When credits roll at the end of any medium, whether it be film, are, or TV, the true determining factor of their quality is what is remembered about them. A bad ending can sour an otherwise great experience just as a good ending can often save what was once a terrible one. While players are often more likely to remember gameplay before anything else, some games are best considered amazing for their narrative and dialogue.

While the early parts of gaming history were light on dialogue and story and held back in this regard by limited technology, great dialogue has become the standard in the gaming industry, and it is easy to notice when a game stands out. From classic titles like Assasin’s Creed 2 to more modern narrative masterpieces like Red Dead Redemption 2, dialogue has become such a standout for gaming that it can often eclipse other parts of the medium.

10 Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead is Uniquely Interactive

Lee Everett’s Dialogue is Impactful and Poignant

While Telltale Games closed down in 2018, their narrative-driven experiences are some of the most intriguing in all gaming. Each of the parts of the game was split into regularly released episodes, which gave it the feel of a TV show. What set Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead apart from other games was its interactive nature and how each dialogue choice that a player selected had an immense impact on the story of the game.

Telltale Games‘ The Walking Dead had players take on the role of Lee Everett, a former history professor and criminal. Fans have to help him take care of Clementine, who sees him as a father figure. Each dialogue option often comes with the phrase “X will remember this,” which helps players know that their choices have a level of gravity to them and that the story is not entirely linear. Telltale Games may have gone under, but the legacy of this game and how it impacted story interactivity in gaming will continue to live on in the hearts of fans for years to come.

9 Remedy Entertainment Has a Knack for Excellent Script Writing

The Alan Wake Franchise is a Masterpiece of Storytelling

Remedy Entertainment was founded in 1995 in Espoo, Finland, and the company has been a master of storytelling ever since. From Max Payne to Control, Remedy has created magnificent worlds and phenomenal characters for almost 30 years. Their best story dialogue is present in the Alan Wake franchise, as it is a masterwork of horror/thriller story writing.

Alan Wake 2 received several awards for its fantastic story, and its main characters’ believable performances and dialogue are why. Alan Wake is one of the most intriguing protagonists in gaming, and his dialogue portrays this through a mix of fame and fear. While fans waited several years to see a sequel to the original title, it was worth the wait, as the dialogue and narrative in Alan Wake are some of the best in gaming.

8 Night in the Woods is One of the Most Well-Written Indie Titles

Mae’s Struggle is a Heartwarming and Relatable Narrative

Indie games often have some of the most well-written dialogue, and Night in the Woods is a standout. This fantastic coming-of-age story focuses on the struggles of its protagonist, Mae, as she tries to deal with the struggles in her life after dropping out of college. The intriguing part of Night in the Woods dialogue is how each character speaks.

Each of the four main characters (Mae, Bea, Gregg, and Angus) speaks in a way that is reflective of a major character trait. This allows every dialogue choice that players choose to feel unique from the last, even if they ultimately only have a minor impact on the narrative. Night in the Woods dialogue is thoroughly engrossing, and it keeps players engaged with the mystery of the game, even if its resolution does fall slightly flat.

7 Ubisoft’s Main Series is Filled with Phenomenal Writing

Assassin’s Creed II is a Standout in Open-World Gaming

Few open-world games match the drama and tension that is present in the dialogue of the early Assassin’s Creed titles. While the franchise may have lost some of its writing edge in more recent entries, Assassin’s Creed II still holds up as one of the most well-written adventure games of all time.

Throughout Assassin’s Creed II, players take on the role of Ezio Auditore da Firenze as he goes throughout Italy taking out members of the templar before setting his sights on Rodrigo Borgia, the man who murdered his father. The dialogue of the game is filled with drama, but also with humor and wit, as its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most entertaining side characters in gaming. While the Assassin’s Creed franchise has lost some of its footing over the years and its narratives have become more simplistic, this early title still holds up as a phenomenal story.

6 NieR Automata’s Dialogue is Anything But Robotic

Square Enix and Platinum Games’ Surreal Story is an Amazing Experience

Many works of fiction featuring robots, androids, cyborgs and the like often have dialogue that reflects this. By falling into this trope, these lines feel off and unrealistic, making players unable to become immersed in the narrative. Luckily, Square Enix and Platinum Games’ NieR: Automata avoids falling into this habit and manages to craft some of the most endearing dialogue in all gaming.

Through NieR: Automata, players embody Yorha 2B as she explores a post-apocalyptic world along with her partner, 9s. The two main characters behave completely differently, which makes how their dialogue plays off of each other even more intriguing. Overall, this classic character action game is not only a fun experience, but also a phenomenally well-written title that will have players thinking about it long after they roll credits.

NieR: Automata

After trading fisticuffs with a Transformer, cartwheeling around a bullet-spewing tank controlled by evil clowns, and using a moose to buck your way through killer robots, it’s safe to say that there are very few games quite like Nier: Automata. At different times it’s a hack-and-slash, an RPG, a shoot-’em-up, a brawler, and even a text adventure. But no matter which style it is at any given moment, this dazzling hybrid delivers 30-plus hours of fantastically fun action, remarkable locations, and a story so weird we doubt you’ll forget it anytime soon.

Not every game has to be serious with its dialogue, and some games even excel at avoiding this in making comedic narratives. The Ace Attorney franchise has the best of both worlds, as its dialogue manages to be witty and clever all while also maintaining a serious tone. Capcom’s visual novel series is one of the most spectacular dramedies in gaming and its characters are a major reason why.

Throughout the series, players take the role of Phoenix Wright, an amazing defense attorney who is often tasked with tackling the hardest cases. This leads to some hilarious dialogue including, but not limited to, players interrogating a parrot to find out how their rival was framed for murder. Instances like these are common throughout the Ace Attorney franchise, which makes the story-driven franchise one of the best visual novels of all time.

4 Some of the Best Dialogue is Often The Weirdest

The Stanley Parable is a Great Meta Commentary on Game Design and Destiny

Some gamers seem to despise the idea of the “walking simulator,” a game that is driven entirely by its narrative with very minor gameplay elements aimed at breaking up the monotony. This unfortunately leads to some players missing out on intriguing and often inventive experiences like Death Stranding and The Stanley Parable. While some games attempt to be a commentary on human life, The Stanley Parable is one of the best at doing so.

Throughout The Stanley Parable, players assume the role of Stanley, a silent protagonist whose story is told entirely based on the narrator, who is striving to push players forward on his path. The most intriguing part of the game is what happens to the dialogue when players disobey the narrator, as the story completely changes. While some gamers might find the game boring, its commentary on the nature of destiny as well as game design as a whole make it an interesting experience for everyone to enjoy.

3 The Western Genre is an Often Unexplored Delight

Red Dead Redemption 2 Features One of the Best Character Arcs in Gaming

In the modern era of media, it can be difficult to find a Western genre that feels endearing to its players/watchers and not just a parody of old stories that were much better than their modern counterparts. Fortunately, Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most beloved western games of all time and its phenomenal writing has carried the amazing title to numerous awards.

Arthur Morgan is one of the most intriguing characters in open-world gaming and his tragic story is endearing to all players. While the other games in the franchise also excel with their portrayal of the Wild West, this fantastic title excels in its writing, down to the classic Western expressions and portrayals of cowboys as heroic outlaws.

2 This Rougelike Goes Above and Beyond Expectations

Hades is the Most Story Centric Roguelike

Most roguelikes focus entirely on their gameplay, giving a rather bare bones story to explain why players return to the start of the game at each failed attempt. Supergiant Games’ Hades does not fall into this trend, as each one of its characters, as well as their dialogue, is phenomenally written to provide a rich narrative that is a great depiction of Greek mythology.

At its core, Hades‘ story features the protagonist, Zagreus, attempting to escape the Underworld by defeating his father, Hades, to visit his mother. While most roguelikes would stop at that basic premise, this game does not and instead provides each character with a gripping personality and nuanced personality that will keep players grinding more runs even after they have finished the main story.

1 The Last of Us Franchise is The Best Written Script in Gaming

Joel and Ellie’s Post-Apocalyptic Journey is as Endearing as it is Heartbreaking

The Last of Us franchise features some of the most beloved writing in all gaming, which has made both games hits with fans and the standard by which modern game stories are judged. While most games excel in either drama, comedy, or horror, Naughty Dog’s hit post-apocalyptic series succeeds in all three with fantastic results.

The bond between Joel and Ellie is one of the best written father-daughter relationships in gaming, and how it falls apart is one of the most well-written parts of any game in the past 15 years. While certain parts of the sequel are looked down upon, it cannot be denied that The Last of Us franchise has stellar writing and the ending to the first title is one of the most poignant in gaming.