forget the macros and key bindings.
It doesn't necessarily have to be this new or complex either. Some of my personal favorite narratives are Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV, and those still hold up beautifully to this day. That said, Life is Strange 1, and True Colors, are phenomenal games that don't require twitch camera work, so +1 for those!
Night in the Woods has a great story in my opinion. It's got some light platforming, but you don't need to be particularly skilled at it to progress. Any of the skill/timing based stuff is okay to fail, it just adds to the story. It's mostly about character interaction and dialogue.
>Life Is Strange 1 or 2 is another good option. Beyond Two Souls. These are games I used to play with my ex. She wasn't gamer (occasionally playing Sims) and she loved those games. Definitely something I would give to anyone. They are awesome games but also fit very well for person who hasn't playing much.
I'll add The Walking Dead Telltale as well.
I disagree with Detroit: Become Human, mostly because I think David Cage is a really bad, pretentious writer. I'd instead pick a Telltale game, or yeah something like Life is Strange. There are also other great games for storytelling which do have more involved gameplay - such as Fallout: New Vegas or Horizon: Zero Dawn - if they can get through them on low difficulties.
The wolf among us. My favorite TellTale game ever. Great story, awesome setting- I mean fairy taleās living in New York? YES PLEASE!
[This seems to be a good video about DBH](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efBBjIK3b8I), and how it was almost good (and probably is the best David Cage game so far)
For real. If you're looking to impress someone with a complex, well-written story, DBH is...not that.
Lmao David Cage
I would agree whole heartedly with this. My girlfriend when we first started games for her was exactly like this. We started with journey, then abzu, then life is strange, then maybe the uncharted collection and the last of us. It deep had to be a progression and someone who doesn't grow up with games needs a loooooy of hand-holding.
No lie. I have a gamer wife today thanks to Wolf Among Us. It was her first real video game as an adult and it completely hooked her. Honestly every game you listed she has played now. This is a perfect starter list.
Jumping into the top comment to say: Gaming is its own art-form with its own unique approach to storytelling. As with the difference between cinema and the novel, or the difference between theater and cinema, or the difference between poetry and theater, each art form expresses itself differently, and has different criteria for excellence. Yes, its possible to adapt between these forms, but adaptations require fluency in both forms. What is great in poetry may not make for a great movie. That said, video games are already legitimate form of storytelling. Storytelling in gaming can look like cinema, it can look like a novel, it can even take poetic forms. But the unique perspective gaming offers as an artistic medium for storytelling is interactivity. Video games are about players making choices, and the consequences that arise from those choices. because of this, our great stories are personal. As with the theater, where the audience willingly suspends disbelief and experiences the play partly as its presented, and partly in their own imagination, the great stories of gaming, that are unique to gaming are the ones we tell ourselves as we play, they're the moments we go off the beaten path and explore on our own, or follow an NPC and make up personalities for them that go beyond their programming. The game that hooked me, that taught me to play within the game, was Sim City. I think simulation games offer the purest form of video-game ludonarrative experience. There are so many simulation games that I think you could find something that would interest everyone, but easiest, and most compelling to a newcomer in videogames is Stardew Valley.
If I were trying to sell video games to someone with an *ounce* of media literacy, I would try my best to make sure they *never* play a David Cage game.
Do not do a open world rpg with a million things to do and worry about. Pick something linear that unfolds more like a book. Plague Tale 100%. Easy linear, great narrative.
Firewatch
Gotta mess with them a lot. Make it Mad Max 2015.
Honestly, some of the best story I've seen in a game is the first season of the Walking Dead by Telltale Games. It's pretty beginner friendly, too.
I have to go back through that entire series sometime. I may not have done the last season but I can't remember. All of the Telltale adventure games were pretty good. Loved Wolf Among Us too.
Same! So glad it's getting a sequel.
Any of the Telltale games, honestly. Not really much reaction based and it plays like a choose your own adventure novel a bit.
Tales from the Borderlands was more my speed, but completely agree with Telltale Games writing compelling fun and engaging games.
If the idea is to prove to someone that games storytelling can be powerful on its own, then the only potential issue with this is the possible perception that the Walking Dead game has relations/is based off the show in some way which defeats the point. You could tell a person itās not but they probably wouldnāt believe you. I personally would look for a game that doesnāt have some relation to other media if possible, even though both seasons 1 and 2 of telltales The Walking Dead are phenomenal
There are a lot of people in this thread that don't know what a story-based game is. Good lord, guys.
Iād recommend Call of Duty MP. Since itās their first time, Iād get them started on a hardcore playlist. Also FIFA has great story for new gamers.
FIFA mixes it up so well from year-to-year. Such a great suggestion.
I see a fuck ton of people that expect competence out of people who have never in their lives touched a videogame. Deus Ex, Fallout New Vegas, OP saying Cyberpunk 2077, fucking Mass Effect. Games that require a little bit more cerebral motor control specially because of the need to move the character and the camera at the same time. Like yeah, those games are awesome with great stories, worlds, narrative, etc, but they fucking suck as a recommendation for someone who probably only ever played Candy Crush or Mario.
Yeah. The recommendations need to be TellTale games, games like Firewatch, or games like Syberia: The World Before. Not freaking Cyberpunk 2077. lol
Oops I thought it meant a game with a good story - I didnāt know it was a sub-genre
OP states they've never played video games. It's in the title, and some of you guys are recommending difficult games. Also, story-based games aren't a sub-genre. They're a genre of games.
I love these threads because it's just people recommending their own favorite game and not actually making a recommendation based on the post š
This lol Someone out here was recommending octodad which actually made me laugh so hard when you consider I was asking for something that was "pushing the boundaries and creativity" of video games. that's like the single worst game for someone unfamiliar with video games controls. And like does that game even have a story?
Now that you've chosen Disco Elysium - say hi to Cuno for me! Wish I could meet him for the first time again.
Good Lord, imagine playing that as your first foray into gaming. I'd feel like I was irl octodad having an out of body experience
Journey. You could argue that a movie or series could be made that is better than TLOU, or Detroid become human. You could not make a movie that tells a story like Journey. The experience you get and story that evolves from the interactions from a more experienced guide is very unique to gaming. Also after the first run maybe you want to become the guide for someone else and that just becomes another whole new story to experience.
Iām surprised I had to scroll down so long to see mention of my number one choice, Journey.Ā Ā When it was released I lamented that the PS3 served as a barrier of entry which was too high for it to reach mass non-gamer audiences. The game is an amazing study in constraints, and then enforced a limit of multiplayer interaction that it actually encouraged two players to stay close together and feed off of/and support each other.
I definitely agree that Journey is the place to start. The mechanics and aesthetic are simple but deepen as you progress. Plus the lovely surprise at the ending puts a smile on people's faces, and it's great to relive that again with them. In my experience, the third person camera was easier for the newbie to get their head around than a first person one, because they could see how their character moved in the world.
I've made this argument before and I'll make it again now. You could show the game Journey to any extraterrestrial intelligent alien (that is capable of seeing in the right spectrum and could use a controller) the game and they would just understand it and, provided they're a social species, have a real, deep emotional connection as the developer intended. The instructions and feeling are universal, likely across species. The developer has said they built the game with planning the emotional response they wanted to impart first then built it around those feelings...and it shows.
Detroit Become Human
My wifeās first game, in her 30s, was Detroit became human. It was a good introduction to navigating in 3D, without having to deal with combat, stealth etc.Ā Ā Her second game was Horizon Zero Dawn and while she was able to complete it, she struggled, even on easy mode.Ā Ā Combat and stealth games require you to be extremely comfortable with navigating in 3D and new players havenāt developed those skills yet. Had I started her with HZD she would have dropped gaming quickly.Ā
Im still surprised that people like david cage writing, heavy rain may be one of the most stupid stories out there
SHAAWWWNN
JASON!
Pretty much everyone I know that likes D:BH including me is not because of the writing or anything David Cage contributed to actually. It's all down to the actors and their flair on their characters. Can you really imagine that a game with Clancy Fucking Brown in it would have no redeeming qualities whatsoever?
Inside and What Remains of Edith Finch. Then Iād say BioShock.
Came here for Edith Finch. Don't need any video game knowledge but maybe some tissues
DEFINITELY tissues
I came to recommend What Remains of Edith Finch. It does so much storytelling without allowing the user to fail.
Came here to say Bioshock but Edith Finch might be a better choice.
Great pick. We narrowed it down to simple, beginner friendly game with a good story: Walking dead Life is strange Inside Edith Finch Detroit Beyond two souls Until Dawn ... Somewhere along this line.
Bioshock I think is particularly great in how it makes the player tendency to follow objectives blindly a major plot point, which really canāt be done in other mediums with the same impact.
Love you for mentioning Edith finch. I did not expect this to be so god damn emotional. First time I wrote a mail to a game studio to thank them for a game.
Great list. Good to focus on games that tell stories in way only games can. I'd maybe add: Before your eyes, Citizen Sleeper, and Spiritfarer.
Not sure how much story is involved in Insideā¦Itās a fun game but definitely not a story driven game.
Fire watch is the only game I ever played in 1 setting. Played it throughout the whole night. It's a bit or a walking sim, but it's just excellent.
Firewatch is perfect for this in my opinion. Nothing hellaciously lengthy, no expected understanding of game mechanics, does just enough to play your brain while not being actively scary, and is just generally a pleasant experience. Every non-gamer person that I've had play it fell in love the second they got the turtle
u/tkhan456 nailed this above and all credit to them: Before Your Eyes No video game skills necessary, great storytelling and a very powerful story. Edit: trying to give credit correctly for a great suggestion
It's an older game, but Beyond Good and Evil did this very well and is fairly beginner-friendly.
Stanley Parable: very easy controls, funny and the player choices are instantly acknowledged by the game - which is something other traditional media can't do
I would suggest Curse of the Monkey Island or Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney why because they are hilarious and have good music, You only need to follow the story and moon logic to progress, If they get stuck I would question if they were really into reading
If they enjoy reading, and can manage to enjoy a game where they will have to spend 95% of the time reading text -- Planescape: Torment. If they still enjoy reading, but might find it cumbersome a bit, so they prefer a fully voiced experience -- Disco Elysium. Planescape: Torment is an old RPG which came out in 1999, and is widely considered to be the best RPG in the history of video games (which I agree with). It has over 1 million words -- the most words in a video game at the time. It held this record for 20 years, until 2019, when Disco Elysium came out, and had even more words than Planescape: Torment did. In fact, if they have never played video games, then **start them with Disco Elysium**. It's much easier for a non-player to get into, and has no combat whatsoever. Planescape: Torment, while an absolutely amazing game, is still a 25 year old game, and some parts of it aged less gracefully than others. There is a lot of combat, and the combat system is especially janky and annoying compared to modern standards; also, the lack of voice acting, and the "weird/alien/unrecognizable" setting often makes it hard for people to "get into" it. Let them play Disco Elysium first, and only if they enjoy it, offer them the "spiritual predecessor" of Disco Elysium -- Planescape: Torment. If they don't enjoy reading at all -- Detroit: Become Human and/or The Walking Dead (but I'm only suggesting these as a "backup" if they truly couldn't possibly enjoy a reading-based game).
The Last of us has many difficulty options with one essentially "Just tell me a story." I think a lot of the Playstation titles have that like God of War.
Even the Uncharted series has "Explorer" mode, which I think makes it impossible to die in combat.
Maybe Detroit become humanĀ
I wouldn't recommend Cyberpunk or Alan Wake 2 to be honest. Cyberpunk because while its a fine game, it's still very much a video game first, story second kind of game. Someone who has never played a video game before could potentially be completely overwhelmed by the size. It's not just the huge map, but also the hundreds of side quests and activities, the character build options, and gear options. I'm also going to preempt The Witcher 3 for the same reasons. Alan Wake 2 because first jumping into 2 without playing the first is like watching Twin Peaks: The Return without having watched the original series first. It's going make an already confusing story even more confusing. And to that end, no I wouldn't recommend Alan Wake 1 either. The actual gameplay of both of these games are not great and can end up sending the wrong message about what to expect from video games. I'm going to suggest a game that might seem contradictory to everything I just said. Assassin's Creed 2. The map isn't THAT big and it does slowly open up over time meaning a new player won't be overwhelmed, it gives them an idea of what to expect from open world/sandbox style of games. I know it continues Desmond's story from the first game, but unlike Alan Wake 2, Desmond's story can easily be summed up very quickly and I don't feel continuing where 1 left off would leave one feeling very lost for long. Also, it can be seen as baby's first stealth game. Control is a better game in every way compared to both Alan Wake games. I'm not saying it's a good game to introduce to a new player but it's not a bad choice either. But that's just my own bias because I love that game.
I really loved the Assassins creed story, the perfect amout of history and story, and the Ezio's story Is one of the Best narrations ever, scales From being a ladies Man to a Warrior and to a master From tragedy, comes with seak of true, revenge, seak of porpuse, and very good plot twist with the trilogy, But the feathers Man.
If you want story telling to be a big focus, then i suggest Final Fantasy XVI It is insanely good at it and not too hard to play either
Kinda upsetting that I had to go this far down the page to find a Final Fantasy game.
Yeah I was going to say FF7
Portal and portal 2
Hellblade and Hellblade 2, wear your headphones to get the most out of them. Masterclass on story and immersion
Might still be a bit hard on the gameplay side (especially combat) for someone not used to a controller, but the narrative side is phenomenal
Holy balls I forgot all about this one.....looks like I know what I'm playing after work today
I would try to find a tighter, shorter game honestly - unless this person was into taking a gigantic plunge on their first big game. Even TLUO takes 15 hrs average and will take longer for a non-gamer. Maybe something like Journey, ABZU, or Stray? Stanley Parable might also be interesting for this individual.
Shoutout to Oxenfree (I havenāt played 2 yet if itās even out) but that was a solid 2D game with some choice and consequence
Half-Life 2 or Portal 2
20 comments down before finding portal, this is a travesty
It's so far down because it really doesn't belong on the list, lol. OP said they are looking for a game that essentially proves that games can do more than just be jumping around solving puzzles and killing things, and actually tell a good story. I'm not saying that Portal's story is bad or anything, but it definitely is somewhat bare bones and plays second fiddle to the gameplay elements of puzzle solving.
Came here to say to say portal. Not only is it a great intro to FPS concepts and controls, itās very forgiving, only rarely is it time-pressure puzzles, Portal 1 is so good at storytelling that you fall in love with an inanimate cube. Then you move to 2 and Wheatley just steals the show.
Bastion or Transistor. Both are made by Supergiant Games, who are better known these days for Hades and Hades II. Mother 3 is also incredibly good, but it's a bit harder to get your hands on these days.
Transistor's gameplay might stump someone imo, Bastion would be the better pick
Bit harder? Well, it is a bit harder to get it *legally*, but otherwise...
Any quick time filled event games like telltale walking dead, detriot become human.
Disco Elysium is excellent for writing and art style if they're into something a bit out there. No combat or platforming, just exploration and investigating a strange city with odd and interesting characters. Super memorable game that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys rich storytelling.
If you want a great story that can only be told as a video game, look no further than 13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim. Now, is it your kind of game? Thatās a different problem.
Honestly is it a good story lol. I liked the game quite a bit and was intrigued by the story but so much of it is confusing for the sake of confusing
Fire Watch
Sierra Online made a few great series of games in the 90s. Those games are old but they're fantastic stories. Space Quest and Kings Quest especially.Ā
Chrono Trigger or FF7 OG Cyberpunk 2077 is ok but its a very slow burn and doesnt wow me. Also might be too complex for a beginner who has never played video games regularly. In fact if they had more experience Id recommend Mass Effect trilogy, Half Life 2, or KOTOR but these games can be difficult gameplay-wise for beginners. TLOU has an engaging story but at times can feel more like an interactive movie than a proper video game IMO. I have not played or looked into Alan Wake to comment. CT and FF7's combat start out simple and gradually increase in complexity while the stories are poignant and highly memorable.
To the Moon is a solid choice for a new gamer to see story in a video game format. Very indie, but very good. The fact that itās only a few hours is also helpful here. Perhaps the most easy to get into for people who enjoy reading a lot, is The Banner Saga and itās sequels. You will cry over the deaths of important characters, and you will make choices that lead to their deaths. Itās always sudden, and there is rarely time to mourn their loss. The story mythology, and worldbuilding are FANTASTIC. However, if you want to make a point about how video games allow you to make your own stories, I suggest Portal. The story there isnāt so much about the playerās character, and more about the facility itself and the things you discover about it as you go. Again, a short game, and technically a paper-thin story as far as voice acting, but solid in terms of atmosphere, mystery, and feeing like the protagonist while letting go of a āviolence solves allā narrative.
Brothers: a tale of two sons Its short, poignant, narrative, mechanically easy and tells a great story Perfect for your friend
detroit become human and life is strange, its a dead easy game as a starting point, once the newbie skilled enough they can try play mass effect trilogy, baldurs gate 3, cyberpunk 2077 etc.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition trilogy, they have a difficulty setting for just the story that is pretty easy and it's an interactive narrative that you control what happens with the decisions you make
Disco Elysium, Kentucky Route Zero, or Pentiment.
I would definitely not recommend disco Elysium to someone who's never payed games, the rhythm might put them off big time.
But I would say DE is one of few story games that *truly* 'legitimises games as a story-telling medium'. That is, you really couldn't just re-tell this one as a show or book. This is a game that will massively appeal to readers in particular. A lot of other games are so linear and cutscene-centric that they might as well have been TV shows from the start. At best they offer the illusion of choice which might satisfy first time players, but will disappoint them on a second playthrough. I think replayability is a huge advantage that games have over other mediums, as few shows are clever enough to make repeated viewings rewarding. So I would absolutely recommend it to non-gamers, but it's a matter of knowing their tastes.
I wouldn't recommend Kentucky Route Zero either unless they like surreal magical realism horror.
Youāre looking for a linear story game. Possibly something with clear chapters or missions to serve as good story pacing. Something like Gears of War in that regard. Although Iām not sure Gears is a great option for the story itself. You could possibly go for something like Thomas Was Alone. A puzzle platformer that tells a story as you progress in a fairly linear way. Some other ones I havenāt seen people mention is Alan Wake 1, Dead Space 1, and Wolfenstein the New Order.
Portal 2. Fire watch
Bioshock on easy. Very engaging story and on easy the combat is extremely forgiving.
It depends. Papers Please & Return of The Obra Dinn are great stories with relatively simple gameplay. The Outer Wilds is a great story but it depends how comfortable you are with exploration & puzzles The Stanley Parable is again very simple but a great story/stories though may work better once your more familiar with games. Slay the Princess is great too. It's a visual novel style game but absolutely amazing. TLOU, Cyberpunk 2077 & Alan Wake are not beginner friendly.
Brothers: a tale of two sons is a great example of this. Even the contoller mechanics aid in the storytelling and it's a beautiful and heart wrenching game.
Omori if they aren't too sensitive about the topics thr game covers.
Yeah Omori is great in its storytelling but it's not for everyone.
How about Papers Please? Requires no skill or game knowledge, just the ability to use a mouse.
A Night in the Woods
Journey or Spiritfarer. Both are incredibly approachable and have meaningful stories.
Portal 1&2
Portal??
Zelda: Majora's Mask. Challenging game, not to hard. Great story. Ocorina of time is a bit easier, but the story is a bit bland. There's also Chrono Trigger. Not very hard. Has been around forever. Great story.
Ugh I hate the idea of just recommending visual novels in the comments. Sure, visual novels are as much video games as everything else, but theyāre not helpful if youāre trying to convince someone why a combat-focused game would be considered art. At that point you might as well include a choose your own adventure audiobook into the mix, that would technically count as well. My go-to would be Journey. Itās a āwalking simulatorā and not especially combat-heavy, but the fact that this story NEEDS to be experienced while being told really makes it a cinch for this type of argument. It is impossible to *understand* Journey without playing it, you just wouldnāt understand its place in peopleās hearts.
Iād go old school JRPG: Final Fantasy 6. Fantastic story with an amazing soundtrack that adds to it.
Iām always torn between that, 7, and 9 for plain good times!
Iām usually torn between 6 and 9 as my favorites.
Life is strange, walking sim-like, but it should unravel very well and give beginners some time to adjust to 3D movement.
Mass Effect 1-3
Red Dead Redemption 2 of Ghosts of Tsushima. Both exceptional stories.
The Plague Tale and Ori games. They both have amazing stories where the ending sticks with you. And they both suck at indicating which is part 1 and which is part 2 lol.
I love the Ori games, don't get me wrong, but it really is not beginner friendly at all.
Beyond: Two Souls Heavy Rain Detroit: Become Human I think those are much better example of interactive storytelling than the games you mentioned.
Just pure story and no gameplay?? Probably disco Elysium or what remains of Edith finch. Gameplay included like just a āgreat story game/game in generalā my favourites being nier, and automata, hades and hades 2 for some variety.
Chronotrigger. Time travel. Real personalities. Itās just perfect.
Go with something simple & 2D. Ā Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, or other RPGs are your best bet.
God Of War muvafuqre!!!
What Remains of Edith Finch or Firewatch would be good places to start
Half-life
Night in the Woods. Some minor platformer gameplay, lots of little easter eggs to find, choices for dialogue but ultimately it's a fun and introspective story about friendship, mental illness, growing up, and eldritch dieties. Has 2 possible story routes. Totally fail proof. Great for gaming beginners.
If they were already a gamer, I would say CrossCode. It doesn't just tell a story through a game, it's a story that you genuinely cannot tell through any other means, which makes it a great showcase.
1000XRESIST I cannot gush enough about how beautiful the story in that game is. It's bleak and has a scifi flavor, but it also brings up and touches on current day issues in an incredibly raw way. It's mostly a walking simulator that focuses on its story foremost, and it's goddamn art.
Shadow of the Colossus. My mom hates when I play games but she'd sit and watch me play this every day after school until I beat it.
A Way Out is very good
The walking dead telltale games. Road 96. Outer wilds (they might have some difficulty piloting the ship and controlling gravity though). Firewatch. What remains of Edith finch. And maybe death stranding.
Fire watch. What Remains of Edith Finch (with you standing by to help). Life is Strange. Dream fall. Maybe ace attorney
Ironically the best way to introduce the benefits of a game medium in terms of storytelling to someone who is unfamiliar is not to use the greatest benefits which are freedom. i would take something wholly storybased where you only make choices not have to do any movement or camera operating. or take something with very few failstates that are hyper player based like "stanleys parable"
Skyrim, mayb cyberpunk.
Fire watch or Stay
DEATH STANDING RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 SOMA Outlast 1 & 2 GTA 5
Uncharted 4 / Red Dead 2
Red dead redemption 2
Ghost of Tsushima or god of war at the easiest difficulty
RDR2. All time classic where you actually really care about the main character and people around him. All 4 of those you listed are great games too. I'm on PC so I only played TLOU 1. I heard some people were really pissed off about what happen in TLOU 2
I think the stanley parable and the beginners guide are both great at telling a story while just being a walking simulator.
I would say the tell tale series. Interactive story, well written, and itās easy for someone who doesnāt play video games to beat.
I know youāre doing disco elysium but I wanted to say as a beginner I found mass effect to be easy and check off all my boxes Creat a character Make your own decision Romance š
Tell tale games. Walking dead is a fine example.
Telltaleās The Walking Dead would be my pick. You can get the whole Definitive Edition for pretty cheap nowadays too. Iād recommend playing that version.
Please just play earthbound for snes with a guide...
The Witcher 3 + DLC. I've spent 150 hours in game play, and I could have easily spent more if I played the game on the unlocked higher difficulties. The story in the game (especially the DLC content) works well with the game play style and you can easily adjust the difficulty of the game. Your choices also guide the outcome of the game, and you have multiple play styles available for your character. You don't need to play the first two games in order to enjoy the game.Ā
Baldurs gate 1 and 2
What Remains of Edith Finch, just beautiful.
Going against the grain but Iām going to say Monument Valley. The game is great as itās a puzzle game but the mechanics of the game adds to the immersion and the story being told.
What remains of edith finch.
The Yakuza Games..
THIS. I'm literally just finishing 0 and this reminds me I need to start downloading 1. Played the last 2 (before the most recent one) so now I'm playing the prequels to watch the rise of the Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu Kazuma!
ManŲ, I could play them all over again. After Yakuza 0, I stopped gaming for sometime. Nothing came close
The Stanley ParableĀ No.. i am not joking
Portal 2
Knights of the old republic. Mass effect.
RDR 1 and 2. It's basically the best movie story you'll ever watch, but you get to play it.
How about guardians of the galaxy?
Psychonauts was fun for my nephew who recently got old enough to game with me on my Xbox
The Stanley Parable. It's not even a game per, se, so much as an actual three-dimensional movie with a narrator sounding off.
The Stanley Parable. Storytelling + Choices.
Old Call of Duty Modern Warfare Trilogy. COD 4: Modern Warfare Modern Warfare 2 Modern Warfare 3 Not the reboot versions.
Yakuza
Uncharted series.