Video games have always been great vessels for telling compelling stories. As the medium has matured, developers have found innovative mechanics that allow their stories to resonate with players in profound ways, continually stretching our ideas of narrative presentation within games. Unfortunately, much like other popular mediums of art, many of these incredible stories often go under the radar each year, slipping past the purview of the general audience. Here at GameLuster, we’ve always prided ourselves in covering the titles that others may not be willing to give the time of day. As such, we’ve been able to play some truly great games in 2024, many of which had brilliant stories that moved us. Here are seven of those titles whose narratives we feel deserve a spotlight.
Minds Beneath Us
Science Fiction isn’t always easy to pull off. But when a writing team can pull it off, the result is something truly special. And Minds Beneath Us is special. It puts you in the shoes of an amnesiac protagonist in a world that’s fully automated by advanced A.I. This dystopian tale focuses on the more intimate, everyday connections with people rather than the greater horrors of their world. The result makes for a game whose narrative is far more personal, tackling themes of identity and purpose without ever sugarcoating some of the more difficult conversations.
1000xResist
Another Sci-Fi adventure, 1000xResist tells a thrilling story of a disease spread by an alien invasion that has all its characters kept underground. As a Watcher, you serve the ALLMOTHER until one day you unveil the truth of a thousand-year-old lie. Michael Higham from IGN buttons his 9/10 review by writing the following: “1000xResist is a revolution in storytelling, forged by the things that have shaped our lives, and in turn, one that shows us what it takes to shape our future.” It’s clear that Sunset Visitor has done something special with this game, so here’s hoping they can continue to thrive with their future titles and that publisher Fellow Traveller (publishers of the also acclaimed Citizen Sleeper) continue to take chances on unique experiences like this.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
Although it’s a re-release, the Miles Edgeworth duology deserves a spot on this list for two reasons. One, its second game, Prosecutor’s Gambit, was never localized for the West, which means this is the first time players out here can play the duology in full. And two, for its compelling inter-connected story that follows Pheonix Wright’s longtime friend and rival, Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, who becomes entangled in a series of mysterious murders. The Ace Attorney games have always had intriguing stories that perfectly melded campy goofiness with full-blown courtroom drama, and Miles Edgeworth was always a fan favourite, making this duology a perfect narrative marriage.
Home Safety Hotline
Horror and puzzles aren’t the most common pairing when it comes to video games. But developer Night Signal Entertainment have made it work to great effect. You play as a Home Safety Hotline responder where, during each shift, you take calls from folks reporting household issues like pests and such. However, as each shift passes, you begin to receive more and more unnerving calls that play with supernatural elements. Cass Marshall from Polygon commended the game’s “strong sense of wrongness and unease” and highlighted its “deliciously unsettling” premise. It’s titles like these that we love to see being made within the gaming industry. Titles that push the boundaries of game mechanics to enhance the narrative through player interactivity.
30 Birds
A Persian-inspired narrative puzzle game, 30 Birds is a gorgeous title that follows Zig, a young detective, on a quest to rescue the bird goddess Simurgh. Much of the game’s inspiration came from game creators Coline Sauvand and Laurent Toulouse’s trip to Istanbul and their purchases of medieval Ottoman textbooks. Meg Pelliccio from The Gamer, in an interview with publishers ARTE France and Ram Ram Games, writes in their piece that “The story is based on the poem ‘The Conference of the Birds’ by Sufi poet Attar of Nishapur, in which a hoopoe bird collects different birds to find the goddess of the world.” From the wondrous art style to a story that blends a vibrant culture and its history with modern comedy and characters, 30 Birds is one you definitely don’t want to miss.
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
An interactive documentary wouldn’t be the first thing you’d imagine when thinking of a narrative experience through a video game. But that’s exactly what’s so interesting about The Jeff Minter Story. The game chronicles the software created by British developer Jeff Minter and the dozens of programs he developed between 1981 and 1994. Jeff was a seminal but somewhat obtuse figure during the early days of the gaming industry whose games often fell to obscurity. This game shows, as our very own Mateusz (who reviewed the game) puts it, “how one man’s life story and body of work can teach us so much about the modern gaming industry, from connecting with fans through a unique vision and passion projects to an increasingly commercialized market being taken over by licenses and men in suits.” It’s a fascinating way to showcase one of gaming’s earliest auteurs.
Dread Delusion
A dark fantasy RPG, Dread Delusion tells the tale of a prisoner of the Inquisition who’s given the opportunity for freedom in exchange for helping capture the leader of the Dark Star Mercenaries, Vela Callose. Developers Lovely Hellplace wanted to focus on giving the players a sense of discovery through exploration instead of tacking on unnecessary grinding and combat. The result, as our own Mateusz once again describes, “has plenty of these incredibly memorable stories in its side-quests with plenty of tragedy to each but also an impressive ending choice resolution that I don’t see that often.” Matt Wales of Eurogamer also complimented the game by saying the following: “Dread Delusion is a world enthralled by stories, full of stories, and it’s just an absolute delight.
What were some games you played in 2024 whose stories you feel deserve more attention? Let us know in the comments below!
