At first glance, Celeste looks like a charming and colorful platformer, but it’s far more than that. Created by the studio behind Towerfall Ascension, it’s a tough game that follows Madeline as she attempts to reach the top of Celeste mountain, a mountain that has the potential to manifest climbers’ inner self into reality. The game’s emotion comes from Madeline’s struggles with her own mental health. She suffers from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and those struggles are as much of a challenge as the mountain itself. It’s a powerful portrayal of mental health, and the story deals with it well. It’s not what we usually see from a game like this, but it works well alongside the tight platforming.
God of War
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
God of War has traditionally been a gameplay focused series. The PlayStation 2 games featured epic tales of Gods and violence, but Sony Santa Monica went for a more emotional approach for Kratos’ PlayStation 4 debut, without losing the scale or satisfying action.
The game follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they travel to the highest peak in the realm to scatter the ashes of their wife and mother. Along the way, as they encounter obstacles in many forms, and they learn more about themselves and each other. Kratos starts out dismissive but grows emotionally as he spends more time with his son. That personal story is complimented by impressive cinematic presentation, a detailed world, and a cast of unique and likeable characters. There are also a few surprises along the way. God of War has never been like this before, but its story a big reason why it’ll be at the top of many Game of the Year lists come the end of the year.
Detroit: Become Human
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
Quantic Dream is known for its storytelling prowess. The likes of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls have often been referred to as ‘interactive movies’, often in a derogatory sense, but that’s simply to highlight how story is always the focus.
Detroit: Become Human is no different, and it follows three androids who are set on freeing themselves from oppression. Two of them flee their owners, while another is torn between his role as a detective built to serve and his desire to protect his own. The characters, Connor in particular, are fascinating throughout, and their stories are woven together well and you truly begin to care about their fates. Much of that may be down to the fact that your choices truly matter in Detroit, and can have serious consequences on your story. Having that power over a story only makes it more effective.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
The long running Yakuza series has been thrust into the limelight recently with the popular releases of 0 and Kiwami that introduced many new players to the series. The Song of Life finally made its way to the West earlier this year, and it is the conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu’s epic story.
This time, Kiryu is fresh from a prison sentence when he finds out that his surrogate daughter has gone missing from the orphanage he looks after. As he hunts for those that took her, he returns to Kamurocho. If you’ve played any of the previous games, you’ll be used to the excellent character work and melodrama, but Yakuza 6 is more emotional than many of those that have come before. With modernized gameplay and mechanics, it plays better at times, but it’s the conclusion to Kiryu’s story that makes The Song of Life worth playing.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
Level-5 weren’t afraid to switch up the formula of Ni No Kuni for Revenant Kingdom. Gone were some of the gameplay features that fans loved about the first, as were the Studio Ghibli animated cutscenes that played a big role in the first game’s charm. The story also saw a change of focus, this time following Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young boy who is usurped as king in his home land, as he sets out to find somewhere to begin building a new kingdom. There are other characters you control in battles, but the story is Evan’s first and foremost. The beautiful world and the charming story of Evan overcoming his struggles work together well, and you come to care about the cast of characters. It’s nothing revolutionary, but the characters, animation, and gameplay come together to create a game that oozes charm.
Vampyr
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
Vampyr features an ambitious combination of action RPG gameplay and complex branching narratives that you can have a real effect on. The story follows Dr. Jonathan Reid, a newly turned vampire, who is torn between his new-found lust for blood and his occupation as a doctor who is duty bound to help London overcome the Spanish Flu. He needs to find who is responsible for his new vampiric state and the outbreak of Skals while balancing his own issues. The post WWI, flu ridden version of London is fascinating and full of secrets, and how you deal with Reid’s desires can have a huge impact on how your story plays out. At many times, you’ll be torn on what the best option is, and that makes the story all the more compelling.
The Banner Saga 3
Best Video Game Stories of 2018 So Far
The Banner Saga series ended earlier this year, and it was the perfect conclusion. Since the first game was crowdfunded back in 2014, those that helped the idea come to life will have felt a connection to the story. If you’re unaware, The Banner Saga is a turn-based RPG set in a Viking world, and the final entry sees the caravan battle The Darkness on two fronts. All the choices you have made in the previous games matter in the final chapter, culminating in a deeply emotional ending that acts as a great send off to the characters you’ve come to love. The Banner Saga 3 manages to be more epic than the previous two games, without losing the heart that’s made it so great.
