Best Story-Driven Indie Games (September 2024)

Ready your tissues for a good cry

Narrative-Driven Games To Ease Your Mind

Deep And Emotional Stories Galore

Sometimes, gamers just need to wind down from all the action-packed video games and just take a breather. Let your hand-eye coordination rest and instead let your mind take in something that tugs at the heartstrings, or maybe even mess with your mind. If you want something to scratch that itch for a heartfelt and deep story, here are some recommendations from us here at Indie8 that you can get right now!

Closer The Distance

Slice-of-life simulator Closer the Distance explores the topics of guilt, acceptance, and the courage and willingness to move on after a loved one’s passing. Players will experience the lives of not one, not two, but over 13 different people, each with their own stories to tell and secrets to keep. After the passing of Angela, a young girl from the sleepy town of Yesterby, the family she left behind are struggling to pick up the pieces. Through Angela’s ethereal powers and the help of her sister Conny (as the only one who can still hear her sister’s ghost), you will need to guide the residents of Yesterby into a brighter tomorrow.

Closer the Distance is available to purchase on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One for $19.99 USD. You can learn more about it on Indie 8’s introductory article on Closer the Distance.

OneShot

OneShot is a puzzle-adventure game with strange twists and unique gameplay mechanics that “go beyond the game window.” You will play as protagonist Niko, a cat-like child who is tasked by the God of the mysterious world to restore its long-lost sun. Sounds easy on paper…but doing it is another thing. Niko—and you—will only have one shot at this. Will you take on the challenge?

OneShot can be purchased for PC through Steam for $9.99 USD, while the console adaptation World Machine Edition on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One can be bought for $14.99 USD. In addition, the World Machine Edition will be released on Steam on September 30th, which introduces a number of upgrades on a whole new engine and UI!

Night In The Woods

Another classic indie narrative adventure game, Night in the Woods lets you experience life as Mae Borowski, a college dropout who returned home to hopefully resume the aimless life she once had. But as with growing up, things change. Home is different—everyone is different, and have become adults. Mae is left behind. This doesn’t feel like home…and there’s something going on in the woods. Exploring different themes of existential crisis, and the loss of ambition, Night in the Woods may hit a little too close to home for some.

Night in the Woods is available to play on PC through Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 for $19.99 USD, and on iOS for $5.99 USD.

Wandersong

Be a silly but peaceful bard in Wandersong! This musical platforming adventure introduces an emotional narrative which incorporates the use of music to interact with almost everything in this colorful and vibrant world. As a “walking musical instrument” with a heart of gold and an equally…golden voice, different things and people will react differently to your music. Explore, solve puzzles, and meet dozens of characters.

Wandersong is on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch for $19.99 USD. However, the game is available for a low price of $4.99 on Nintendo Online for a limited time, so be sure to check it out while it’s available!

Figment

Another musical adventure to tickle your ears and your heart! Figment, however, is more focused on action and adventure, with puzzles scattered along the way. The world of Figment welcomes players into a strange and surreal world in the deep recesses of the human mind. However, this may not be just a figment of your imagination–-nightmarish thoughts have given birth to nightmarish creatures which now plague the mind that was once calm and peaceful. Take on the reins of Dusty, a manifestation of the mind’s voice of courage, and his optimistic friend, Piper, to eliminate the horrors within and to set things straight once again. Face your fears and return to your old self!

Figment is available to play on PC and macOS via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One for $19.99 USD. However, it’s currently on sale on Steam for 85% off at $2.99 USD!

Spiritfarer

Become the nicer version of Charon in the cozy management game Spiritfarer! Playing as Stella, the ferrymaster to the deceased, you will build and manage your boat to befriend and care for the spirits before they move on to the afterlife. There are plenty of activities to do, such as farming, mining, fishing, harvesting, cooking, and crafting, as your boat sails across the never-ending seas. Interact with your guests, get to know them and their stories, and create beautiful memories with your passengers, so that they will be able to ascend peacefully. One day, they’d have to leave…but such is the way of a Spiritfarer. What will you leave behind?

Spiritfarer is available on PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One for $29.99 USD. It is also available to play on mobile for free through Netflix Games with a Netflix subscription. However, it is available for $7.49 USD on Nintendo Online and the Microsoft Store until September 9th, so grab your copy now!