“We are our choices.” – Jean-Paul Sartre
Choices define us. In life, their weight often goes unnoticed until long after the moment has passed. But in the realm of narrative-driven games, we’re granted a rare gift: the ability to see our decisions unfold in real-time, to witness the immediate and far-reaching consequences of our actions. This list compiles the most potent of these digital crucibles – games that don’t just tell stories, but demand that we actively shape them. Each title here offers a unique lens through which to examine morality, identity, and the human experience. As we explore these worlds, we’re not just playing games – we’re engaging with complex ethical simulations that challenge our core beliefs and push us to grow.
“In the end that was the choice you made, and it doesn’t matter how hard it was to make it. It matters that you did.” – Cassandra Clare
It’s important to note that this list isn’t comprehensive. Rather, it’s shaped by personal experience and taste, reflecting games that have left a lasting impact on me as a player and a person. From the morally complex streets of The Witcher 3 to the time-looped mysteries of The Forgotten City, each entry here represents a unique journey into the heart of interactive storytelling.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus throws you into the weathered boots of Geralt of Rivia, a gravelly-voiced monster hunter with a penchant for promiscuity and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of hair ties. Navigate the treacherous waters of political intrigue, monster contracts, and romantic entanglements – all while trying to remember if you’ve played Gwent with every tavern keeper from Velen to Skellige.
The Life is Strange Series
Dontnod Entertainment and Deck Nine have crafted a series of games that will have you questioning every life choice you’ve ever made – and a few you haven’t. From time-rewinding photographers to telekinetic fugitives, these games prove that being a teenager is tough enough without supernatural powers complicating things. The series includes Life is Strange, Life is Strange 2, and Life is Strange: True Colors, each offering unique protagonists and powers.
Tell Me Why
Set in the picturesque Alaskan wilderness, this Dontnod creation explores the complex relationship between twins reuniting to unravel their past. It’s like a Lifetime movie met a point-and-click adventure and decided to have a love child with surprisingly good representation. Prepare for familial drama so intense it makes your last Thanksgiving dinner look like a polite tea party.
Disco Elysium
Imagine waking up with the mother of all hangovers, only to realize you’re a detective tasked with solving a murder – and you can’t remember your own name. Welcome to Disco Elysium, where your inner voices are more talkative than a caffeinated parrot, and your choices range from “questionable” to “dear god, why?” This game is like if Film Noir had a fever dream after binge-watching Monty Python while on a philosophy kick.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Follow Lee and Clementine’s journey through a world gone mad, where the real monsters often have a pulse. Telltale’s episodic masterpiece will have you making gut-wrenching decisions faster than you can say “brains.” Warning: may cause unexpected feelings, moral quandaries, and an irrational fear of strangers offering you apples.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Larian Studios’ epic RPG is like Dungeons & Dragons, if your Dungeon Master was a caffeinated squirrel with ADHD and a penchant for plot twists. Create your character, assemble a party of misfits, and set out on a quest to become a god. Just remember: with great power comes great lightning bolts, and friendly fire is always on.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
BioWare’s space opera trilogy lets you customize your own Commander Shepard, assemble a crew of aliens and humans, and save the universe. Your choices matter, your companions are romanceable, and the fate of the galaxy rests in your hands. Just don’t ask about the ending of the third game – that’s still a sore spot for some fans.
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red’s foray into the world of neon-soaked dystopia might have had a rocky start, but it’s since shaped up into a compelling narrative experience. Play as V, a mercenary caught up in a conspiracy involving brain-dwelling rock stars, megacorporations, and cybernetic enhancements. It’s like “Blade Runner” had a love child with “Grand Theft Auto,” and that child was raised by a committee of transhumanist philosophers.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios strikes again, this time resurrecting the beloved Baldur’s Gate franchise. With mind flayers, dragons, and more dialogue options than you can shake a +1 stick at, BG3 is a love letter to both D&D fans and choice-driven narrative enthusiasts. Just be prepared for some truly bizarre situations – like debating philosophy with a sentient brain in a jar.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
BioWare’s fantasy epic puts you in the shoes of the Inquisitor, a chosen one tasked with saving the world from a big, angry hole in the sky. Recruit a diverse cast of companions, close rifts, and try not to get too distracted by the vast open worlds and numerous side quests. Warning: may cause an irrational desire to collect every herb in sight.
As Dusk Falls
Interactive drama meets “Fargo” in this multi-generational tale of crime, family, and questionable decision-making in the American Southwest. Perfect for those who like their narratives with a side of moral ambiguity and enough tension to snap a banjo string.
Greedfall
Spiders’ colonial-era RPG asks the hard-hitting questions, like “What if the Age of Exploration had magic?” and “How many different ways can I say ‘indeed’ in a faux-17th century accent?” Navigate political intrigue, native relations, and the occasional magical beast, all while trying to find a cure for a mysterious illness.
The Nonary Games
Combining the critically acclaimed visual novels Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and its sequel Virtue’s Last Reward, The Nonary Games series is a masterclass in narrative puzzle-solving. Players find themselves trapped in life-or-death escape room scenarios, where every decision can lead to a different ending – some good, many bad, and a few downright disturbing. With branching storylines, mind-bending puzzles, and a sci-fi plot that would make Christopher Nolan’s head spin, these games challenge both your intellect and your moral compass. Just remember: in the Nonary Games, trust is a luxury you can’t afford, and the person you save today might be your undoing tomorrow.
The Forgotten City
A time-loop mystery set in a secret underground city during the Roman Empire. Originally a Skyrim mod turned full game, it challenges players to unravel the mystery of the Golden Rule: a law that collectively punishes all citizens if any one of them commits a sin. Your choices and deductions across multiple loops will determine the fate of the city and its inhabitants.
“Sometimes you have to choose between a bunch of wrong choices and no right ones. You just have to choose which wrong choices feels the least wrong.” – Colleen Hoover
As we conclude our journey through these narrative landscapes, we’re left with more than just memories of virtual worlds. These games, with their intricate stories and weighted choices, serve as mirrors reflecting the complexity of the human condition. They challenge us to question our assumptions, to walk in shoes vastly different from our own, and to confront the consequences of our actions in ways that real life rarely allows.
In the end, these aren’t just games – they’re testaments to the power of interactive storytelling. They remind us that our choices, both in-game and in life, have the power to shape not just our own stories, but the world around us. They teach us empathy, show us the gravity of our decisions, and allow us to explore the myriad possibilities of existence.
As you stand at the threshold of these digital realms, know that you’re embarking on more than just a gaming experience. You’re stepping into a journey of self-discovery, moral exploration, and emotional growth. These stories will stay with you, their lessons echoing in your mind long after the credits roll.
“I love you. I hate you. I like you. I hate you. I love you. I think you’re stupid. I think you’re a loser. I think you’re wonderful. I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with you. I would never date you. I hate you. I love you…..I think the madness started the moment we met and you shook my hand. Did you have a disease or something?” – Shannon L. Alder
In a world that often feels beyond our control, these games remind us of the power we hold – the power to choose, to change, to make a difference. They inspire us to carry that awareness into our daily lives, to recognize the weight of our decisions, and to strive to make choices that reflect our deepest values.
May these narratives challenge you, change you, and ultimately, help you write your own story – one choice at a time.
