[Top 20] Best Video Games for Girls

Updated:

20 Aug 2024

The video games industry has had its fair share of titles that cater to specific demographics. From games made to educate children, to competitive shooters to be played on the world's biggest stages, to single player experiences that give us stories from the world's most creative minds.

In terms of the gender of video game players, there is no discrimination in terms of what video games to play. But there are some video games that are highly recommended or at the very least will give our female gamers a role model or a story they can resonate with.

48 percent of gamers in the USA are all women so it's time to gather all our female partners in gaming because these are the top 20 video games best for girls.

20. GTA V - 2013 (PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

Trust me we have a good reason why this is a recommended game for women

TOTAL CHAOS! - First Time Playing Grand Theft Auto 5

Giving us the power fantasy we’ve wanted all our lives in pure HD quality is Rockstar Games most popular game and one of the most successful games in history is GTA V.

Released a full decade ago at the time of writing and still going strong to this day, reaping in billions of dollars in sales, it takes us into the shoes of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin.

Michael who is a retired bank robber that got sucked into the world of crime once more, Trevor who is Michael’s best friend who is a straight up psychopath, and Franklin who is Michael’s protege, all work together and separately to work for the government to do their dirty work whilst trying to find a way out of their dead end deals.

Though the playable characters are all male, almost half of the GTA playerbase are women with streams on Twitch, Youtube, and on Facebook.

Through mods and the GTA Online aspect of the game, it doesn’t fail to satisfy gamers of all genders with its hours of content and the aforementioned power fantasy it gives us.

Choose this game if you like

Hours upon hours of playthrough
Different game modes such as the online part of GTA V
GTA. I mean come on its GTA everyone loves GTA

19. Super Smash Bros Ultimate - 2018 (Switch)

It’s like gamings whos who on who can kick whose asses harder

Super Smash Bros Ultimate - World of Light- Nintendo Switch

Remaining as one of the most played titles on the Nintendo Switch along with the astounding Breath of the Wild. Super Smash Bros Ultimate lives up to its name and title as one of Nintendo’s go to titles for success and surefire playerbase satisfaction.

Released back in 2018 and developed by Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo. It acts as the 5th mainline installment in the Smash Bros series.

Featuring over 89 playable characters whilst still keeping the same fighting format of the Smash Bros which is to use varying attacks depending on the character to weaken their foes until they can knock off whatever playable arena they’re playing in.

Smash Bros Ultimate is made to be enjoyed by all ages and genders but it can be more enjoyable to be played by women as it offers an extensive female roster and the feeling of freedom and enjoyment it brings to dominate a whole arena using whichever selected character you choose.

Choose this game if you like:

A fighting game with zero blood but all the fun of beating up your opponents
A huge selection of characters from Mario to Pikachu to Solid Snake
Fast paced fun and a great multiplayer game to play with friends

18. Fortnite - 2017 (PC, macOS, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android)

Get that W

Fortnite - Launch Cinematic Trailer / PS4

With a fourth of its player base consisting of women while also giving the players a multitude of customization options to make their playable character unique to them, it is no wonder Fortnite has become the giant that it is only 5 years into its release.

Released back in 2017 by Epic Games. It is a free to play online battle royale shoot 'em up game where players are thrust into a map where they duke it out with up to 100 other players until only one is left standing.

For it’s appeal to the girl gamers that it has, it hosts a plethora of guest characters, skins and cosmetics, and the freedom to be in one of gaming's biggest player base.

Choose this game if you like:

Hours of fun with fast paced multiplayer action
Hundreds of customization options with gender options for your player
To be part of the world's biggest cultural phenomenon since Pokemon Go. Speaking of

17. Pokemon GO - 2016 (iOS, iPadOS, Android)

The game that ALMOST changed the world back in 2016

Pokemon GO! / Debut Trailer

Back in 2016 when Ghostbusters returned but with an all female lead, Batman smashed a toilet sink on Superman’s head, and Leonardo DiCaprio won his first oscar, it also gave us a cultural phenomenon that took over everyones lives, and that was Pokemon GO.

Developed by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company for iOS and Android. It is an augmented reality mobile game that is part of the Pokemon franchise where players are required to go out into the world where they catch and train Pokemon found in real life locations.

Despite being a free to play game, it uses a freemium game model where there are in-app purchases which players can buy with real money to use items not normally found in game.

The appeal for this game is that it also promotes local business and famous landmarks where they are used as Pokestops in game to replenish their items or set up lures to make Pokemon come to the player or interact with other players.

Also promoting physical activity as it requires players to walk to catch Pokemon, it adds realism and physical witness to gamers of all genders but especially with the female players as one can do their exercise, discover new places, and meet new people while playing a different kind of Pokemon game.

Choose this game if you like:

To put in your exercise while also playing your fave game on your phone
To fulfill your childhood dream of becoming a pokemon trainer
Real life interactivity with other players and for you to catch them all

16. Tomb Raider - 2013 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, OS X, PS4, Xbox One, Linux, Shield TV, Stadia)

Gaming's first lady of badassery returns

Tomb Raider (2013) - Official Game Trailer

Released in 2013 as an action adventure game by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix’s European branch.

It acts as the tenth mainline entry in the Tomb Raider series and the first installment of the Survivor trilogy of Lara Croft’s origin story.

Gameplay is focused mainly on survival and exploration on an island where Lara contends with an unknown force that is keeping her and her crewmates trapped in the island.

Lara’s bow and arrow are the main tools of survival used to kill enemies, hunt animals, and solve puzzles that she may encounter in the playthrough.

She also adds to her arsenal a climbing hook used for traversal and also melee combat that she uses with deadly efficacy.

The game was universally praised for its story, setting, graphics, and the depiction of Lara Croft herself from reluctant adventurer to hardened survivor by the end of the game.

This game marks the triumphant return of gaming’s original sex symbol but albeit in this game she isn't sexualized to the point where she's made as eye candy for the player.

Her strength, determination, and characterization are what Lara Croft was always about. She returns at a time when other female protagonists are making a comeback such as Ellie in The Last of Us. Truly a return that was worth waiting for

Choose this game if you like:

To get into the lore of Lara Croft if you haven’t played any of the prior Tomb Raider games
Survival and long range gameplay with Lara’s bow and arrow which is one of the best features in this game
To step into the shoes of gaming's first ever lady adventurer

15. Hogwarts Legacy - 2023 (PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)
Image

Ohhh the different spells I can use on this dead tree

Hogwarts Legacy - Official Reveal Trailer / PS5

Every millennial's dream growing up was to be accepted at Hogwarts and be part of the whimsical and magical wizarding world of Harry Potter. With Hogwarts Legacy, you can do just that and more.

Released very recently at the time of writing on February 10, 2023 on the PS5, Xbox Series and on PC. Hogwarts Legacy is an open world action RPG developed by Avalanche Software and published by WB Games under the Portkey Games label.

We are taken to the wizarding world created by author J.K. Rowling and popularized by the Harry Potter novels and movies.

We take control of our own customized 5th year transfer student at Hogwarts School where we go on numerous main and side quests as we learn to wield and weaponize different spells and even curses aided by the professors and schoolmates at Hogwarts.

If you’ve grown up watching the Harry Potter series and idolized characters such as Hermione, Luna Lovegood, and Professor McGonagall then fans of the wizarding world, especially for women, would love to experience the magic one more time.

Choose this game if you like:

The wizarding world of Harry Potter transformed into a beautifully realized open world game
To be able to finally use all the spells you’ve seen in the movies and even choose which house you belong to
Aaaaaaaaa… VADA KEDAVRA

14. Cult of the Lamb - 2022 (macOS, Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

Behind this cutesy exterior lies a certain demonic charm to it

Cult of the Lamb First Look

Stylized in a cutesy cartoonish style that holds a secret behind its cuddly exterior is Cult of the Lamb. An astounding game that came out of nowhere in 2022 developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital.

Cult of the Lamb is focused around a titular anthropomorphic lamb that is possessed by a demonic entity who is then tasked to form a cult to appease the entity that saved the lambs life at the beginning of the game.

Played in a roguelike style of gameplay, you're thrust into 5 different playable areas where you fight demons and monsters to grow the followers of your cult.

Winning the 2022 Golden Joystick award as the best indie game of the year and nominated at The Game awards in the Best Independent Game category, players of this demonic roguelike with cute demon animals will surely bring a smile to anyone's face.

Choose this game if you like:

Rougelike style of gameplay helmed by a cute little possessed anthropomorphic lamb
Cartoon style graphics with fast paced action
The ability to raise your own little cult of cute little animals and not feel bad about it

13. House of Ashes - 2021 (PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

I too dream of spelunking in a cave with demon carvings

House of Ashes - Story Trailer/ Summer Game Fest 2021

Acting as the 3rd installment in the Dark Pictures Anthology by Supermassive games, House of Ashes is the greatest achievement of Supermassive games yet since Until Dawn in 2015.

In House of Ashes, you take control of 1 of 5 main characters, with one of them being Rachel King played by Ashley Tisdale of High School Musical fame. At the end of the Iraq War, a special forces team is tasked to hunt down terrorists holding weapons of mass destruction.

But in their search they find something else that is otherworldly and terrifying that threatens their lives and possibly the whole world if it gets loose.

Played in an interactive drama format where the players must make decisions and take actions that affect the story and the survival of the characters.

Recommended for all genders but can be much more appreciated under the gameplay of female players.

Decision making and story driven outings in the gaming world are both relaxing and engaging that can scratch that itch that cannot be satisfied by shoot em ups and normal open world gameplays.

House of Ashes is a great breather from the monotony of most games where every decision matters.

Choose this game if you like:

Sharpay Evans turned into a hardened combat veteran. Not kidding.
Outstanding horror atmosphere and story
A narrative driven game that changes on every decision you make

12. Kena: Bridge of Spirits - 2021 (PS4, PS5, PC)

You’re mine, bark boy

Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Release Trailer/ PS5

Released in 2021 to little hype but absolutely great fanfare when it was released. Kena: Bridge of Spirits was developed and published by Ember Labs.

Played in a third person perspective where Kena uses her staff to defeat enemies and solve the numerous puzzles in the forest.

The story follows Kena who is a young spirit guide who is tasked to help the souls of the deceased to move on to the spirit world before they are corrupted by an unknown and malicious force.

Through her adventures, she encounters small spirit companions called rot which aid her in her quest to help the spirits pass on.

These Rot spirits help to power up her arrow shots and upgrade her staff to deal extra damage to her enemies.

Artstyle for the game is inspired by the various Pixar movies that have been released with Kena being realized in game similar to characters found in those movies.

Various cultural inspirations have also been taken into account in the creation of the game with Japanese and Balinese locations being put into the game and even integrating the native gamelan music that is native to Indonesian culture in the game.

The one of a kind aesthetic and the great story that accompanies this game are favorable for our female players as they can experience a game that is both pleasing to the eyes and satisfies those who have a knack to solve puzzles and go on heartfelt journeys.

Choose this game if you like:

A beautifully stylized game with an art style similar to Pixar movies such as Raya: The Last Dragon
A heartwarming story about discovery and family with cute little blob companions to help you out in your journey
Puzzles to solve and a gorgeous environment to roam around in

11. Lost In Random - 2021 (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

Dice with legs. Giant flaming robot. Girl with a staff hammer. Yes please.

Lost in Random - Official Gameplay Trailer

Most of the games we’ve picked for this list are one-of-a-kind in one way or another. Through artstyle, gameplay, or story, they have all been unique to give our female players something that will not blend in with the hundreds of other games out there.

One of these unique games that we recommend for our female gamers is Lost in Random.

Released in 2021 and developed by Zoink and published by EA. We are taken in control of a young girl named Even where she sets out on a journey through the six realms that represent the six sides of the dice to save her sister, Odd, when she is abducted by the Mad Queen of the land of Random.

Gameplay is decided by the roll of a dice. These rolls determine a specific amount of playable cards which Even can use to conjure weapons, heal herself, or solve puzzles in her travels.

As the name of the playable area the game is situated in. Randomness does rule over the lands where every dice throw and every enemy counter varies on the players throw and decides whether they have an advantage or not.

The game offers up a story of family that resonates with all but mostly to our female players who have siblings or friends which they would risk their lives for.

Choose this game if you like:

Weird characters and twisting environments that make you feel like you're inside a Tim Burton movie or the movie Boxtrolls.
A story about family and the lengths we will go to for the ones we love.
To play a game that is purely based upon chance and the roll of the dice.

10. Cyberpunk 2077 - 2020 (PS4, Stadia, PC, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

The game actually looks like this rather than having the characters doing constant T-poses

Cyberpunk 2077 - Official E3 2018 Trailer

With much fanfare to its arrival and a full 7 year wait period before its release, Cyberpunk 2077 didn't exactly have a fairy tale beginning to the start of its story.

Plagued with bugs, glitches, and t-posing people on motorcycles. Cyberpunks' release was a disaster to players on the PS4 and even on the PS5 and PC where it was supposedly optimized for.

It got so bad that it was even taken down from the PS store and offered refunds to those who bought the game. It’s not all bad though because 2 years after its release, it found its silver lining.

Players can now enjoy the game in its almost polished glory with great visuals of the futuristic neon soaked Night City and go on more than a hundred missions to build your reputation amongst the elite in the city.

You play as V with which you can either choose to play as a male or a female with hundreds of customization options and cosmetics with added gameplay mechanics such as the ability to woo various characters in the game for a romantic relationship or for a one night stand.

Appealing to all gamers, it also carries with it a certain charm for female players as it gives the freedom to choose the gender of your character while fulfilling your power fantasies in the year 2077.

Choose this game if you like:

Now in 2023, a beautifully realized futuristic world that is the same vision as CD Projekt Red had before.
More than a hundred customization options and the option to make V male or female.
An engaging story and characters that feel like actual human beings with depth and personality.

9. Resident Evil 3 Remake - 2020 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)

Here we can see one of the world's deadliest killing machines. And also Nemesis is in here

Resident Evil 3 - Official Cinematic Announcement Trailer

One of the granddaddies (or should I say grandmammy) of the survival horror genre lurched its way back into the fold in full textured and 4k quality is the Resident Evil 3 remake.

Playing as Carlos Oliviera and Resident Evil mainstay, Jill Valentine,they attempt to find a vaccine to the T-Virus outbreak that has destroyed Raccoon City while battling undead corpses, mutated monsters, and a giant walking nigh indestructible force of nature called the Nemesis, that hounds their whole adventure throughout the whole ordeal.

Played in an over the shoulder perspective, players fight the numerous infected individuals in the city and also solve a multitude of puzzles to get to the next playable areas in the map.

This remake comes after the highly successful remake of the original Resident Evil 2 in 2019. Gameplay is similar to the latter while also adding gameplay improvements such as the graphics and the upgraded UI for the inventory and puzzle solving mechanics.

The appeal this has for female players lies in Jill Valentine herself. One of the first female protagonists in the survival horror genre along with another Resident Evil hero, Claire Redfield.

Stepping into her shoes once more and being fully realized in full HD graphics gives players a sense of power and realism that the original game didn't quite have until the remake.

Choose this game if you like:

An action horror game with less of the horror but more of the action where you don't feel like a damsel in distress.
Puzzles that are engaging but not game breaking
The walking panic attack known as Nemesis.

8. Control - 2019 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia)

Wingardium Leviosa. Oh wait wrong franchise

Control - Gamescom 2019 Launch Trailer / PS4

Girl power is personified in this 2019 game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by 505 games.

We take control of Jesse Faden, a woman with telekinetic powers, as she is invited to the “Oldest House” which acts as the headquarters of a secretive government organization tasked to contain things of a supernatural perspective.

While playing as Jesse, we go on a personal journey with her as she grows into the role of being the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control which is the name of the secret organization she has been invited to.

There are numerous side quests to do in the game and allies which guides her through the strange world she has been thrust in.

The power that you hold in this game is massive as you can use any objects at your disposal to use as weapons. Desks, chairs, concrete slabs, all of it becomes deadly tools of destruction at your own pleasure.

An underrated gem on all platforms it has been released in and it is high time for players, especially our female ones, to discover the story and power that Jesse Faden possesses.

Choose this game if you like:

To discover a hidden gem of a game with a female protagonist that is just as strong as any male character
Telekinesis mechanics with environmental destruction that will satisfy any gamer out there
Supernatural themes that relate to other popular titles such as the Supernatural TV series and Alan Wake which is part of this game's universe.

7. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - 2018 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia)

Walking on the fighting side of me

Assassins’ Creed Odyssey: E3 2018 Official World Premiere Trailer/ Ubisoft [NA]

Ubisoft’s 2018 outing into the Assassin’s Creed franchise brought to us the visual and gaming masterpiece known as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.Acting as the eleventh major installment to the franchise which brought about one of its biggest play areas not just to Ubisoft but in gaming history.

Odyssey’s story follows through with a player chosen character either Alexios or Kassandra (although canonically in the franchise it is Kassandra that is the main playable character for Odyssey).b

Kassandra or Alexios set out on a journey that spans oceans and countries during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Greece as they play on both sides in an attempt to find their family and kill a shadow society known as the Cult of Kosmos.

Offering up 9 different story endings which is a first in the franchise up till this point, that depends on the players actions and decisions chosen in the game.

Since Kassandra is the canonical character in the game, this brings about an appeal to our female gamers as they can see a woman of Kassandra’s stature from peasant, to mercenary, to one of the worlds earliest assassins that paved the way for future heroes in the franchise.

Choose this game if you like:

Hundreds upon hundreds of hours of playtime with a multitude of missions and even DLC’s to up your playtime with this game to the thousands. Not even kidding.
A strong female assassin protagonist that hasn't been seen since Evie Fry in Syndicate or Aveline in Liberation.
A beautiful open world with dozens of easter eggs and secrets to discover

6. Detroit: Become Human - 2018 (PS4, PC)

Everybody knows that wearing a beanie and hoodie adds plus 10 to your sneak ability

Detroit: Become Human - PGW 2017 Gameplay Trailer/ PS4

28 STAB WOUNDS. Just kidding had to get that out of the way. 5 years since its initial release on the PS4, Detroit: Become Human has remained one of Sony’s stalwarts when it comes to graphics and story that keeps playing coming back for more than the 28 STAB WOUNDS.

Released in 2018 and developed by Quantic Dream. Detroit: Become Human follows the stories of 3 different androids named Kara, Marcus, and Connor as they navigate their existence amidst their new found consciousness or failing AI programming that leads them to find the meaning of their identity.

For our female players, the recommended story path they should focus on is with Kara’s story.

Kara is a steward android that gains consciousness and independence from her AI programming to protect a girl from her abusive father.

We then follow their search for a safe haven as they try to find a sanctuary where an android woman can take care of a human child. But as we follow their story, one of them might not be what they seem.

Riveting, heart-wrenching, and an emotional gut-punch to the players. Kara’s story deserves more recognition and praise with the depiction of parenthood, protection, and love that only a mother can give.

Make sure to have tissues at the ready because with Kara’s story it can quickly become from being Detroit: Become Human to Detroit: Become Depressed.

Choose this game if you like:

Seriously this game will make you cry if you choose the right decisions
Decision making storytelling and a carefully constructed narrative that changes on what decisions you make.
To know what I'm talking about when I say 28 Stab Wounds.

5. Uncharted: Lost Legacy - 2017 (PS4, PS5, PC)

PEW PEW PEW PEW RUN YOU RATS

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - Launch Trailer/ PS4

Acting as a spin-off title of the Uncharted franchise where the series protagonist takes a step back from the limelight and lets new character Chloe Frazer and returning character Nadine Ross take center stage.

As stated before, players take control of Chloe, who seeks an artifact called the Tusk of Ganesh in the western Ghats mountain range of India to prevent a civil army caused by a ruthless warlord also in search of the artifact.

Chloe is helped by Nadine Ross, who appeared in Uncharted 4, through her adventures in search of the mysterious treasure.

Released by Naughty Dog and published by Sony back in 2017, it takes a new spin on the Uncharted series helmed by two female protagonists and shows that such gaming juggernauts can be carried by new characters of any gender.

Choose this game if you like:

Uncharted style gameplay with female protagonists
Challenging puzzles that will keep you guessing on how to solve them
Impressive gunplay and gorgeous graphics that still hold up 6 years since its release

4. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - 2017 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, Xbox Series X/S)

Why does Norse mythology always seem to have the creepiest monsters

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice - The Senua Trailer/ PS4

Featured in one of our former gaming lists before, we here at Gamers Decide are a huge fan of Hellblade and for good reason. Made by a relatively small development team and with a limited budget.

It managed to pull off one of gaming's most unforgettable stories and created a main character that can be up there with one of the greatest female protagonists in gaming.

Hellblade is set in a dark fantasy setting that is inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology.

We take control of a Celtic warrior woman named Senua as we go on a deeply personal and disturbing journey through different realms in Norse mythology to make our way to Helheim and rescue the soul of our dead lover trapped by the goddess of death, Hela.

Also released in 2017 and made by Ninja Theory, the game tackles issues of dementia, mental illness, mourning and loss, and does so in a beautifully crafted semi open world as we come to grips to what has happened to Senua and the lengths she will go to take back what she has lost.

A hugely underrated game with so many gamers not even knowing of the existence of this title.

The reintroduction of themes that the game tackles should be experienced by all gamers and can hopefully resonate with female gamers as they deal with things that are normally not talked about.

Choose this game if you like:

A beautiful story that tackles sensitive subjects like loss and mental illness and handles them perfectly.
A myriad of puzzles that will not take you out of your immersion but rather puts you in the shoes of Senua and what she’s experiencing in her own mind.
A headphone tailored game. Seriously you should play this game with headphones to experience how this game was supposed to be enjoyed in the first place.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn - 2017 (PS4, PC)

You’d think that arrows don't do well against metal but you’d be surprised at how soft these things are.

Horizon Zero Dawn Trailer - PS4

Appearing in the start of the second quarter of the PS4’s life cycle was a certain red haired woman with arrow skills that rival that of Legolas who fights robot dinosaurs in an open world setting.

Taking place centuries after the fall of modern civilization caused by the rise of sentient and predatory animal-like machines, a woman named Aloy who was born out of a mysterious chamber in a cave, is an exiled member of a tribe called the Nora.

She is then thrust into a conspiracy of a crazed member of cultists who seek to reawaken a hostile AI that would soon repeat the cycle of death and destruction if she doesn't put a stop to it.

Through her journey, she meets allies and machines as she sets out to save the world and find out the origins of who she is.

Released in 2017 by Guerilla Games and published by Sony. The introduction of Aloy into the collective hearts of gamers all over has been well received and often being the subject of cosplayers since the games release.

Her portrayal as being a strong and hardy survivor has been the cause of praise and admiration which eventually led to the release of another successful entry in the series in 2022 with Horizon Forbidden West.

Choose this game if you like:

Another beautiful open world that still can hold up with current gen titles in terms of graphics and world design
Strong female protagonists. Aloy is one of the best out there.
A gripping story of identity and the acceptance of responsibility by forces greater than your own.

2. Until Dawn - 2015 (PS4)

As we all know, candles and earphones are recommended while a serial killer watches you while you take a bath

Until Dawn - Launch Trailer/ PS4

Everyone loves a good scare every so often but video games these days offer up cheap jumpscares or horrible story and character design that will make you go nah rather than AAAHHH.

Supermassive Games first outing into the survival horror genre started with this absolute gem for the PS4.

Until Dawn is an interactive drama horror story about eight friends trapped in a remote mountain cabin. They soon realize that they may not be alone as strange goings on happen all around them.

Fear and paranoia soon take over the group as you make decisions and actions that determine how the story progresses and who lives and who dies.

Taking all the tropes of a slasher flick and translating it masterfully into an interactive horror with added twists to the story gives the game a sense of unpredictability about how your playthrough will turn out.

This game also gives us one of the best examples of a “final girl” archetype with Sam played by Hayden Panettiere, as she gives us one of the most worthwhile performances in a horror game.

Choose this game if you like:

Another narrative driven game. This is the one that caused the resurgence of narrative games since Telltale’s The Walking Dead series.
A who's who of celebrities such as Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, and Peter Stormare
To get jumpscared every so often and to put yourself in the shoes of an actual horror movie

1. Unpacking - 2021 (PC, macOS, Linux, Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PS5)

Who could’ve thought that moving out could be so… well, moving

Unpacking - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch

After all the high intensity action, jumpscares, suspense, and pulse pounding gameplay, it's nice to just sit back and relax and enjoy 2021’s Unpacking.

Developed by Witch Beam and published by Humble Bundle. Unpacking does not have a story mode per se but it ultimately tells us a story about life and growing up.

With our lives ever changing, Unpacking tells the story of life via the things we own, the items we acquire throughout the years, and the ones that we hold on to for the rest of our lives but we just keep out of sight.

Unpacking tells us the story of how we live and who we live with and keep in our hearts forever.

Praised for the narrative it weaves through the things we unpack and for its accessibility to all players and also for its artstyle and its representation of LGBTQ topics.

Unpacking is the perfect game to relax to as it gives players a sense of coziness and calm and even heartbreak and loss that is told intricately and beautifully by mere boxes of items.

Choose this game if you like:

A cozy game to unwind to and experience the highs and lows of lives told beautifully by way of items we have acquired throughout the years
A faithful and respectful representation of LGBTQ identity portrayal in video games
Hours of gameplay and puzzle solving that is not challenging but more so on the satisfying and relaxing side of things.