MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD2023 was an absolute feast when it came to rich, well-crafted video game stories. From the chilling horror ofAlan Wake 2to the epic fantasy ofFinal Fantasy 16andBaldur’s Gate 3,from Cal Kestis' journey through the galaxy inStar Wars Jedi: Survivortothe eight protagonists ofOctopath Traveler 2’sjourneyacross Solistia, the year was filled with memorable stories that will stick with players long after they have put the controller down.
There were tales of betrayal, death, and destruction, but also stories of friendship and love that reminded players never to give up even in the darkest of times.Presented in alphabetical order, here are the top 10 best video game stories of 2023.
Alan Wake 2
FBI agent Saga Andersonis sent to the town of Bright Falls to investigate a series of mysterious ritual murders. There, she will discover the horrifying truth behind the strange disappearance of the author Alan Wake. In this dual narrative, which lets players switch between controlling Alan and Saga, players will discover the many terrors lurking in both the seemingly idyllic Bright Falls and the sinister Dark Place. The story that unravels inAlan Wake 2is a terrifying one, centering around the persuasive power of cults, the dark secrets everyone hides within themselves, and the difficulty of ultimately facing one’s darkness.
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A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?
Baldur’s Gate 3
The story ofBaldur’s Gate 3starts out deceptively simply: a group of adventurers, thrown together by fate, must seek a cure for the illithid tadpoles implanted in their brains. From there, Larian Studios effectively utilizes thechoice-based mechanics ofDungeons and Dragonsto create an epic, branching story that encompasses political intrigue, mystery, horror, tough decisions, found family, and possibly even love. From its massive overarching narrative to the smallest side quests and the heartstring-tugging character stories,Baldur’s Gate 3truly offers a little bit of everything.
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Players returned to Night City in 2023 withPhantom Liberty,an expansive new DLC story forCyberpunk 2077.ThePresident of the New United States of America is in danger, and V is the only one who can help. The story ofPhantom Libertyis reminiscent of a spy thriller, filled with political intrigue and tense moments as players explore the mean streets of Dogtown, Night City’s most dangerous district. The pace is breakneck, the new characters are memorable, and, ultimately,Phantom Libertyis a worthy addition to theCyberpunkuniverse.
Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. When the orbital shuttle of the President of the New United States of America is shot down over the deadliest district of Night City, there’s only one person who can save her — you. Become V, a cyberpunk for hire, and dive deep into a tangled web of espionage and political intrigue, unraveling a story that connects the highest echelons of power with the brutal world of black-market mercenaries.
Final Fantasy 16
Set in the complex and magic-rich world of Valisthea,Final Fantasy 16follows Clive Rosfield, who journeys alongside old friends to learn the truth behind the mysterious Ifrit, a magical being who suddenly and destructively emerged when Clive was young. ButFinal Fantasy 16isn’t just an epic high fantasy tale of battles and adventures. It includes themes of family bonds, rebellion against authority, and establishing one’s own identity while also serving as the vessel for a powerful being beyond imagination.
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Hyrule has begun to rebuild from the many years of Calamity when disaster strikes again.The Demon King Ganondorfreturns, mysterious islands appear in the sky, and gloom-filled chasms lead to long-dormant underground caves. InThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Link journeys through a Hyrule torn asunder and a busy sky above, but finds that he does not have to do it alone as he is reunited with old friends and connects with figures from the kingdom’s past. The storyTears of the Kingdomtells is one of keeping hope alive, staying strong, and coming together in the face of seemingly overwhelming disaster.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
Lies of P
The story of Pinocchio is one everyone knows: a wooden puppet, carved with love by his master, desires to someday become a real boy.Lies of Pis a new, dark take on the story, in which a robotic Pinocchio journeys through the city of Krat to learn more about why he was created and attempt to earn his humanity.Lies of Pfeatures multiple endingsdepending on the player’s choices - including, of course, whether Pinocchio tells lies (an ability that he, as a puppet, is not even supposed to possess) or remains truthful.Lies of Pis a story about identity, a story about what makes someone truly human - and, still, at its core, the tale of a lonely puppet who hopes to be a real boy.
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat - a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Peter Parker is back, once again called upon to defend New York City from a variety of iconic foes, but this time, he’s not alone.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2tells the intertwined stories of two people who both step into the role of Spider-Man: Peter Parker and Miles Morales. In addition to Peter and Miles, the game features a huge ensemble cast of both new and familiar faces, including Mary Jane, Venom,Kraven the Hunter, the Prowler, and more. While fighting New York’s most powerful baddies, Peter confronts his inner darkness, Miles struggles to connect with his heritage, and together, the two tell one of 2023’s most memorable stories.
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
Octopath Traveler 2
Octopath Traveler 2doesn’t just offer one great video game story - it has eight of them. Eight individuals, each drawn to their journey for different reasons, find themselves traveling together across the rich and complex world of Solistia. FromHikari the warrior seeking both revenge and absolutionto Temenos the cleric who desires truth no matter what the cost, each traveler’s story stands on its own as one worth telling. When all eight come together in the game’s conclusion, the result is something truly special.
The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.Embark on an adventure all your own.
Sea of Stars
Sea of Starstells the tale of the seemingly endless conflict between the heroic Solstice Warriors and the monstrous Dwellers, ultimately revealed to be a small facet of the greater battle between magical rivals. Players will gather a group of heroes to take down the Fleshmancer, a being of unspeakable power, traveling to multiple richly realized worlds in the process.Sea of Stars’narrativeasks several key questions, most notably “How far are you willing to go to protect your home, friends, and family?” Among the epic conflict is also a heartwarming tale about a group of friends having a truly memorable adventure together.
Set in the same world as 2018’s The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The latest game in theStar Wars Jedifranchise reunites players withJedi Knight Cal Kestisfive years after the events of the previous game,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Survivoronce again highlights the conflict between the light and dark sides of the Force, the Jedi and the Galactic Empire, with Cal now in the role of a resistance fighter who will go to any extreme to take the Empire down. It’s exactly the kind of sprawling, galaxy-spanning story players have come to expect, delivering the epic space exploration scenes and lightsaber battles, while still also telling a relatable tale of a desperate but ultimately heroic man who will do what it takes to survive and take down evil.
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
