The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines Video Games

The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines

original ranker Ranker Community  44,230 views 113 items 37 followers
Video game narratives range from the extremely simplistic to the staggeringly complex. While early games - and many contemporary ones focused on gameplay - treat the plot as a loose outline filled in by action or puzzles, some games have tried to push the boundaries and tell emotionally gripping, cinematic stories with elements of interactive control and player choices that forward the storyline. The advent of so-called "sandbox" games, which give players more freedom in choosing how to explore the environment, which missions to embark upon and what order to progress in has also served to make games more character-driven and involving. ("Fallout 3," for example, builds up a karmic profile of the player based on decisions in how to advance through missions.)

This list collects the games with the most entertaining and involving storylines. Vote for your favorite games on the list, and build your own version to add more suggestions that aren't already ranked!
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Rank     Name
  1. 51
    Up 54
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    Sep 24 2000
  2. 52
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    Spec Ops: The Line

    2012
    added by: designergamergeek
  3. 53
    Up 16
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    Jan 01 1994
  4. 54
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    Jun 29 2000
  5. 55
    Up 14
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    No image

    God of War Series

  6. 56
    Up 43
    Down 20
    No image
    Jun 01 2006
  7. 57
    Up 37
    Down 31
    Oct 31 1997
  8. 58
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    Down 13
    No image

    Gears of War Series

  9. 59
    Up 64
    Down 32

    Deus Ex: Human Revolution

  10. 60
    Up 40
    Down 37
  11. 61
    Up 30
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    Jan 01 2002
  12. 62
    Up 49
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    Jul 27 2010
  13. 63
    Up 8
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    No image

    Grand Theft Auto Series

  14. 64
    Up 9
    Down 4

    Tomb Raider

    Jan 01 2012
    added by: rockboy
  15. 65
    Up 69
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    Nov 15 2001
  16. 66
    Up 54
    Down 39

    Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

  17. 67
    Up 10
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    No image
    Jun 20 2000
  18. 68
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    No image
    Aug 27 2002
  19. 69
    Up 42
    Down 99
    Nov 23 2004
  20. 70
    Up 6
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    Aug 24 2010
    added by: gschwayze
  21. 71
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    Jan 05 2004
  22. 72
    Up 2
    Down 1
    Aug 11 1999
    added by: JimJenkins
  23. 73
    Up 5
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    Nov 01 2011
  24. 74
    Up 42
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    Jun 01 2009
  25. 75
    Up 35
    Down 33
    Jan 01 1998
  26. 76
    Up 6
    Down 7

    Halo 4

    Nov 06 2012
    added by: VicLeung
  27. 77
    Up 4
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    Nov 18 1999
    added by: JaniceHughes
  28. 78
    Up 5
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    No image

    Call of Duty Series

  29. 79
    Up 3
    Down 4

    Saints Row: The Third

    Nov 15 2011
    added by: PeteBoyle
  30. 80
    Up 3
    Down 3
    Aug 28 2012
    added by: designergamergeek
  31. 81
    Up 2
    Down 3
    Jan 01 2003
    added by: designergamergeek
  32. 82
    Up 2
    Down 4

    Gears of War: Judgment

    Mar 19 2013
    added by: rockboy
  33. 83
    Up 10
    Down 4
    Jun 04 2002
    added by: midnightq2
  34. 84
    Up 7
    Down 11
    Nov 07 2000
    added by: LewisCox
  35. 85
    Up 4
    Down 3
    Jan 01 2010
    added by: designergamergeek
  36. 86
    Up 1
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    Oct 09 1997
    added by: designergamergeek
  37. 87
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    Oct 23 2007
    added by: designergamergeek
  38. 88
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    Apr 29 2008
  39. 89
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  40. 90
    Up 20
    Down 21
    Jan 01 2003
  41. 91
    Up 9
    Down 14
    Jan 01 2010
    added by: midnightq2
  42. 92
    Up 4
    Down 7
    No image

    Resident Evil Series

  43. 93
    Up 12
    Down 17
    No image
    Sep 08 2004
  44. 94
    Up 34
    Down 49
    Nov 17 2009
  45. 95
    Up 10
    Down 15
  46. 96
    Up 7
    Down 9
    Jan 01 2008
    added by: midnightq2
  47. 97
    Up 6
    Down 8
    No image

    Dragon Age II

    added by: midnightq2
  48. 98
    Up 32
    Down 46
    Jan 01 2007
  49. 99
    Up 11
    Down 12
    Jul 07 2000
  50. 100
    Up 4
    Down 4
    Jan 01 2007
    added by: NadiH
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    1. Darius Bemrose
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 9/09/2012 2:30 PM
      Thanks for this. Video Game Storylines, dude.
    2. Jackson Agilar
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 8/15/2012 12:30 PM
      Oh, thanks for this. Best Video Game Storylines, man!
    3. afpabon
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 2/20/2012 6:34 AM
      Notable omissions: Planescape: Torment and The Longest Journey. Those would be my number 1 and 2, respectively. Other than those, you can get almost any other good storyline from the available choices.
    4. JoséA.RamírezMoya
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 1/15/2012 9:45 PM
      Lots of great game there, but surprisingly I'm going to side with Portal 2. When I play a game I expect there to be very minimal use of cut-scenes. I love a game that can tell me it's story within it's game-world and not a hollywoody type thingy ;). This is why I adore Valve. I give Half life 2 the second best story for a shooter, after bioshock. All three games are among my top 20.
    5. shattuck
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 11/23/2011 11:32 AM
      Deus Ex should have been at least in top 5. Extremely lame ranking.
    6. pokezelda100
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 11/18/2011 10:47 AM
      Shadow of the Colossus anyone?
    7. madeyefergy
      God of War at 10/23/2011 6:27 PM
      The entire series was a great gore fest.
      1. vijaymohanp
        The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 12/01/2011 7:21 AM
        Yes agree!
    8. madeyefergy
      Assassin's Creed II at 10/23/2011 6:25 PM
      The most over-rated game there is. This game is so tedious and repetitive, it bores you to death.
    9. madeyefergy
      Portal at 10/23/2011 6:22 PM
      Great puzzle game, probably the best but not as a compelling story.
    10. madeyefergy
      Mass Effect 2 at 10/23/2011 6:20 PM
      Game play better than the first, but the story is still not as great as the first, almost but not there.
    11. madeyefergy
      BioShock at 10/23/2011 6:18 PM
      Great game and interesting story. Still, it should not be #1.
    12. madeyefergy
      Half-Life at 10/23/2011 6:17 PM
      This is the one! This game changed the way game stories are told.
    13. madeyefergy
      Half-Life 2 at 10/23/2011 2:02 PM
      The story and game play is incredible! Alyx is the best side-kick ever.
    14. gabe_fan
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 9/28/2011 6:52 AM
      Where is Gabriel Knight 3? One of the most amazing stories in video games. I wish they've done a remake with up to date graphics. I would buy it again.



      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Knight_3:_Blood_of_the_Sacred,_Blood_of_the_Damned
    15. Ariel Kana
      The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 9/18/2011 1:27 AM
      Portal 2 is not just compelling but it's also funnier than most comedy films. Really amazing...
      1. ThisGuy
        The Most Compelling Video Game Storylines at 9/27/2011 1:57 PM
        Totally

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