I just finished a game that was praised in a best narrative driven video games review, and honestly, I felt a bit let down by the story. The gameplay was fine, but the characters felt flat. Maybe my expectations were too high. What's a game where the story actually surprised you in a good way, not just because it was well-reviewed?
Spec Ops The Line surprised me in a big way because it uses a military shooter setup to make you question what your actions mean in the story, not just the gameplay.
What Remains of Edith Finch hooked me with how each family tale uses a different setup and tone, so the story itself keeps shifting in a way I didn t expect.
The Stanley Parable was a pleasant shock it s less about the plot and more about the way choice and narration shape the story which kept me guessing.
Outer Wilds surprised me through a constant cycle of discoveries the story unfolds as you explore which rewrites what a plot twist even is.
Bioshock s world design and the way the twist sneaks in through environment and audio made the story feel inevitable and creepy at the same time.
Life is Strange can surprise with its emotional beats and the way choices ripple through time even if the mechanics are familiar.