Top 20 Video Games with the Most Complex Stories

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - March 25th 2025, 22:19 GMT+1

Cropped Alan Wake — 20. Alan Wake (2010)

Imagine if Stephen King and David Lynch had a baby, and that baby decided to write a horror novel – only for that novel to come to life and chase its author through the woods with a flashlight and an axe. That’s *Alan Wake* in a nutshell. You play as the titular troubled writer, caught in a moody, fog-drenched thriller where light is your only weapon and plot twists are more common than coffee thermoses. The game masterfully blurs the line between fiction and reality, constantly making you question if you're in control – or just another character in someone else's twisted narrative. And oh, don’t get too comfortable with the whole "episodic TV" vibe – it only makes the descent into darkness that much more meta. It’s a game where the manuscript *you haven’t written yet* predicts your doom. Yeah, it's that kind of story. | © Remedy Entertainment

Cropped Guilty Gear — 19. Guilty Gear (1998)

Ah yes, *Guilty Gear –* where anime melodrama, high-octane rock music, and a whole encyclopedia’s worth of lore come together to uppercut your brain. This isn’t your standard "good guy vs. bad guy" fighting game. Oh no. This is cyberpunk meets fantasy meets post-apocalyptic dystopia with a sprinkle of bioengineering and an unholy amount of proper nouns. There are Gears (genetically modified superweapons), magical science, a Holy Order, and a man literally named "That Man" who might be the root of all problems. Trying to follow the plot without a wiki guide is like jumping into Shakespeare mid-monologue – but with more laser swords. And it’s all wrapped up in a metal soundtrack that slaps so hard it should come with a mosh pit warning. | © Arc System Works

Cropped Bio Shock Infinite — 18. BioShock Infinite (2013)

A man, a lighthouse, and a girl who can tear holes in space and time – *BioShock Infinite* is the kind of game that says, “Hey, let’s throw quantum mechanics into a floating city ruled by a racist, religious zealot,” and somehow makes it all work. You play as Booker DeWitt, a grizzled man with a debt to pay and a mysterious mission: “Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt.” Easy, right? Well, not so much. As you navigate the steampunk sky-city of Columbia, things spiral out of control in a glorious, brain-twisting ballet of alternate realities, parallel timelines, and one unforgettable plot twist that has gamers yelling “wait, what?!” to this day. Also, there’s a massive mechanical bird with abandonment issues. Don’t ask – just embrace the chaos. | © Irrational Games

Cropped Deadly Premonition — 17. Deadly Premonition (2010)

Where do we even begin with *Deadly Premonition*? It’s like *Twin Peaks* and a low-budget survival horror game went on a weird road trip, picked up some B-movie dialogue and a few cans of instant coffee, and somehow came back with cult status. You play as FBI Agent York, who’s investigating a murder in the eerily offbeat town of Greenvale. But here’s the thing: York frequently chats with his invisible friend Zach, the townsfolk are either charming or straight-up nightmare fuel, and the killer? Oh, he’s a red raincoat-wearing entity who lives in a hellish otherworld. The game’s janky controls and unpolished mechanics somehow make the surreal narrative even more unforgettable. It’s like the game *knows* it’s a little off, and leans into it with gleeful weirdness. | © Access Games

Cropped Five Nights at Freddys — 16. Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)

Just when you thought animatronic animals couldn’t get creepier than a Chuck E. Cheese after-hours, *Five Nights at Freddy’s* slithered out of the vents with a lore dump the size of a phone book and enough jump scares to launch a thousand Let’s Plays. On the surface, it’s simple: survive the night as a security guard at a haunted pizzeria. But oh no, dear player, it’s so much more than that. Over time, we learn about child murders, haunted suits, vengeful spirits, and a guy in purple who may or may not be evil incarnate. The story unfolds in fragments – cryptic minigames, newspaper clippings, and secret audio logs – turning players into full-time conspiracy theorists. It’s not just a game; it’s a rabbit hole with pizza grease and existential dread. | © Scott Cawthon

Cropped Killer7 — 15. Killer7 (2005)

Okay, *Killer7* isn’t just a game – it’s an art project, an acid trip, and a political thriller all jammed into one cel-shaded fever dream. Directed by the ever-enigmatic Suda51, this cult classic puts you in control of seven assassins who all *just happen* to share the same body. (Yes, you read that right.) There’s political conspiracies, invisible terrorist enemies called Heaven Smiles, a weird obsession with televisions, and a guy in a wheelchair who might be controlling everything – or nothing. It’s violent, it’s surreal, and it makes *David Lynch movies* look like Saturday morning cartoons. You’re not meant to fully understand it; you’re meant to *feel* it. And maybe cry a little. Or cheer. Or both. | © Grasshopper Manufacture

Cropped Hotline Miami 2 — 14. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (2015)

If *Hotline Miami* was a psychotic fever dream, *Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number* is the part where the fever breaks and your brain melts into the neon carpet. This sequel doesn’t just up the ante – it straight-up throws it through a blood-soaked window. You’ve got multiple playable characters, timelines that loop and crash into each other, and a story that jumps between psychedelic hallucinations and gritty VHS-style snuff tapes. It’s a violent critique of violence, wrapped in an intentionally disorienting plot that makes you question who’s the real monster – your enemies, or you for enjoying the carnage. Good luck trying to pin down the “main character.” The only thing that’s consistent is the synthwave soundtrack and the constant paranoia. | © Dennaton Games

Cropped Destiny — 13. Destiny (2014)

Ah, *Destiny –* the game that launched with a mysterious story hidden in collectible *Grimoire Cards* you had to read *outside* the game. Classic move. You’re a Guardian, resurrected by a floating robot (hi Ghost!) to protect Earth from, well… everything. The story spans ancient space magic, dead gods, alien factions, a time-traveling war machine, and a giant moon-egg called the Traveler that just *sits there*. What does it all mean? Depends on which expansion you’re on. Bungie created an entire sci-fi mythos with enough convoluted timelines and cryptic metaphors to fuel a decade of fan theories. At this point, Destiny lore scholars should probably get honorary PhDs. Or at least a nice robe and a Ghost-shaped diploma. | © Bungie

Cropped Blaz Blue — 12. BlazBlue (2008)

If *Guilty Gear* was confusing, then *BlazBlue* said “hold my energy drink” and unleashed a storyline so dense you need a flowchart just to understand the first character’s backstory. This anime-styled fighting game is overflowing with clones, time loops, magical databases, and plot twists that come faster than your opponent's uppercut. The narrative centers around Ragna the Bloodedge (edgy name: check), a cursed weapon, and a world constantly being rewritten by something called the Boundary. Everyone has secret identities, tragic pasts, and probably a twin who may or may not be evil. The storytelling is bold, chaotic, and somehow deeply emotional – if you can follow it. Spoiler alert: most people can’t. But that’s half the fun. | © Arc System Works

Cropped Drakengard — 11. Drakengard Saga (2003)

You want *complex*? *Drakengard* looked at “standard RPG storytelling” and said, “What if everything was on fire and screaming?” This series begins as a dark fantasy about a warrior and his dragon and spirals into cannibalism, incest, child murder, and – wait for it – giant flying babies that end the world. And that’s just the *first* game. The real kicker? One of the endings of *Drakengard* directly leads to *Nier*, another entry known for its brain-bending narrative. It’s like the developers decided to test how much emotional devastation a player could handle, all while layering metaphysical questions and tragic timelines over hack-and-slash gameplay. It’s disturbing. It’s brilliant. And it deserves a therapy session after every chapter. | © Cavia / Square Enix

Cropped Bloodborne — 10. Bloodborne (2015)

Welcome to *Bloodborne*, where the story isn’t told so much as it’s whispered into your ear through a dream filled with viscera and regret. You’re a Hunter, slashing your way through the gothic nightmare of Yharnam, a city plagued by a mysterious bloodborne illness. But plot twist – this isn’t just a creepy Victorian action-horror game. Oh no, it’s a *cosmic horror* game disguised as a creepy Victorian action-horror game. Suddenly, you’re not fighting werewolves, you’re fighting ancient gods from beyond the stars. The lore is delivered through item descriptions and vague conversations that feel like someone talking in their sleep. It’s all about blood, insight, madness, and realizing you might be the monster. Basically, if H.P. Lovecraft and FromSoftware teamed up for a fever dream, this is what you’d get. | © FromSoftware

Cropped Xenosaga — 9. Xenosaga (2002)

If you thought your college philosophy course was hard to follow, let me introduce you to *Xenosaga*. This sci-fi JRPG trilogy throws together Nietzsche, Catholic mysticism, androids with human souls, space-time anomalies, and a sentient monolith named U-DO, all while name-dropping philosophers like it's a flex. You play as Shion Uzuki, a scientist caught in a cosmic conspiracy that could decide the fate of humanity, synthetic life, and reality itself. Characters die, return, ascend, and occasionally just *vibe* with god-like entities. There are battles in space, AI rebellions, and literal metaphysical debates mid-boss-fight. The story demands attention – and maybe a whiteboard – but if you stick with it, it’s a dazzling mess of heart, brain, and high-concept chaos. | © Monolith Soft

Cropped Silent Hill — 8. Silent Hill (1999)

Ah, *Silent Hill –* where nothing is ever just what it seems, and the monsters are usually just metaphors wearing skin suits. You step into the foggy shoes of Harry Mason, searching for his missing daughter in a town where trauma takes physical form and psychological horror is the main export. Every creature, every whisper, every peeling wall is a reflection of repressed memories and guilt (usually yours). And while the story appears simple at first – missing child, spooky town, creepy cult – it slowly unwraps into a chilling exploration of grief, parenthood, and the human mind’s ability to ruin itself. This game didn’t just scare players – it made them *think* about why they were scared. Bonus points for making fog terrifying. | © Konami

Cropped Chrono Cross — 7. Chrono Cross (1999)

Ever wonder what happens *after* you save the world? *Chrono Cross* is here to tell you: “You broke it.” A spiritual successor to *Chrono Trigger*, this game doubles down on alternate realities, branching timelines, and deep existential sadness. You play as Serge, a boy who crosses into a parallel world where he drowned as a child – and that’s just the *prologue*. From there, you’re pulled into a wild story about fate, identity, and multiverse shenanigans involving dragons, ancient civilizations, and a flute-playing catman. The cast is massive, the music is hauntingly beautiful, and the plot twists will have you cross-referencing timelines like a conspiracy theorist with red string. It’s bold, brilliant, and just a little overwhelming – in the best way. | © Square Enix

6. Lobotomy Corporation / Library of Ruina (2018)

Ever manage an office full of SCP-style horrors while slowly unraveling your own sanity? Welcome to *Lobotomy Corporation*, where you’re the middle manager from hell, overseeing containment of creatures known as Abnormalities – all of which can and will break free, kill your staff, and possibly alter reality. But wait, there's more! The follow-up, *Library of Ruina*, is a philosophical fever dream masked as a deck-building RPG, where you invite guests to a library and turn them into books – literally. The deeper you go, the more twisted and profound the narrative becomes, touching on identity, suffering, human will, and the nature of stories themselves. It's corporate bureaucracy meets Kafka, with a side of anime-style existential dread. Good luck filing that under "normal gameplay." | © Project Moon

Cropped Nier Automata — 5. NieR: Automata (2017)

*NieR: Automata* is what happens when you let a visionary like Yoko Taro write a game, give him complete creative freedom, and just kinda nod along while he builds an emotional rollercoaster draped in existentialism and mecha-sadness. Set in a world where humans are extinct (or… are they?), androids 2B and 9S battle alien-created machines in a war that quickly turns into a philosophical thesis on the meaning of life, consciousness, and whether it’s okay to cry over robots. The game doesn’t just ask you to play – it asks you to reflect, to grieve, and eventually, to *delete your save file for someone else’s hope*. And that’s only scratching the surface. You’ll need to play it five times to even begin understanding what’s happening – and by the end, you’ll thank it for breaking your heart. | © PlatinumGames / Square Enix

Cropped Death Stranding — 4. Death Stranding (2019)

Hideo Kojima saw a world already confused by his previous work and said, “Let’s take it further. Let’s make *delivery* a metaphor for human connection.” Enter *Death Stranding*, a game where you play as Sam Porter Bridges – yes, that’s his actual name – a post-apocalyptic courier who hikes across America delivering packages while dodging invisible ghosts, timefall rain, and a baby strapped to his chest in a glass womb. The story blends sci-fi, spirituality, social commentary, and *weirdly earnest UPS simulator vibes*. There are scenes where characters monologue about extinction events while you just want to put down your ladder. It’s beautiful, bizarre, and somehow deeply moving – even if you don’t fully understand what’s going on. And honestly? That’s kinda the point. | © Kojima Productions

Cropped Final Fantasy — 3. Final Fantasy Saga (1987–present)

Trying to sum up the story of the *Final Fantasy* saga is like trying to summarize all of Shakespeare’s plays – with added chocobos and airships. Each numbered entry is its own standalone epic (mostly), but they all share one thing: *they go hard on the lore*. From time-traveling rebels (*FFVIII*), to summoned gods and political coups (*FFXII*), to literal crystal-fueled interdimensional warfare (*FFV*), each game takes its narrative swing like it's aiming to win an Oscar. There are recurring themes – love, loss, duty, destiny – but the execution is always uniquely wild. The series dares you to care about complex character arcs, ethical dilemmas, and why a teenage gardener is also a mercenary trained in time compression physics. And somehow… it works. | © Square Enix

Cropped Metal Gear Solid — 2. Metal Gear Solid Saga (1998–present)

Where do you even start with *Metal Gear Solid*? You think it’s just about a stealthy soldier named Solid Snake sneaking through a nuclear facility, but two hours in, you're getting hit with existential monologues about genes, memes, and nuclear deterrence. The story is an absolute beast – packed with clones, double agents, AI conspiracies, and boss fights with enemies like a psychic in a gas mask and a literal bullet sponge named Vulcan Raven. Kojima blends cinematic drama with fourth-wall-breaking madness, turning what could’ve been a simple spy game into a treatise on war, identity, and player agency. By the time you realize you're fighting your twin brother on top of a giant robot named Metal Gear REX, it's too late. You're in. Deep. | © Konami

Cropped Kingdom Hearts — 1. Kingdom Hearts (2002)

At last, we arrive at the *Kingdom of Confusion*. What started as “Final Fantasy meets Disney” became the most endearingly convoluted series in gaming history. *Kingdom Hearts* tells the tale of Sora, a spiky-haired boy with a giant key, as he journeys through various Disney worlds to fight darkness and find his lost friends. Simple enough – until you realize the story spans over ten games, multiple consoles, dozens of timeline splits, time travel, clones, memory wipes, evil organizations named after anagrams, and hearts inside hearts inside hearts. Also, Goofy dies. (Sort of.) It’s all so melodramatic, so layered in metaphysical nonsense, and yet – *somehow –* it’s also heartfelt and utterly sincere. You may not understand what’s happening, but you’ll believe in the power of friendship while you’re lost in it. | © Square Enix / Disney

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If you’re a gamer who craves rich lore, mind-bending plot twists, and stories that stay with you long after the credits roll, you’re in the right place. This list of the Top 20 video games with the most complex and deep stories explores titles that push narrative boundaries and redefine storytelling in gaming. From morally gray characters to sprawling timelines and layered worldbuilding, these games aren’t just fun to play – they’re unforgettable experiences that challenge how we think about plot and player choice.

Whether you're a fan of RPGs, strategy games, or interactive dramas, these story-driven masterpieces are perfect for players who value immersive narratives and intellectual depth. Get ready to dive into alternate realities, question your decisions, and maybe even replay everything to catch what you missed the first time.