Best Based On A Novel Games on Steam
Games adapted from, inspired by, or directly tied to published fiction.
Browse all Based On A Novel →
1Metro 2033 Redux - In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the Earth's surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age. The year is 2033.
Aug 25, 2014
In this game, you can…
- fight while managing your gas mask: put it on, swap filters before you suffocate, and wipe blood and rain off mid-shootout.
- spend the same bullets as both ammunition and money, choosing between winning a fight now or affording supplies later.
- survive the Library by lowering your weapon and not making eye contact with the monsters, turning the encounter into a slow standoff.
- step onto the poisoned surface with only a gas mask, a ticking filter timer, and a visor you have to wipe clean by hand.
- run out of air filters, then scavenge replacements off corpses and dead explorers just to make it back underground.
- burn away cobwebs with a lighter to open up dark tunnels and hidden rooms.
- sneak through enemy camps by staying in darkness, silently knocking people out and slipping past guards while they take toilet breaks.
- play with no HUD and manually count ammo while navigating by a clipboard and compass in a harder immersion mode.
- reach different endings based on what you do, rewarding stealth, exploration, and how you treat people along the way.
2Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ - Fight through Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new chronicle of Middle-earth.
Sep 30, 2014
In this game, you can…
- kill a captain, then meet him again later with new mutations and new immunities.
- turn orc captains into sleeper agents, promote them into bodyguard slots, and trigger a betrayal mid–war-chief fight.
- aim your bow in slow motion, then warp straight to the enemy instead of just firing.
- get ambushed by an orc you killed earlier, now scarred up and hunting you.
- interrogate a random grunt for intel, then have the target captain show up minutes later because he can appear unexpectedly.
- learn a captain's specific fears and weaknesses, then plan an assassination that exploits them on purpose.
- drop a hornet's nest, shoot an explosive barrel, free a caged beast, and turn the whole camp into a chain reaction.
- brand enemies in a stronghold, then come back later and watch your turncoats climb the ranks and start a civil war.
3The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition - A time of untold chaos has come. Mighty forces clash behind the scenes in a struggle for power and influence. The Northern Kingdoms mobilize for war. But armies on the march are not enough to stop a bloody conspiracy...
Apr 16, 2012
In this game, you can…
- pick between Roche and Iorveth and watch the rest of the game reroute into different chapters, locations, and main story arcs.
- turn Triss into a small figurine without realizing it, carry her around, and later crack it open to free her and expose a spy.
- wake up naked on a beach with a new neck tattoo, then retrace your drunken night to figure out how it happened.
- get framed for a king's murder, break out of a dungeon, and hunt the real assassin while piecing together your lost memory.
- walk into a cursed battlefield where an entire war zone is enchanted, then team up with mages to lift the curse before you can move on.
- drink potions before fights, coat your blade with oils, lay traps and bombs, and survive by timing Signs instead of just swinging.
- fight in an arena mode where endless enemy waves test your full combat toolkit under mounting pressure.
- import past choices and keep continuity details across games, including carrying that tattoo forward into The Witcher 3.
- reach the ending and get a detailed rundown of how your earlier choices reshaped characters, regions, and political outcomes.
4Metro: Last Light Redux - It is the year 2034. Beneath the ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro, the remnants of mankind are besieged by deadly threats from outside – and within. Mutants stalk the catacombs beneath the desolate surface, and hunt amidst the poisoned skies above.
Aug 25, 2014
In this game, you can…
- use bullets as money, so every firefight is also a spending decision.
- pump your flashlight by hand, wipe your gas mask, and check your watch for survival info.
- earn a better ending by doing things like giving to beggars, listening to conversations, sparing people, and even playing instruments.
- swap a gas mask filter while mutants are mid-attack.
- play with no HUD and scarce supplies where even a cracked gas mask can ruin you.
- sneak through entire areas by killing lights, knocking guards out, and staying in shadow as they investigate noises.
- get chased through a level where you can vault and jump while staying ahead of an enemy.
- fight a giant rhino-like monster while smaller mutants swarm in to complicate the boss battle.
5Spec Ops: The Line - A Third-Person modern military Shooter designed to challenge players' morality by putting them in the middle of unspeakable situations.
Jun 29, 2012
In this game, you can…
- shoot fragile glass and walls to collapse sand drifts onto enemies mid-fight.
- shoot out a giant window and watch sand pour in, burying an entire squad alive in seconds.
- catch American soldiers executing civilians and choose whether to stand down or turn your gun on your own side.
- shoot out a skyscraper window to trigger a sand avalanche.
- fight through half-buried Dubai hotels, climbing, vaulting to cover, and slipping through broken windows as sandstorms reshape routes.
- make split-second calls like rescuing civilians or a key target, or deciding to shoot, talk, or ignore orders.
- direct two squadmates to focus fire, toss flashbangs, heal you, and hold positions while you push forward.
- watch your squad's coordination unravel as the story goes on, with orders turning into shouting and the team starting to resent each other.
6Metro 2033 - Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands. In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland.
Mar 16, 2010
In this game, you can…
- trade with bullets that are also your strongest ammo
- race a gas mask filter timer on the surface, swapping filters before you choke
- stack up compassionate actions and careful eavesdropping to unlock a different ending at the last second
- spend your best rounds to survive, or save them as money for later
- turn out lights and move through shadows, using throwing knives and retrieving them after silent kills
- walk into the Library and survive by following NPC advice on how to handle the Librarians
- get hit with hallucinations that mess with your mission and change how you read what's real
- crawl through pitch-dark tunnels using a lighter and a headlamp while mutants prowl nearby
7Alice: Madness Returns - Alice: Madness Returns is a third-person, single-player, action adventure platformer. Visit the grim reality of Victorian London and travel to the beautiful yet ghastly Wonderland to uncover the root of Alice's madness.
Jun 17, 2011
In this game, you can…
- grow to towering size and crush enemies that get too close.
- trigger a sixth-sense vision that reveals invisible platforms, then use that new path to push deeper into the level.
- use your weapons to activate mechanisms and platforms, so the right combat tool can also be the key to moving forward.
- glide with your dress to extend jumps across broken platforms.
- shrink down to slip through tiny entrances and reach hidden areas.
- chain a double-jump into a float, then keep stringing jumps across gaps that shouldn't be crossable.
- fight with a lineup of named weapons like a machine-gun Pepper Grinder, a hammer-like Hobby Horse, timed Clockwork Bombs, and a Teapot Cannon.
- shift out of 3D exploring into side-scrolling stretches and motion-heavy sliding sequences as a change of pace.
8Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth - 12th century, England: In a time of poverty and war, a small town begins the construction of a cathedral to claim wealth and safety for its people. In their struggle to survive, lives and destinies intertwine. Based on Ken Follett's world-bestseller ‘The Pillars of the Earth’.
Aug 15, 2017
In this game, you can…
- watch a boy grow up in the woods, become a stonemason apprentice, and end up a master builder years later.
- spend decades chasing the dream of building a cathedral, as different characters take over and the project reshapes their lives.
- make tiny choices early on, then have characters call them back years later when the story jumps forward.
- pick dialogue options on a timer, where one wrong choice can derail the scene immediately.
- click scenery for instant "quick thoughts," like remembering lightning hit that ruined tower seven years ago, then click again for more.
- use objects on other objects to trigger character-specific reactions, like making a monk quote scripture at a donkey.
- finish a chapter and get a clear rundown of what choices stuck, what changed, and what the game will remember later.
9Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- - A 2D Metroidvania-style game developed under the supervision of Ryo Mizuno, depicting the story of Deedlit and the events leading up to Record of Lodoss War: Diadem of the Covenant. Use a variety of weapons and spirit powers to unravel the mystery of the labyrinth.
Mar 27, 2021
In this game, you can…
- swap between wind and fire mid-fight to become immune to that element and turn matching hits into MP, then healing.
- read a boss's fire and wind patterns, switch attunements mid-exchange, absorb the projectiles, and build back power until the fight flips in your favor.
- unlock extra secrets by doing a specific action 50 times on one floor panel until it finally reveals a hidden item.
- solve puzzles by ricocheting bow shots off walls, firing diagonally, and hitting targets hidden behind obstacles.
- swap spirits during traversal to float over hazards, ignite explosives, and walk straight through elemental barriers without stopping.
- see every enemy's elemental strengths and weaknesses on screen while fighting, then swap to the right spirit on the spot.
- take a hit and watch it knock down your current elemental power, breaking your regeneration loop until you rebuild it.
- play a separate boss rush mode where your leveling carries over from the main game, letting you run the gauntlet with your build.
10Nancy Drew®: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon - Catch this train — it’s your ticket to solving a century-old mystery!
Oct 10, 2009
In this game, you can…
- ring a train bell to trigger a man's lost memories so he can remember his past.
- load a machine with gems until the whole room lights up.
- blow something up, then ride a miniature rollercoaster as part of the finale.
- search a moving train car by car and keep uncovering hidden compartments and secret spaces.
- solve puzzles that revolve around creepy dolls you have to study closely.
- work as a short-order cook and take custom food orders during the investigation.
- snap photos on your phone, send them out, and get back puzzle help from Bess and George.
- escape the train and push deeper into a mine maze, then reach a crypt and Jake Hurley's hidden workings.
