Which type of medieval play is based on biblical stories?

Mystery plays are a type of medieval theatrical performance that directly stems from biblical narratives, bringing religious stories to life for audiences. These plays typically dramatized key biblical events, such as the creation of the world, the life of Christ, and the Last Judgment. They were often performed in cycles during religious festivals and served as a means to educate the largely illiterate populace about scripture and Christian doctrine.

Mystery plays are characterized by their use of simple, episodic storytelling, making complex theological ideas accessible to the general audience. The term 'mystery' itself comes from the Latin word "misterium," referring to the religious mysteries of the Christian faith, which the plays sought to convey.

The other types of plays mentioned serve different purposes: history plays focus on historical events rather than religious content, miracle plays often tell stories of saints and their miracles but do not generally cover a complete biblical narrative, and morality plays convey moral lessons and illustrate the struggle between good and evil rather than directly depicting Biblical stories. Thus, mystery plays stand out as the form specifically tied to the retelling of biblical narratives.