The Best Narrative Games for Xbox One

Update, : Under the Waves added at rank #31.
1

Pentiment (2022)

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87
Review score
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Xbox One Xbox Series X PC Windows

Pentiment can be seen as a educational game set in the 15th century, combining point-and-click adventure with role-playing elements and a branching narrative. It follows Andreas Mahler as he tries to clear his friend's name while uncovering the secrets of a small Bavarian town.


Pros:
  • Captivating story
  • Immersive atmosphere
  • Beautiful visuals and sound
  • Interesting characters and dialogue
  • Deep RPG elements and replayability
Cons:
  • Limited number of puzzles which are not particularly challenging

  • historical
  • narrative
  • mystery
  • medieval
  • choices
  • rpg
  • book
  • crime
  • adventure
  • detective
  • story
  • fiction
  • stylized
  • local
  • education

2

Beacon Pines (2022)

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87
Review score
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Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch PC Windows Xbox One

Dive into the mysteries of Beacon Pines, a charming yet eerie adventure where you control the fate of the story. As Luka, you'll uncover hidden truths, meet memorable characters, and explore stunning hand-drawn landscapes. With multiple endings to discover, you'll be captivated by this immersive tale filled with surprising twists.


Pros:
  • Intriguing and creative story
  • Well-developed, memorable characters
  • Multiple endings based on your choices
  • Stunning hand-drawn art
  • Engaging gameplay mechanics
Cons:
  • The large number of characters can be overwhelming

  • choices
  • narrative
  • visual-novel
  • mystery
  • cute
  • cozy
  • adventure
  • narration
  • exploration
  • story
  • emotional
  • colourful
  • interactive
  • horror
  • conspiracy

3

Venba (2023)

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83
Review score
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Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X/s Playstation 5 Xbox One PC Windows Xbox Series X

Venba is a short narrative cooking game, where you play as an Indian mom, who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Players will cook various dishes and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations and explore in this story about family, love, loss and more.


  • narrative
  • cooking
  • 1980s
  • puzzle
  • conversation
  • visual-novel
  • emotional
  • soundtrack
  • cinematic
  • stylized
  • fiction
  • story
  • interactive
  • choices

4

Mutazione (2019)

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90
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 IOS iPhone Mac OS Linux Xbox One Nintendo Switch

Get lost in the magical world of Mutazione, a narrative-driven adventure game where you explore an island filled with quirky mutant characters and their secrets. Grow musical gardens, attend BBQs, and embark on a spiritual journey to save the community from a looming darkness. With beautiful hand-illustrated art and unpredictable twists, Mutazione is a mutant soap opera that you won't want to miss.


Pros:
  • Unique and beautiful art style
  • Relaxing music
  • Story-focused gameplay
  • Quirky and interesting characters
  • Encourages the player to slow down and relax
Cons:
  • Repetitive gameplay, mostly a visual novel
  • No voice acting
  • Slow parts may be boring for some players
  • Contains adult themes that may not be suitable for younger children

  • drama
  • narrative
  • supernatural
  • relaxing
  • adventure
  • walking-simulator
  • point-and-click
  • nature
  • exploration
  • fiction
  • music
  • story
  • scroller
  • bird
  • procedural

5

The Forgotten City (2021)

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89
Review score
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Playstation 5 Xbox One PC Windows Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch

Unravel the mysteries of The Forgotten City, a time-looping adventure set in an ancient Roman city. Engage with well-crafted characters, navigate ethical dilemmas, and uncover secrets that will keep you hooked. Despite its humble origins as a Skyrim mod, this game offers a captivating experience with multiple endings, making every decision count.


Pros:
  • Gripping story with clever twists
  • Immersive, detailed visuals
  • Strong voice performances
  • Thought-provoking themes and ethical dilemmas
  • Multiple dialogue options and quest-solving approaches
Cons:
  • Backtracking can be tedious
  • Limited impact of player's chosen backstory
  • Occasional slowdowns and glitches
  • Fixed map despite vast experience

  • mystery
  • narrative
  • adventure
  • rpg
  • story
  • historical
  • exploration
  • skyrim
  • combat
  • crime
  • thought-provoking
  • discovery
  • puzzle
  • first-person

6

Bugsnax (2020)

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86
Review score
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Playstation 5 IOS iPhone Mac OS PC Windows Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 4 (IOS iPhone)

Catch mysterious living snacks and feed them to your friends in this unusual island adventure!


  • puzzle
  • narrative
  • mystery
  • adventure
  • cute
  • muppet
  • horror
  • inventive
  • first-person
  • story
  • discovery
  • colourful
  • controller-support
  • physics
  • comedy

7

Wayward Strand (2022)

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79
Review score
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Xbox One Nintendo Switch PC Windows Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Xbox Series X/s

Wayward Strand is a heartfelt story told in a curious way. Hop aboard an airborne hospital and meet its fully-voiced cast of eclectic characters. As time passes for everyone on board, explore the interwoven lives of the patients and staff; discover something new on each and every playthrough.


  • narrative
  • wholesome
  • cozy
  • choices
  • story
  • drama
  • emotional
  • conversation
  • real-time
  • relaxing
  • adventure
  • book
  • stylized
  • historical
  • mystery

8

Life is Strange: True Colors (2021)

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82
Review score
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Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows Xbox Series X Xbox One stadia Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone

Experience a bold new era in the award-winning Life is Strange series with Life is Strange: True Colors. Uncover the shocking secrets behind your brother's death as you navigate through an emotional roller-coaster of an adventure. Harness the power of Empathy to change fate and forge deep relationships with the townsfolk. Make tough decisions, explore the vibrant town of Haven Springs, and discover your own voice. With a captivating story, unforgettable characters, and an exclusive soundtrack, this game is a must-play.


Pros:
  • Beautiful graphics and realistic scenery
  • Engaging slice-of-life gameplay
  • Unique power to control emotions
  • Realistic portrayal of difficult topics
  • Enjoyable romance options
Cons:
  • Predictable plot and lack of impactful choices
  • Episodes feel rushed and underdeveloped
  • Limited character interaction after emotional moments
  • Short gameplay and shallow character relationships

  • narrative
  • episodic
  • supernatural
  • mystery
  • story
  • drama
  • choices
  • romance
  • adventure
  • local
  • romantic
  • puzzle

9

As Dusk Falls (2022)

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78
Review score
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PC Windows Xbox One Xbox Series X Android IOS iPhone

As Dusk Falls is an interactive narrative adventure game that follows the story of several protagonists, offering immense replayability with its range of choice and consequence. It combines point and click with dynamic action sequences while also tracking players' styles and awarding them cards based on their choices.


Pros:
  • Professional actors portray characters with complete backstories
  • Two unique features (group entertainment mode and broadcast mode)
  • Captivating soundtrack
  • Stop-motion graphics style
  • Excellent voice acting
  • Meaningful choices with varied consequences
Cons:
  • Lack of control over some elements of the story
  • Some aspects can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs

  • drama
  • narrative
  • interactive
  • crime
  • quick-time-event
  • choices
  • multiplayer
  • story
  • cooperative
  • book
  • graphic
  • controller-support
  • novel
  • thriller

10

Tacoma (2017)

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90
Review score
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Mac OS Linux Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows

Tacoma is a sci-fi narrative adventure from the creators of Gone Home. Set aboard a high-tech space station in the year 2088, explore every detail of how the station’s crew lived and worked, finding the clues that add up to a gripping story of trust, fear, and resolve in the face of disaster.


  • narrative
  • sci-fi
  • walking-simulator
  • augmented
  • story
  • exploration
  • futuristic
  • mystery
  • pause
  • augmented-reality
  • interactive
  • discovery
  • first-person

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