GamingPickz
Theme · ranked

Top 25 Story-Rich Games for 2026

Which games are worth playing for the writing?

Games where the narrative is the reason to be there, not the frame around the systems.

708 catalogued, top 25 ranked below

The story-rich games on a map

Compare the whole catalogue

The same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.

25 games have both

9310068100Players →Popularity →

Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.

Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.

Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.

  • Mobile
  • Multi-platform
  • PC
  • PlayStation

Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.

How positions are decided

No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
  • Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
  • Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
  • No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
  • A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
  • Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.

How to choose between these

25 entries, six things that separate them

The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 story-rich games, in the order worth thinking about it.

  1. Check the sample size before the score

    A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 25 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.

  2. Look at where critics and players disagree

    The widest gap here is Hollow Knight, where players sit above critics by 10 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.

  3. Decide what you are actually willing to spend

    The median here is $24.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Tomb Raider Game of the Year at $2.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.

  4. Match it to the hardware you own

    21 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.

  5. Check it supports how you want to play

    Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.

  6. Look for the things a score hides

    8 declare six or more accessibility features, and 0 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.

Choose one if…

Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.

Nothing selected, so all 25 story-rich games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.

Still to come

6 unreleased story-rich games are on the way. They carry no score, because nothing has been received yet, only a note of how many people have wishlisted them.

Upcoming story-rich games

story-rich games by the numbers

The figures below describe all 25 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 2 September 2026, from 8,353,552 player reviews.

$24.99Median price$2.99 to $59.99
97%Median player sentiment13 pts above the catalogue average
4 ptsSpread, best to worst25 at 90% or better · 0 under 70%
2019Median release year9 from the last five years · oldest 1998
3Discounted right nowaveraging 55% off list
21Steam Deck Verified36 GB average install

What the pricing looks like

25 of the 25 carry a listed US price, with a median of $24.99 and a mean of $30.87. The mean sitting above the median tells you the field is pulled up by a few expensive outliers. The cheapest is Tomb Raider Game of the Year at $2.99, the most expensive Black Myth: Wukong at $59.99. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.

How much this field agrees with itself

Player sentiment spans 4 points across these 25 entries. That is a narrow band, which means the ranking is separating good from good, and the entries below the top few are not meaningfully worse. 20 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 92 out of 100. Players rate this field 5 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.

Who makes them, and what they overlap with

The studios appearing most often here are Capcom (2), Larian Studios (2), Supergiant Games (2), Valve (2) and 8-4 (1). The genres these entries also sit in are rpg (12), fps (3), horror (3), simulation (2), strategy (2) and action-adventure (1), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.

Which way attention is moving

We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 6 of these. 2 are gaining attention and 3 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.

Update history 1
  1. First published with 25 entries ranked.

Common questions

What is the best story-rich game in 2026?

Black Myth: Wukong ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.7 out of 10. That score is computed from player sentiment adjusted for sample size, critic reception and popularity, using the weights published on this page.

How many story-rich games are there?

We track 708 story-rich games. Games with fewer than 50 player reviews are excluded from the ranking, because a percentage with no sample behind it is not a measurement.

How is this list ranked?

By a published formula, not by editorial preference. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it, then weighted against critic scores and popularity. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.

How often is this updated?

Recomputed on every build from data read on a stated date. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than the top or bottom.

Reader comments

Comments are not switched on yet. When they are, they will be moderated before they appear: an unmoderated thread on a page carrying advertising is a policy problem as well as a reading problem.

25 best story-rich games, ranked

Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.

Sort by
  1. 1Black Myth: Wukong logo

    Black Myth: Wukong

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Black Myth: Wukong at a glance
    Released2024StudioGame Science
    Player sentiment96% positive of 1,209,348CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$59.99Steam Deckunsupported
    Install size130 GBAccessibility4 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 1,209,348 reviews, giving 9.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 1,209,348 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.
    • Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  2. 2Baldur's Gate 3 logo

    Baldur's Gate 3

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    9.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Baldur's Gate 3 at a glance
    Released2023StudioLarian Studios
    Player sentiment97% positive of 855,414Critics96/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size150 GBAccessibility10 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 855,414 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.6.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 855,414 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  3. 3Portal 2 logo

    Portal 2

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Portal 2 at a glance
    Released2011StudioValve
    Player sentiment99% positive of 466,026Critics95/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size8 GBAccessibility7 declared features

    Raw 99% shrinks to 99.0 on 466,026 reviews, then blends with the 95 critic aggregate, giving 9.6.

    What the data supports
    • 99% positive across 466,026 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  4. 4Half-Life 2 logo

    Half-Life 2

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    9.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Half-Life 2 at a glance
    Released2004StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment98% positive of 278,618Critics96/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size6.35 GBAccessibility9 declared features

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 278,618 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.5.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 278,618 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    AndroidAndroid TabletPCPlayStation 3XboxXbox 360

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  5. 5The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt logo

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at a glance
    Released2015StudioCD Projekt RED
    Player sentiment97% positive of 885,535Critics93/100
    Price$49.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size50 GBAccessibility9 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 885,535 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 885,535 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  6. 6Hades logo

    Hades

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hades at a glance
    Released2020StudioSupergiant Games
    Player sentiment98% positive of 308,085Critics93/100
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size15 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 308,085 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 308,085 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  7. 7Half-Life logo

    Half-Life

    Best for: Playing with other people

    9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Half-Life at a glance
    Released1998StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment96% positive of 163,786Critics96/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility8 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 163,786 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 163,786 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PCPlayStation 2Steam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  8. 8Hollow Knight logo

    Hollow Knight

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hollow Knight at a glance
    Released2017StudioTeam Cherry
    Player sentiment97% positive of 559,290Critics87/100
    Price$14.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size9 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 559,290 reviews, then blends with the 87 critic aggregate, giving 9.3.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 559,290 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 9 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  9. 9The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim logo

    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at a glance
    Released2011StudioBethesda Game Studios
    Player sentiment95% positive of 317,769Critics94/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 317,769 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.3.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 317,769 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  10. 10Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition logo

    Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition at a glance
    Released2017StudioLarian Studios
    Player sentiment96% positive of 205,637Critics93/100
    Price$44.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size60 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 205,637 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.3.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 205,637 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  11. 11Portal logo

    Portal

    Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category

    9.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Portal at a glance
    Released2007StudioValve
    Player sentiment99% positive of 198,682Critics90/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility7 declared features

    Raw 99% shrinks to 99.0 on 198,682 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 9.3.

    What the data supports
    • 99% positive across 198,682 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  12. 12MiSide logo

    MiSide

    Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category

    9.3GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    MiSide at a glance
    Released2024StudioAIHASTO
    Player sentiment98% positive of 141,903CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$14.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size2 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 141,903 reviews, giving 9.3. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 141,903 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 2 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  13. 13DELTARUNE logo

    DELTARUNE

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.3GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    DELTARUNE at a glance
    Released2025Studiotobyfox
    Player sentiment98% positive of 133,535CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size1 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 133,535 reviews, giving 9.3. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 133,535 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 1 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  14. 14Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition logo

    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition at a glance
    Released2019StudioFromSoftware, Inc.
    Player sentiment95% positive of 354,898Critics88/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size25 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 354,898 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 354,898 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  15. 15Undertale logo

    Undertale

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Undertale at a glance
    Released2015Studio8-4
    Player sentiment96% positive of 338,731Critics92/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size0.2 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 338,731 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 338,731 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 0.2 GB.

    PlayStation VitaPCPlayStation 4Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  16. 16Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 logo

    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at a glance
    Released2025StudioSandfall Interactive
    Player sentiment95% positive of 277,064Critics91/100
    Price$47.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size55 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 277,064 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 277,064 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  17. 17Resident Evil 4 logo

    Resident Evil 4

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Resident Evil 4 at a glance
    Released2005StudioCapcom
    Player sentiment97% positive of 274,646Critics91/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 274,646 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 274,646 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    Nintendo GameCubeiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Portable

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  18. 18It Takes Two logo

    It Takes Two

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    It Takes Two at a glance
    Released2021StudioHazelight Studios
    Player sentiment95% positive of 268,937Critics89/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size50 GBAccessibility3 declared features

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 268,937 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 268,937 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  19. 19DAVE THE DIVER logo

    DAVE THE DIVER

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    DAVE THE DIVER at a glance
    Released2023StudioMINTROCKET
    Player sentiment97% positive of 161,518Critics90/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size10 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 161,518 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 161,518 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 10 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  20. 20Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered logo

    Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    9.2GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered at a glance
    Released2022StudioInsomniac Games
    Player sentiment96% positive of 142,256CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size75 GBAccessibility10 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 142,256 reviews, giving 9.2. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 142,256 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  21. 21Persona 5 Royal logo

    Persona 5 Royal

    Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Persona 5 Royal at a glance
    Released2022StudioATLUS
    Player sentiment96% positive of 138,589Critics95/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size41 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 138,589 reviews, then blends with the 95 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 138,589 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  22. 22Hades II logo

    Hades II

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hades II at a glance
    Released2025StudioSupergiant Games
    Player sentiment96% positive of 122,855Critics94/100
    Price$29.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size11 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 122,855 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 122,855 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 11 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  23. 23The Henry Stickmin Collection logo

    The Henry Stickmin Collection

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    The Henry Stickmin Collection at a glance
    Released2020StudioPuffballsUnited
    Player sentiment99% positive of 59,357CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$5.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size1 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 99% shrinks to 98.9 on 59,357 reviews, giving 9.2. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 1 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  24. 24Tomb Raider Game of the Year logo

    Tomb Raider Game of the Year

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Tomb Raider Game of the Year at a glance
    Released2013StudioCrystal Dynamics
    Player sentiment96% positive of 269,396Critics86/100
    Price$2.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 269,396 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 269,396 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  25. 25Resident Evil 2 logo

    Resident Evil 2

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Resident Evil 2 at a glance
    Released1998StudioCapcom
    Player sentiment97% positive of 221,677Critics89/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size26 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 221,677 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 221,677 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    Nintendo 64Nintendo GameCubePCPlayStationSteam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

Also catalogued

683 more story-rich games, not yet reviewed

None of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.

658 not shown

Other themes

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Zombie gamesWhich games are about the undead?Post-apocalyptic gamesWhich games are set after the end of the world?Open world gamesWhich games let you go anywhere?Survival gamesWhich games are about staying alive?Horror gamesWhich games are actually frightening?Psychological gamesWhich games get inside your head?Stealth gamesWhich games reward not being seen?Western gamesWhich games are set in the Old West?