Racing games are perhaps not most renowned for their story. It's not what most gamers are looking for from the genre. However, when it's done right, a good story which combines gameplay with a strong sense of progression can add colour to the otherwise lifeless routine of trying to better your own times.
The following games do this surprisingly well.
10 Jalopy
GTA IV gameplay.
‘Hey Nico, it's Roman, let's go bowling!’, these immortal lines, spoken by Roman Bellic, the cousin of Nico Bellic, the protagonist of GTA IV, are perhaps better remembered than any other part of GTA IV’s writing. Which is a shame, as GTA IV has one of the best stories in any driving related video game.GTA IV was, very controversially back in 2008, one of only four games to receive a perfect 10 from IGN. But people often forget that a big part of this score was credited to the game’s storytelling which featured branching paths which, at the time, was relatively innovative.
Without wanting to give too much away, GTA IV’s story is full of unexpected twists and turns, as well as several characters whose fates you will be genuinely invested in. The game’s story has some serious emotional clout, transcending the satirical fare you would typically expect from the GTA series.
