There are plenty of video games with stories that can rival the best books, TV shows, and movies. However, they are different animals and there is some meandering that can affect the ride. For example, Final Fantasy 16 starts with a powerfully tragic and epic opener, followed by some great stuff in the middle, but in the end, some might find it a bit lackluster Final Fantasy fans.
The last of us part 2 also has some fans on the fence about pace. So with these examples in mind, are there any well-paced video game stories that help keep the story engaging from beginning to middle to end? Across a wide variety of genres to keep things interesting, let's get down to it. There will also be spoilers.
The last of us
American nightmare
The last of us has one of the most surprising beginnings of any horror game ever, and the nightmare doesn't stop until the end. There aren't many zombie or zombie related games that show how the horror begins, but this one does it well and almost makes the player not cry.
Aside from the introduction, what really matters in the narrative is how Joel and Ellie open up to each other. How they act and what they say changes over time as they travel across most of the US to get to Seattle, where the players are in for one hell of a divisive final.
Marvel's Spider-Man
Better than most movies
Although this establishes a new universe, Marvel's Spider-Man he wastes no time with Spider-Man's origin. He's an established hero who knows his way around New York, but he's not perfect yet. There are still villains who have yet to reveal themselves to him, including Doc Ock, who is the central villain.
The student/teacher dynamic between Peter and Dr. Octavius is gratifying, which makes their downfall all the more tragic. In addition to Doc Ock, other characters and villains shine in Peter's life, especially young Miles, and so far in the trilogy, Marvel's Spider-Man is best balanced.
What A Thrill
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eateris for many the best entry in the series, introducing Big Boss before he becomes the dominant villain in the series. Set in the jungles of the Soviet Union, players sneak through the leafy undergrowth and take down guards with ease using a variety of gadgets, weapons, and camouflage suits.
Like many Metal Gear game, fans can expect a long line of rich bosses that help make the story stand out, from a fire-obsessed astronaut to a man who shoots bees. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is an exciting narrative treasure, no matter which version players play, from the PS2 original to the remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
Hades 2
Dying to see the next scene
Hades 2
- Released
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September 25, 2025
Hades 2 centers on Melinoe, a witch-in-training who embarks on a war with Chronos in the underworld that makes life miserable for everyone. Even though it's a roguelike with a lot of death, the story never seems to lose momentum.
From big moments confronting the main characters to smaller moments like in the bathtub, this game doesn't falter. The ending was divisive at launch, but now that it's changed, more players are now saying it's better than its predecessor, which also has a compelling story.
Until dawn
Whodunnit, Mountain Edition
Until dawn is a tight horror adventure game that keeps players on their toes. The game begins with a cabin in the forest on a snowy mountain, where the friends reunite after a while. Things start to go awry when people start disappearing and a masked killer is on the run.
Players will switch between multiple characters, each of whom can die if they make bad decisions, affecting the story. Although there are some leaps in logic, this is a gripping and terrifying horror game.
Spec Ops: The Line
Mind game
The Spec Ops games are a low-budget team-based shooter series that had not been paid much attention until then Spec Ops: The Line. The story was better than anyone could have hoped for, involving the grim tale of three soldiers navigating a war zone in Dubai.
The squad leader, Captain Walker, senses something is wrong, but it's more than the usual instinct in a military game. Without saying too much, it's one of those games where you need to play it twice to appreciate the whole twist, and both times are just as exciting as the last.
Chrono Trigger
Through time and space
Chrono Trigger was released for the SNES in 1995 and hasn't lost its luster three decades later. It is one of the tightest games of this era, with a complex and simple story involving time travel.
Players will go through different eras such as the Middle Ages, the prehistoric era and the future, all connected by an evil alien from outer space. It's one surprise after another and doesn't linger long in any one area or plot. The PS1 version spawned animated cutscenes that help illustrate some of the bigger moments.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Twist after Twist
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is mostly a visual novel, also about time travel, and occasionally there are some tactical battles involving mechs. Without giving too much away, players will follow chapters with alternating characters in different timelines.
It's a big cast that might start off a little slow for some, but others will be riding high from minute one. With an art style, well-rounded characters, brilliant voice acting, and some deeply disturbing twists, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim will be hard to put down.
