A plot twist can make or break a story, whether it be in a movie, book, or a video game. If it’s shocking and believable, it adds to the entertainment value and will leave consumers feeling awed and impressed. But, if it’s executed poorly, then it can ultimately make the entire final product feel like a disappointment.
[Warning: Spoilers below]
Character switches are nothing new in video games. Tons of beloved titles have unexpectedly forced players to step into the role of a different playable character. Granted, sometimes it’s easy to see these switch-ups from a mile away, especially if players are merely controlling a secondary character that’s been important all along. But, other times, the switches completely came out of left field, and those make for the most memorable video games.
The following titles all have one thing in common: they’ve expertly nailed role switches. Even though some of these titles were met with divisive reviews, it can’t be denied that their unexpected character switches left a mark on the player and were certainly surprising, which adds to the overall quality of the game.
The Most Memorable Character Switches In Video Games
The Last of Us: Part 2: The 2020 title was released to both stellar and mixed reviews, with many players angry over the decision to kill off a key character and focus instead on a new playable character. When the game initially switches from Joel to newcomer Abby, no one expected what was to come next. Then when it switched from beloved Ellie back to Abby, it felt like a punch in the gut.
Metal Gear 2: Sons of Liberty: Given the intentional marketing of the 2001 game, most fans expected Solid Snake to return in full form. Though players assume the role of the beloved protagonist during the roughly hour-long prologue, it ends on a cliffhanger when Snake’s fate is left unknown. For the rest of the game, players control Raiden, the newcomer, in a move that continues to divide fans. The following Metal Gear Solid game acted as a prequel, and it wasn’t until the fourth installment that Solid Snake returned as a main playable character to the franchise.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: The Call of Duty games have a history of allowing players to switch between playable characters, but there was one switch, in particular, that was particularly memorable and jarring. In the fourth game, released in 2007, players go from playing as the main protagonist, Sergeant John “Soap" MacTavish, to assuming control of the kidnapped president, which gives players brutally vivid insight into the antics of terrorist Khaled Al-Assad.
Red Dead Redemption: The original Red Dead Redemption, released in 2010 by Rockstar Games, had a huge twist at the end. For the majority of the game, players play as John Marston as he attempts to save his family from the Pinkertons by tracking down and killing his former gang members. But after the government forces eventually kill John, the game fast-forwards several years to when his son, Jack, is all grown up. To avenge his father’s death, Jack tracks down the detective who led the charge against his father, providing players with a feeling of resolution despite the surprising switch.
Red Dead Redemption 2: Just like its predecessor, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2 allows players to step into the shoes of two different playable characters. Most of the game is spent as newcomer Arthur Morgan, a Van der Linde gang member who was like a son to Dutch and a brother to John. But during the game’s epilogue, players return to the familiar role of John Marston, as the final chapters touch on what the Marston family did before the events of the first game begin.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne: When titular character Max Payne becomes injured after falling through a window, players assume control of his female companion, Mona Sax, for a total of three levels. Eventually, unlike other games with surprising twists, players eventually step back into the role of Max, but the switch is a nice change of pace for the time being in the 2003 title.
Assassin’s Creed 3: The 2012 game initially puts players in the shoes of Haytham Kenway before they can assume the role of his son Connor, which, at the time, was considered a bold move for the Ubisoft title. Some critics felt the game moved at a glacial pace in the beginning as a result, but it certainly helps provide more context and a foundation for Connor’s eventual tale of adventure and revenge.
L.A. Noire: The Red Dead Redemption games aren’t the only ones in which Rockstar forces players to make a big switcharoo. In their standalone detective action-adventure video game, released in 2011, players spend the majority of their time as LAPD detective Cole Phelps. However, things take a turn when the detective is eventually taken off the investigation. The game then turns to focus on Phelps’ ally, private investigator Jack Kelso, who players control for the remaining three missions. Critics have questioned whether the switch was necessary or not, and the jury still remains out on this one.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. There are several times in the fourth Uncharted game, released in 2016, in which players assume control of a different playable character. During the prison break scene, players briefly get to control Nate’s brother Sam. But perhaps most surprising, in the epilogue, players are introduced to Cassie, revealed to be the daughter of Elena and Nate. Players can wander around the family’s house to learn what they got up to in the years following their final adventure.
While some of the aforementioned games have been met with critical acclaim, others have been met with controversial reviews. But the one thing they all have in common is that they managed to incorporate character switches that were memorable, entertaining, and above all, surprising. Even if these may not be the most popular games (though the Red Dead Redemption franchise has certainly aged well) their ability to leave players shocked with their surprise twists has got to count for something.