15 Best Linear Games You Need to Play [2023 Edition]

As games continue to get progressively larger and more elaborate, the desire for more compact, linear experiences continues to grow in gaming audiences. Thankfully, there isn’t much of a shortage of options on that front. If what you’re looking for is an excellent linear adventure with constant forward momentum, there’s plenty of amazing games from over the years to dive into. Here, we’re going to talk about a few that we feel are the best of the best.

A note before we begin: for the purposes of this list, we’re looking exclusively at strictly linear games. If a game is open world, semi-open world, wide linear, Metroidvania, places emphasis on exploration designed around backtracking, or anything of the sort, you won’t see it on this list. We know that’s a pretty strict way of defining linear design in games, but the very purpose of this feature is to celebrate that, after all, so do keep something in mind as we move ahead.

#15. WOLFENSTEIN 2: THE NEW COLOSSUS

MachineGames did an excellent job of redefining the Wolfenstein franchise with 2014’s The New Order, and then took the series’ new formula to even greater heights with its sequel. The biggest strengths of Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus obviously lie in its story and storytelling, and getting to witness its gleefully over-the-top cutscenes and wonderfully bizarre personalities in a story that remains captivating until the last second is an unforgettable experience. It helps, of course, that the action itself can also be a lot of fun.