10 best games where your choice changes everything

Craving a virtual world that pulls you in deep? Where every choice carries weight and shapes the course of events? We've curated a collection of 10 captivating games with complex moral dilemmas. From the futuristic streets of Detroit to the medieval fantasy swamps teeming with drowners in The Witcher. Become the empire-breaker in Crusader Kings III, unravel the mystery of Until Dawn, and determine humanity's future in the epic conclusion of the Mass Effect trilogy.

No matter your experience level, these titles are easy to pick up and lose yourself in. The stories are gripping and leave a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Image: Ensiplay

A sprawling role-playing game that immerses players in a dark fantasy world. The narrative follows Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher who hunts monsters for a living. He embarks on a quest to find his adopted daughter Ciri, a young woman with immense power pursued by the Wild Hunt.

Image: youtube.com

Throughout this adventure, players face a multitude of complex moral choices that impact the main plotline, side quests, and relationships with key characters. These decisions lead to diverse consequences, including NPC deaths and shifts in the virtual world's political landscape.

The Witcher 3's gameplay is straightforward yet captivating. Explore a vast open world, lend a hand to a grandma or break down a door in an old house, bake a child in an oven (dark!), dabble in alchemy or magic. And of course, the highlight: battling drowners and leshens in the swamps with dynamic folk tunes as your soundtrack.

Detroit: Become Human

Image: youtube.com

An interactive drama set in the near future where androids have become an integral part of human society. Players control three androids in turn. Kara, a housekeeper trying to protect a girl from her abusive father. Connor, an android detective investigating deviant cases. Markus, the leader of the android uprising.

Image: youtube.com

Every decision made by the player influences the narrative's development and the characters' fates. After each chapter, a story tree reveals how each choice led to the mini-ending.

The game offers 3 main conclusions: androids achieving freedom, being destroyed, or coexisting peacefully with humans. All of this is spiced up with numerous smaller branches, and you might not even see one of the main protagonists reach the end of the plot.

Detroit: Become Human's gameplay revolves around exploring environments, choosing dialogue options, and interacting with objects and NPCs. The game is cinematic, with a fixed camera and closed locations, a design choice that helps immerse players in the narrative without distractions.

Mass Effect 3

Image: youtube.com

The epic conclusion to the sci-fi trilogy where players once again assume the role of Commander Shepard. The galaxy teeters on the brink of annihilation due to the invasion of the Reapers, an ancient machine race intent on wiping out all organic life. Shepard must unite the disparate races and factions of the Milky Way to stand against the enemy.

Image: youtube.com

Decisions made throughout the series impact access to certain missions and characters. Choices in Mass Effect 3 influence the final ending, shaping the fate of the galaxy and the story's key players.

Gameplay features dynamic shooter combat, tactical squad management, and exploration of vibrant alien worlds. As the plot unfolds, you can develop romantic relationships with your squadmates, influencing the plot and the emotional connection NPCs have with Shepard.

Life is Strange

Image: youtube.com

An aesthetically pleasing and charming episodic adventure that transfers players into the atmosphere of an American college. The protagonist, Max Caulfield, returns to her hometown of Arcadia Bay to attend the prestigious Blackwell Academy. She discovers she has the ability to rewind time and alter the past, and subsequently, the present.

Image: youtube.com

Together with her childhood friend Chloe Price, Max tries to unravel the mysteries surrounding Arcadia Bay and save the town from an impending disaster. Every decision has consequences, influencing relationships with other characters and the experience development. In such moments, an icon appears in the upper right corner, signaling that the player has changed history.

The game immerses you in the romanticized aesthetics of an American college, with its picturesque landscapes, cozy courtyards, dorm life, and colorful heroes. Life is Strange's gameplay focuses on exploring the environment and interacting with cast. The plot is touching and emotional, perfect for those who miss the school aesthetic and want to relive their teenage years.

Until Dawn

Image: youtube.com

An interactive thriller that plunges players into the atmosphere of classic teenage slasher films. A group of friends gathers at the secluded mountain lodge of wealthy Josh to commemorate the anniversary of his deceased sisters' deaths. Soon, the group begins to argue, "interesting" details about their friendships and relationships surface, and on top of that, they all face mortal danger.

Image: youtube.com

Players control eight protagonists, making key decisions that impact their survival and the story's development. The main objective is to guide as many heroes as possible to the end. Each choice has consequences, and characters can die due to wrong decisions or insufficiently quick reactions in QTE events.

Until Dawn's gameplay combines exploration, detective work, and the aforementioned QTEs. The developers masterfully maintain intrigue and tension throughout the plot. The ending will surprise even the most seasoned thriller enthusiast.

The Walking Dead by Telltale Games

Image: youtube.com

An episodic adventure game based on the popular "The Walking Dead" franchise. This emotional plot follows Lee Everett, a convicted criminal being transported during the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse. He later encounters a young girl named Clementine. Together, they try to survive in a brutal world where not only the dead but also the living pose a threat.

Image: youtube.com

Throughout the game, you'll face difficult moral decisions that influence the fate of Lee and Clementine. Your choices can lead to secret scenes or character deaths.

The Walking Dead's gameplay is simple: walk around locations with a fixed camera, interact with objects and characters, solve puzzles, and don't forget about QTEs.

Heavy Rain

Image: youtube.com

This psychological thriller immediately immerses players in the atmosphere of a gloomy and rainy city terrorized by the Origami Killer, a serial murderer. The developer gives gamers control over four characters whose fates intertwine during the investigation: a father who lost his son, a journalist, a private detective, and an FBI agent.

Each character has their own motives and secrets, which the player gradually uncovers throughout the story. Your choices have serious consequences, and any character can die due to a wrong answer in dialogues or slow reactions in QTE events.

Baldur's Gate 3

Image: youtube.com

A colossal RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Choices that impact the plot begin right from the character creation screen. Your race, class, and their combination determine how NPCs react and their willingness to aid the protagonist. The story starts with your abduction by Illithids who implant a mind-controlling tadpole, turning living beings into humanoid-octopus creatures.

The next set of decisions awaits in the prologue: how you escape the kidnappers' ship — alone or by rescuing characters encountered on board. These travelers can later become your companions, and saving them from the ship affects their future reactions and attitude towards the protagonist. You can refuse to cooperate with them, kill them, or recruit them and leave them permanently in your camp.

Image: Ensiplay

After escaping, it's time to sort things out and find a solution to the tadpole problem in your head. Here, the player can choose one of two main paths, each leading to its own ending. However, you can switch sides during the adventure. If you initially choose the path of relative "good", the developers won't stop you from joining the "villains" later on, and vice versa.

NPCs can also influence the plot through your choices in dialogues. For example, one companion can use a "secret weapon" in the first boss fight, leading to a secret early ending. Dialogue choices determine the fate of your companions and your relationships with them, including romantic ones.

Baldur's Gate 3's gameplay involves world exploration, tactical turn-based combat, interacting with NPCs, and solving puzzles. The game has become a benchmark for non-linear titles with a vast number of options for character and world development. For example, playing as a paladin, you can follow the path of light and your oath or stray from the beaten path, leading to a secret scene with consequences we'll keep silent about to avoid spoilers.

The game world is highly reactive, and every quest, main or side, can be solved in multiple ways. You can even kill the quest giver and never find out how the task could have ended.

Crusader Kings 3

Image: Ensiplay

A grand strategy game set in medieval Europe, Africa, and Asia. Players take on the role of a dynasty's ruler and must lead their lineage to prosperity and greatness. Or, conversely, indulge in all sorts of vices, lose battles for kingdoms, sell off counties, and execute disgruntled vassals. The game's narrative entirely depends on the player's actions and decisions, shaping the dynasty's fate, relations with vassals and other rulers, and the course of history itself.

Decisions in Crusader Kings III have far-reaching consequences. Choosing marriage partners, appointing heirs, distributing titles and lands, declaring wars, and forging alliances — all of this creates a unique dynasty experience. Players must consider their characters' personalities and ambitions, their relationships with other family members, vassals, and neighboring rulers, as well as their religious denomination. 

Each decision can lead to strengthening power, expanding territories, or internal conflicts, rebellions, and loss of prestige.

Image: youtube.com

Crusader Kings 3's gameplay revolves around managing your realm, diplomacy, warfare, and dynasty development. Gamers must skillfully balance all aspects of rule, consider the desires of vassals, take into account external threats, and address the needs of their people.

For illustration, let's consider the hypothetical King Brian mac Cennétig. He sits on the throne of Ireland, gazing thoughtfully at the map of his domain. His dynasty has ruled the island for generations. Brian's primary concern is the loyalty of his vassals. 

The powerful Earl of Dublin recently expressed discontent, and the king must decide how to act: initiate open conflict or take a diplomatic approach by proposing a marriage between his daughter and the Earl's son. As a devout Catholic, the king generously donated gold to the church, strengthening the support of his religious vassals.

Tales from the Borderlands

Image: youtube.com

An episodic adventure set in the Borderlands universe, continuing the story after the events of the second game. The protagonists are Rhys, a programmer, and Fiona, a con artist. Their paths cross on the planet Pandora. Each character possesses unique abilities: Fiona is skilled in theft and using money, while Rhys, thanks to his cybernetic implants, can hack electronic devices and scan objects.

Image: youtube.com

The plot begins with Rhys being interrogated by a mysterious "Unknown" demanding information about the Gortys Project. Through flashbacks, we learn how Rhys, seeking revenge on his nemesis Vasquez, travels to Pandora with his friend Vaughn to intercept the enemy's deal. There, they encounter bandits and meet Sasha and Fiona, who are also involved in the affair.

Parallel to Rhys's experience, we discover the history of Fiona and her sister Sasha, who survive on Pandora through their thievery. The game is packed with humor, dynamic scenes, and a great soundtrack featuring hits like "Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra" by Kiss the Sky, "Retrograde" by James Blake, "Shoot The Runner" by Kasabian, and many other popular tracks.

Main image: wall.alphacoders.com