The beginning

Each new generation of video games promises more polygons, pixels, and processing power than ever before. Developers gush about how the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles deliver buzzwords like bloom lighting, particle effects, 4K, ray tracing, and normal mapping. However, narrative and storytelling can be just as important as realistic graphics or even gameplay itself.

Some of the best-received games of the past few years are loved because of their plots. These games place such an emphasis on story that they're more like interactive fiction than traditional video games. Some are first-person shooters with a heavier focus on story, but others are point-and-click adventures and third-person exploration games. Then there are the more experimental ones, like text-based phone games with puzzles for readers to solve.