Philosopher Alfred A. Montapert once said ‘Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices’, a fact that one may brush off easily. However, it’s hard to escape the fact when the concept is present in all kinds of media nowadays, from choose-your-own-adventure books to modern video games like the ones in this list.
Instead of a straightforward choice system, these games cause you to “reap what you sow”, by making every decision you choose lead to a different storyline. By doing so, the developers not only increase the replayability of the game, but also make it more exciting and interactive. If you’re interested in games like these, here are some of our recommendations for choice-based games!
Watch Nasser & Nathalie play Life Is Strange every Saturday live on @themagicrainmy‘s Facebook page, starting on the 14th of November! Follow our page to receive a notification when we go live.
1. Life Is Strange
Life Is Strange is a five-part episodic adventure game that emphasises how consequences come with every action. As the player, you will take on the role of Max Caulfield, an 18-year-old photography student who discovers that she can turn back time.
During the game, players will be presented with choices that will affect how the later part of the story plays out. However, due to Max’s ability to rewind time, players will have a second chance to ‘do the right thing’. Her ability will come in handy towards the end of the game, as things become more dangerous while Max discovers the truth behind the gift.
Try Life Is Strange Episode 1 for free on Steam. It’s also available on Android.
2. Detroit: Become Human
This 2018 adventure game is set in an era where androids are a common household commodity, though things begin to get out of hand when the manmade beings start to behave as though they are human. In Detroit: Become Human, players will walk in the shoes of three androids – Connor, Kara, and Markus–as they face reality and seek answers along the way.
What makes this game great is its freedom of control, where players are able to direct each character’s development to their own liking. As players experience the story, they will encounter scenes or events where they have to make a choice, which will each branch out into a different storyline.
Unlike the previous game on this list, players will have to think carefully while choosing their actions, as your decisions cannot be reversed. However, players are able to revisit the chapters to explore different outcomes after completing the game.
Buy Detroit: Become Human on Steam
3. The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series is a collection of all the seasons of The Walking Dead, a multi-part interactive adventure game inspired by a comic book of the same name.
Being set in the world of a zombie apocalypse, there’s no doubt that survival is the top priority for our main characters. Sometimes in order for them to survive, sacrifices must be made. Thus, players will often have to make important choices between life and death. To pump up the thrill, players have a time limit to take action in some scenarios, forcing them to make split-second ‘now-or-never’ decisions. If you’re into good storytelling or you’re a Telltale fan, definitely give this game a go.
Buy The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series on Steam
4. Until Dawn
Released in the same year as Life Is Strange, the game Until Dawn is an interactive drama and survival horror video game. As the player, you control eight adolescents who have to survive from being caught by unknown creatures.
Until Dawn is based around the concept of the ‘butterfly effect’, where a small action can result in a major difference at a later stage. Therefore, every choice you make is crucial, as one wrong move might cause everything to go south soon after. While it certainly makes things challenging, the game also has a high replay value as players might get a totally different outcome with every playthrough.
Buy Until Dawn on the PlayStation Website
5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action role-playing game (RPG) that many have lauded as setting a new standard for the RPG genre since its release. Being the final instalment in the story of famed witcher Geralt of Rivia, it certainly did not disappoint!
While it is an open-world game, The Witcher features strong main quest and side quest stories where players can make decisions. The choices you make will shape the world around you by adding positive or negative results to your journey. With the vast number of options that the game offers, you won’t be satisfied until you completely explore all the alternatives.
Buy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Steam
Feel free to let us know if any games piqued your interest down in the comments! If Life Is Strange intrigues you, why not check out our livestream every Saturday? The series begins on the 14th of November, from 8pm to 10pm (GMT +08:00)!
Follow us on @themagicrainmy on Facebook to get notified every time we go live.
