Highlights

  • Xbox Series X|S offers a wide selection of story-driven games A Plague Tale: Innocence and As Dusk Falls.
  • These games provide emotional moments and compelling narratives that rival PlayStation's story-driven titles.
  • From heart-rending punches in the Gears of War series to philosophical musings in Soma, Xbox has a variety of captivating stories to offer.

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.

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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.

These titles have been chosen based on how well the narrative accomplishes driving the game forward, how much of an emphasis dialogue is given throughout the story, reviews for the game, and, of course, the author's personal preferences!

Updated March 4, 2024 by Amanda Hurych: If you are the proud owner of an Xbox Series X or S and you just so happen to be a fan of narrative-driven games, we've got the list for you. Each of the games we've selected below has a story that you can just thoroughly immerse yourself in. We've updated this article to include a newly released remake of an RPG classic that not only launched to enthused reviews but was available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

17 Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC
Released
February 2, 2024
Developer(s)
Atlus
Publisher(s)
Atlus

For many, the springboard for the Persona series as we know it today began with Persona 3. This remake of the iconic third title brings the style and polish of Persona 5 to the (arguably more intense) story of Persona 3. As with the original version of the game, you play as a young high school student who has to juggle the typical tribulations of classroom life with gargantuan "supernatural" battles against monsters that prey on the minds of people. You know, average high school extracurricular activities.

Our reviewer for Persona 3 Reload, Jade King, both praises and critiques this reimagining of one of her favorite games:

Its writing is sharper, combat is more satisfying, and it brings this world to life in ways that just weren’t possible several generations ago. Reload might lack its signature rough edge, but those coming around for the first time will find plenty to love.

Regardless, if you're a fan of the Persona series, Persona 3 Reload is an unforgettable way to experience the true start of it.

16 Baldurs' Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

Platform(s)
PC , PS5
Released
August 3, 2023
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios

It's not just PS5 and PC owners who get to experience one of the best gaming experiences of all time! 2023 was a year full of highly anticipated games, from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Starfield. And despite this mountain of phenomenal games that were released during this year, there was one clear winner. Baldur's Gate 3 is a masterpiece, a testament to the ingenuity and story-telling innovations we've made in the gaming industry. As a matter of fact, it almost feels as if it's too good, as Ryan Bamsey enthused in his review:

Games like this don’t come along often, experiences that capture the zeitgeist so profoundly as to provoke scurrilous rumours that Larian Studios would come under legal action for making a game considered too good.

Though its dense RPG mechanics might initially scare you away, if you stick with it, you'll uncover a reactive and immersive world that you can truly get lost in.

15 Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2

Platform(s)
PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Released
October 17, 2023
Developer(s)
Remedy Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Epic Games

The twisting intrigue of Alan Wake 2's narrative leaves its predecessor in the dust, which is saying something given how wonderuflly engrossing the first game was. However, one of the things that sets the sequel's narrative apart is how richly stylized the story is. Alan Wake 2 unashamedly leans into the narrative aspects that make a Remedy Entertainment game a Remedy Entertainment game.

That mix of live-action film with a horror video game is undeniably their signature genre. And Alan Wake 2's narrative is just unafraid to leave you boiling in mystery. As you play through both Alan and Saga's stories, you'll know without a doubt you're playing a narrative-driven game that is quite unlike any other. In our review of the game, our Jade King made the following statement to sum up her thoughts on the game:

This feels like the game this developer has wanted to make for years, unrestrained in the best possible way as it goes hard on layered storytelling, flawed yet fascinating heroes and a series which for over a decade now has been harbouring untold potential.

Oh, and have we mentioned there's a musical number in the game?

14 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Senua from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC
Released
August 16, 2017
Developer(s)
Ninja Theory
Publisher(s)
Ninja Theory

Hellblade takes you into the mind of Senua as she seeks to save the soul of her dead lover, whose head she carries, wrapped in cloth, at her belt. This might sound disturbing and gross, but Senua's Sacrifice does not hesitate to take you to narrative realms that are disquieting. Senua hears voices in her head, and since you're playing as her, you'll hear them whispered in your headphones (or speakers, if that's how you're playing).

Nothing beats walking through a dark cavern, making a right, and then having a voice murmur to you, "That's the wrong way." We know the saying is trite, but damn, Hellblade goes above and beyond placing you in Senua's shoes and ensuring you understand what it's like to perceive the world as she does. It's a narrative experience everyone should try at least once.

13 Gears 5

Gears 5 Screenshot Of JD During Lizzie Carmine's Death Scene
Gears 5

Released
September 10, 2019
Developer(s)
The Coalition
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios

The Gears of War series has gone through numerous changes as the years have gone by, but one thing has remained clear throughout: even though the games are marketed as a tough-as-nails-muscular-dudes-fight-horrendous-creatures-with-chainsaws-attached-to-guns kind of adventure, when emotional moments do happen, they happen with no mercy. From discovering a lobotomized Maria in the Locust caverns to Dom's sacrifice in Gears of War 3, the series knows how to pack a heart-rending punch as well as make you feel like an unstoppable COG soldier.

Gears 5 continues this tradition by raising the stakes for our new cast of characters, JD, Del, and Kait. It's been a few years since Gears 5 came out, but we'll still refrain from spoiling what has to be the most unexpected choice you've ever made in a Gears game.

12 Soma

a screenshot of the underwater scenery outside the facility in SOMA
SOMA

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , Xbox One
Released
September 21, 2015
Developer(s)
Frictional Games
Publisher(s)
Frictional Games

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.

11 A Plague Tale: Innocence

Amicia holding Hugo's hand in A Plague Tale Innocence
A Plague Tale: Innocence

Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , Switch , PC
Released
May 14, 2019
Developer(s)
Asobo Studio
Publisher(s)
Focus Home Interactive

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.

10 Life Is Strange: True Colors

Life Is Strange: True Colors

Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , PC , Switch
Released
December 7, 2021
Developer(s)
Deck Nine
Publisher(s)
Square Enix

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.

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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.

9 As Dusk Falls

As Dusk Falls

Released
July 19, 2022
Developer(s)
Interior Night
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios

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.

8 Immortality

Marissa Marcel stands by a microphone in a dark room
Immortality

Platform(s)
PS5 , Xbox Series X|S , PC
Released
August 30, 2022
Developer(s)
Sam Barlow
Publisher(s)
Half Mermaid Productions

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

A screenshot showing a closeup of Ichiban in Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Platform(s)
Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PS4 , PS5 , PC
Released
January 16, 2020
Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher(s)
Sega

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

Four golden statues in a garden in The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
July 28, 2021
Developer(s)
Modern Storyteller
Publisher(s)
Dear Villagers

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

A screenshot showing Marianne moving through the physical and spirit realm simultaneously in The Medium
The Medium

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
January 28, 2021
Developer(s)
Bloober Team
Publisher(s)
Bloober Team

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

A screenshot showing Master Chief and The Weapon in Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite

Released
December 8, 2022
Developer(s)
343 Industries
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios

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

A screenshot showing a closeup of Raz in Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC , Linux , macOS
Released
August 25, 2021
Developer(s)
Double Fine
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios

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.

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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

A screenshot showing Gamora, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket and Drax in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X|S , Nintendo Switch , PC
Released
October 26, 2021
Developer(s)
Eidos Montreal
Publisher(s)
Square Enix

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

Pentiment

Platform(s)
Xbox One , Xbox Series X|S , PC
Released
November 15, 2022
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios

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.

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