As the library of games on the Xbox ecosystem continues to grow, owners of the Series X|S might find it increasingly difficult to pick what to play. Not only do they have a number of solid first-party titles to choose from, but there's also no shortage of third-party and cross-platform games too, not to mention a scattering of awesome indies worth checking out as well.
And that's before we even consider the vast number of backward compatible titles currently available. But let's say you're someone who has a preference for story-driven experiences, an area in which PlayStation tends to excel. You might be wondering what games on the Xbox consoles best rival the likes of God of War or The Last of Us 2. And you'll be surprised to find that there are quite a few that fit that particular criterion. Here are some of the best story-driven games on the Xbox Series X|S.
Updated May 21, 2023 by Amanda Hurych: Not everyone plays games for the competitive experience you can find in games like Call of Duty or League of Legends. Some people enjoy the narrative aspects games provide more so than the skill-based ones. If you're looking for even more story-driven titles on your Xbox Series X|S console, look no further than this list of the best options. We've updated it to include a fantastic port and a rare Xbox exclusive.
13 Soma
Originally made for PC, Soma's move to consoles is a narrative gift to gamers. More people than ever before can confront its intense philosophical musings of what it means to be a sentient human being.
You play as a man named Simon who finds himself unexpectedly placed in an underwater facility that's quickly deteriorating after a global crisis has sent the human population to the very brink of extinction. There are horror elements to Soma that are not for the faint of heart, but if you can get past that tension, you're in for a story that will stick with you long after you've finished the game.
12 A Plague Tale: Innocence
In both Innocence and its sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem, the voice acting is superb. The depth of emotion conveyed in every spoken word makes Amicia and Hugo's journey through their rat-filled world twice as harrowing. The game focuses on this sibling pair as Amicia attempts to shelter and guide her younger brother past the dangers of a plague-ridden France.
There are more mystical elements to the story than its historical setting might imply, but the liberties taken with these real events only enhance the story Innocence is trying to tell. At the end of the day, no matter what Macula magic is inserted into the narrative, this story is about a sister and brother who love each other in a world that seeks to tear them apart.
11 Life Is Strange: True Colors
Since the original game, the Life Is Strange series has continually delivered compelling stories filled with twists and turns. True Colors is no different in that regard. In it, you play Alex Chen, who visits a small mining town to meet up with her brother. It starts out as a pretty wholesome reunion for the two siblings. Yet, Alex soon finds out that the town has some dark secrets, and she attempts to uncover them.
It's a narrative adventure game, so the gameplay includes walking around, talking to people, and interacting with objects. There's also a unique element, which is Alex's special power that lets her view other people's emotions. This ability comes in handy throughout the game.
10 As Dusk Falls
As Dusk Falls boasts one of the most original art and animation styles in recent memory. This immediately allows the game to stand out among other narrative adventures. But it isn't the only thing the title has going for it, as the game also contains a brilliantly told story.
The tale revolves around the lives of two families who meet in the Arizona desert in 1998. They couldn't be more different as the Walkers are a wholesome family, while the Holt brothers are criminals. However, the tale slowly reveals that they're more than their archetypes suggest. You practically determine who they are and what they do, as you must make a litany of choices throughout the game.
9 Alan Wake Remastered
Originally released in 2010, Alan Wake got a remaster in 2021 that brought it to newer systems. And it turns out the main narrative is still as fascinating as ever. It begins with Alan Wake and his wife Alice taking a trip to a place called Bright Falls.
The idea is that the vacation will give Wake a chance to get over his writer's block, which is halting his career as a novelist. But struggling to write isn't his main issue for long. He quickly finds out that Bright Falls isn't an ordinary place. There's a dark presence here that seems particularly interested in the titular character.
8 Immortality
If you've played Her Story or Telling Lies, you'll feel right at home with Immortality as it shares a developer with those two titles and plays in a very similar way. This is because it's an interactive film game where you look through different live-action footage hoping to find clues to solve a mystery.
The mystery in this one revolves around actress Marissa Marcel. She starred in three movies from 1968 to 1999, but none of them were ever released. Plus, Marissa is currently missing. By examining the footage of the films, interviews, and any behind-the-scenes videos, you must figure out what happened to the actress and the films in which she starred.
7 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Yakuza: Like a Dragon had launched in 2020 alongside the Xbox Series X|S as a timed console exclusive, following its debut in Japan earlier in the year. And unlike previous games in the series, this one was drawing inspiration from JRPGs with a turn-based battle system that looks ripped straight out of a Dragon Quest game - a series which is also referenced in this game.
The game centers upon Ichiban, a low-ranking enforcer for the Arakawa Family that just got out of prison after taking the fall for a murder he did not commit. He soon learns that Arakawa had betrayed the Tojo Clan, to which it was a subsidiary, which prompts him to embark on an RPG-styled quest to find out exactly what had happened, alongside a number of other characters who make up his party of heroes.
6 The Forgotten City
There are plenty of fantastic mods for games, but not many of them are good enough to become standalone titles. This just shows you the greatness of The Forgotten City, as it started as a Skyrim mod. The actual game is a bit different from the mod as there's more depth, and it functions better. However, the story is still about humanity and laws.
At the start of the game, you're asked to explore some nearby ruins, which lead you to a beautiful Roman city. Once there, you learn about the golden rule of the place, which is "the many shall suffer for the sins of the one." What the quote means is that any time somebody sins, everyone is turned into gold. This is an important aspect of the adventure. Equally important are all the residents in this city, as you will spend most of the game talking to them and learn a lot in the process.
5 The Medium
The Medium is a psychological horror game that was released in 2021 as a timed console exclusive for the Xbox Series X|S. It was developed by Bloober Team, who had already made a name for itself in the horror genre with titles like Blair Witch and Layers of Fear.
Their latest game follows the exploits of a spirit medium named Marianne, who is drawn to an abandoned vacation resort by recurring dreams and the man claiming to know what those dreams mean. The game hearkens back to early titles in the Silent Hill and Resident Evil series, employing similar techniques like fixed camera angles and atmospheric location to create a sense of growing dread within the player. Its story also promises layers to its overarching mysteries that gradually get unraveled over the course of its eight-hour campaign.
4 Halo Infinite
The Halo series is arguably the pride and joy of Xbox Game Studios since it's been with the company from the very beginning. And with the latest entry, Halo Infinite, the developers at 343 Industries had set out to craft the most ambitious Halo adventure yet.
The single-player campaign portion of the game once again finds players stepping into the shoes of Master Chief, only this time around he must contend with a coalition of alien races known as the Banished, while also trying to complete his mission to neutralize his former partner and rogue AI, Cortana. The game takes place on Zeta Halo, a ringworld where the Banished have built their stronghold, and with the help of another AI known simply as The Weapon, Chief must fight to help the UNSC win the war.
3 Psychonauts 2
From his early days at LucasArts, Tim Shafer had proven himself to be a master storyteller. So when it was first announced that his team at Double Fine would be working on a sequel to one of his most beloved games, Psychonauts, fans were excited by the prospect.
Psychonauts 2 would eventually launch in 2021 to near-unanimous praise, as it delivers on its promise of another mind-bending platforming adventure game in the vein of the 2005 Xbox original. The game is set directly after the events of the first game and its VR-exclusive follow-up, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin. Players once again play as Raz, a member of the titular task force, as he tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of their leader.
2 Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy
When Guardians of the Galaxy was first shown off at E3 2021, no one really expected much from the game. Most of that was due to the bad taste the last Marvel property Square Enix had taken a stab at had left in our mouths. So you can imagine our collective surprise when the game was released and turned out to be something quite special.
Not only did it have no microtransactions in sight, but it also boasted some tight gameplay and great-looking visuals. Even more surprising though was its story, which was fun and also heartfelt. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already shown us in its Guardians of the Galaxy movies that these characters had heaps of heart to spare, but it was still nice to see how well that translated over to a video game in this particular iteration.
1 Pentiment
There are numerous aspects of Pentiment that break the mold of traditional gaming experiences. Beyond the seldom-seen medieval manuscript art style, it featured one of the most philosophical approaches to storytelling found in the modern gaming era. You follow the life of 16th-century Bavarian Artist Andreas Maler, as they make a living illustrating on behalf of nobles and barons from the comfort of a monastery. Until one day, said baron is murdered, with a friend of yours being accused of the crime.
Spanning over a 25-year period, Andreas will go in search of the true killer, uncovering conspiracies, secrets, moral quandaries, and truths better left hidden. How are you to decide who’s to blame, or who SHOULD be blamed? Is what you’re doing right? How do you define ‘right?’ Be prepared to ask yourself plenty of these hard questions as you experience the storyline.