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10 Great Video Games for Book Lovers
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Books and video games are two very different entertainments, but many book lovers feel at home when they’re amid an immersive story-driven game like Grand Theft Auto V or The Last of Us. If you’re looking to play something new that will also pull you in with its story, these 10 video games may be just what you’re looking for. They’re fun, absorbing, and their stories are just complex enough to keep your mind engaged without straying too far from the type of narrative you typically enjoy when reading.
Life is Strange
Arcadia Bay is not your typical video game setting. There are no alien worlds to save or mystical lands to explore, but it’s certainly one you’ll want to spend time in. Set in modern day Oregon, Life is Strange tells a compelling story about an 18-year-old girl named Max Caulfield who moves back to her hometown after five years abroad. The very next day she experiences something which will change her life forever. Soon after, Max develops rewind abilities and learns that she can travel back through time at any moment.
What follows is an enthralling narrative adventure which tackles themes of friendship, bullying and grief with incredible poignancy—all while keeping up a steady pace with its cinematic visual style.
Red Dead Redemption 2
This game features an open world so rich with life and activity, a player could spend hours exploring. The heart of this game is a story so compelling that returning to it is as rewarding as the world itself. As Arthur Morgan, a member of Dutch Van Der Linde’s gang, you play through a story of a changing West. Though you’re playing through Arthur’s eyes (and can customize his appearance in any way you want), your actions also shape how other characters perceive him. There’s a wonderful sense of discovery throughout Red Dead Redemption 2. Something new waits around each painting-like corner. Players will only get to see half of what they explore on foot, since hunting, fishing and treasure collecting pull them into another seemingly never-ending quest line.
Undertale
If you’re a fan of literature and video games, then there’s no excuse to not play Undertale. You can download it for free on Steam (and play it in your browser). While its art style and gameplay may seem like something geared toward children, Undertale tackles some heavy themes like mental illness and death with unexpected elegance and grace. At just around 30 hours long, Undertale is a lengthy experience—but one worth playing through at least once. The battle system also has an amazing flow to it. When combined with its quirky characters, Undertale will keep you entertained throughout.
Maquette
Maquette is as much a puzzle game as it is an emotional novella. You play through illuminating memories of a lost love and learn how growth and understanding often lead to change for one person, but not the other. In Maquette’s puzzles within puzzles, worlds and difficult thoughts emerge from within each other and become new pages in a story worth playing through. It’s a beautiful game that asks hard questions about time and its place in our lives. It may be more than just a video game, but you’ll certainly want to add it to your collection.
NieR : Automata
In a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, mechanical beings from another world have driven humanity from Earth. To take back their planet, humankind sends android troops to destroy their aggressors. Players take on role of androids 2B, 9S and A2 as they fight through one deadly mission after another, hoping to end war with machines once and for all. Inspired by classics like Dark Souls and Final Fantasy, NieR: Automata features fast-paced action along with multiple endings depending on players’ choices. If you’re looking for a game that pairs perfectly with your favorite book, look no further. As impressive as the gameplay is, though, it’s made even better by an excellent soundtrack.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a detective game set in a sci-fi future. I really loved how Disco Elysium subverted my expectations, blending elements of cyberpunk with noir mystery to tell a genuinely engrossing story. The deep lore kept me occupied for hours after completing its engrossing main storyline. It’s still my go-to recommendation when people ask me to point them towards good detective games. My favorite thing about Disco Elysium, though? How well it plays on our society’s obsession with social media; this wild divergence from reality not only made me think differently about how we live now but also serves as some twisted commentary on our reliance on fear-based motivation.
The Witcher 3 (and it’s DLCs)
The Witcher 3 is an impressive, sprawling RPG that is loaded with literature references and even includes a few books to collect in each major area. In it you play as Geralt who must protect Ciri, a young woman gifted with incredible powers, from The Wild Hunt—but it’s actually about much more than that. The game features an incredibly mature story, beautiful graphics and gameplay mechanics that will keep you busy for dozens of hours. Even writing about it makes me want to dive back into the world and rediscover the deep and often humorous lore within. Trust me, if you like games and you like books, pick up a copy; it’s not one to miss! (And don’t forget Hearts of Stone or Blood & Wine – the downloadable add-ons that extend the playtime with entertaining stories of their own.)
Outer Wilds
If you’re at all interested in outer space, you owe it to yourself to check out Outer Wilds. And if your inner bookworm is begging for some literary goodness, you’ll no doubt enjoy uncovering all the hidden lore in this Groundhog’s Day reminiscent time loop. What happens when books inspire video games? You get a world that overflows with imagination and whimsical twists on familiar ideas. Those outside influences make Outer Wilds incredibly endearing and memorable. Once you start to explore, you won’t want to stop until you’ve discovered every bit of its secrets. Who says games can’t inspire even more creativity? You might just find yourself penning new stories or putting together elaborate worlds after playing a few loops in this fascinating title!
We Happy Few
If you’re a big reader, you’ve probably encountered video games inspired by your favorite books and stories. We Happy Few is a prime example. It originally released in 2015 as part of an early access program but was fully released earlier in 2018. It takes inspiration from Huxley’s Brave New World. Players will quickly see familiar themes in how a society conforms to its own ideals—and that things may not be what they seem at first glance. We Happy Few gives gamers the chance to decide who they want to be with some hard choices along the way, just like those found in good literature. And, since every choice has consequences, it also allows players to get creative as they explore alternate paths in their narrative. Plus, British accents make everything better.
No Man’s Sky
This ever evolving, procedurally generated open world offering from Hello Games is all about research and discovery – something writers know all too well. With over 18 quintillion planets to explore in its vast universe, players can visit lush forests of plant life or barren deserts made entirely of minerals. Since each planet is different, players can experience a story unique to them; there’s always something unique to discover no matter how many times you play through it. It’s one game that will have book lovers coming back again and again to spend hours wandering across an endless universe. Players even have a special Scanning Mode in which they can analyze everything from animals to plants to rocks in order to unlock new technologies or bonuses. If you like reading new books (or at least scanning them for their blurbs), then check out No Man’s Sky!
-R.E.