Some games don’t just tell a story—they feel like one. The kind you stay up late reading, lose track of time with, and think about long after the credits roll. Even games like A Plague Tale: Innocence—which just missed our list—deliver emotional, character-driven stories that stick with you. They may not be bound in hardcover, but the stories, emotions, and characters hit just as hard.
Whether it’s a quiet conversation in the woods, a desperate choice in a zombie outbreak, or a slowly unraveling mystery in a forgotten house, these games pull you in like a great novel. Some are emotional. Some are strange. A few might even break your heart.
In honour of World Book Day, here are ten video games that feel like reading a good book—ranked in reverse order. If you’re a gamer who loves a strong story or a reader curious about storytelling in games, this list is for you.
10. Night in the Woods
Night in the Woods feels like reading a slice-of-life novel that slowly turns into something darker. You play as Mae, a college dropout returning to her fading hometown. Most of the game is spent talking to friends, wandering the streets, and avoiding the weight of adulthood—but there’s something unsettling simmering beneath it all.
The writing is sharp, honest, and full of personality. It captures that in-between feeling of being young, lost, and not sure what’s next. The characters feel real—messy, lovable, and trying to hold it together.
It’s not just a game about talking animals. It’s a story about economic decay, mental health, and friendship—and it delivers all of that with the warmth and depth of a very good book.
9. To the Moon
To the Moon is short, simple, and absolutely devastating—in the best way. You follow two scientists who enter the memories of a dying man to fulfill his last wish. What starts as a sci-fi setup quickly becomes something more intimate: a story about love, regret, and the little moments we cling to.
Built in RPG Maker, it skips traditional gameplay almost entirely. There’s no combat, no puzzles—just dialogue, music, and one emotional gut punch after another. It feels like reading a quiet novella, one that sneaks up on you and lingers long after it ends.
If you’ve ever cried at the end of a book, this game will feel familiar. It’s gentle, honest, and unforgettable.
8. Life is Strange
Life is Strange plays like a high school drama novel with a supernatural twist. You’re Max, a photography student who discovers she can rewind time—just as her best friend Chloe pulls her back into a town full of secrets. Every choice feels heavy, and every rewind reveals a little more about the people around you.
The game leans into emotion and character over action. It’s full of quiet conversations, vulnerable moments, and slow-building tension that hits like a great YA book. The pacing, tone, and diary-style narration pull you in like you’re reading Max’s journal.
Underneath the time mechanics is a story about friendship, identity, and the messiness of growing up—and it sticks with you long after you’ve made your final choice.
7. Firewatch
Firewatch is a game where not much happens—and that’s exactly the point. You play as Henry, a man who takes a job watching for wildfires in a remote Wyoming forest. Your only connection to the outside world is Delilah, a voice on the other end of a walkie-talkie.
What unfolds is a quiet, introspective story about isolation, grief, and the need to feel understood. There’s no combat or puzzles—just walking, talking, and wondering what’s really going on in the woods around you.
The writing is smart and grounded, with dialogue that feels like flipping through a thoughtful, slow-burning novel. It’s not about solving a mystery. It’s about what the mystery means to the person running from his own life.
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like reading a sweeping Western epic—slow, detailed, and rich with character. You play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw wrestling with loyalty, change, and his place in a fading world. The game doesn’t rush. It lets you sit with moments, ride in silence, or talk with your gang around the fire.
The story takes its time, but it earns it. Relationships shift. Regrets build. Every chapter feels like a new act in a long, tragic novel.
While the open world is impressive, it’s the writing that carries it. Arthur’s journal alone reads like a novel in progress—raw, reflective, and full of quiet truths. It’s not just a cowboy game. It’s a story about how people break, rebuild, and move on.
5. What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of short stories wrapped in a family mystery. You return to the Finch house, a towering, maze-like home full of sealed rooms and long-forgotten memories. As you explore, each relative’s story unfolds in a different gameplay style—some whimsical, some tragic, all incredibly creative.
The game feels like reading a short story anthology with a shared emotional core. Every tale has its own voice and perspective, making the family’s strange history feel both magical and painfully human.
It’s not a long game, but every moment feels carefully considered. Like a good book, it leaves space between the words—and trusts you to fill in the rest.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 doesn’t just adapt a book series—it feels like one. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter navigating a war-torn world full of magic, politics, and people with complicated motives. The writing isn’t just strong—it’s layered, sharp, and often subtle.
Every quest, even the smallest, feels like a self-contained short story. Characters remember what you’ve done. Choices ripple through the world. It never treats your decisions like throwaway moments.
What makes it special isn’t just the main plot—it’s the way the side stories quietly build a living world. If you love fantasy novels that balance grit with heart, The Witcher 3 delivers that experience in full, one page—or dialogue choice—at a time.
3. The Walking Dead (Season 1)
The Walking Dead isn’t just about zombies—it’s about people, and the impossible choices they face. You play as Lee, a man with a complicated past who becomes the protector of a young girl named Clementine. The world is falling apart, but your focus stays small: survival, trust, and doing what’s right when everything feels wrong.
This game helped redefine what interactive storytelling could be. Dialogue choices matter. Relationships change. And some decisions come back when you least expect it.
What makes it feel like reading a good book is how much you care. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, and the ending still hits like a punch to the chest. It’s one of the most emotionally grounded stories in gaming—and a true modern classic.
2. Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium reads like a gritty detective novel you’d find on a dusty shelf—except the narrator is your own fractured mind. You play as a down-and-out cop with no memory, solving a murder while debating politics, morality, and meaning with the voices in your head.
The writing can be overwhelming, but it’s brilliant. Dialogue choices aren’t just lines—they’re reflections of your internal battle. One moment you’re piecing together a case, the next you’re spiraling into existential dread because your tie insulted you.
There’s no combat, just conversation and consequence. Every decision reveals something about the world—or yourself. If you’ve ever loved a novel for its messy characters, sharp wit, or philosophical weight, Disco Elysium gives you all that—and lets you live it.
1. The Last of Us
The Last of Us isn’t just cinematic—it’s deeply literary. Its post-apocalyptic setting frames a quiet, brutal, and often beautiful story about survival and connection. You play as Joel, a hardened smuggler, and Ellie, a teenage girl who may hold the key to humanity’s future. What starts as a job becomes something closer to family—and everything that comes with it.
The writing is tight and grounded, with emotional moments that feel earned rather than forced. Conversations matter. Silences matter. Like the best books, it trusts you to sit with things instead of rushing to explain them.
It’s a story about what we cling to when the world falls apart—and what we’re willing to do for the people we love. If any game reads like a great novel, it’s this one.
Stories You Don’t Just Play—You Feel
Some games entertain. Others give you something to think about. But the best ones feel like finishing a great book—one that sticks with you long after you put it down. Whether it’s a slow-burning mystery, a sprawling fantasy, or a quiet emotional moment that hits harder than expected, these ten games prove that storytelling in gaming isn’t just catching up to literature—it’s carving out its own shelf.
So if you’ve ever wanted to get lost in a game the same way you lose yourself in a good book, these titles are a great place to start.
What game felt like a novel to you? Drop it in the comments—we’re always looking for a new story to dive into.
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