Five Great Games That Tell Stories Without Words

Within the interactive medium of video games, there are several ways to tell an engaging narrative. Games like BioShock tell immersive stories through audio logs and spacial narratives, while titles like Gone Home rely on the player exploring its environment and piecing together the plot themselves. Others, such as Campo Santo's Firewatch, use snappy dialogue primarily to weave a tale.

So, what happens when a game developer takes on the challenge of having no dialogue or words whatsoever in their game? The result can create a more ambiguous story that's up for interpretation, and a reliance on characters' body language to set a tone. It can make for a narrative that is minimalistic or thought provoking in its simplicity. While some games, such as the point-and-click game Dropsy the Clown, don't always hit the mark, others like Virginia are able to impress us by overcoming this creative challenge. Here are five games that stand out for how they tell a wordless narrative. 

Virginia
This adventure game tells a story of betrayal, friendship, and depression without saying a word. Taking place in the '90s, you play as Anne Tarver, an FBI agent who is tasked with uncovering the mystery of a missing boy. Over the course of the game, you become engaged in this thriller through the use of visual cues and intricate character body language. What's most incredible about Virginia is that while no words are spoken, it is nonetheless a sophisticated story, forcing you to pay attention to the smallest details. During its peak emotional moments, Virginia is complemented by an orchestral score and fantastic sound design. You can read our review here.

Inside
Figuring out exactly what the story is in Inside can be a difficult feat, but its ambiguous tale is one that can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. Who is this boy? Is he running away from his problems, or towards them? You play as a young boy who evades his captors in a dystopian world. Similar to Playdead's past game Limbo, it features dimly lit environments but with a touch more color. From beginning to end, Inside is a profound game that speaks volumes about control and paints a frightening Orwellian future, all without a single line of dialogue. Watch our Spoiled video segment to hear Game Informer's interpretations and theories of Inside, as well as read our favorable review.

Journey
Who are these cloaked figures, and why are they gliding through this gorgeous desert? These are questions that you'll ask yourself as you uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilization in Journey. Its minimalistic narrative is told mostly through the environment, cutscenes that speak an unknown tongue, as well as glyphs and murals found in temples and written on stone slabs through the desert landscape. Check out our glowing review here.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Told in an incomprehensible fictitious language, this puzzle game tells the story of two brothers who must save their dying father by bringing him "the water of life." It's a classic folklore tale that focuses on the bond between the two boys. Using both joysticks, you control the two of them at once, and having both characters work together is a game mechanic that ties well into the narrative. 

Thirty Flights of Loving
Thirty Flights of Loving is filled with blocky, cartoonish creatures, and tells the story of a spy undergoing a series of missions. The interactive story puts less focus on game design, and more on establishing a wacky narrative, such as poisoning someone at a party. Even though it's a short game that speaks no words, it still tells a compelling story that is emotionally impactful as it moves from past, present and future in quick cuts. Rather than directly telling the player its narrative, much of it is left to your assumptions and what you gather from scene to scene.

What other games do you think excel in weaving a narrative with no dialogue? Shadow of the Colossus and Abzu come to mind for me, but the first has some dialogue and Abzu is less about the story, and more centered on exploration. Let us know what you think in the comments!