Games With Decisions That Change The World

I absolutely love games where my choices really matter. The best ones are those where a single decision can completely shake up the game world and affect all the characters in it. It just makes me feel like I’m actually in control, and honestly, that’s what I look for in a gaming experience – feeling like my actions have real consequences.

These challenging decisions aren’t limited to one kind of game, and that’s a real strength. I’ve encountered tough, unsolvable choices in all sorts of games I’ve played.

Here are some of the ones I recommend to you if you’re looking for some tough decisions to be made.

Spoilers for the endings of multiple games are on this list.

10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Decide The Fate Of The Canvas

The latest installment in the *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* series culminates in a deeply emotional showdown between its main characters, Verso and Maelle. Their conflict will decide the fate of the canvas world they’ve called home for years.

Choosing Verso means everyone forgets the canvas world, forcing Maelle and her family to deal with their sadness in reality. However, if you choose Maelle, those who were lost in the canvas are brought back – though perhaps not entirely free – and Maelle herself begins to fade away.

There isn’t a right or wrong ending, so feel free to see either choice as you prefer. Honestly, I still can’t quite decide which ending I like more.

9. Metaphor: ReFantazio

Is Fantasy Dead?

Image Via Atlus

Atlus’s new turn-based RPG, *Metaphor: ReFantaztio*, lets your choices dramatically change the story and the fate of the kingdom of Euchronia. Even seemingly small decisions – like picking different options in conversations during the late game – can lead to very different outcomes.

If Will doesn’t accept his role as the rightful prince, or if he joins forces with Louis before the last fight, the kingdom of Euchronia will be ruined. However, you also have the option to abandon Euchronia and choose to live in a perfect, never-ending fantasy world instead.

The game strongly guides you toward the correct dialogue options to progress the story. Unless you’re deliberately trying to see what happens, it’s unlikely you’ll stumble into one of the unfavorable endings.

8. Elden Ring

What Kind Of Elden Lord Will You Become?

In *Elden Ring*, you play a hero with a clear goal: become the Elden Lord by collecting the shattered pieces of the Elden Ring. There are many different paths you can take, but they all ultimately lead to your character facing a final, crucial choice before the throne.

Once you reach the end, you have several options: you can become the Elden Lord you prefer, follow Ranni the Witch on an interstellar quest, or destroy everything with the power of the Frenzied Flame.

I really liked the Frenzied Flame ending. After fighting so many difficult bosses, it felt right to see the Lands Between consumed by flames.

7. Dishonored

Does Revenge Solve Everything?

Games often make your choices feel important by using morality systems. Dishonored is a great example of this; the things you do as the assassin Corvo directly impact the world and the story of the Empire of the Isles.

Okay, so I’ve learned that how I play this game *really* matters. If I go the sneaky, non-lethal route, things will get better for me, my friends, and even for the future Empress Emily. But if I just go around killing everyone, it’s gonna cause chaos – disease, death, and could even bring the whole Empire crashing down. Basically, my choices have serious consequences!

Okay, so I’m not exactly a stealth master – I usually end up just fighting everyone, and in *Dishonored*, that gets you a pretty rough ending. But that’s what’s so cool about the game! It really tracks your choices, and honestly, it makes you *want* to replay it and try a different approach. It’s awesome that there’s more than one way to finish the game.

6. Infamous 2

Humanity Vs. Conduits

I’m a huge fan of the *Infamous* games, and one of the things I love is that you get to decide if you want to be a good guy or a bad guy with your character’s powers. Honestly, I think the choices in *Infamous 2* are the most meaningful in the whole series – they really make you think about the consequences of your actions!

Near the end of the game, Cole MacGrath is faced with a difficult choice: he can save humanity by sacrificing himself and others with powers, or he can side with the villain and let them destroy humanity, creating a new world for those with superpowers. Your decision determines both the game’s ending and the kind of person Cole ultimately becomes.

Although not quite as intricate as *Dishonored*, I like that *Infamous* also rewards players for making different choices on repeat playthroughs. Plus, unlike *Dishonored*, the game doesn’t penalize you for choosing to play as the villain.

5. Deathloop

Breaking The Loop

Set in the world of *Dishonored*, *Deathloop* centers around an island stuck in a time loop. You play as assassin Colt, who must break the loop by eliminating key targets all in one day. The game doesn’t judge your choices, but the decisions you make during the final showdown have major consequences.

When you finally face Colt’s daughter, Juliana, you’ll have to decide whether to kill her. If you do, both she and you will die, which will end the time loop and restore everything to how it was. If you spare her, the time loop will continue.

The repeating loop in the game could be a way of highlighting its replayability, letting you experience everything again and again. Or, I might be overthinking it.

4. Life Is Strange

Sacrifice Chloe Or Sacrifice Arcadia Bay

Games like *Life Is Strange* let you shape the story through your choices. The first game culminates in a difficult decision for the main character, Max, who must decide the fate of her close friend, Chloe.

Going back in time and allowing Chloe to die would stop a devastating storm from hitting Arcadia Bay. However, if you stay with Chloe, the storm will happen, but you both will be the only survivors.

Even now, I’m still thinking about whether the events in *Life Is Strange* were worth sacrificing for the sake of love.

3. Detroit: Become Human

Each Android Has A Story

It’s challenging to determine the outcome for even one character, but *Detroit: Become Human* asks you to navigate the stories of three. Playing as these androids in a futuristic city, your decisions not only shape their individual paths but also impact everyone around them.

Each android – Kara, Connor, and Markus – has a unique and personal journey. However, their stories connect to a larger theme of freedom and android rights, and whether this theme fully unfolds depends on the choices you make and whether you can keep these characters alive.

I managed to keep all three characters alive throughout my first time playing the game, which was great. However, that’s just a small part of what *Detroit: Become Human* has to offer.

2. Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath

Choose Your Final Destiny

Okay, so the whole *Mortal Kombat* series is about this huge fighting tournament where the world’s fate is on the line. But in the *Aftermath* expansion for *Mortal Kombat 11*, things got seriously crazy – it wasn’t just about Earth anymore, we were deciding the fate of *all* of reality! It was a lot of pressure, let me tell you.

Choosing to support Liu Kang restores the timeline, giving everyone a fresh start and leading to a hopeful future. However, siding with Shang Tsung allows him to control time and all worlds, turning our heroes into his slaves.

This isn’t a difficult game, but as someone who enjoys fighting games, I’m glad to see the single-player modes becoming more creative and offering unexpected twists like this.

1. Injustice 2

Which Superhero Will Reign Supreme?

Before *Mortal Kombat 11* put the universe in your hands, *Injustice 2* asked players to pick a side: a Batman fighting for freedom, or a Superman trying to fix the world with an iron fist after defeating the villain Brainiac.

Choose Batman, and Superman is banished, allowing Batman and his Justice League to bring peace and freedom to all. However, if you prefer to play the villain, you can support Superman, reimpose his rule, and control Batman through mind control, turning him into your loyal follower.

You can criticize NRS fighting games for many things, but their story modes are consistently engaging and well-done.

2025-10-17 19:11