Best Story
Previous Winners
2016: Muv Luv
2017: Persona 5
Everyone wants different things from games. Whether you play games primarily for the story, the gameplay, some of both or any other reason, the importance of good storytelling in modern games is undeniable. As usual, 2018 was a year with some great stories, and as per tradition we’ll be going down our favorites from the year.
Dragon Quest XI
NA Release Date: September 4th, 2018
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PC
Review
Even if Dragon Quest XI continues the series tradition of blank-slate protagonists, it more than makes up for it with its wide assortment of interesting, personality-filled characters both in the party and throughout the brightly-colored world. Each gets their chance to shine and come into their own, along with the engaging, exciting story (especially if you keep going after the first credits sequence).
God of War
NA Release Date: April 20th, 2018
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Review
God of War is, in part, a story of growth, both in Kratos as a person and in his relationship with his son as he teaches him to be a better man than Kratos himself. However, it does this without discarding his history, balancing the angry, revenge-driven monster from the previous games with a man striving to improve himself and better deal with that anger. It does a good job addressing the events of the previous game to add nuance to how other characters deal with Kratos, even if the previous games may not be necessary to enjoying the new one.
Octopath Traveler
NA Release Date: July 13th, 2018
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Review
Throughout its 8 characters, Octopath Traveler tells an entwined story, that truly feels complete when all the stories are experienced together. The final dungeon truly ties all 8 stories together, aside from the subtle ties between them that can be found throughout the regular individual routes. The individual routes also have quite a bit to enjoy, with the wide variation in tones between the characters from the relatively light Tressa story to the darker, more adult elements of Primrose’s story.
Unavowed
NA Release Date: August 8th, 2018
Platform(s): PC
Review
Unavowed follows a man possessed by a demon, who joins a supernatural investigation force to right the wrongs committed by the demon. Along the way you learn more about the other members of the force as they accompany you, revealing deep, fleshed-out stories for each. It has great writing, clever humor and excellent characters, as the story grows and expands from a simple premise to an exciting, satisfying end.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
NA Release Date: April 17th, 2018
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Review
Yakuza 6 tells a story that can be appreciated whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a longtime fan, following Kazuma Kiryu as he tries to track down the father of Haruka’s newborn child. The twists and turns keep the player invested and guessing throughout, with its great characters and excellent writing.
THIS YEAR’S WINNER IS…
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza 6 ends Kazuma’s story in an excellent way, whether you’re a longtime Yakuza fan or a total newcomer. It truly shows what a great character Kazuma is, even alongside the other excellent characters, and emphasized by great writing. Here’s to seeing more great stories in 2019, whether they be alternate perspectives in the Yakuza series or wherever else excellent writing may be found.
Thanks to Brandon and Brodie for the awesome Featured Images
