Video games have come a long way since narrow hallway levels, as almost every game these days, whether it’s a shooting game or an adventure game, has some kind of RPG element where players have to make choices.
However, games that genuinely take player decisions into account have actually existed for a long time, and many haven’t even come close to those that laid down the foundation for RPGs like The Witcher and Dragon Age. But, between AAA third-person shooters, depraved psychological horrors, and graphic adventures based on comic books, no other games have made players feel more like their choices are so important.
Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Though there are many great Rockstar games fans forgot about, the Grand Theft Auto series is the crown jewel in the developer's catalog of incredible open-world games. Where there were always choices that players could make in the earlier games that affected the gameplay, the series had never gone into as much depth as GTA V.
As each section of the game is based around multiple heists, all of the levels are about planning each one. It isn’t just the cheat codes that make the game endlessly replayable, as there are so many variants to pull off the heists that result in different outcomes. Players choose who to hire for the robberies, what artillery to use, what getaway vehicles to use, and everything in between, and the way the level plays out and the result of the heist all comes down to those very choices.
Heavy Rain (2010)
Though players think the game has aged poorly, arguing that there isn’t much beyond the beautiful graphics and the decision-making, Heavy Rain was one of the most influential games of the PlayStation 3 generation.
As Heavy Rain follows the mystery of a serial killer, many of the player’s actions massively affect the way the narrative plays out. It was the game that made decision-making games popular again, and many of them that followed in the wake of Heavy Rain have the 2010 game to thank.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
Being the first game in the Fallout series that was developed by Obsidian, New Vegas followed Fallout III with an even bigger wasteland for players to freely explore, which came with a boatload of new choices, too. The game has a whole myriad of important choices, whether it’s regarding the narrative or the gameplay.
However, the series hasn’t managed to reach the same heights since, as the game was such a landmark in RPG gaming and revelatory in decision-making that it couldn't be touched by the likes of its predecessors.
Life Is Strange (2015)
Given how impactful the story is compared to most video games, fans have been quick to search for movies like Life Is Strange, but there’s truly nothing like it.
Life Is Strange was released in an episodic format and is largely puzzle-based, but the game’s unique selling point are the consequences that come with the choices, whether they’re triggered through dialogue options or the player’s actions. Given its complex narrative where players can time travel, it makes for a fascinating adventure where every player will have a completely different experience.
Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
Being the first game in the Dragon Age series, Origins is completely unique in the way it allows gamers to make their own choices, as whatever the player does in the game will affect the approval rating of companions, good or bad. So, when in the middle of combat, companions can become killing machines or completely lousy based on the players’ choices. It doesn’t just end with Origins, as the whole series is a sandbox of choices, and the second sequel, Inquisition, is even one of the most honored Game of the Year winners.
Telltale: The Walking Dead (2012)
Just like Life Is Strange, Telltale: The Walking Dead is a graphic adventure that was released episodically. The game is based more on the comic book than the popular TV show, and, much like many of the developer's prior titles, there's very little to speak of in terms of traditional gameplay. It’s all in the narrative, so every choice the player makes is absolutely imperative.
Telltale: The Walking Dead was such a sensation among critics, and it became so popular that it inspired Telltale to make other choice-driven games, including Batman and Guardians of the Galaxy, both of which were critically praised.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Though The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released almost six years ago at this point, it just seems to keep growing in popularity, just like Skyrim and Grand Theft Auto V. Not only that, but even players who bought it upon release are still playing it for multiple hours a day, and that’s because Wild Hunt is endlessly replayable.
The game offers players a whole slew of choices around every corner, as it’s full of distractions and tangents within tangents, which makes it one of the longest games ever if players are trying to reach 100% completion. Between morally charged decisions to simply choosing a romantic partner, the game is a sea of meaningful choices.
Fahrenheit (2005)
Fahrenheit is more like the prototype for Heavy Rain than anything, but the earlier title from developer Quantum Dream saw them force a type of gameplay on players they didn’t know they wanted.
Just like Heavy Rain, Fahrenheit is a mystery thriller that players have to get to the bottom of, and every step the player takes reflects the narrative. The game was a landmark in interactive storytelling, and it wasn’t just the blueprint for Heavy Rain, but also Quantum Dream’s Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009)
Meaningful choices, in general, are a part of Silent Hill’s MO, as the possibilities of alternate endings are one of the ways Silent Hill changed video games forever, and Shattered Memories took it to a whole other level.
The Silent Hill series may have gone off the beaten path after the third game, as most of the games since have received an average response from critics, but Shattered Memories was somewhat of a return to form. The game features a bunch of therapy sessions that determine the player’s psych profile, and the type of creepy stuff that is found in the world is a reflection of what was answered by the player in those therapy sessions.
Dishonored (2012)
Dishonored is one of the most unique and innovative video games ever made, as the first-person game mixes Hitman like stealth, puzzlers, and intricate decision-making in a way that no other game has even attempted.
However, the choices aren’t just in the way players go about the level in the huge areas, but the way in which players act reflects the whole world. If players have slaughtered their way through levels, they’ll have a completely different experience to those who were careful and avoided bloodshed as much as possible.