The PlayStation 4 is home to some of the best exclusives around, with everything fromGhost of TsushimatoGod of Warbeing touted as some of the greatest games of this generation. However, one particular title that is widely ignored in this discussion isDays Gone.The game was unfortunately released in a bugged state and critically skewered by reviewers upon launch due to what was considered to be uninspired open-world design and the general shoddy nature of the product upon release.
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However, with patches, most of these bugs have been taken out. Players who are willing to look past the shoddy open-world design will find themselves enjoying a game that genuinely has an excellent story and a protagonist who is very much unlike the cookie-cutter good boys generally seen spearheading most releases.
For people who want grittier and more nuanced stories like the one told inDays Gone, here are ten games that might strike their fancy.
10Silent Hill 2
TheSilent Hillseries is no stranger to mind-boggling stories that perfectly accompany its horror aesthetic, but it’sSilent Hill 2that really showed people the potential of strong narratives in video games.
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Silent Hill 2is a masterpiece that still deserves all the hype, featuring the tale of James Sunderland as he tries to track down a letter written by his dead wife, only to find out that was only the tip of the sinister iceberg.
Another horror game that featured another brilliant story that will leave the player scratching their head all the way to the very end isDead Space.This title is considered by many to be one of the greatest horror video games ever made.
While most people loveDead Space 2and rightfully so, the firstDead Spacechose to promote the horror aesthetic over pure action. This allowed for a more immersive experience that truly roped in the player in the best way imaginable.
8System Shock 2
Immersive sims generally allow for some of the most addictive gameplay around, fuelled by narratives that truly make the player feel connected with the world at large.System Shock 2is no exception to this golden rule.
The Von Braun is one of the scariest places to explore in any video game, with each area serving as a great example of amazing level design that feels claustrophobic without becoming too boring.
7Prey
System Shock 2was such a revolutionary game that remnants of its design can still be seen in some video gams to this day, withPreybeing a great example.
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There are a ton of fans who considerPreyto be an unofficial sequel of sorts toSystem Shock 2, andit’s easy to see why this the case.The game also takes place on an isolated space station with recordings serving as a major part of the storytelling experience.
6Deus Ex
It is impossible to talk about immersive sims and not mention one particular title thatcompletely wowed gamersupon its release all the way back in 2000 —Deus Ex.
The fact of the matter is thatDeus Exis easily one of the greatest video games, with its brilliant emergent gameplay and level design being a key factor for the same. However, people also praised its story for being a surprisingly compelling combination of conspiracy theories and corporate corruption. Some of the other releases in the series, such asHuman Revolution, are also fantastic.
5Pathologic
For the longest time,Pathologicwas nothing more than an obscure Russian title that most people hadn’t even heard about… that is, untilPathologic 2was announced. All of a sudden, fans couldn’t wait to get their hands on a surreal and atmospheric title that offered up one of the most unique and compelling narratives ever featured in a video game.
Even after all the progress that video games have made in modern times, one will be hard-pressed to find a story that is as compelling and unique as the one featured inPathologic.
4Spec Ops: The Line
With the sheer number of generic war shooters out there, it can be easy to putSpec Ops: The Lineunder the same bracket. However, that’s exactly what the game wants its players to think…before ripping off the blinds and showing people what it’s all about.
Spec Ops: The Lineis a brilliant commentary on the senseless violence that has plagued video games forever, serving as a wake-up call of sorts for players who have been completely desensitized to this type of bloodshed.Spec Ops: The Lineaims to make people realize the brutality of their actions through a captivating story that deserves all the praise it has gotten over the years.
3BioShock Infinite
Speaking of eye-opening stories in video games, it would be hard to not mention the masterpiece that isBioShock Infinite. Ken Levine’s work on titles likeSystem Shock 2and the originalBioShocklet him gather all his knowledge of video game development and implement it in what is considered one of the greatest titles ever made.
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Every aspect ofBioShock Infiniteoozes style and mystery, allowing for an excellent and thoroughly entertaining experience from start to end.
2The Last Of Us Part II
Of course, a discussion revolving aroundDays Gonedemands a mention ofother zombie gamesin the same vein. In this regard,The Last Of Us Part IIis definitely an excellent title thattakes some bold risks with its storytellingand ends up being all the more unique for it.
While the game might not be to everyone’s tastes, people who do manage to get into it will find themselves enjoying an excellent title with brilliant gameplay and a story that will certainly tug at their heartstrings at every step of the way.
1The Walking Dead
Telltale was considered to be one of the greatest adventure game developers around, and the game that actually flung the studio into the mainstream was none other thanThe Walking Dead.
A property that was already popular enough, Telltale’sThe Walking Deadended up capitalizing on this demand in the best way imaginable to create an emotional tale rife withsome the best storytelling seen in a video game to date.
