Everyone loves a good coming-of-age story. It’s a common trope that has been used in storytelling throughout history that follows a protagonist navigating their way through life and coming into their own as a young adult.
Related:Best RPGs Where You’re Not Saving The World
Coming-of-age stories are one of the most relatable topics out there that many people can resonate with. We all know the feeling of being at that awkward stage in life before you find your footing as an adult. Thankfully though, many of our own coming-of-age stories aren’t as action-packed as these. Here are the best coming-of-age stories in video games.
10The Last Of Us: Left Behind
The Last of Us: Left Behind is a DLC pack for The Last of Us video game. The Last of Us: Left Behind follows two different timelines, both of which star Ellie, one of the main characters in The Last of Us.
The first storyline, Left Behind, takes place three weeks before the events of the main game, where Ellie and her best friend Riley are exploring an abandoned shopping mall together. The second story occurs during the Winter chapter of The Last of Us, while Ellie explores another abandoned mall to find medicinal supplies to heal Joel.
9Life Is Strange
Life is Strangetells a very real and relatable story (minus the special powers) of a young woman growing into her own. Throughout the game, you watch the main character, Max, grow older, grow a backbone, lose her innocence, and live through the many hardships of life.
Related:Small Details We Love From The Life Is Strange Series
By the end of the game, Max is a more hardened version of herself with much more life experience. The events Max lives through help shape and develop her into the person she becomes. There is a lot of evil in the world we live in, and unfortunately, Max seems to find herself in the middle of it more than usual.
8Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
IfDragon QuestXI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age isn’t a coming-of-age story, we don’t know what is. The opening scene literally depicts the main protagonist participating in his coming-of-age ceremony.
During that ceremony, it becomes clear that he is actually the Luminary. And thus begins his quest as Yggdrasil’s chosen warrior. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Illusive age may seem to center around the main character and their coming-of-age story, but many other characters have their own stories developed as well.
7EarthBound
EarthBound, also known as Mother in Japan, tells the coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old boy named Ness. He and his friends thought they were simply investigating a meteorite crash one day when they suddenly found themselves wrapped up in a nefarious alien plot in which all the animals and creatures had been turned into malicious monsters. Yikes.
Thirteen is an incredibly young age to have to save the world, but Ness takes that responsibility on and definitely does a better job than we would have done when we were 13.
6Astral Chain
The main protagonist inAstral Chainisn’t quite as young as Ness, but the story still represents their coming of age. The game follows the main character, who has just landed their first job. Getting your first job is already stressful enough as it is, but when your boss is your father, we can only imagine how much pressure that would add to the mix.
Related:Astral Chain: Best Boss Fights, Ranked
In between all the blood-pumping action and combat, the story actually gets fairly emotional at times. There were several moments where we were sharply reminded of what it was like trying to make somebody proud as we watched the protagonist fight to prove themselves not only in the workplace but also to their father.
5Pokemon Red And Blue
Pretty much anyPokemongame is a coming-of-age story, but it only seemed fitting to choose the first one to be a part of this list. The Pokemon series follows a tried and true formula that doesn’t really change much (until the release ofPokemon Scarlet and Violet, that is).
But while Pokemon Scarlet and Violet switch up the Pokemon formula in terms of gameplay, the narrative is still very much the same. A fresh-faced young Pokemon trainer leaves home for the first time to fulfill their dreams of becoming a Pokemon master.
4The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis a coming-of-age story on steroids. Not only does it follow the young protagonist Link as he leaves the safety of his village for the first time to go on an epic quest to save the Deku tree, but there is also some wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff thrown into the mix for good measure.
Link comes of age in Ocarina of Time - literally. He ages by about seven years when he gets his worthy hands on the Master Sword. But, still a young kid at heart, Link has to grow up pretty fast along the course of his adventure. Again, literally.
3Garden Story
Garden Story is an adorable action-adventure game in which you get to experience the joy of watching a small grape grow up into a slightly bigger grape. Not just any grape, though, a Grape Guardian, of all things.
Related:Beginner Tips For Garden Story
With all the other Grape Guardians unaccounted for, the surrounding towns have fallen victim to the quickly spreading rot. Saving the towns and becoming a fully-fledged Grape Guardian is one of the most adorable coming-of-age stories on this list.
2Kingdom Hearts
Sora and Riku’s coming-of-age stories are a trial by fire, to say the least. One moment they are young kids, playing on the beach, eating curiously shaped fruits, and the next minute they are wielding keys as swords and going up against multiple versions of the same bad guy, like one wasn’t enough.
TheKingdom Heartsstoryline is not simple by any means, and the boy’s coming-of-age stories are told throughout the whole series, spanning multiple different devices. But the tale of Kingdom Hearts is absolutely incredible, and watching Sora and Riku on their path to becoming Keyblade Masters is well worth the investment.
1Ori And The Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forestis an absolutely hauntingly beautiful game. Almost everything about it is perfect, from the stunning visuals to the stellar soundtrack and, of course, the incredible coming-of-age story.
Ori is a young guardian spirit, living his best life in the forest before losing his adoptive parent in a natural disaster. The game follows Ori as he sets off on his own for the first time to overcome the challenges necessary to restore the forest to its natural order.
