What makes these games great isn’t the praise or the loot. It’s what you learn along the way that matters. Some of the best video game experiences are ones that take us away into a fantastical story full of action, heart, and most of all, adventure. In their own ways, killing enemies, building a civilization, and racing along the Daytona Speedway are all thrilling. But nothing quite compares to a Bilbo Baggins-esque journey.
In the modern world, video games are more popular than ever. They give you the feeling of walking through a wide-open countryside and meeting famous people and interesting events along the way. But in the end, character development, memorable moments, and a good story are usually what make the best journey in games.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt of Rivia, who is always calm, is used to going on quests all over the world, fighting scary monsters, and getting caught up in the politics of warring local groups. But his journey in The Witcher 3 starts off on the right foot when he goes looking for his ex-girlfriend Yennefer. Once he finds her, though, he finds out quickly that his adopted daughter, Ciri, is out in the world being chased by a group of ghosts from another world called the Wild Hunt.
In his search for Ciri, Geralt has to go to places like Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige, where he has to find allies and keep killing monsters on the side. He must make a living after all. It’s a hard journey with many ups and downs that will be remembered more than the end.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Not many games let you go right for the final boss as soon as the adventure starts. But in Breath of the Wild, you can do that if you want to. Link isn’t very strong, so he has no chance against the evil Ganon, who is eating away at Hyrule Castle. So, most of you know that they have to go on a quest to find allies who will help them fight Ganon in the end.
Hyrule is a big, strange land. Link will see and learn about a lot of interesting things along the way. Also, the world is full of strange people who are eager to talk to Link, for better or for worse. You can try to beat Ganon right away, that’s fine. But why waste hundreds of hours of fun? In the end, that’s what it all comes down to.
God Of War (2018)
In the 2018 movie God of War, Kratos is a long way from his home in ancient Greece. He’s much older and wiser now, and his wife Faye has died, leaving him to raise their son on his own. The first task, though, is to spread her ashes on the tallest mountain peak in all the realms.
Even though this seems like a simple goal, it is full of dangers and challenges that this father and son must face together and overcome. We’re told a story about a distant father who has always avoided emotional connections with his son because of his violent past. The best part of this story is how these two characters become friends during their journey.
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us by Naughty Dog isn’t a game for the weak of heart. It is a dark and dreary world after the end of the world, and most of the people have been turned into horrible monsters by a fungal infection caused by cordyceps. If you haven’t heard of The Last of Us by now, you’ve probably been living under a rock.
Still, the adventure is notable in gaming because it is about a man with a dark past who is forced to work with a young teen girl as they fight for their lives. The story of Joel and Ellie is well-known, and there’s nothing more moving than seeing how they grow to care for each other through happiness and sadness.
Red Dead Redemption
In Red Dead Redemption, John Marston is definitely a soul that has been through a lot. John used to be in a gang that did horrible things in the wild West. Now, he wants to protect his family by doing what two federal agents tell him to do: hunt down the other members of his old gang.
Through this journey, we get to know what kind of person John is. Though sometimes that depends on what the player does. But in the end, his adventures on this trip will be remembered, especially after the sad end to his story.
Death Stranding
Death Stranding is the one game that is all about the journey more than anything else. In a grim future, the whole story is about how Sam Porter Bridges builds a network across what used to be the United States.
To do this, he has to safely deliver cargo that helps different settlements get more supplies. Along the way, he meets some interesting people and grows close to his BB. The baby who helps protect him from the supernatural dangers of this world. Death Stranding has a lot to like, but the journey is the best part.
Ghost Of Tsushima
In Ghost of Tsushima, you play as Jin Sakai, a lone samurai who has to defend his home from the Mongol Empire. The game is set in feudal Japan. At first, he has to follow the samurai’s code of honor and ethics. But when he is on the road by himself, he starts to break away from the groupthink of his old guard. And realizes that his home is the most important thing, no matter how hard he fights for it.
He starts to use fighting styles that the samurai think are dishonorable. Ones that are more like ninjitsu and focus on sneaking around. Jin is on a journey to find out more about himself as he struggles with his own beliefs and the kind of man he wants to become.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
You could have put any of the Uncharted games on this list. All of them are about the excitement of going on an adventure and finding new things. Just like the Indiana Jones movies, which clearly inspired the series. But Uncharted 4 is the end of Nathan Drake’s journey as a treasure hunter who seems to be addicted to adrenaline.
Like any good ending, Slope Game is about Nathan getting back in touch with where he came from. Of course, the return of his long-lost brother is a big part of that. Nate Drake’s adventures have always been about the people he meets, and Uncharted 4 is no different.
