One of the factors that separates gaming from other popular forms of entertainment is that gaming, generally, puts players in the shoes of the main character. Many games expand upon the idea of the player truly being in control of the protagonist by giving them a vast range of choices and decisions to make that will alter the direction of the story. This certainly isn't a new feature of gaming, as it was the key selling point of numerous 80s and 90s graphic adventures.
However, it's fair to say that the choices in many games today are far more expansive than ever before, and the popularity of games where the player's choices matter has led to significantly more games being available to choose from. The popularity of decision-based games has meant that many developers and publishers have tried to shoehorn decision-making into their games despite the choices having little to no impact on the direction of the story, but thankfully, there are numerous games where decision-making isn't just a gimmick but a key, in-depth feature.
This list avoids specific story or character spoilers, but does discuss the types of choices players need to make, including references to how final missions/decisions are presented or structured.
Updated November 17th, 2025, by Jack Pursey: This list of great games that require tough decisions from players due to their morality or troubling implications has been updated to include more entries and improved formatting, along with removing some entries to ensure that only the most applicable games are featured.
Batman: The Enemy Within
The Player Has A Direct Impact On The Joker's Character
Batman: The Enemy Within
- Released
- August 8, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Telltale Games prides itself on choice-driven games. They confront players with decisions they must make quickly, and provide dialogue choices to allow them to address other characters as they wish. Batman: The Enemy Within is one such game, letting players control the Caped Crusader as he does what Batman does best: protecting the people of Gotham.
Many famous villains make their appearance in this game, but the dark stars of this show are Joker and Harley. Their relationship is inverted so that Harley is the manipulative mastermind, and Joker is the one manipulated. How players treat Joker's character can significantly alter his ark in this game.
Chrono Trigger
Choices Made Throughout Various Eras Will Influence the Narrative
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- SNES, PlayStation (Original), PC, Nintendo DS, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Even back in the mid-90s, developers such as Square Enix allowed players to have a hand in how their game plays out by presenting choices that could have a major impact on the story. This is no more true than with one of their most beloved RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger.
The game's story will take players and their companions through several different eras on their quest to save the world as they know it. And with time travel stories, there are always consequences for meddling with the timeline. Choices that the player makes can change how the narrative unfolds, which is an impressive amount of freedom considering the game's age.
Fable 2
Will You Be Good Or Evil In This Xbox Classic?
Fable 2
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lionhead Studios
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
Fable 2 is perhaps the most heralded title in the series, and it is clear to see why. It oozed charisma and took players on a whirlwind story in order to save the lands from the evil powers of Lucien, the man who killed their older sister when they were both poor orphans living on the streets.
Players will be presented with choices throughout Fable 2, and the well-implemented morality system gives their decisions weight and can alter how their character looks, their title, and more. There are three possible endings to Sparrow's adventure, and what choice the player makes will determine what ending they receive. It certainly isn't an easy choice to make, and most players will go through multiple playthroughs just so they can experience everything Fable 2 has to offer.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist
The Character's Life Hinges On Certain Decisions That Can Be Made
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
- Released
- August 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Indie Games, Adventure, Simulation, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Linux, macOS, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In a game that perhaps rings a bit too true to reality, the Earth has become unlivable, leading to a group of colonists taking a spaceship through a wormhole to colonize a habitable planet. The player character falls into a coma and awakens to see their new home on Vertumna 4.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist players have great agency with their character; they are able to customize them, select their childhood friend, and pick traits that can have an impact on their game. As the plot spans multiple years of the protagonist's life, the player chooses what activities they partake in as time passes, and some of these activities can even spell death for their colonists. The choices in this game are not to be underestimated, as they can have some of the biggest impacts seen in choice-based games.
Frostpunk
Will You Be Able To Save The Inhabitants?
Frostpunk
- Released
- April 24, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- City Builder, Survival
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
One might think that a city builder game such as Frostpunk couldn't qualify as a choice-based game, but they would be wrong. Along with the gameplay of creating cities, constructions, and advancing technology to protect habitations and inhabitants from the bitter cold, smart choices and resource management all play a big part in this game and require smart thinking on the player's side.
Players will also be challenged to certain moral choices throughout the game, which will soon test people who went into the game with the intention of being a good and just leader. Harsh, sometimes deadly decisions must be made to ensure survival.
Road 96
Players' Decisions Alter The Entire Story And The Setting
Road 96
- Released
- August 16, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- DigixArt
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Road 96 takes players on a tour through the fictional nation known as Petria, an authoritarian place nearing a new election that could shake the political landscape. A group of hitchhiking teenagers is attempting to escape across the border without being caught by border patrol. Each failure results in the player taking control of one of the other teens, with the decisions made during their subsequent run referenced in this new one.
There are more decisions to be made outside a player's escape attempts, such as interacting with various NPCs and engaging in mini-games to learn more about them and the world at large. One's choices in Road 96 have the potential to shape the future of an entire nation.
Crusader Kings 3
What Type Of Ruler Will You Be?
Crusader Kings 3
- Released
- September 1, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teens: Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Grand Strategy
Any of Paradox's grand strategy games could have featured on this list, as they all throw players into historical or sci-fi worlds and give them free rein to make decisions for their chosen character, country, or planet.
It's Crusader Kings 3 that gets the nod for this list above games like Stellaris and Europa Universalis 5, as players control an individual character in CK3, which adds a layer of personal weight to decision-making. For this reason, Crusader Kings 3 has far more of a role-playing aspect to it than almost any other game in the grand strategy genre, with players not only having to make choices on how a kingdom or duchy is run but also how to handle the character's family life, relationships, schemes, and much, much more. The player's decisions can lead to invasions, marriages, break-ups, and deaths, including their own.
The Quarry
Decisions Must Be Made Quickly, And They Have The Potential To Lead To Death
The Quarry
- Released
- June 10, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Supermassive Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Quarry is a strong entry in Supermassive's library of horror games, taking clear inspiration from classic horror titles such as Friday the 13th with its summer camp setting and roster of counselors who are more interested in throwing parties than following the rules.
Before long, they learn that their extra night at camp has led to disastrous consequences, as werewolves prowl these woods and will tear apart any person they come face to face with. Players will not only be challenged with QTEs but also with decisions that must be made quickly. These decisions can lead to the deaths of characters, which makes the timer placed on the player even more stressful.
Tyranny
Choices Can Lead To The Eradication Of Locations
Tyranny
- Released
- November 10, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS
Set in a fantasy world with its own unique technology, Tyranny puts the player in the shoes of the Fatebinder, tasked with the onerous mission to quell the rebellion rising due to the infighting of two major factions or die along with everyone else.
With stakes this high, it makes sense that there are many sensitive choices the player must make that can have drastic consequences. Depending on what choices players follow, some game locations may not even exist, dramatically altering the narrative path.
Disco Elysium
The Player's Build Can Alter What Information They Are Privy To
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Disco Elysium is an ambitious RPG that impressed gamers with its unique dialogue system and well-crafted characters. The game features very little combat, focusing more on plot, dialogue, and player agency.
Like most RPGs, players are able to put points into skills to create a unique build for their character, and even this choice is one to be made with care. Depending on one's builds and background, the player may be privy to unique tidbits of information and lore they wouldn't know otherwise, which they can then use to their advantage during some conversations with certain NPCs.