5 games with a great plot that are no worse than the best films. Many have multiple endings

Sometimes you want to spend the evening in the company of close men, sitting in front of the TV, but you don’t want to play full-fledged games or watch a movie. This happens to me and my wife too, and we turn to projects that develop in the style of genres – these are interactive films and visual novels.

In this material, I am working on a list of my favorite projects that have a fascinating plot. Perhaps you will find something new for yourself among them or are thinking about playing through the classic games again.

1. Heavy Rain (2010)

About what: Desperate to judge how to save his son from the clutches of a serial killer

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows

First, let’s talk about the so-called “base”. Although the creative path of the creator of this project, David Cage, acted earlier, it was in Heavy Rain that he reached the pinnacle both in terms of script and direction. I think that “Two Souls” and “Detroit” turned out much worse.

Heavy Rain is an interactive psychological thriller film.

The plot of the detective-drama story revolves around four characters who are investigating a case. Origami Mastersserial killers who abduct their victims in the rain and create an origami figurine at the crime scene.

The characters are very different: from the father, whose son became a victim of a maniac, to Scott Shelby, a gloomy but charismatic private detective. The plot is full of tension, the scene is filled with suspense, and the riddles left by the Origami Master will make you worry and clench your teeth with excitement.

If you like dark, tense and twisted detective stories, then Heavy Rain is the one for you. I truly envy those who don’t know who the killer is. I accidentally found out from a friend 15 minutes before purchasing the disc in 2010.

👉 Buy Heavy Rain on Steam for 782 rubles.

2. The Walking Dead (2012)

About what: Stories about unfortunate people trying to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Probably everyone has heard about the series “The Walking Dead” and the comics based on it. Does anyone remember about the game adaptation of this story?

Telltale Games created The Walking Dead, which, like the television series, was released in a seasonal format with an additional plot. The first season received the best reviews, the third season received the best reviews. However, the ending of the game is worth seeing.

The plot of this work is not based on either the comic book or the TV series that adapted it.

The plot tells about the life of a girl named Clementine in different time periods. In the first season, she is just a child who lost her parents due to an epidemic. However, by the end of the game we see an already adult girl who leads the survivors.

The history of this world is filled with dramatic events and bloody scenes. The player will have to make decisions that are not always easy. Their consequences will occur throughout the entire game (if you play on the same device and save the carry).

The survival of the characters also depends on your actions. The plot moves much faster than in a regular series, and is not limited to the same templates, like “we find a signal – we fight for the signal.”

If you like the theme of a zombie apocalypse and the visual style of the game does not put you off, then I highly recommend you give it a try. Of course, you are unlikely to be able to complete the entire game in one evening, but the experience of completing the entire series will be simply amazing.

👉 Buy The Walking Dead on Steam for 550 rubles.

3. Anthology “Dark Pictures” (2019)

About what: Almanac of horror stories in various settings

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch.

I already related to one of the games in this anthology in an article about the best horror games. Therefore, I will not repeat myself in this material.

Supermassive Games is a master of creating interactive horror films. They started their journey with an exclusive game for PS4 called Until Dawn, which is a youth slasher. They then develop Hidden Agenda, a detective game that can be played on the company’s console with friends using a smartphone. It was a unique experience, but, unfortunately, it did not achieve much success.

However, the anthology The Dark Pictures can be called the pinnacle of their work. It includes four projects with different plots and narratives.

In the first part of the game you will see variations on the theme of the movie “Ghost Ship”. The second part contains surrealism, aspects of the atmosphere of Silent Hill. The third part of the game is dedicated to operations during the Iraq War. The fourth part tells the story of the legacy of America’s first serial killer.

Each part of this game is unique and has a short duration. It presents many options for the development of events that will captivate you from your head.

You can complete the game in an evening or two, maximum. It is suitable for both re-challenge and co-op play. You can play both online and locally, which makes this an even more convenient addition.

I recommend trying it with friends – it’s a lot of fun!

👉 Buy Dark Pictures Anthology on Steam for 2847 rubles

4. When Dusk Falls (2022)

About what: A crime drama about the Rays who find themselves in a difficult situation at the wrong time at the wrong time.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X

Let’s talk about something a little more unusual than what we’ve already discussed. As Dusk Falls is a unique project that combines elements of a visual novel and interactive cinema. Its plot can be described as follows: “Quentin Tarantino and David Cage become friends.”

This story is about two families whose destinies are intertwined in Arizona in 1998. each of them keeps their secrets. At first glance, one family is ordinary Americans, the other is teenagers who have committed a crime and are fugitives from justice. But which of them has a darker past?

Each family’s story unfolds at two key points: 1998 and 2012. Decisions and events that occur in one period have a direct impact on the next, which is quite expected for this genre. However, it is the visual style that can be called recognized. There is no usual “cinema” here, but only stop motion frames and sound effects. Technically the game runs literally 1 frame per second.

Does this affect the enjoyment of familiar characters and personalities? Not at all. The people who created Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls worked on the script and creation of this game. I highly recommend you check out Dusk Falls as it truly is a unique experience.

👉 Find the game on Google

5. Life is Strange (2015)

About what: Light detective story about a teenager with unusual abilities

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

And finally, we are perhaps one of the most controversial games in this genre. It’s common to dislike the Life is Strange series, attribute it to propaganda and all that. But people are wrong. At least the first part is worthy of attention.

The game takes place in October 2013. Maxine Caulfield, 18, returns to her hometown of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, after five years. Here she enters the prestigious Blackwell Academy.

At the academy, Max meets his old friend Chloe Price, who died in a car accident. After Max’s departure, Chloe found support in Ray Amber. However, six months before Maxine returns, Rachel mysteriously disappears. Moreover, it turns out that Max can manage time. What this led to, where Rachel went and how it all ends remains for the player to find out.

I highly recommend throwing away all stereotypes and giving Life is Strange a try. This is an excellent detective quest with a very independent youth atmosphere. The game is easy and ends unexpectedly quickly. Having played through the rest of the game series at their own risk, they learned a lot from the first part.

👉 Find the game on Google

Games have long been at the intersection of art forms

Of course, examples of good interactive films more than five.

What is added to this list and why “Detroit” is a good game, the author does not know, I encourage you to write, as always, in the comments. Have a nice weekend to all of us.