Best PC games with captivating storylines

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a computer game in the Action/RPG genre based on the books by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. It is the third part of the series and tells the adventures of the witcher Geralt of Rivia. The previous parts also have a great storyline and if possible, it is recommended to start exploring the game universe from the first part (The Witcher).

The game takes place in a fictional fantasy world where humans, elves, dwarves, various types of monsters and creatures coexist on one land. The main character is Geralt, a witcher with unusual abilities that help him hunt monsters. Geralt travels the world and offers his services in searching for missing people, killing monsters, and investigating complex and strange cases.

The events of The Witcher 3 take place during the war between Nilfgaard and Redania. Shortly before that, Geralt's adoptive daughter disappears under mysterious circumstances, and the witcher sets out to find her. The main character will have to visit many locations and cities such as Novigrad, the lands of Velen, the capital of Temeria, the Skellige Islands, and more.

The game has excellent graphics, gameplay design, sounds, and music. Currently, over 30 million copies of the game have been sold on PC and consoles. In 2015 and 2016, two expansions were released, expanding the universe with new captivating stories.

Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3

The Mass Effect series is a computer game series in the Action/RPG genre developed by Canadian studio BioWare. The first part, Mass Effect, was developed as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but in 2008 the project was ported to PC and PS3. The subsequent parts were released simultaneously on Microsoft's home console and PC.

The events of the Mass Effect series take place in an alternative universe in the 22nd century. Thanks to technological advancements, humanity has discovered mass relays for interstellar travel and exploration of the Milky Way galaxy.

The mass relays were left by an ancient alien race - the Protheans. The mass relays allow for the manipulation of mass, enabling faster-than-light travel. In addition to humanity, the universe is inhabited by other highly advanced civilizations such as Asari, Turians, Krogan, and Salarians, who are united under the Citadel Council.

Despite its significant age in terms of video games, the Mass Effect series has not lost its individuality. In spring 2021, remasters of all parts were released with updated graphics and interfaces to accommodate modern platforms.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the fifth installment in the computer role-playing game series developed by American company Bethesda Game Studios. The game takes place 200 years after the events of the previous part, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, on the fictional continent of Tamriel in the province of Skyrim.

The game is set in the year 201 of the Fourth Era, 30 years after the war between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. The peace treaty signed between the two sides was not in favor of the Empire's residents, leading to the rise of various anti-government factions. At this time, the Nords, who are part of the "Stormcloak Rebellion," organize a rebellion against the ruling elite of the Empire, marking the beginning of a civil war.

The player assumes the role of one of the rebels, who is delivered to Helgen for execution. By chance, during the reading of the sentence, the fortress is attacked by a dragon named Alduin, and the player manages to escape. During the escape, the player must choose which side to join - the Stormcloak Rebellion or the Empire.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has sold over 30 million copies. It has three expansions and numerous story, graphical, and other modifications. Skyrim is considered a cult RPG among players for its well-developed game world, graphics, and freedom of choice.

Dragon Age: Origins

The second game in our selection from Canadian studio BioWare. Dragon Age: Origins is a role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world. According to the developers, it is the spiritual successor to the cult series Baldur's Gate.

The game takes place on the continent of Thedas in the kingdom of Ferelden, inhabited by several races, including humans, elves, and dwarves. In addition to the physical realm, the game features a "spirit world" and the "Fade," where demons reside. The main religion for the kingdom's inhabitants is a kind of Christianity with a single God. Before starting the game, the player must create a character whose appearance has a minimal impact on the game's plot.

The available character options for creation are:

• noble human;
• human or elf mage;
• Dalish elf;
• city elf;
• dwarven commoner;
• dwarven noble.

After creating the character, the player must go through a short backstory that tells the story of the character's development. During any playthrough, the player encounters the guard Duncan and joins the ranks of the Grey Wardens to fight the "Darkspawn." Together with Duncan, the hero sets off to the fortress for initiation. This is where the narrative and adventures in the world of Dragon Age: Origins begin.

Currently, seven downloadable content expansions are available, introducing quest chains and tasks, as well as a major add-on called "Awakening." Origins is considered the best part of the Dragon Age game series.

Mafia 1, Mafia 2

The Mafia series is a third-person shooter game series from Czech studio 2K Czech. The first part, Mafia, was released in 2002 on PC, featuring an open world and realistic vehicle controls. In 2020, the first and second parts were re-released under the name Mafia: Definitive Edition.

The first part was remastered with a new graphics engine, completely redesigned levels, environments, vehicles, and character models, while retaining the original storyline. The second part received cosmetic improvements to textures and lighting.

The events of the original Mafia (1930) tell the story of a taxi driver named Tommy Angelo, who, through a series of events, gets involved in organized crime. He must join one of the two factions controlling the city of Lost Heaven.

Despite different storylines, both parts of Mafia deserve attention, especially for fans of crime detective and drama. The games have a stunning atmosphere of the mid-20th century.

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a computer game in the Action/RPG genre based on the books of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. It is the third part of the series and tells the adventures of the witcher Geralt of Rivia. The previous parts also have a great storyline, and if possible, it is recommended to start exploring the game universe from the first part (The Witcher).

The game takes place in a fictional fantasy world where humans, elves, dwarves, various types of monsters, and creatures inhabit the same land. The main character is Geralt, a witcher with unique abilities that help him hunt monsters. Geralt travels the world and offers his services in finding missing people, killing monsters, and investigating complex and strange cases.

The events of The Witcher 3 revolve around the war between Nilfgaard and Redania. Shortly before this, Geralt's adopted daughter disappears under mysterious circumstances, and the witcher sets out to find her. The main character will have to visit many places and cities, such as Novigrad, the lands of Velen, the capital of Temeria, the Skellige Islands, and more.

The game has excellent graphics, game design, sound, and music. Currently, over 30 million copies of the game have been sold on PC and consoles. In 2015 and 2016, two expansions were released, expanding the universe with new captivating stories.

Starcraft 1, Starcraft 2

A series of real-time strategy games from the well-known company Blizzard Entertainment. The first part was released in 1997 and includes the original campaign and the expansion called "Brood War." The second part saw the light of day twelve years later in 2010 and consists of three episodes - Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void.

The story of Starcraft revolves around the confrontation of three playable races: Terran, Zerg, and Protoss. The player must complete separate campaigns for each race, divided into dozens of missions. The game's events begin in 2499 when the Terrans encounter the hostile alien race known as the Zerg.

After a bloody war between the orcs and humans, the Alliance, consisting of humans, elves, and dwarves, emerges victorious. The remaining orcs, led by their leader Thrall, are forced to flee their homeland and seek refuge in the land of Kalimdor.

The story campaign begins with the Alliance's action, where we learn about the fate of the young prince Arthas, who plays a key role in the Warcraft storyline. This is followed by the Undead and Orc campaigns. By using this narrative technique, where the storytelling is done through three playable races, the developers were able to fully immerse the player in the world and events of the game.

Both parts of StarCraft II tell an engaging story, spanning over 30 missions, that revolves around war, politics, betrayals, and friendship.