10 RPGs Where Companions Cause Chaos

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In many role-playing games, companions are essential characters who journey with you, offering friendship, story insights, and a deeper connection to the game world. While you’re the main hero, these companions sometimes have their own agendas and can unexpectedly change the course of the story.

This often manifests as a companion betraying the main character, or simply making their own choices. The most compelling instances are when you fully grasp the companion’s motivations, even while still feeling affection for them – even though their actions changed the course of the story.

10. Divinity: Original Sin 2

All’s Fair on the Path to Divinity

Being betrayed is painful, particularly when it comes from friends you trusted. While most role-playing games limit betrayals to a single companion, Divinity: Original Sin 2 allows all six of your companions – even romantic interests – to turn against you.

The twists and betrayals in Divinity: Original Sin 2 heavily influence the story and lead to its multiple endings. These outcomes depend on the choices you make and how your companions feel about you. While you might expect some disloyalty in a game about becoming a god, it’s still surprising when trusted companions suddenly turn against you at crucial moments.

9. Disco Elysium

Kim is Your Moral Compass

Playing Disco Elysium is a truly impactful experience. It stands out for its nuanced portrayal of different political viewpoints, all explored through the character of Kim and his personal beliefs.

Kim doesn’t have a good first impression of Harry, and how things go from here depends on Harry’s behavior. While there isn’t a way to measure Kim’s liking of Harry, it’s obvious when Kim doesn’t respect him.

Kim has the power to stop certain actions while he’s present, so you’ll need to wait until he leaves to proceed with them. Later in the game, Kim explains your choices and beliefs to Jean, which ultimately decides Harry’s future and whether there’s any hope left.

8. Fallout: New Vegas

Your Loyalties Matter

A friend’s impact isn’t always obvious, but their words, actions, and way of seeing things can often lead you to choose a path you hadn’t thought of before.

Okay, so the companions in Fallout: New Vegas aren’t just there to carry my stuff and help in a fight. They’re actually tied to all the different groups out in the Mojave Wasteland. Getting to know them gives you the inside scoop on each faction, and honestly, they really swayed my opinion on who deserved my support in the end. They definitely made picking a side a lot harder – in a good way!

In Fallout: New Vegas, your companions can refuse to travel with you if you’re well-liked by a group they strongly dislike. This restricts your choice of allies, forcing you to either find a way around the issue or start a new game to recruit them.

7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The End of an Age in Tamriel

While not a traditional companion system, Oblivion does allow you to have followers, which is why it’s included here. The game initially presents you as a special hero, but the story quickly reveals that Martin Septim is the central figure, and you primarily help and witness his journey.

Okay, so as a huge fan, I was completely blown away by the ending! I mean, Martin just flipped everything on its head in the last little bit. Instead of becoming Emperor like I’d been working towards, he totally destroyed the Amulet of Kings and, get this, became Akatosh! It basically ended the Septim dynasty and broke this ancient deal Akatosh had made. He did stop the Oblivion Crisis, which was good, but it meant all my efforts to become Emperor were for nothing. It was a shocking twist, honestly!

6. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Doing the Same Things to Each Other

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the story is told through different characters in each section. While you only play as Verso, the game switches between Verso and Maelle’s viewpoints for Acts 2 and 3. Depending on whose perspective you experience, both characters significantly alter the course of the story.

Verso secretly withholds crucial information to advance his personal agenda, ultimately disrupting the story in Act 2. Meanwhile, Maelle steps into her mother’s role as the Paintress, which harms her well-being and leads her down a similar path of sorrow as Aline. This forces Verso to act independently near the end, pushing the story towards a resolution.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

The Path of No Return

In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, you’ll meet a memorable cast of characters, including the intriguing Jedi, Bastila Shan. The game features multiple endings, and Bastila’s choices are what determine which one you get. Throughout the story, she initially keeps your background and goals hidden, even sacrificing her freedom to help you escape. Later, she falls to the Dark Side, allies with Darth Malak, and potentially becomes your apprentice if you embrace the dark path.

Okay, so at this moment in the game, you have a huge choice to make. You can actually abandon everything you’ve been working towards – even if you’ve been a total goody-two-shoes the whole time – and side with her. But be warned, doing that completely changes the story! It basically leads to a new Sith Empire taking over and the Old Republic falling apart. Alternatively, you can refuse her advances, which could either bring her back to the good side, or… well, you might have to defeat her yourself.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Ciri Decides Everything

Similar to Oblivion, The Witcher 3 doesn’t have typical companions, but characters will join Geralt for parts of the story. Ciri is one of these characters, and you actually get to play as her in several sections, making her almost a second main character rather than just an important non-player character.

As a huge fan, I was totally shocked when Ciri showed up at the beginning! But it’s amazing how much her fate impacts the entire game, especially the ending. Basically, depending on the choices I make throughout the adventure, Ciri could end up as the Empress of Nilfgaard, become a witcher herself, or… well, it’s heartbreaking to think about, but she could also die. The cool thing is, even though my choices matter, the game ultimately lets Ciri make the final decision about her own future.

3. Mass Effect 2

An Ignominious End for Shepard

Mass Effect 2 heavily emphasizes its characters, with many missions revolving around recruiting them and earning their trust. If all your squadmates die, Shepard will also die during the final mission, making it impossible to continue your game in Mass Effect 3. But a particularly disruptive element comes with the character Morinth.

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Recruiting Morinth isn’t a good idea. She’s a dangerous killer with no interest in helping the mission succeed. She’ll try to seduce Shepard, and the game repeatedly warns you that she’s deadly. If you allow the seduction to happen, Shepard dies instantly, resulting in a game over.

2. Baldur’s Gate 3

Prematurely End the Game in Act 2

Baldur’s Gate 3 features companions who have their own goals, and ignoring these relationships can have serious consequences. The most dramatic example is Gale: if you don’t connect with him, he’ll attempt to destroy Moonrise Towers in Act 2 by detonating the magical orb within his chest.

That’s game over. As the narrator explains, it’s a definitive end, but not a satisfying one. Everyone infected on the Sword Coast instantly becomes a mind flayer, leading to widespread panic, and unfortunately, your party doesn’t survive.

1. Dragon Age 2

Anders Ruins Everything

Throughout the first three Dragon Age games, there’s always at least one companion whose personal story clashes with the main plot – like Morrigan and Alistair in Dragon Age: Origins, or Solas in Inquisition. However, the companions in Dragon Age 2 are particularly disruptive to the overall campaign.

In Dragon Age II, Isabela’s actions in Act 2 lead to a Qunari revolt, and then Anders destroys the Chantry in Act 3, which starts the Mage-Templar war and forces Hawke to pick a side. Frustratingly, the game doesn’t allow you to prevent either of these events – you can’t stop Isabela from stealing the Tome of Koslun, and you can’t stop Anders from causing the explosion.

No matter what you do – whether you banish him in Act 2 or deny him assistance – he’ll always find a way. You’ll keep striving for a positive outcome, but Anders will inevitably show up and spoil everything.

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2026-04-28 00:45