The Live Action game is about as unique a genre as there is in the gaming industry. It splices in real footage of real actors and gameplay to create a mix that feels unlike anything else. This genre has been going on for a long time now, but recently, it’s seen something of a renaissance. With the barrier between game graphics and real people blurring all the more each day, it’s hard to know if there’s a future for Live Action games, so before the bell tolls for the genre, here are the 10 best live action Games of all time.
Best 10 Live Action Games of All Time
These live-action or FMV games are some of the best in the business.
10. Immortality
Immortality came out very recently and is one of the more poignant entries in the Live Action game genre. The plot surrounds two immortal entities named The One and The Other and how they control humanity and live forever by taking on human forms. The player plays as various people throughout the game, working to solve mysteries throughout their journey.
The plot is told to the player by viewing footage and changing the order in which you view various interviews and film scenes to create a cohesive picture of what’s happening. It’s incredibly complex and makes for a unique experience that is frankly unlike anything else that is frankly unlike anything else out there.
9. The X Files Game
Releasing way back in 1998, The X Files Game, by Hyperbole Studios, was a perfect companion to the hit show at the time. You play an FBI agent sent to investigate the whereabouts of missing agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. If you were wondering if David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their iconic roles here, you’re in luck. The gameplay is a point-and-click affair with some combat involved, but most of your time is spent talking and solving puzzles. It was engaging in 1998, and the game nails the series’ feeling to a T.
There are multiple decisions to make throughout the game that change the course of the story. They work to build the horror of the game to some very disturbing levels, and its compelling stuff. It’s one of the earliest examples of a game taking your choices into account to change the course of the story and is still an efficient example of what the live-action genre is capable of.
8. Titanic: Adventure Out of Time
Another oldie, 1996’s Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, came out before James Cameron blew the roof off the movie industry with his movie Titanic. The game is an entirely original story with you playing as a British secret agent on a critical mission to change history. The gameplay has you exploring an incredible recreation of the Titanic. This involves solving puzzles, interrogating people, and engaging in various activities around the ship.
The sinking of the Titanic is the star of the show here, as you must complete various objectives before the ship sinks. The stakes are somehow higher than just the ship sinking, and one scene towards the end has haunted me to this day. It’s got great voice acting and intriguing twists, and overall, it is just a great time, even today.
7. Legacy of Time
Legacy of Time came out in 1998 and was a demo of a game you will find on this list, Riven. It’s a fantastic story that involves your character, Gage Blackwood, traveling back through time to find the cause of a temporal rip. Throughout your journey, you’ll discover ancient aliens’ involvement in the mythical cities and travel through time to collect the titular Legacy of Time. Along the way, you will be aided by your AI companion, Arthur, who helps you with everything from story updates to puzzle help.
Puzzles will make up most of this point-and-click adventure, but throughout, you will see some breathtaking vistas and some of the best art design that late 90s gaming had to offer. These games are few and far between these days, but I would heavily suggest anyone looking for the best in this genre take a trip back through time.
6. Her Story
Although this one came out in 2015, Her Story involves a story based in 1994. The premise is that you must comb through interviews with a woman talking about her missing husband. You have no exploration, only an old shoddy desktop at your disposal. From there, you can search the database, enter search terms, and do everything you can to piece together this wild story that will keep you gripped throughout. Her Story is an award-winning Live Action game that is extremely rare for the genre and shouldn’t be missed.
5. Riven
This is a sequel to the iconic Myst, Riven, released in 1997 by Cyan Worlds Inc., and it completely took Myst to the next level. You explore a world so bizarre and singular that nothing to this day touches its media, period. Your journey is strange, full of puzzles, revelations, and a fascinating plot involving you trying to force Riven to become your world to save it.
It’s as bizarre as it sounds, and the fantastic visuals and creativity here are second to none. There are live-action segments involving the few other living characters in this world, and their presence makes the situation all the more dire. A pure classic in every sense of the word, you can do no wrong by giving Riven a go.
4. The Quiet Man
I think that The Quiet Man is so bad that it’s good. The entire game is quiet and muffled because your main character is deaf. This effectively makes the plot borderline incomprehensible, but man, do these actors give it their all. There is a ton of live footage, and the transition from live-action to gameplay is decently impressive. As far as games in this genre go, you get a good amount of combat here, and it’s handled relatively well, giving you a variety of moves and a parry system that makes you feel powerful despite overwhelming odds.
The story is hilariously insane, and it only gets better when you play it again on the new game Plus, unlocking actual dialogue. The story that unfolds is a ton of fun only because you’re waiting to see what ridiculous thing will happen next. The developers wanted us to take this seriously. But if you don’t, it’s a short and fun romp that is just one of a kind for all the wrong reasons. A truly wild attempt at a movie game from Square Enix, this is one of those games that needs to be played to be believed.
3. Late Shift
Late Shift is the closest thing to a movie that we have. It’s entirely made up of live actors, and you have seconds to make decisions that will result in character deaths and entire other story paths opening. It’s a fascinating approach to the genre and keeps you gripped in the crime thriller throughout. The actors give great performances, and the story is interesting, with plenty of twists and turns. Developer CtrlMovie pitches itself as the world’s first interactive movie, and they’re not wrong. Late Shift is what Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch wanted to be. It’s a rousing time and a fun new way to experience the live-action genre.
2. Quantum Break
Quantum Break is one of those games that should’ve been far more popular than it was. From the geniuses at Remedy Entertainment, Quantum Break is a fusion of a TV show and video game that has never been seen before and hasn’t happened since. It’s a full-on action game that places you in the shoes of Shawn Ashmore’s Jack Joyce. Your friend Paul Serene, played by Game of Thrones‘ Aiden Gillen, has managed to achieve time travel. And, in the process, has seen the end of time itself. The one problem is that the future version of him is your nemesis. It’s a fascinating tale involving all kinds of sci-fi flair, time-stopping powers, and great twists.
The gameplay is similar to Remedy’s Control, and your available suite of abilities is entertaining. There are breaks throughout to watch entire episodes of the story, which break up the gameplay nicely. Overall, it’s an incredible journey with the best gameplay in the live-action genre.
1. Myst
One of the greatest games of all time, Myst is the must-play game of the live-action genre. In this strange and alien world, you explore various ages throughout time to figure out a mystery that concerns this world’s fate. The unraveling of what happened on this mysterious island is among gaming’s best slow burn. It’s all supported with engaging puzzles, gorgeous vistas, and some strong voice acting from the various characters in the game. You can now enjoy this one in VR, adding a new dimension to the legendary title. Myst was released back in 1993, and it still has yet to be matched by its art style, ambition, and overall creation of what a video game can be.
