Best Of
If you lovestory-driven games, you probably know how special Back Then feels.
Its the kind of game that sticks with you, with its deep narrative and emotional moments.
Here’s the list of best story-driven games like Back Then.
Lets dive in, starting with number 10!
Gone Home
Gone Homeis a story-driven exploration game.
There are no enemies or puzzles to get solved; you’re free to concentrate on exploration.
Everything you find helps put together the lives of the people who lived there.
The story gets emotional, and you learn about family and relationships.
It is a kind of solving a quiet mystery, but it feels personal and real.
Dear Esther
Dear Estheris a super relaxing exploration game with a very deep story.
You kinda just walk around and listen to this voice reading parts of a letter.
The letter really digs into things like love, loss, and some mysterious goings-on.
You keep uncovering new pieces of the story.
There isn’t anything else to do or anyone else to take down.
It is literally just you, the story, and the atmosphere of the world around you.
The game focuses on the feeling created by the story.
You’re exploring, listening, and then connecting the dots.
Kona
The gameKonais a mystery adventure where you play as a private detective, Carl Faubert.
Youre hired to check out strange happenings in a small, quiet town.
But when you arrive, the place feels completely deserted and weird.
Somethings definitely up, and its your job to figure it all out.
Youll explore empty houses, gather clues, and connect the dots to solve the mystery.
Theres cold weather, some tough challenges, and even a bit of supernatural stuff.
Everybodys Gone to the Rapture
Everybodys Gone to the Raptureis a story-driven exploration game.
It is about uncovering what happened in an empty village.
The game focuses on exploring the quiet surroundings.
You walk through houses, farms, and streets, finding clues to piece together the story.
Strange lights guide you, and you hear voices from the past.
These voices reveal fragments of events that happened before everyone vanished.
You simply explore and listen to the memories left behind.
Radios and phones hold important pieces of the mystery.
The environment tells a lot, too, like abandoned toys and empty laundry lines.
The games soundtrack and visuals make it feel emotional and immersive.
The Unfinished Swan
The Unfinished Swanis a really creative and unique adventure game.
You play as a kid named Monroe whos chasing a swan from a painting.
At first, the whole place is blank and completely white.
You have to throw black paint to uncover walls, paths, and objects hidden around you.
Its like revealing a secret world with every splash of paint.
As you move forward, the game introduces new and fun mechanics.
Each part of the game feels fresh and exciting.
The story has a magical, fairytale vibe, and the visuals are super dreamy.
You play as Edith, a young woman trying to learn about her familys history.
The game takes you through the Finch house, which is full of hidden secrets and personal stories.
Each story is like its own mini-game, and every one feels different.
Some are happy, some are sad, and all of them are creative.
You always see things from the first-person view, which makes it feel personal.
But in the end, every story shows how that family members life came to a close.
you’re able to take a few small quests to pick up some supplies for painting.
It’s super chill; no fighting, no pressure at all.
You just walk around, soak up the beauty, and paint whatever inspires you.
Before Your Eyes
Before Your Eyesis an emotional storytelling game.
It uses a very cool unique where your real-life blinking controls the game.
Youll go through a series of memories from the characters life.
Every time you blink, the game skips forward to another moment.
Its like watching life flash by, one blink at a time.
Also, the gameplay is super simple.
You just sit back, take it all in, and blink when it happens.
The game focuses on deep feelings and important life moments.
Tacoma
Tacoma is a story-driven game about exploring a mysterious space station.
You play as Amy, who is sent to find out what happened to the stations missing crew.
The game lets you rewind and watch 3D recordings of the crews past conversations.
These recordings help you uncover secrets about their lives and what led to the strange events.
You explore rooms, pick up objects, and dig through files to piece everything together.
Its all about solving the mystery step by step.
The more you discover, the deeper the story pulls you in.
Firewatch
Wrapping up,Firewatchis a narrative-driven adventure game that feels calm yet engrossing.
But things turn weird pretty fast, and soon you find yourself investigating to get to solve the mystery.
You’re never out of touch with Delilah, your boss, via a walkie-talkie.
The talk between the two of you feels real, making the storyline personal.
It’s also super simple in terms of gameplay.
So, which of these games will you play first?
Or do you have a favorite we missed?
Let us know on our socialshere!
Amar is a gaming aficionado and freelance content writer.
As an experienced gaming content writer, he’s always up-to-date with the latest gaming industry trends.
