Video games are often celebrated for their engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and immersive soundscapes. Yet, beyond these elements, the medium has also emerged as a powerful platform for storytelling. Some games transcend entertainment to deliver narratives with the complexity and emotional depth of great literature. With their intricate world-building, profound themes, and unforgettable characters, these games offer players experiences as impactful and enduring as a cherished novel. Here are five video games that can rightfully be considered literary masterpieces.
1. The Last of Us (Naughty Dog)
The Last of Us is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Following Joel and Ellie on their harrowing journey across a devastated United States, the game masterfully intertwines moments of intense action with quiet, deeply emotional storytelling. Themes of parenthood, sacrifice, and the moral ambiguities of survival make this game a narrative powerhouse. Its carefully crafted dialogue and nuanced characters have drawn comparisons to the best of contemporary literature.
Recommended Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel shares the game’s bleak post-apocalyptic setting and its focus on the bond between two characters navigating a world stripped of humanity.
2. Disco Elysium (ZA/UM)
A game that reads like a Dostoevsky novel on hallucinogens, Disco Elysium is a role-playing game that plunges players into the fractured psyche of a down-and-out detective. Set in a richly detailed, dystopian city, the game’s story is driven by philosophical questions, political ideologies, and existential musings. The dialogue is sharp, the characters are flawed yet compelling, and the prose is poetic and thought-provoking. Few games achieve this level of literary ambition.
Recommended Book: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This classic novel delves deep into themes of guilt, morality, and the human psyche, making it a perfect companion to the philosophical depth of Disco Elysium.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt Red)
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s acclaimed fantasy novels, The Witcher 3 takes storytelling in games to new heights. Players step into the boots of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter navigating a morally complex world filled with war, magic, and personal vendettas. Its sprawling narrative includes hundreds of side quests, each written with care and depth. The themes of love, destiny, and the shades of gray in morality make it a standout work of interactive fiction. With The Witcher 4 trailer recently released at The Game Awards 2024, it’ll be interesting to see how these themes evolve through the eyes of Ciri.
Recommended Book: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This richly detailed fantasy novel offers a similar mix of magic, moral complexity, and deeply personal storytelling, making it a great pick for fans of Geralt’s adventures. Or… you could read The Witcher novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.
4. Bioshock (Irrational Games)
Bioshock is more than just a game; it’s a profound commentary on human nature, ideology, and the limits of utopian ambition. Set in the underwater city of Rapture, built on the ideals of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, the game’s narrative explores the cost of unchecked ambition and freedom. Its iconic twist ending forces players to question free will in a way few other stories do. With themes reminiscent of Orwell and Huxley, Bioshock remains a landmark in video game storytelling.
Recommended Book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This dystopian novel explores the consequences of ideological extremes and the loss of individuality, themes central to the world of Bioshock.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games)
A sprawling tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the end of an era, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a Western epic that captures the human condition with literary depth. Following Arthur Morgan, an outlaw grappling with his fading sense of purpose and morality, the game paints a vivid picture of a world in transition. The characters are richly drawn, the dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the game’s themes of redemption and inevitability resonate long after the credits roll.
Recommended Book: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. This Pulitzer Prize-winning Western novel captures the spirit of the frontier and the complex relationships of its characters, echoing the themes of loyalty and loss in Red Dead Redemption 2.
These games prove that video games are not just a visual medium but also a literary one, capable of telling stories that challenge, inspire, and move us. By blending interactive mechanics with profound narratives, they bridge the gap between literature and gaming, demonstrating that the two forms of art are more alike than different. Whether you’re a gamer or a lover of great stories, these titles offer experiences that rival the most celebrated works of fiction.