Why Are Storytelling Video Games So Common among Independents?
The modern gaming industry has changed tremendously over the last decade. However, one of the tendencies which has remained unchanged concerns indie games, where developers manage to come up with some of the most unforgettable stories in the gaming community. While most blockbusters offer users photorealism, huge open worlds, and a possibility to enjoy multiplayer features, indie companies pay more attention to writing stories rather than developing technologies. Such indie teams include fewer people than those working on blockbusters and, thus, can take risks experimenting with storytelling without having to satisfy millions of their shareholders. Moreover, developers of independent games write about things which are personal to them; hence, they are often concerned with such themes as grief, hope, identity, friendship, and even loss and self-discovery.
Such works are appreciated by gamers. Even today community recommendations keep mentioning titles like Outer Wilds, Citizen Sleeper, Disco Elysium, What Remains of Edith Finch, Omori, and Spiritfarer as the most narrative indie games on the market. In all of them players can enjoy emotional storytelling and memorable characters.
Creative Risks Lead to Quality Stories
Independent studios do not hesitate to risk. They do not create yet another fantasy adventure; rather, they pose unusual questions. How does a game look if it is focused on the idea of time loops and memory? Why death could be the thing which makes people grow up and get new knowledge? Is every conversation about something other than advancing the plot?
Thanks to such an approach, the developers managed to come up with some of the most memorable stories in the history of gaming industry. While playing games, players are not only observing cutscenes but taking part in the process of story construction through every dialogue choice, puzzle solution, and world exploration. Independent developers usually write about topics which are important to them personally; hence, such stories are authentic and memorable.
Emotionality Trumps High Costs
Great story does not necessarily require a huge budget. In fact, some of the most touching stories in gaming history come from simple pixel arts or hand-made graphics with brilliant writing behind them. Gaming industry does not impress players with explosions and action scenes but offers emotional connections.
The perfect example would be To the Moon, which has gained the reputation of one of the most emotional video games despite simple graphics it has. On the other hand, Spiritfarer demonstrates that sometimes it is possible to turn grief and acceptance into a relaxing experience and make the players reflect about life.
What Makes a Great Story-Driven Indie Game?
While not every indie game is focused on stories, there are some characteristics which can be observed in the best story-driven video games.
Feature
Why It Is Important
Strong Characters
Players become emotionally connected with their journeys
Meaningful Choices
Players make decisions which lead to unique experiences
Environmental Storytelling
The world tells its story without using too many dialogues
Memorable Soundtrack
Music adds up to emotions
Unique Themes
Stories tell about rare themes
All these features are used in order to make the player’s experience similar to the one of reading a novel rather than completing some tasks.
Best Indie Games with Amazing Stories
Outer Wilds
One of the highest-rated video games when it comes to narration, Outer Wilds encourages the users to explore a miniature solar system which is stuck in a mysterious time loop. Every discovery answers some questions but raises some others, so the main thing here is players’ curiosity.
Outer Wilds stands out with the way it uses knowledge instead of character progression. In this game players cannot level up or unlock any better weapons; rather, they need to learn about the world and its abandoned civilization. Every clue changes their understanding of the story little by little until all of them are revealed and form a perfect picture. According to many users, this experience is irreproducible since one can never experience it for the second time once knowing the story.
Disco Elysium
It is hard to name another indie game which has attracted so much attention due to its amazing writing. Most of the challenges in this game are related to dialogue and investigation instead of fighting. Players are to control a detective suffering from amnesia whose different personality traits discuss everything with each other.
The game touches upon the issues of politics, philosophy, addiction, failure, and redemption while remaining rather humorous at the same time. Both critics and fans agree that it is one of the most brilliantly written RPGs in gaming history.
To the Moon
Few games can illustrate the emotional power of storytelling better than To the Moon. The story tells about the doctors who enter the mind of patients to help them realize their dreams while they are dying. However, what starts as a simple mission soon turns into a heartbreaking story of love, memory, sacrifice, and regret.
Despite its simple pixel art, the experience is emotionally rich enough to compare it with the best movies and books. Due to careful narration, every revelation in the game carries real meaning; hence, it is one of the most recommended narrative adventures among indie games.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Unlike other games which usually feature one continuous story, this game includes different family tragedies. For each family member, the game provides new gameplay mechanics, so the experience constantly changes. In one chapter, players can read a comic book, while in another one they may feel themselves as if inside an interactive dream.
All these different stories tell about the tragic history of Edith Finch family; in the last chapter all of them unite and make players think about memory and family legacy.
Citizen Sleeper
This indie game is based on RPG table-top mechanisms and science fiction story which is written excellently. Players assume the role of a synthetic human who needs to survive in a space station controlled by different factions.
Each decision made affects users’ relationships, career opportunities, and personal survival. The game does not use any action mechanics but relies on difficult choices and conversations. It is one of the most distinctive indie RPG games.
Undertale
At first sight, Undertale looks like a retro RPG. However, it turns out to be rather a game which features clever narration and constant acknowledgement of user’s decisions. All battles in it provide alternatives to violence, encouraging the user to be empathic.
Because of amazing cast of characters, witty dialogues, and multiple endings, the game has already reached legendary status. It asks players to think carefully about their actions in a RPG environment.
Omori
The game starts as a whimsical role-playing adventure, but then it reveals the deep psychological story which is built around the themes of trauma, depression, friendship, and acceptance. This contrast creates the unforgettable experience for players.
Hidden truths in the game are gradually uncovered through exploration of the world; thus, every revelation gets stronger and stronger.
Night in the Woods
Set in a struggling mining town, this game deals with adult topics such as mental state of the heroes, economic difficulties, and friendship. Everything becomes even more interesting because of realistic dialogue of characters. Each of them is authentic due to the fact that he or she suffers from ordinary problems rather than trying to save the world.
The experience of Night in the Woods allows users to feel the uncertainty of young adulthood. It can be considered one of the most grounded narrative adventures.
Spiritfarer
Few games can tell about the death in such a tender way. Players become ferrymasters who help spirits prepare for the next life. They cook food for the spirits, craft things, and have heart-felt conversations. After some time, saying farewell becomes inevitable and leads to some of the most memorable moments in gaming.
Warm artistic style of the game perfectly matches the caring storytelling of Spiritfarer.
Oxenfree
This game combines supernatural horror with natural conversations. Dialogues do not stop the gameplay since characters keep talking while players are exploring the area. Hence, this makes conversations sound authentic and spontaneous.
The mysterious island, anomalies of radio communication, and branching narration encourage users to play the game again and again.
How to Choose the Right Narrative Indie Game
The best story-driven video game depends on the player’s preferences. Those interested in mysteries will be pleased by Outer Wilds. People who want to experience emotions can choose between To the Moon and Spiritfarer. Those who like RPG games with excellent dialogue are to play Disco Elysium and Citizen Sleeper. Fans of horror stories are advised to check Omori and Oxenfree.
Community recommendations prove that all of these games provide unforgettable storytelling experience among indie games.
Conclusion
The best indie games show that good storytelling requires neither big budget nor advanced graphics. On the contrary, unforgettable stories emerge from thoughtful writing, memorable characters, creativity in gameplay and emotions. No matter whether the players solve cosmological riddles in Outer Wilds, uncover the story of pain in To the Moon, deal with philosophical dilemmas in Disco Elysium, or help spirits find peace in Spiritfarer, each of these games will be remembered for a long time.
As the developers continue experimenting, narrative indie games will remain one of the most innovative products in the gaming industry. If people want to enjoy stories which make them laugh, cry, reconsider their decisions and think differently about storytelling, the above-mentioned games should be at the top of their playlists.
