Entertainment
10 Video Game Masterpieces That Are Perfectly Written
Video games have come a long way since their inception in the 1970s. The first video games were very simplistic in concept, owing to the limited technology at the time. Now, though, video game developers are able to craft actual narratives in their projects, coming up with a storyline and a script as if it were a movie or a play. Like any other storytelling medium, the writing can really make or break something and is a crucial part of things.
Over the years, many video games from all genres have gained critical acclaim for how well-written they are. Whether it’s because of the layered narrative, the unexpected comedy, or the story itself, there are numerous ways in which a game might exceed expectations in the writing department. These are the most perfectly written video game masterpieces of all time, in no particular order.
‘Dragon Age: Origins’ (2009)
Dragon Age: Origins is a BioWare role-playing game set in the land of Ferelden. Ferelden is faced with peril as a cataclysmic event known as the Blight begins, meaning the Darkspawn that prowl the underground network of tunnels called the Deep Roads have started reaching the surface. Their intent is to destroy the kingdoms of humans, elves, and dwarves, prompting the revival of an ancient order known as the Grey Wardens.
In this game, players can choose their origin story, with six different opening quests to choose from. Players can also choose their party members, and must strategize to create the most efficient group of fighters possible. The story feels simple, but the dialogue is fantastic. There are so many sarcastic remarks and quips you can make, and which other characters might deliver right back. All the party members have such unique personalities and are so much fun to interact with. The depth and design of the characters in this game are absolutely unparalleled, making it one of the finest RPGs ever made.
‘The Stanley Parable’ (2013)
The Stanley Parable is a walking simulator game that can be completed in just a couple of hours, all told. Or at least, the original version can. The 2022 remake added a substantial amount of content to the game. Anyway, the game is about Stanley, an office worker who gets up from his computer one day to find that the entire building is empty. He is also accompanied by an unseen narrator, who will give instructions as if he were telling someone else a story.
You don’t have to follow the narrator’s every word, though. If you decide to defy his orders, he will adjust his dialogue accordingly. The narrator’s dialogue is excellent: snarky, clever, and often hilarious, and it’s easily the best part of the game. The narrator became the driving force for why many consider this game to be a perfect example of good writing, especially in the world of video games. The story itself is one thing, but making dialogue this consistently funny is really tough to do.
‘SOMA’ (2015)
SOMA is a horror video game created by the same developers as the Outlast series. In this game, you play as Simon, a Canadian man living in Toronto who signs up for a brain experiment. He falls asleep during the procedure and wakes up centuries in the future, in a hidden laboratory miles beneath the surface of the Atlantic. Stranger still, he has a shiny new robot body that he didn’t have previously. Not knowing where he is or why, Simon must escape the facility while avoiding the corrupted robots prowling the corridors.
The game seems simple, but it has a lot to say. It dives heavily into concepts of consciousness and existentialism, leaving us with one of the most profound and jaw-dropping endings in any video game ever made. The setting is unique enough, and the horror does a good job, but the dialogue and complex story are where the game is at its best. Very few other games can inspire such a sense of existential dread as this game can. The ending will leave you sitting in silence for a while, that’s for sure.
‘Spec Ops: The Line’ (2012)
Spec Ops: The Line is actually an adaptation of Heart of Darkness, the 1899 novella by Joseph Conrad that also inspired Apocalypse Now. The original book is about Belgian colonialism in the Congo region, but Spec Ops is about American military intervention in the Middle East. Following a natural disaster, an American officer is sent into Dubai to organize the city. Instead, he implements martial law and turns the city into a war zone. Sent in to stop him is Delta Force operator Martin Walker.
The game begins like an ordinary third-person shooter, but quickly evolves into a deeply profound experience. Everything about the story is meant to horrify the player and shock them into the realities of war, unlike many video games which glorify violence. Even the loading screen tips are meticulously reasoned, posing existential questions and criticizing the player towards the end. The story emphasizes the effects of war and the trauma it breeds in individuals, critiquing imperialism. The script and story are highly detailed, all in an effort to make the game as uncomfortable as possible.
‘Batman: Arkham City’ (2011)
Batman: Arkham City picks up where Arkham Asylum left off. The asylum has shut down due to the incident, forcing the newly appointed Mayor, Quincy Sharp, to authorize the construction of Arkham City. Run by Professor Hugo Strange, a small section of Gotham City is cordoned off behind walls and barbed wire, serving as a mega prison for all of Gotham’s inmates. However, trouble is brewing, as is expected when all the city’s supervillains are confined together, and Batman is intent on stopping it.
The dialogue is pretty good, made better with the return of veteran voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The side quests are interesting, and there are plenty of familiar faces, as well as some new ones. Where the game really shines is in its overall story. Batman is pushed to his absolute limits here, and the game ends with a really gutsy death scene that nobody could have anticipated. The game also bears a plot twist that makes perfect sense and doesn’t come completely out of nowhere. In fact, keen-eyed players can even figure it out in advance if they pay attention. The game’s story is masterfully crafted, dark, gritty, and everything that fans love about the Caped Crusader.
‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (2013)
Grand Theft Auto V is an enormously popular game due to its fun gameplay, but it also excels in the writing department, especially when it comes to its single-player story mode. The plot follows former bank robbers Michael de Santa and Trevor Phillips, who reunite to continue their crime spree in an effort to save Michael from death at the hands of a cartel leader. They are aided by a young upstart named Franklin Clinton, a former gang member and talented pupil.
Grand Theft Auto V is known for its comedy, especially when it comes to Trevor Phillips, described by netizens as a sociopath who commits a lot of heinous crimes just for the heck of it. He’s a fantastic character that’s never boring to watch. The other characters are pretty good too, though, especially when it comes to Michael’s dysfunctional family and Franklin’s interactions with his friend Lamar. The writing couldn’t have been more brilliant if they tried.
‘Oxenfree’ (2016)
Oxenfree is a side-scrolling psychological thriller adventure about five teenagers living in Washington State. During the summer, they take a trip to a remote island off the coast of their hometown to spend a night or two on the beach. While there, they hear a rumor stating that portable radios tuned to specific frequencies cause strange events in certain places. They decide to test this rumor for themselves, only to unleash temporal beings beyond their understanding.
The cast of teens is very memorable, each with a distinct personality, which is made even better by their dialogue. The dialogue in this game fully fleshes out each character, reflecting a lot about their deep-seated insecurities and their hopes and dreams for after graduation. The story is complex and intricate, as well as a little bit tragic. It’s a phenomenal game with some of the most impeccable writing in the medium.
The Metal Gear series is known for having one of the most complicated narratives in all of gaming, but it’s arguably at its best with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This game is chronologically the first in the saga, taking place in the 1960s. At the height of the Cold War, an agent of FOX codenamed Naked Snake is sent in to prevent the Soviets from constructing a nuclear-equipped superweapon known as the Shagohod.
Like the other games in the series, the game explores the individuality of soldiers and how world governments use living, breathing humans as pawns in their war machine. Though the story is more in line with science fiction rather than reality, the message remains the same. This game is by far the most emotional in the series, with a heartbreaking ending and one of the most devastating plot twists ever conceived. Snake Eater is the best that the Metal Gear series has to offer, especially in the writing department.
‘Until Dawn’ (2015)
Until Dawn is a visual novel game, so the writing has to be excellent, or else it’ll ruin the whole experience. Fortunately, the writers absolutely nailed it. The story follows eight young adults who travel to a ski lodge in Alberta, Canada, for their annual getaway. Things start normally until a masked killer begins stalking them, luring them into deathtraps and striking from the shadows. Each and every choice in this game matters and can drastically affect the fate of each character.
The writing is absolutely on point. The dialogue actually sounds realistic, which is made better by the performances of the actors, including Rami Malek. The story itself is brilliant, with a massive bombshell of a plot twist about midway through the game that floors the audience easily and is a testament to how good everything else about the game is. Considering it’s a visual novel, there isn’t a whole lot of input from the player, yet Until Dawn is still a masterpiece for the fact that the writing keeps things consistently exciting.
‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)
BioShock Infinite is the third and final installment in the BioShock series, though it is chronologically the first. Instead of taking players to the underwater city of Rapture, it takes players above the clouds to the flying city of Columbia. Unlike Rapture, Columbia is still thriving and populated, though many dark secrets lurk beneath the surface. The protagonist is Booker DeWitt, a detective sent to investigate the disappearance of a woman named Elizabeth Comstock.
Like the others in the franchise, Infinite is an FPS with a magical twist. Not only can players use firearms, but they can also use Vigors, which function like spells. The plot is similarly psychological to the rest of the franchise, but the game does a bit of a better job with its dialogue since you are always accompanied by Elizabeth and are rarely alone. Booker is also capable of talking, unlike the previous two silent protagonists. The story bears many twists and turns, most of them jaw-dropping, and the game goes above and beyond with its worldbuilding, both literally and figuratively. It’s one of the most well-written games of all time, period.
BioShock Infinite
- Released
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March 26, 2013
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
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Irrational Games
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