5 Enduring Video Games With Great Payoffs

Do you have some time to kill? Step into the action with some of the most immersive and thrilling video game storylines. For every game, the core of the action lies in the plot. While some may have short-lived tales that deny players the time to be entirely captivated by the action, some titles have an enduring storyline that will make your days seem shorter. The neat execution of the gameplay makes it satisfying to watch and play. Here is our top five list of enduring video games with great payoffs.

5. Red Dead Redemption

Step into the open environment and explore the fictional wild west in this action-adventure game published by Rockstar Games. The game, a sequel to the Red Dead series, lets players play from a third-person perspective, taking on the role of John Marston. John’s family gets abducted by the state, and he is forced to work for the government as a gunman for hire. As he battles for survival in the lawless land, John, a former fugitive, also comes to terms with the fact that his friends have turned into foes.

The compelling storyline behind Red Redemption follows John on his journey to retrieve his family. Along the way, you’ll meet a string of great characters to assist or defeat. The character development infuses brilliant graphics and intriguing dialogue that makes you feel like you’re part of the American Frontier. The game also allows you to build your character based on fame or ethics. You may choose to be honorable and help the needy or be the town’s bashful drunk and commit robberies and other crimes. Depending on your path, the game tracks your actions and alters how the NPCs react to your fame. This game system allows you freedom and rewards you after that. 

Furthermore, the interactive and full-of-life world in Red Dead Redemption is undoubtedly the best so far. If you’re not playing as a gunslinger, mount your horse and gait through the expansive landscape. You can also use a carriage or train for a quick trip. There is plenty to do and see in the game. From public hangings, random ambushes, dueling, bounty hunting, and so many more.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

A retro masterpiece of the original The Legend of Zelda game, this Nintendo action-adventure game gives players the absolute freedom to explore the expansive Hyrule landscape. The open world is thrown at you with little instructions to guide you on your path. However, the game has a set of surprises. You can uncover mysteries, solve puzzles, and raid enemy camps for treasures and weapons.

In the game, you play as Link, who just woke up from a very long slumber and is trying to piece his memory back together while also attempting to prevent the destruction of his land by the final boss, Calamity Ganon. The game also provides interactive and real-life encounter experiences while paying specific attention to chemistry and physics mechanics. This infusion of gameplay makes it exciting and lets players think outside the box when attempting solutions. For example, you may notice having too much metal on your character during a thunderstorm, subjecting them to lightning strikes. Therefore, you may have to seek shelter before a storm finds you on the vast bare land. Similarly, you can also use such game mechanics as a defense tool. Hurling metal items at your enemy increases the chances of a thunder strike on them.

3. Far Cry 5

The fifth installment and the much-awaited sequel to Far Cry 4  is Ubisoft’s first-person shooter game series, Far Cry 5. In the game, players have to defend their town as the sheriff’s deputy from an upcoming cultic gang under the rule of an influential leader. The game is an open-world series set in Hope County, a fictional version of Montana that you are free to explore on foot or in a car.

The game’s storyline follows you as the deputy sheriff attempting to overthrow the cultic gang and its leader. Once in a while, you’ll come across cultic members with distinct looks. The cultists tend to use a drug known as “bliss” that turns them into seemingly walking zombies. The drug alters their coordination, making them easy to hit target.

Unlike the other Far Cry series, this fifth installment allows you to customize your character’s look. Furthermore, you can recruit some town residents to join your battalion in conquering the cult. The game also lets you train wild animals and take them in as domesticated animals. These wild animals can be your allies during combat. In addition, there are plenty of weapons in the game. However, this series focuses more on melee combat since it provides a wide range of close-range combat.

2. Mass Effect Series

Arguably the best sci-fi game series ever made, Mass Effect Series is an action-adventure game set in the Milky Way. The role-playing game occurs in the future after humans discover extraterrestrial life forms and their advanced technology. The discovery spurs humanity to various technological advancements.

The alien galaxy has an established galactic society, and the humans try to fit into the commanding hierarchy. In the series, ‘players can take on the role as protagonist commander Shephard in the first trio series’ or Ryder in Mass Effect: Andromeda. Furthermore, you can customize your characters with regard to their background, looks, and profession. Your character’s abilities and skills advance as you complete various missions. 

The game allows you to recruit two new hires for missions. The characters will act autonomously and can also operate under specific instructions. In a world where humans face an existential threat, players must battle various Martians aboard mysterious ships and on alien planets. How exciting is that? What’s more, you have an entire trilogy to explore.

1. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West,  a sequel to the 2017 Horizon Zero Dawn, makes our list at number one. The action-role playing game takes you back to prehistoric times in a post-apocalyptic world known as the Forbidden West. Developed by Guerilla Games, players explore the open world as a hunter known as Aloy.

Aloy leads a pack of other hunters to trace the source of a plague that’s killing their community. The game features gameplay that allows freeform climbing and underwater exploration. Furthermore, completing quests in the game is oddly satisfying with an effective reward system. 

The alluring and stunning graphic display perfectly blends the natural and the unnatural for a vivid post-apocalyptic look. Guerilla took it a notch higher by developing excellent storylines for every character. The dialogue between characters paints a realistic backdrop that makes you feel like you are part of the fictional world. You can also participate in standout missions that blend in perfectly with Alloy’s quests. 

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our top five enduring games with great payoffs? Are there other games with great payoffs that we should know about? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!