THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT IN GAMING

Every decision counts, right? Or at least that is what we get told here and there. Decision-based video games take that concept to a whole new level.

Whether you are choosing which road
to follow, who do you trust, or how do
you want to beat in the next challenge, these games will make you feel there
is heavy weight in every choice taken.

One tough decision or a small mistake can completely change the course of the story. This may or may not trigger the kind reaction we wish for.

These decisions can affect the entire ending of the game, and some picks may lead to an unwanted scenario.
The thing that makes these games
very special is the emotional factor,

the way they make us feel. We are not just watching the story being unfolded, we are shaping it. Even the smallest choice can become a huge dilemma.

In this article, we are going to highlight some of the most popular titles in this genre. Let’s dive into discovering how our choices have a strong impact in
the hero’s story.

Writer: Bambie

Designer: Myra

Life is Strange

We are starting strong with one game that consolidated the decision-based games as a mainstream genre of our ever-changing generation.

Life is Strange is one of the adventures that really sticks with you. You play as Max Caulfield, a photography student who suddenly realizes she can rewind

time. At the beginning, Max feels like
this power is a blessing, as she can easily fix mistakes, say things some other way, or change outcomes.

As the game moves on, you begin to
realize that changing the past is not
always the right call, as it may slap
you in the face unannounced!

Life is Strange is a strong hit on reality.
The characters talk and engage like real people. The melancholic melody, the quiet moments, and even those talking bits that get uncomfortable
make the immersion more authentic.

The whole atmosphere setup makes you feel like you are living inside this particular and strange world.

The game was a big success amongst players due to its peculiar soundtrack, hand-painted art style, and how raw the characters felt. It sold millions of copies and won the BAFTA Games Award for Story 2016.

It proved that gamers want something more than power action sequences. They want stories that make them feel.

Detroit: Become Human

Our second game is a favorite amongst gamers. Detroit: Become Human is one of those titles that makes you question what it really means to be a person.

Set in 2038, the story follows three main characters: Connor, Markus, and Kara.
In this world, androids serve people in everyday life activities.

Things begin to crumble when some androids begin to develop emotions.
These models are then targeted as
evil Deviant androids.

As the game advances, you get to discover that not only actions but
even the way you think will impact
the outcome for each protagonist. 

Detroit: Become Human was praised for its storytelling, graphics, and the great number of choices it gave players.

The game has multiple endings based
on ramifications that are defined by every little choice the player makes. Turning the experience into one that highly encourages replayability.

Honestly, it feels like a playable movie, one where you have control of what happens next in the plot.

With millions of copies sold worldwide,
it became a recognized narrative title of our generation.

Baldur’s Gate 3

If you are a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, then our third choice is the one for you. Baldur’s Gate 3 throws you into a huge fantasy world filled with choices, chaos, and palpable danger.

Do you want to be the world’s savior?
Or perhaps you want to destroy it?
You can do as you wish! This is a wild
ride that changes for every player.

When Baldur’s Gate 3 was launched,
it took the gaming world by surprise.
It became one of those rare cases
where a game lives up to people’s expectations and hype.

The critics loved it, and they called it one of the best RPGs ever created. Gamers all around the globe could
not stop talking about it, and it was

awarded as 2023’s Game of the Year.
The game lets you play however you want to play, and it allows gamers to decide on how to fight, how to talk to strangers, and even the way to flirt.

Undoubtedly, one of those RPGs that became a cultural moment for this genre. If you haven’t, it is a must-try
on your list of decision-based titles.

Red Dead Redemption 2

The fourth in our list is a campaign that pulls you in from the first few minutes
of gameplay. We are talking about no other than Red Dead Redemption 2.

The sequel of this cowboy experience now brings Arthur Morgan as the main character. You are an outlaw trying
to survive in the fading wild west.

With a massive open world and a rich level of detail, RDR2 is special due to
the player’s ability to shape Arthur’s
story and personality. 

Every single choice, the way you treat people, and even the smaller things,
like helping a stranger on the road,
will affect the story’s outcome.

Labeled as a generational masterpiece, RDR2 blew everyone away. Players fell in love with its visuals, how it made them feel trapped with its emotional depth, and the overall storytelling factor.

The game is one of the fastest-selling games in history, reaching over $725 million in revenue within its first three days of release.

This title is more than just shooting your way through the wild west. It gets you
to think about the kind of person you are becoming with every action taken, whether big or small.

Rockstar knows its way to continuous success, and this shows in the game’s version: Red Dead Online.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Last but not least, our final game on this list is one based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s bestsellers. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the game where everything will come together for Geralt’s story.

The game opened up the world to one  where choices are the bread you eat every single morning.

Our favorite monster hunter is looking for his adopted daughter while every corner around him is at imminent
war. The game is full of side quests
with rewarded exploration.

The campaign features mini-stories with deep meaning, as they define
the kind of man Geralt will become.

This game takes the decision-making aspect of the first 2 games to a much deeper level. Every choice will set up
a path that you may not be able to escape later in the story. 

You might not even realize the weight
of your decisions until it is too late to change them. Selling over fifty million copies as well as multiple awards, 

CD Projekt Red proved player-driven storytelling could be both incredibly emotional and astonishingly epic at
the same time. It catapulted a new standard for RPGs of its generation.

Many more games should make this list, but then we may take forever to end it. We only gave you five games that we thought you would love.

Or at least these are games you can find interesting if you are seeking to explore the decision-based game

genre. In between a few games that did not make this list, we have titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and some Assassin’s Creed games, like Odyssey or Valhalla.

Or if you are looking for those that put storytelling on the map, then you can definitely check out games such as

Beyond Two Souls and Heavy Rain.
These two are released by Quantic
Dreams, the same people who
made our second pick, Detroit.

Now, if you want to go for an oldie
but goldie, then The Walking Dead
by Telltale is the one to try.

These games remind us why we fell
in love with gaming in the first place.
They put the players in control of
the entire story, and not only some characters and paths.

Regretting decisions is part of our lives, but in these games, you can change that, maybe by playing again and this time choosing something out of your comfort zone, even if it makes less 

sense than the original. When it comes to feeling real emotion, it gets ignited when it is you who made the decision that changed everything forever.