8 Single Player Games Every Gamer Should Experience, Ranked by Their Lasting Impact
A journey through danger
In 14th-century France, Amicia and her younger brother Hugo flee Inquisition soldiers and enormous swarms of plague rats. The rats scatter when exposed to torchlight, and Hugo’s mysterious illness is tied to their appearance. Asobo Studio developed a system capable of showing thousands of rats at once.
The game focuses on stealth rather than combat: Amicia lures guards toward light and turns the rats against them. At its heart is the changing bond between the siblings, as Amicia’s effort to protect Hugo leads her to witness a transformation she did not expect.
Spider-Man without the origin retread
This story follows a version of Peter Parker who has already spent eight years as Spider-Man. Insomniac Games’ web-swinging is a central draw, while its combat uses a rhythm-heavy approach associated with the Batman Arkham games. Miles Morales appears as a supporting character before starring in his own game.
Mr. Negative is the main villain for much of the story, which also features a turn involving Peter’s trusted scientist Otto Octavius. New York’s detailed recreation makes exploring the city enjoyable beyond the main plot.
Lara Croft’s harsh beginnings
Camilla Luddington voices and provides motion capture for Lara Croft in this reboot, which begins with her shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Young and frightened, Lara struggles to survive before facing the violent Solarii Brotherhood. The story charts her shift from an inexperienced survivor into a hardened adventurer.
The island’s mystery also connects to Himiko, an ancient queen. Its supernatural elements add an eerie backdrop without overtaking the survival story. The game’s grounded approach replaced the more confident, campy Lara and shaped the tone of the rebooted series.
Drake faces his past
Nathan Drake has retired when his brother Sam, long thought dead, returns seeking help to find pirate Henry Avery’s lost treasure. Sam’s story was added late in development after Naughty Dog abandoned an earlier version with a different director and plot. The game’s facial animation and motion capture were regarded as leading the industry at the time.
Intended as the close of Drake’s story, the adventure gives him room to consider the cost of his life as a treasure hunter. Its epilogue jumps ahead to show his daughter picking up a game controller, offering a quiet final note.
Key points
- Amicia and Hugo’s story combines stealth, sibling drama and vast swarms of plague rats.
- Spider-Man skips Peter Parker’s origin story and makes web-swinging a major attraction.
- Tomb Raider follows Lara Croft’s transformation after a shipwreck strands her on a dangerous island.
- Uncharted 4 gives Nathan Drake a final adventure centered on family and the cost of his past.