#5 Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain was a big hit from developer Quantic Dream, who are known for delivering more cinematic experiences with their video game titles. In a sense, these titles are more like films with QTEs, exploration and choices that alter the narrative journey. Overall, this title involves a mass murderer, known as the Origami Killer, who is targeting children. In the narrative, players will take the role of multiple protagonists but one of the more compelling characters to play as is Ethan Mars, the father of the next Origami Killer’s victim.
Throughout the journey, Ethan is following instructions left by the Origami Killer in hopes to find his kidnapped son before it’s too late. One of the instructions calls for Ethan to locate and kill a drug dealer though it wasn’t until Ethan discovers that at the drug dealers home he is a father of two young girls leaving you to decide on if you should kill the man or show mercy and not take away the life of these young girls father.
#4 Saints Row IV
Saints Row has always been the over-the-top wacky version of Grand Theft Auto. When the fourth main installment released into the market it saw players take the role of the President of the United States with a big choice to decide on right from the start. Again, in Saints Row like fashion, players are given the choice between being the hero to sign a grant which would end world hunger, allowing everyone to enjoy a nice full belly rather than starving to death or to cure cancer. This decision doesn’t play a big role in the actual gameplay of Saints Row IV, but its easily a tough choice to be presented with right off the bat.
#3 Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect was a huge franchise that players easily sunk countless hours into. For the most part, it seemed like BioWare could do no wrong, but that didn’t last after the release of the third installment which would close out the trilogy. There was a mass outcry because of the ending as players felt cheated out of the great narrative journey and that perhaps the none of the big choices matter along the way. This outcry even sparked a petition to force BioWare in making changes towards the ending, though the development team didn’t back down.
We won’t cover the entire history of Mass Effect as it’s a quite expansive RPG narrative. However, at the end of this epic journey players are left with three options and most would agree that the three options are very lackluster. Basically, after fighting off an alien race over the course of three games, our main protagonist has no means of escape. Instead, players will decide on destroying all synthetic life within the galaxy, causing all of humanity to turn into the alien race, or sacrificing yourself to control the alien race from causing any more destruction.
#2 Fallout New Vegas
Bethesda loves to play around with morals and what better way to test yours then deciding what to do with Vault 34 in Fallout: New Vegas. Within the game, players will learn that Vault 34 still has inhabitants alive but because of the vault, there is a major problem. It turns out that the vault has been leaking out radiation which has been destroying a field of crops nearby and starving innocent survivors outside in the wasteland. When it comes come down to it, you’re presented with two choices in order to solve the Vault 34 crisis.
Because there are inhabitants within the vault that are trapped you could essentially craft up the ability to free the people inside the vault. This would, however, create a further radiation leak leading to a stronger famine outside of the vault. However, there is another option which would allow players to stop the reactor and preventing the leak from continuing outside of the vault. The problem with stopping the leak is that this would cause the Vault 34 to crumble leaving those alive to an untimely fate.
#1 Life is Strange 2
Just like with the past installment, Life is Strange 2 presents several big choices you’ll have to make throughout the journey. As you likely know the game focuses on two brothers that end up traveling from the United States to Mexico in order to evade the police. It’s a difficult journey and during it you’ll find yourself taking the role of the older brother who can either bond closer to his younger sibling or chase after his own desires.
At the end of the game, you’re presented with one final choice. Throughout the entire journey, you’ve made big choices, some that may have cost the lives of others whether it be purely defensive or accidental. So when the law finally catches up to you at the border, you’re left with surrendering or fighting your way through the border in hope of reaching a safe haven. We won’t spoil just what all endings are available though you can see them all take place in the video above. While there are two choices, depending on your actions within each episode will determine just how your story comes to an end.
Bonus
Telltale Games: Game of Thrones
Telltale Games has a number of titles full of hard choices to decide on but one of the games that seemed to be filled with them is the Game of Thrones video game. Players took on House Forrester who generally abides by House Stark. The game is played best if you enjoy the Game of Thrones television series as you will embark against some of the same enemies from the series, but it’s definitely tough to decide on the majority of the choices throughout the game. Lines are quickly drawn and it seems that no matter what choice you make there will be a horrible outcome for a family member or an allegiance. Unfortunately, because Telltale Games shutdown, it looks like we’ll never get closure to House Forrester and all the choices we made throughout the game would have been for nothing.
[Video Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
