If you're looking for a standout narrative that you can't put down, you've come to the right place. Escape into something truly special with our list of the best story games on PC, each with a living, breathing narrative, with the best among them letting us have our say in how the plot unravels.
Whether you're surviving the Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2, solving crimes in Disco Elysium, or exploring fraught father-son relationships in God of War, many of the unforgettable stories in modern pop culture have emerged from the best story games, and some have even been adapted into television shows and films. Get ready to laugh and cry as we go through some of the greatest narrative experiences on offer.
The best story games on PC are:
1. Disco Elysium
Developer: ZA/UM
Release date: October 15, 2019
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
Disco Elysium's amnesiac detective story in a poverty-stricken city quickly unravels into a magical realist Marxist class struggle. One of the best indie games in recent years, this RPG is packed with surprises as you investigate the murder of a union buster while forming your character by making dialogue decisions, using questionable consumables to gain buffs, and literally rebuilding your psyche from the ground up after a night of one too many beers.
Few games let you pour skill points into your 'savoir faire', or punch a child in the face, but Disco Elysium goes to unexpected places, and with an endless amount of ways to investigate, you can tackle obstacles in the case by breaking things, starting arguments, or even just choosing to walk away. In our Disco Elysium review, Richard Scott-Jones calls it "an utterly original RPG that sets new genre standards for exploration and conversation systems, and a brilliantly written tragicomedy about our inability to let go of the linchpins of our identity. Even when they hurt us."
If you want a game that blends a compelling story with deep RPG mechanics, Disco Elysium ticks all the boxes and is one of the best RPGs there is.
2. Dispatch
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Release date: October 22, 2025
How to play: Check prices on Steam
We had an inkling that Dispatch would be a sleeper hit when it was announced at The Game Awards in 2024, and AdHoc Studios' superpowered episodic narrative adventure didn't disappoint. After his mech suit is destroyed, Robert Robertson III has to acclimate to post-hero life and is approached by the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN). Robert finds himself in charge of a crew of reformed villains, and in return for whipping the Z-Team into shape, the SDN agrees to rebuild his suit. It's a decent deal on paper, but it's clear Robert has his work cut out for him.
AdHoc's Telltale pedigree is put on full, glorious display throughout. The studio masterfully blends its adult humor with tension, which is elevated further by its excellent cast. Co-produced by Critical Role, you'll find the usual suspects in Matt Mercer, Laura Bailey et al., alongside Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul (Robert).
Dispatch's excellent writing and characterization bleed into its core gameplay loop. As a dispatcher, Robert must send Z-Team members out on hero jobs, and it's crucial to pick the right combination for the task; expect your fair share of failures. While it's a simple enough concept, it's elevated by the regular adlibs from the team, a healthy dose of hacking minigames, and occasional interruptions as core story beats kick in.
3. The Wolf Among Us
Developer: Telltale
Release date: October 11, 2013
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
Though some of the former Telltale Games' developers' latest game, Dispatch, has earned a place on our list, we didn't want to miss out on an old favorite. The Wolf Among Us' blend of famous folklore and fairytale characters placed into a nightmarish, neo-noir setting makes for a gritty detective game. This fantasy-realism crossover, where fable characters live in a grimy 1980s New York, wearing a product known as glamour to mask their true appearance, is one of the best interactive stories to date.
Featuring everyone from Snow White and Beauty and the Beast's Belle to Ichabod Crane and Dee and Dum Tweedle, you take on the role of the big bad wolf, Bigby Wolf, who's on a mission to investigate a spate of fairytale character murders. You do this by questioning different fairytale folk, and as with any Telltale Games story, key dialogue decisions or unfortunate mistakes in action sequences can have dire consequences.
The Wolf Among Us creates a unique, claustrophobic setting, thrusting well-known fable characters into a violent world, and transforming the Fables comic books into one of the best detective games on PC.
4. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Release date: December 5, 2019
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a gigantic open-world game and a prequel to the events of the original. You play as Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang in a scrappy and desperate bid to save your makeshift family from the impending threat of a civilized West. Your band of outlaws is suffocated by the tightening grip of law and order, and RDR2 explores the fine line between survival and morality.
As Sam White says in our Red Dead Redemption 2 review, "it's massive yet loses no focus, epic on every level, and combines Rockstar's penchant for immense detail with a surprising amount of heart." RDR2 is equal parts heartbreaking and unpredictable, with a story that sets a new pinnacle for triple-A videogames, telling tragic individual stories against the richly detailed backdrop of an ever-changing setting.
If you're about to jump into RDR2, why not try the best Red Dead Redemption cheats for instant unlocks, horse upgrades, and more money.
5. Bioshock
Developer: 2K
Release date: August 21, 2007
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Though Bioshock is almost 20 years old, it still delivers one of the best and most shocking story moments in gaming history. From the outset, Bioshock is an action RPG, but beneath the sea is an underwater city containing deadly secrets and monstrous citizens. Crash landing in Rapture, Jack is the only survivor, and guided by a friendly voice over the radio, he's led through the ruins to take back control of a world torn apart by ADAM, a drug that grants its users inhuman powers.
As the fight for Rapture intensifies, Jack scrambles through the claustrophobic corridors of Rapture's world, gradually piecing together a mystery fueled by hubris and greed. It truly is a remarkable journey, and though Bioshock Infinite rivals its predecessor's story, the original Bioshock delivers atmosphere in spades.
As well as being a light RPG, Bioshock is also the only FPS game on this list, proving the genre has room for an epic story at its heart.
6. Clair Obscur
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Release date: April 24, 2025
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
Our GOTY 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seemingly came from nowhere to steal our hearts and cement itself as one of the best narratives in recent years. Its unique turn-based combat with a satisfying block and parry mechanic, haunting original soundtrack, complex build system, Persona-style exploration, and stunning visuals are only half the reasons to play this game.
As Josh Brown says in our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review, "It's a heartwrenching story that paints a moving picture of love, loss, and the complicated chemistry of family, while exploring the agonizing moral dilemma of what it means to bring children into an uncertain world. It's also an essential contribution to a genre unceremoniously ostracised for foregoing evolution in the face of tradition, and a new modern classic that will surely inspire other developers for years to come."
It's no wonder that Clair Obscur is the most-awarded game in history at The Game Awards, and if it surprised you too, check out these other turn-based RPGs for something a little different.
7. Her Story
Developer: Sam Barlow
Release date: June 24, 2015
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Her Story is a classic whodunnit where instead of investigating crime scenes and interrogating suspects, you're sitting in front of an ancient computer watching snippets of the suspect's testimony. You find clips by typing keywords into a database search bar, which means the order you view the testimony is totally up to you. Depending on what leads you chase up, you might get the beginning, middle, or end and draw the wrong conclusions.
In our Her Story review, Fraser Brown praises the storytelling, saying "Her Story is a captivating experiment in stripped-down storytelling and the best use of FMV that I've ever had the good fortune to encounter. It's a story that we get to build, and thus, despite the way that it sometimes keeps players at a distance, Her Story becomes Our Story."
Her Story mixes grainy full-motion video and its isolated subject to maintain an uneasy tone as you scour through archived footage and try to make sense of, well, her story. Its point-and-click nature makes it one of the best relaxing games we've played.
8. Kentucky Route Zero
Developer: Cardboard Computer
Release date: February 22, 2013
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Kentucky Route Zero is a Lynchian magical realist adventure game exploring a blue-collar community on the eponymous lost highway. Taking on the role of truck driver Conway, running the final delivery for his failing firm, the gameplay is driven by dialogue choices that slowly reveal a forlorn and elegiac tale of tragedy and redemption.
Kentucky Route Zero is about finding power and driving into the humdrum beats of the narrative. As you move through the story and ease into its world, the tidal, electronic score and piercing art style of muted colors and paper cutouts bring this rural stretch of the American heartland to life.
Don't expect much in the way of dramatic plot twists or climactic action set pieces. Instead, Kentucky Route Zero is more concerned with the characters you meet and the journey itself, and for that reason, it's cemented itself as one of the best point-and-click adventure games on PC.
9. Mass Effect 2
Developer: BioWare
Release date: January 2, 2010
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
As the standout entry in BioWare's space opera series, Mass Effect 2 brings sci-fi drama to the extreme. Although all three of the original trilogy are arguably great, Mass Effect 2's story shines above the rest, forcing you to make agonizingly difficult choices and wrestle with moral dilemmas. Commander Shepard is tasked with the arduous job of saving the galaxy from an ancient threat. Sure, that might sound familiar, but this time around, the galactic government is mixed up with a dangerous organization.
You'll need to embark on a daring mission to take down the enemy, preparing by forming a suitable crew, gearing up, and upgrading your ship. To add to the drama and high-stakes action, you can focus on the more intimate details of Shepard's life by fostering friendships and even new relationships with your crew.
If you like the sound of Mass Effect, the best way to play the original trilogy is 2021's Legendary Edition, which includes remastered versions of all three games. Here's what Jen Rothery thought in our Mass Effect Legendary Edition review.
10. Alan Wake 2
Developer: Remedy
Release date: October 27, 2023
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Two horror novels written simultaneously would be a creepy premise at the best of times, but imagine if your main characters were living through these words as they're being written. With an interwoven plot shared between two troubled protagonists, it can be easy to get caught up in a complex web of twists and turns. However, the high-quality acting sells the narrative well, and the cutscenes in The Dark Place provide a particularly trippy, unexpected experience. As a game about a writer, it's fitting that Alan Wake 2 excels at storytelling.
In our Alan Wake 2 review, Andrew Farrell says, "Alan Wake 2 is a marvel, serving up intense gameplay, a twisty, dark story, and more secrets and surprises than you could possibly imagine. Remedy has outdone itself here, delivering a truly remarkable experience."
Wondering whether you need to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2? We've got you covered.
11. Citizen Sleeper 2
Developer: Jumper Over The Age
Release date: January 31, 2025
How to play: Check prices on Humble
Citizen Sleeper 2 takes us back to the capitalist dystopia of the Helion System, Gareth Damian Martin's industrial sci-fi vision of a future society ruled by corporations. As the titular Sleeper, you are a human mind transplanted into a synthetic frame that's broken free from the yoke of your corporate overlords.
To stay one step ahead of your pursuers, you must manage your time against TTRPG-style dice rolls, take on risky contracts to earn enough credits to stay alive, and recruit crew members who can help your plight or bring more trouble to your ship's doorstep.
Whatever choices you make, expect a heartfelt narrative that champions human connection and asks what it means to be human. Nat Smith says in our Citizen Sleeper 2 review that "Citizen Sleeper 2 is everything you could want from a sequel, building on its predecessor's strengths in storytelling and character design while also bringing new complexity to the dice and clocks that govern its capitalist dystopia."
12. What Remains of Edith Finch
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Release date: April 25, 2017
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
What Remains of Edith Finch is an exploration game that takes us on a tour of protagonist Edith Finch's old family home, recounting tales of her relatives through stylized vignettes that range from working in a fish cannery to playing as a baby in a bathtub. As you explore this precarious house, you'll learn about her past and her troubled and unsettled life at the now-abandoned Finch home as she relays how a curse took hold of her entire family.
It's a tragic journey through the eyes of Edith and her need to relive her haunted past to move on and strive for a new future. Each mini-episode tells the story of one of Edith's family members, using different gameplay mechanics and genres every time, from a slasher pastiche to a top-down fantasy game .
It made the cut for our best games of 2017 list, and as it clocks in at around two hours, you can easily complete it in a single afternoon.
13. Norco
Developer: Geography of Robots
Release date: March 24, 2022
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
For a game where the story takes center stage, Norco is a point-and-click adventure that's less about tricky puzzles or timed dialogue choices, and more about exploring themes of climate change, capitalism, and how generational decisions impact those to come. The story takes place in the real town of Norco, Louisiana, amid a search for your missing brother, not dissimilar to the pace of games like Kentucky Route Zero and What Remains of Edith Finch.
The story unfolds through interactions with characters and objects, all to a pixelated backdrop of a smoke-filled sky and decaying town. It made it onto our list of the best games of 2022 and was nominated for best debut indie game at The Game Awards that same year, and it's easy to see why. Though the subject matter is heavy, it doesn't take long to lose yourself in the mystery and atmosphere that Norco creates.
If you love the look of Norco, here are some of the best indie games to play on PC, from other pixelated classics like Stardew Valley and Celeste to newer entries like Blue Prince and 1000xRESIST.
14. God of War
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Release date: January 14, 2022 (PC)
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
Having settled down in the realm of Midgard after the destruction of the Greek Pantheon, we join Kratos and his son Atreus as they attempt to fulfill his wife's final wish: to scatter her remains from the highest peak in the nine realms.
Along the way, Kratos fights against Norse gods and monsters, traveling across the realms with the help of the surprisingly friendly World Serpent, Jörmungandr, and the wise-cracking, decapitated head of Mimir. However, the real highlight is watching Kratos slowly bond with his son, and as his colder side withers away, the two come to terms with their life-changing secrets.
Our God of War PC review delves into the game's compelling story, as Ian Boudreau says, "Big, brash, and surprisingly poignant, God of War arrives on PC in fine shape. Don't pass up this chance to play a console classic."
This former PlayStation 4 exclusive pushes the series in a different direction, changing the camera perspective, slowing down the frantic combat, and adding RPG elements, making it one of the best action-adventure games on PC.
15. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Release date: May 18, 2015
How to play: Check prices on Humble
While The Witcher saga originates from a series of books and now has a TV show alongside the game trilogy, if there's one piece of media you should consume from the universe, it's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. When it launched in 2015, the majority of players were series newcomers, and while your choices from the second game carry over, the third game truly ramps up the stakes and scale. Playing as Geralt of Rivia, you embark on a quest to find your adopted daughter, Ciri, before a band of spectral riders known as the Wild Hunt beats you to it.
This will take you from swampy marshes to bustling cities and barren peaks, battling monsters and humans alike, but the highlight is, without a shadow of a doubt, the narrative. As Fraser Brown says in our The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review, "Any worries that, by making the game open world, CD Projekt Red were just following popular trends should be set aside, because The Witcher 3 dances to its own tune. There isn't an RPG like it out there, not even its predecessors, and its uniqueness should be treasured."
We also consider The Witcher 3 one of the best open-world games on PC, with individual side quests having more weight and better storytelling than many full games - those who know about Bloody Baron, Ladies of the Wood, or A Towerful of Mice know exactly what we're talking about.
16. The Last of Us
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release date: March 26, 2023 (PC)
How to play: Check prices on Fanatical
Post-apocalyptic romps are ten-a-penny, but few have left as much of a lasting impact as The Last of Us. Naughty Dog's gripping, grounded narrative is one of the best out there, following unlikely duo Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world ravaged by a fungal virus that has turned most of its inhabitants into ravenous creatures.
Its focus on its dual protagonists, paying special attention to their complex relationship, has earned it plaudits aplenty. This is only bolstered by tight combat and crafting systems that take a leaf out of Resident Evil's book. Spawning a sequel and an immensely popular TV spinoff, as well as doing wonders for the popularity of plaid shirts, The Last of Us' success cannot be understated.
If you want to see Part 1 of the series looking its very best, here are the best Last of Us settings for both PC and Steam Deck.
New story games
If you want to discover more story games, check out our list of all the upcoming games we're looking forward to. We're particularly excited for The Blood of Dawnwalker, a new promising RPG about vampires from former CD Projekt Red developers. The upcoming James Bond game, 007 First Light, explores a younger Bond, and we can't wait to see the direction it takes.
If you think we've missed one of the best story games on our list, or you're after more recommendations, join our community Discord to have your say. If you loved any of the games above, see how they fare on our list of the best PC games to play right now.