In September, fans of the narrative RPG genre are eagerly awaiting the latest indie sensation Quirky Beach. Using its story to weave an interesting story about the lives of older people, the game is yet another in a long line of quirky games rich in stories.
From big hits like life is strangeto lesser known gems such as Ghostsman, Quirky Beach is not alone in the world of narrative gaming. While many games are the same format, only the best left an impression on players and best reflect the themes and ideas of the new game.
More (2021)
Like his successor, More eschews the usual video game action in favor of a warm and fuzzy story with beautiful visuals. The user takes charge of an IT professional named Meredith who spends two weeks in her small hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon. While there, she takes on the role of the city postman and goes about her route to catch up with the residents of the city.
The player learns more about the people on the route and they have the opportunity to form romantic relationships with non-player characters as the story progresses. While some have criticized the game for its repetitive nature, its relatively short length and beautiful visuals are perfect for players who like a relaxed storytelling experience.
Heavenly Vault (2019)
While many of the storytelling games are set in realistic locations, Heaven’s Vault elements of sci-fi and fantasy into his story. The player takes on the role of an archaeologist who explores the moons of a nebula to decipher an ancient language and discover the whereabouts of a missing colleague.
Definitely more puzzle driven than Quirky Beach, Heaven’s Vault nevertheless presents a similar non-linear story that requires repetition to get the whole experience. The game is not based on action, so the tension is kept to a minimum in favor of a special and enjoyable experience of exploration and discovery.
Tell Me Why (2020)
While many indie games have had LGBTQ+ protagonists, Dontnod’s Tell me why broke ground by being the first triple-A title to feature a transgender lead character. The story follows twins who return to their rural Alaskan hometown to investigate the death of their mother. While there, they both relive the trauma of their past through flawed memories.
Tell me why was praised for its important representation, and its storyline was also praised for its wealth. Definitely darker than Quirky Beachboth games focus on topics not usually discussed in open company, although they approach them in a completely different tone.
Lost Ember (2019)
Spiritualism is deep in many story-based games, and lost ember explores the connection between the human mind and nature itself. A human soul barred from the afterlife possesses a wolf, and together they explore the ruins of the lost civilization to find out why the spirit has been locked out of heaven.
The game allows the user to own other animals, which allows for advancement in the game. There is no traditional action-based structure, and instead, the player progresses by learning more. unlike Quirky Beach which is non-linear, lost ember proceeds on a linear storyline. Visually, the game is stunning and is renowned for its naturalistic themes.
Marie’s room (2018)
The fact that it’s a free indie game on Steam certainly helped Marie’s room received strong reviews, but also earned its reputation for its great story. The user takes control of Kelsie as she explores her friend Marie’s room, remembering their friendship from 20 years earlier. However, the game poses an interesting question, “where is Marie?”
With a running time of over an hour, Marie’s room falls into the category of short story fiction, but it still delivers a great experience. The visuals are tight and pleasing, and the central question behind the story is intriguing enough to keep the player engaged. Like Quirky Beachcuriosity is the driving force behind the game, but it does it in a much shorter time frame.
Road 96 (2021)
Of all the story-based games released in recent years, Road 96 was one of the densest and most complicated of all. The game takes place in a country on the eve of important elections and instructs the user to control various teenagers as they try to escape the country by crossing the northern border.
The events of the game are procedurally generated, which lends itself to a unique experience with each play-through. If each character succeeds or fails to cross, the choices will affect subsequent crossing attempts and alter gameplay. unlike Quirky Beach which has few gameplay elements, Road 96 features mini-games and a health meter to manage like more traditional action video games.
Before Your Eyes (2021)
Narrative games often get slack because they are a bit boring in their gameplay, and For your eyes found a clever way to counteract that reputation. The player takes control of a man while his soul is on its way to the afterlife. Along the way, he encounters his memories and the choices he made that lead him through life.
Replacing a simple mouse click with a webcam-based mechanic allows the user to control the time flow of the game by blinking. Known for its relaxing gameplay experience, For your eyes explores the nature of life and death and is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Equivalent to Quirky Beachthe game tackles a daunting subject, but does so with beauty rather than fear.
Night in the Woods (2017)
Despite its cute zoomorphic characters, Night in the forest did not blow his depiction of the decline of the working class in small towns. The user takes control of Mae, a young woman who returns to her small town to learn that the closure of the local mine has led to an economic downturn. Her curiosity leads her to discover a dark secret that the city has cherished for years.
While the player can jump and interact with the environment at will, the game comes down to the story elements. Developing friendships leads to a different playing experience and the game requires users to replay it to get a more complete experience. The developers made a brilliant choice for a stylistic approach, as it allowed them to talk about mental health in a softer way.
Ghostsman (2020)
The afterlife has always been a popular topic for games, and Ghostsman brought the mythology to life in a pleasant and thought-provoking way. The game casts the player as Stella, a woman in charge of transporting souls to the afterlife. On her ship, she must meet the needs of the souls by building additions and other equipment to keep them happy.
The player learns more about the souls as they perform their tasks, and it offers a more active experience than games like Quirky Beach. Nevertheless, the warm and vague approach to the rambunctious subjects lends itself to brilliant storytelling and the game is a feast for the eyes and ears.
Life is Strange (2015)
Bursting onto the scene and revolutionizing the episodic gaming trend, life is strange lived up to its name and was unlike anything gamers had seen before. Max Caulfield returns to her small Oregon hometown and develops the ability to rewind time when she sees a friend get shot. In the end, she uses her newfound ability to find another missing friend.
Light in gameplay elements but heavy in story, life is strange was beautiful and moving. The game was an instant success and spawned several sequels that helped flesh out the complicated story. Although much darker than Quirky Beachthere is an overarching theme of high strangeness that colors both games.
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