Movies have the power to create an engrossing experience for you to watch, but with video games, you are instead placed inside its world and given control over it. Well, what happens when you merge the two mediums? You get interactive video games. A video game that allows you to direct and impact the course of the story.
Now, it’s time to take a look at the Top 15 Best Interactive Story Games.
15. Beyond Two Souls (2013) - PC, PS3, PS4
Live the life of Jodie Holmes, a young woman who possesses supernatural abilities through her psychic link to a mysterious unseen entity.
Quantic Dream has never shied away from telling an ambitious story, and their game, Beyond Two Souls, certainly doesn’t either. Delivering a genre-bending story told in a non-linear fashion that makes it immensely compellingto watch and play.
Although the game’s non-linear storytelling certainly is one of its strengths, it also becomes one of its weaknesses, as many of the story beats feels much too disjointed but that isn’t to say that experiencing it is amazingly spectacular.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Non-Linear Story Telling
- Outstanding Acting
- Fantastic Writing
Fun Factor Score: 80/100
Pair up with your ghost companion in an adventure like no other.
14. XCOM 2 (2016) - PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, ANDRIOD, IOS, LINUX
It has been twenty years since world leaders unconditionally submitted to alien forces. But a group is assembling once more at the edge of the earth to save humanity.
Xcom 2 is a game full of complexity, whether it be from its deep strategic combat system or its perma-death mechanic, there’s always something here to keep you on your toes. Thought it may not be a game for newcomers, Xcom’s challenge is nevertheless worthy to experience.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Deep and Stategical RPG Mechanic
- Perma-death system
- Character Classes
- Weapon Upgrades
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Fight your way through the sci-fi world of XCOM.
13. Life is Strange: True Colors (2021) - PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S, NINTENDO SWITCH, STADIA
The game focuses on Alex Chen, a young lady with the ability toexperience other’s emotions, as she attempts to solve the mystery behind a tragedy that occured in her life.
Building on every aspect of the games that had came before it, Life Is Strange: True Colors feels like a contemporary masterpiece thanks largely to its emotionally investing story set within a gorgeously lush setting that rivals that of the first LIS game.
While of course, Max’s time rewind powers are still unmatched, Alex’s aura reading ability does provide enough variation for it to stand out on its own. Simply put, True Colors is one of the best entries in the entire franchise, one that is brilliant and innovative.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Romance Option
- Amazing soundtrack
- Visually pleasing presentation
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Use your aura reading ability to solve the mystery.
12. Firewatch (2016) - PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, LINUX
In 1989, Henry takes a volunteer fire lookout job in the Wyoming wilderness to escape from his troubled past, but he soon finds himself embroiled into a plethora of paranoia and mystery.
Firewatch has all the ingredients to make a spectacular game, including, a stunning art direction, strong voice acting, and realistic characters. It’s a gamethat is smart and emotionally investing. Though while the game may be light on its gameplay department, it is nonetheless a worthy game to experience.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Believable characters
- Day and Night Cycle
- Open Area to Explore
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Get lost in the lush world of FireWatch.
11. Heavy Rain (2010) - PC, PS3, PS4
Architect and Father Ethan Mars joins a Private Detective, a Journalist, and an FBI agent in a race against time to save his son from a child murderer, known as the Origami Killer.
Heavy Rain is a masterclass in mystery, with a compelling narrative that will keep you guessting throughout the game's runtime. Along with having many innovative gameplay elements that all work well in the game's favor.
It’s one of the first popular interactive games and it surprisingly is even better than most of what had came after it. Sure its plot may have a few holes but what is offered here is an experience that one should not be missed
Play This Game If You Like:
Gripping mystery
- Perma-death system
- Multiple endings
- Multiple characters
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Solve the complex mystery in Heavy Rain.
10. The Quarry (2022) - PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
Nine teen counselors are thrown into an unforeseeable night of horror when the sun sets on their last night in summer camp.
Horror games and interactive stories are a perfect marriage, and The Quarry further proves this by delivering a thrilling narrative that delights in providing pure terror. The game does a fantastic job at making you feel as though every choice you make along the way matters.
The Quarry, despite appearing to be just another Until Dawn and Dark Pictures, finds creative new ways to improve on what has come before, giving us a novel and exciting spin on the well-known sub-genre.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Accessibility Option
- Movie Mode
- Solid Cast of Playable Characters
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Watch out for what lurks in the quarry!
9. The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (2021) - PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
While traveling through the Arabian desert, a team of American marines comes across an underground lair of pure, ancient evil.
There are currently four games in this fantastic anthology series, but House of Ashes is the one that deserves your attention the most. Incorporating elements from all its predecessors to deliver an exhilarating experience that will leave even the most die-hard horror fans, scared shitless.
Featuring Ashley Tisdale of Highschool Musical, as the strong and capable protagonist Rachel. The outstanding acting in House of Ashes helps you feel completely engrossed in the game's ominous and claustrophobic world. You shouldn't pass up playing this game.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Cinematic Gameplay
- Perma-death System
- A cast of strong characters to root for
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Survive the claustrophobic world of House of Medan.
8. Oxenfree (2016) - PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, ANDROID, IOS, LINUX
Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. Play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenager who brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party on an old military island.
Oxenfree is a masterclass at building a strong and compelling atmosphere that will undoubtedly elicitstrong emotions from you. And with the game’s branching dialogue outcomes and ending makes the game massively replayable for those anyone wanting to discover more about its lore.
Although the game may be dark in nature, it also expertly delivers a heartfelt wholesome coming of age tale, making it difficult to put the game down as you become engrossed and get to know more about the game’s plot.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Stellar Soundtrack
- Deep dialogue with multiple branches
- Unique art style
Fun Factor Score: 85/100
Oxenfree will not fail to make you feel unnerved.
7. The Stanley Parable (2013) - PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S, NINTENDO SWITCH, LINUX
An omnipotent narrator tries to tell a story about Stanley, a silent office worker who one day discovers that everyone but him has disappeared from the office building. If Stanley tries to disobey the narrator, interesting things happen.
The Stanley Parable is a very different beast on its own, in contrast to many of the games that have been featured on the list, which have primarily been cinematic games with a focus on story-driven experiences. The game is a hilarious satire on video games that frequently veers into provocative territory.
Playing through the game is such an enjoyable experience since every decision you make in it is significant and is presented with humor and a smart approach.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Meta approach
- Clever writing
- Meaningful choices
Fun Factor Score: 90/100
Break free from the tediousness in Stanley Parable.
6. Detroit: Become Human (2018) - PC, PS4
You take on the roles of three androids named Connor, Kara, and Markus in the year 2038 as they search for their true selves in a society where humans and androids coexist.
Taking everything they learnt from Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls, Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human has to be their modern masterpiece. Delivering an incredibly powerful and gripping story that will pull on your heart strings.
Each decision has a heavy and meaningful consequence, and its cast of wonderfully sympathetic androids are all investing to experience which is further exemplified due to their strong performances. The game’s ambitious nature already makes it worth playing alone.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Multiple Protagonists and Storylines
- Stellar World Building
- A wide array of decision paths
Fun Factor Score: 90/100
Can you make the right decisions in Detriot: Become Human?
5. Until Dawn (2015) - PS4
Eight friends are trapped together on a remote mountain retreat, and they aren't alone. Gripped by dread, with tensions running high, they must overcometheir fear if they all hope to make it through the night in one piece.
Serving as a love letter to the slasher films of old, Until Dawn is a chaotically terrific experience that delivers both humor and bloody scares. Stunning graphics, choices with real consequences, and others fators, all of these make the game such an engaging piece of entertainment.
The game takes every single trope known in the genre and combines them all together to create a fresh story that celebrates the horror genre’s dexterity. And with a cast of great actors including the likes of Rami Malek, you’ve got yourself one engaging slasher game. This is a game made by horror fans, for horror fans.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Campy Slasher Story
- Perma-death System
- Butterfly Effect Mechanic
- Multiple Characters
- Multiple Endings
Fun Factor Score: 95/100
Run away from the maniac or face a horrific consequence.
4. The Wolf Among Us (2013) - PC, PS3, PS4, PSVITA, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, ANDRIOD, IOS
The Wolf Among Us is an episodic mystery drama where you take control of Bigby Wolf who is tasked with looking into a string of unsolved murders.
Telltale Games has produced many stories before but one of their best entry has to be The Wolf Among Us. Bringing many fable characters to life in a gripping adventure full of twists and turns, as well as boasting a gorgeously unique visual that’s full of charm of colors.
Every single decision that you make within the game is strong and impactful, making you second guess every single move that you make. There simply is no other game like The Wolf Among Us, and it’s one that you should experience at least once.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Fantastic Writing
- Neon Drenched Visuals
- Detective Style Gameplay
Fun Factor Score: 95/100
Fight to find out the truth in the world of The Wolf Among Us.
3. Mass Effect 2 (2010) - PC, PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE
After being revived from death and having to join a pro-human organization without a choice, Commander Shepard must assemble a team, battle a new threat, and make tough choices in order to save the galaxy from total annihilation once more.
Mass Effect 2 uses its Sci-fi elements in great effect to give us an immersive world that's teaming with life. Along with a complex and superb combat system that will keep you hooked in this massive journey through space.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Incredible World Building
- Romance Options
- Detailed RPG Mechanic
Fun Factor Score: 100/100
Immerse yourself in a bombastic sci-fi adventure.
2. Life is Strange (2015) - PC, PS3, PS4, XBOX 360. XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, ANDROID, IOS, LINUX, GOOGLE STADIA
Life is Strange is a five-part episodic game that centers on Max Caulfield, a photographer who discovers that she has the power to rewind time after saving the life of her childhood friend, Chloe.
No other game manages to ever close the way Life is Strange draws you in its world. With such a touching and enchanting plot, a cast of colorful and quirky characters, and an innovative time-controlling mechanic, all of these features are used to great effect.
It is also an engaging but eccentric dialogue that compliments the game’s unique story, along with boasting striking visuals and an incredible soundtrack, Life is Strange is a game that is simply beyond amazing. Now, if only we could turn back time and play the game blindly all over again.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Butterfly Effect Mechanic
- Time Traveling
- Multiple Endings
Fun Factor Score: 100/100
Rewind time to save the future of Arcadia Bay.
1. The Walking Dead: Season 1 (2012) - PC, PS3, PS4, PSVITA, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, ANDROID, IOS, OUYA,
Taking place within the same universe as its source material, The Walking Dead put you into the shoes of Lee Everett entrusted to protect the young girl named Clementine from the dangers of the new world where the dead walk the earth.
Get your tissues ready because Telltale’s The Walking Dead will put you in a gripping world that won’t fail to make you feel scared, excited, and most of all, sad. The game has one of, if not, the best narrative ever seen in gaming with you taking care of the adorable Clementine in a perilous world.
While yes the game may not have the same level of interactivity as the others on the list provided, the game nonetheless succeeds at making you feel like every single choice you make matters and will make you want to save every single character that you come across. Telltale’s The Walking Dead is simply unmatched.
Play This Game If You Like:
- Point and Click Gameplay
- Comic Book Art style
- The Walking Dead Show & Comics
Fun Factor Score: 100/100
Band with a group of survivors and kill the walkers!
