Shattering expectations with its recent release, A Plague Tale: Requiem somehow managed to exceed the lofty bar that was set by its predecessor. With its unique combination of history and fantasy, the game is in a rare class of titles that push the boundaries of what an AAA gaming title can be.
From spine-tingling horror titles like The Last of Us, Requiem follows in a long line of excellent games that mix genres and have a multi-character narrative. Though plenty of games have tried to match its quality, only a select few are worth playing after completing Asobo's newest hit.
God Of War (2018)
After hacking and slashing his way through the pantheon of gods from Greek and Roman mythology, Kratos headed north in the 2018 game God of War. With his son at his side, the legendary ex-god of war runs afoul of the Norse gods after attempting to fulfill his late wife's dying wish.
The God of War franchise is quite different from A Plague Tale in of gameplay mechanics, but the stunning visuals and familial relationships are recognizable to Requiem fans. Though the game is much more straightforward, Kratos' journey and bond with his son help to make it a universally relatable game.
Bioshock (2007)
Bioshock and A Plague Tale are similar in that they both established their own unique worlds that play on familiar ideas but with clever twists. Set in a distorted version of the past, the game follows Jack who discovers a secret city that was corrupted by a mysterious substance that grants superhuman powers.
Just like the plague in Requiem, the ADAM substance of Bioshock has decimated most life and turned others into monsters. The FPS genre can sometimes get repetitive, but Bioshock's intensely original story and diverse combat helped it stand out in the crowded genre. Though some believe it is an overrated AAA title, the franchise's ongoing success is proof of its quality.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017)
As the technology behind game design gets better, the storytelling avenues become broader, and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, which follows an ancient Pict warrior as she goes on a vision quest into the Norse afterlife to rescue her lover.
A Plague Tale is the exploration of a sibling bond in the face of a crisis, and Senua's Sacrifice is a gripping tale about grief and mental illness. Aside from its well-crafted story and acting, the game itself is a blast to play through, and the environments are ripped straight from the ancient myths of the Norse people.
Alan Wake (2010)
Though A Plague Tale is a bit more literal with its actual bubonic outbreak, the underrated horror thriller Alan Wake deals with a similar idea of consuming darkness. After his wife goes missing in a mysterious Pacific Northwest town, a bestselling novelist finds himself a part of the plot of a novel he hasn't written yet.
Creepy to the nth degree, Alan Wake is paced out like a television show with cliffhangers and plot twists galore. Like Requiem, the bulk of the game deals with light, and Wake is forced to burn out the darkness before he can vanquish his supernatural foes.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (2013)
Proving that the bond between siblings makes an excellent basis for video games, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons shares that connection in common with A Plague Tale. Set in a fantasy realm, the game follows a pair of brothers who must journey out into the world to find a cure for their father's illness.
Controlling both brothers simultaneously, the individual strengths of each character must be used to advance in the game. Though it isn't nearly as dark and foreboding as Requiem, Brothers has a similar mix of combat and puzzles to challenge the player in many different ways. The perfect title for gaming beginners, Brothers is like a primer for multiple genres and styles all in one game.
A Way Out (2018)
Revolutionizing the dying couch co-op genre with its release in 2018, A Way Out took the ideas of the multiplayer game to the next level. Each player assumes the role of one of the two prisoners, and they must escape from captivity and stay on the run from authorities.
The game isn't necessarily synchronized, so it requires a heavy amount of collaboration and cooperation between players. While Requiem is a much more singular experience, the close bond formed between the characters is reminiscent of the relationship between Hugo and Amicia. Beautifully designed, A Way Out has the same cinematic feel as the newer game.
The Last Of Us (2013)
Like A Plague Tale: Requiem the ambitious hit The Last of Us is the exploration of a close bond between characters in an apocalyptic setting. In a world of zombies, a smuggler is tasked with escorting a young woman across the U.S. while avoiding hostile humans and other deadly foes.
As if the black plague and murderous inquisitors weren't scary enough, The Last of Us rackets up the tension by adding zombies to the mix. Both games have similar stealth and combat systems, and Hugo's echo ability is quite similar to the listen mode from The Last of Us. Though the games share many similarities, their unique story elements help them remain distinctly different experiences.
Days Gone (2019)
Plagues and zombies and deadly wastelands are common tropes in video games, but titles like Days Gone show that familiar things can be rejuvenated with clever storytelling. The game follows a man who traverses Oregon after a virus outbreak turned most life on earth into deadly zombies.
The open-world style of Days Gone is different from Requiem's more linear story, but the survival horror elements and beautiful game design link them together. Days Gone's real excitement comes from the various scary creatures that are encountered throughout the world, and the player has the option of being stealthy or facing enemies with brute strength.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)
In A Plague Tale: Requiem, darkness is an enemy that usually brings swarms of dangerous rats, but in Amnesia: The Dark Descent, darkness has a much more sinister and fear-inducing purpose. Set in a mysterious European castle, the game tasks the player with exploring the crumbling fortress while avoiding monsters and trying not to go insane from fear.
Amnesia takes the power to fight back away from the player and stealth takes center stage. Every nightmarish thing the player encounters drives down the sanity meter and the player's own nerve is also tested severely. Living up to the "horror" aspect of its survival horror moniker, Amnesia is a scary next step for Requiem fans who want even more chills.
A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019)
Since Requiem is a direct sequel, it only stands to reason that A Plague Tale: Innocence is the perfect game for fans of the newer title. The Hundred Years' War is the backdrop for the game, as a young woman named Amacia must brave the plague and deadly soldiers in order to protect her brother Hugo.
Requiem improved greatly on the combat from its predecessor, but Innocence is anything but an inferior product. The puzzle aspects of the game are extremely sharp, and the overall design is cohesive and historical. Stealth is a large part of both games, but they also allow players to play in their own way and form strategies on how to conquer certain challenges.