Best Narrative Games on Steam
Steam currently has 387 Narrative games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Narrative game rankings were last updated on 5/2/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free narrative games on Steam
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1. The Case of the Golden Idol
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
The Case of the Golden Idol holds the #1 spot for "best Narrative game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,127 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,044 positive reviews and 83 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $10.79 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Case of the Golden Idol on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $10.79 |
| Release Date | 10/13/2022 |
| Franchise | Playstack |
| Developer | Color Gray Games |
| Publisher | Playstack |
| Steam App Id | 1677770 |
2. Before Your Eyes
Embark on an emotional first-person narrative adventure where you control the story—and affect its outcomes—with your real-life blinks. With this innovative technique you will fully immerse yourself in a world of memories, both joyous and heartbreaking, as your whole life flashes before your eyes.
Before Your Eyes has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,428 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,136 positive reviews and 292 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Before Your Eyes on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 4/8/2021 |
| Franchise | Skybound Games |
| Developer | GoodbyeWorld Games |
| Publisher | Skybound Games |
| Steam App Id | 1082430 |
3. INSIDE
Hunted and alone, a boy finds himself drawn into the center of a dark project. INSIDE is a dark, narrative-driven platformer combining intense action with challenging puzzles. It has been critically acclaimed for its moody art style, ambient soundtrack and unsettling atmosphere.
INSIDE has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 58,048 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 56,194 positive reviews and 1,854 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
4. Sally Face - Episode One
Delve into a dark adventure following the boy with a prosthetic face and a tragic past. Unravel the sinister mysteries of Sally's world to find the truth that lies hidden beneath the shadows.
Sally Face - Episode One has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,257 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,748 positive reviews and 509 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 12/14/2016 |
| Developer | Portable Moose |
| Publisher | Portable Moose |
| Steam App Id | 541570 |
5. Scarlet Hollow
From the developers of Slay the Princess, return to the crumbling coal town your family built generations ago for the funeral of your aunt. You won't be able to save everyone. You might not even be able to save yourself. Welcome home.
Scarlet Hollow has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,953 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,937 positive reviews and 16 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 6/11/2021 |
| Franchise | Black Tabby Games |
| Developer | Black Tabby Games |
| Publisher | Black Tabby Games |
| Steam App Id | 1609230 |
6. Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines
"Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines" - In this short story from the Endless Monday, Penny, a mild-mannered corporate grunt, spends a weekend at the office in an effort to finish her project on time while overcoming distractions from coworkers, space aliens, imaginary friends, and herself.
Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 967 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 962 positive reviews and 5 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 5/4/2023 |
| Franchise | Endless Monday |
| Developer | hcnone |
| Publisher | hcnone |
| Steam App Id | 2262610 |
7. Impostor Factory
A bonkers time-loop tragicomedy murder mystery thriller featuring multiple casualties and a suspicious cat, from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise.
Impostor Factory has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,422 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,013 positive reviews and 409 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Impostor Factory on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 9/30/2021 |
| Franchise | Freebird Games |
| Developer | Freebird Games |
| Publisher | Freebird Games |
| Steam App Id | 1182620 |
8. Journey
Explore the ancient, mysterious world of Journey as you soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets.
Journey has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,247 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,601 positive reviews and 1,646 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 6/11/2020 |
| Developer | thatgamecompany |
| Publisher | Annapurna Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 638230 |
9. Night in the Woods
NIGHT IN THE WOODS is an adventure game focused on exploration, story, and character, featuring dozens of characters to meet and lots to do across a lush, vibrant world.
Night in the Woods has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,575 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,698 positive reviews and 877 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 2/21/2017 |
| Developer | Infinite Fall |
| Publisher | Finji |
| Steam App Id | 481510 |
10. If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers is a narrative-driven point-and-click adventure with horror elements that explores the stories of four characters in a masked ball taking place aboard a train in the late 1920s.
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Narrative games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,994 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,927 positive reviews and 67 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 9/21/2021 |
| Developer | Dead Idle Games |
| Publisher | Dead Idle Games |
| Steam App Id | 1603980 |
More Narrative Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Narrative games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 95 | 10/13/2022 | 95 | $10.79 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 4/8/2021 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 122 | 7/7/2016 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 65 | 12/14/2016 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 6/11/2021 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 5/4/2023 | 93 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 9/30/2021 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 134 | 6/11/2020 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 49 | 2/21/2017 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 9/21/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 44 | 1/6/2011 | 92 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 35 | 11/15/2022 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 11 | 3/30/2016 | 92 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 1/14/2022 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 8/25/2021 | 92 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 174 | 9/20/2022 | 92 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 2/13/2020 | 91 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 32 | 8/16/2023 | 91 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 4/2/2020 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 9/26/2022 | 90 | $19.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). Before Your Eyes on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 28). INSIDE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 8). Sally Face - Episode One on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 26). Scarlet Hollow on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 11). Impostor Factory on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Journey on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 24). Night in the Woods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 29). If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers on Steam. Steam Store.