Top 10 Small Decisions In Video Games That Have HUGE Consequences
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VOICE OVER: Ricky Tucci
Sometimes the smallest choices can lead to the most dramatic outcomes! Join us as we explore those seemingly minor decisions in video games that completely change the course of the story. From saving allies to dooming them, these butterfly effect moments prove that in gaming, every choice matters! Our countdown includes sacrificing The Chargers in Dragon Age Inquisition, submitting during interrogation in Metal Gear Solid, taking survivors to Iosefka in Bloodborne, and finding that crucial journal in Until Dawn. Which gaming decision do you most regret making? Let us know in the comments below!
Top 10 Small Decisions in Video Games That Have HUGE Consequences
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking over the minor choices made across video games that had a major impact down the line!
Head back to the 90s to solve a mystery buried in time. From the creators of Life is Strange comes Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. 27 years after the fateful summer of 1995, Swann returns to her hometown to uncover the truth behind a shocking event. Relive the summer through her camcorder, piecing together clues, playing punk rock, and confronting the secrets that someone wants to keep hidden. Explore a world filled with 90s nostalgia, engage in immersive dialogue with meaningful choices and experience a gripping narrative adventure that will change the lives of 4 friends forever. Experience the story in two thrilling parts! Tape 1, "Bloom", is live now on Steam, Xbox Series X & S, & PlayStation 5 and Tape 2, "Rage", launches April 15 as a free downloadable update.
10
Sacrificing the Chargers
“Dragon Age Inquisition” (2014)
The Iron Bull’s band of mercenaries are good people, but what is that worth when fighting a war against an ancient magister and his army of red lyrium infused madmen? During the Bull’s personal quest, you can either choose to secure or ruin an alliance with the Qunari and their army, with the Charger’s lives hanging in the balance as they hold a dangerous position. The true effect of this is not felt until the Trespasser DLC. If you convinced Bull to give up his men, then he falls back to being a slave to the Qun, and so has no problem with turning on you when the Qunari demand your death. You reap what you sow.
9
Handing Over an Egg
“Baldur’s Gate 3” (2023)
The pursuit of science and research is always a worthy endeavour…until common sense goes out the window. The Society of Brilliance, in their dogged attempt to see if a newly hatched Githyanki can free itself from its violent urges if raised in an alternative environment, requests the player to retrieve one of their eggs. You can choose to do so, or hand over an Owlbear egg if you’re feeling particularly scampish. The result is the same – with the Society of Brilliance meeting a bloody end. Turns out nature vs nurture it’s a bit more one sided when it comes astral frog people and giant feathered balls of rage
8
Submitting to Interrogation
“Metal Gear Solid” (1998)
Granted, this one is trickier than most – not because it offers a binary choice, but the physical toll it takes on the player! Strung up and constantly electrocuted by Revolver Ocelot, players have to rapidly tap a button for a strenuous amount of time in order to maintain Snake’s willpower and refusal to concede. But if you mess up even once, he gives in, and in doing so dooms Meryl to death. So, the choices are to break your fingers or let the best girl perish…you’re a mad man Kojima.
7
Recruiting Everyone
“Fire Emblem: Three Houses” (2019)
Subsequent playthroughs to see all outcomes of this epic RPG are practically a must, since depending on the house you choose to teach at the academy, the fate of the kingdoms drastically changes. More often than not, this will lead to you having to face off against students from other houses when war inevitably breaks out, even killing them on the battlefield…unless you play it smart and recruit them before the timeskip. If your stats are high enough in certain disciplines, you can recruit ninety percent of the cast to your side. There are some obvious exceptions, but at the very least you don’t have to brutally murder your favourite character just because they fly under a different flag.
6
Taking Survivors To Iosefka
“Bloodborne” (2015)
With beasts all over the shop, you’d be forgiven for wanting to take any and all survivors to a place of safety and healing. And what better place than a clinic? Especially with the sultry and sweet Iosefka running things. Well, like all things in Yharnam, the truth often turns out to be bleak and ugly. Turns out that an imposter has taken over the clinic, and for every innocent you send her way – she’ll turn them into celestial minions you’re forced to cut down. Why couldn’t you just send them over to the Oedon Chapel Dweller? He was chill!
5
Finding the Journal
“Until Dawn” (2015)
By this point in the game, the threat of a serial killer has been swapped for that of bloodthirsty Wendigos, and while most of the cast’s fate are tied to motion controls, there is one soul you have to work extra hard to keep alive – that being Josh. To ensure that a Wendigo doesn’t squash his skull like a melon, you must thoroughly explore the underground caves, where you’ll eventually come across the journal of Hannah– Josh’s sister and one of the missing girls whose supposed demise kicks off Until Dawn’s slasher-themed story. Turns out she survived her fatal fall…but over time was affected by the mountain’s curse to become a Wendigo herself. Relay this info to Josh and he’ll recognise her right before she’s about to kill him. Though we can’t exactly say this new ending is any better than a quick death.
4
Chara Lives
“Undertale” (2015)
So, for whatever reason, you decided for your first playthrough of Undertale that you’d tackle the genocide route. Go full evil. Kill every monster in the underground. Nor sparing a soul or even attempting to form friendships. Now you feel guilty and want to pursue the pacifist route. Earn that good ending to ease your conscience. Well, too bad. As soon as the genocide run is completed, it’s basically imprinted on all subsequent playthroughs of the game. Case and point - Chara possessing your character in the final moments of the perfect good ending, reminding you of the sins you committed. It's haunting and genius at the same time, showcasing how everything can’t be undone with new game plus.
3
Repairing the Normandy
“Mass Effect 2” (2010)
The Suicide Mission is arguably Mass Effect’s most iconic moment, and to ensure every crew member survives, Shepard has to make some serious decisions in regard to his team-mates and their skills. Some obvious, some not so much. But even before they venture onwards to the Collector Base, they can potentially doom a good chunk of them if they don’t properly prep the Normandy. This involves speaking to select team-mates about upgrading the ship’s armaments, shields and armour – all of which are vital if you want to ensure everyone makes it back alive – though it’s not exactly spelled out for you!
2
Saving Kate
“Life is Strange” (2015)
One of the darkest moments from this beloved time-twister of a game, student Kate has been driven to her breaking point and intends to take her own life by jumping from one of the Academy’s buildings. With her power to rewind time, Max has a chance to save her by talking her down from off the ledge…assuming you can convince her. The only way to keep Kate from ending it all is to have snooped around her dorm room prior in the episode – get to really know her and her inner demons. Fail to do so and Kate will be removed from the narrative entirely.
1
So That's The End of My Story...
“Fahrenheit” (2005)
Oh David Cage. Giving us a litany of meme material even when modern gaming was still in its infancy. There are plenty of potential death scenes for the likes of Lucas depending on what actions you choose to either take or ignore. One of the funniest just happens to be if you forget that taking a swig of alcohol after taking some pills is apparently an instant death sentence. Within seconds of getting a sip of the good stuff, Lucas goes straight into cardiac arrest, just like that. And it’s…kinda hilarious. Of all the silliest endings you could get – this is right up there!
Which off the cuff gaming decision do you regret making? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking over the minor choices made across video games that had a major impact down the line!
Head back to the 90s to solve a mystery buried in time. From the creators of Life is Strange comes Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. 27 years after the fateful summer of 1995, Swann returns to her hometown to uncover the truth behind a shocking event. Relive the summer through her camcorder, piecing together clues, playing punk rock, and confronting the secrets that someone wants to keep hidden. Explore a world filled with 90s nostalgia, engage in immersive dialogue with meaningful choices and experience a gripping narrative adventure that will change the lives of 4 friends forever. Experience the story in two thrilling parts! Tape 1, "Bloom", is live now on Steam, Xbox Series X & S, & PlayStation 5 and Tape 2, "Rage", launches April 15 as a free downloadable update.
10
Sacrificing the Chargers
“Dragon Age Inquisition” (2014)
The Iron Bull’s band of mercenaries are good people, but what is that worth when fighting a war against an ancient magister and his army of red lyrium infused madmen? During the Bull’s personal quest, you can either choose to secure or ruin an alliance with the Qunari and their army, with the Charger’s lives hanging in the balance as they hold a dangerous position. The true effect of this is not felt until the Trespasser DLC. If you convinced Bull to give up his men, then he falls back to being a slave to the Qun, and so has no problem with turning on you when the Qunari demand your death. You reap what you sow.
9
Handing Over an Egg
“Baldur’s Gate 3” (2023)
The pursuit of science and research is always a worthy endeavour…until common sense goes out the window. The Society of Brilliance, in their dogged attempt to see if a newly hatched Githyanki can free itself from its violent urges if raised in an alternative environment, requests the player to retrieve one of their eggs. You can choose to do so, or hand over an Owlbear egg if you’re feeling particularly scampish. The result is the same – with the Society of Brilliance meeting a bloody end. Turns out nature vs nurture it’s a bit more one sided when it comes astral frog people and giant feathered balls of rage
8
Submitting to Interrogation
“Metal Gear Solid” (1998)
Granted, this one is trickier than most – not because it offers a binary choice, but the physical toll it takes on the player! Strung up and constantly electrocuted by Revolver Ocelot, players have to rapidly tap a button for a strenuous amount of time in order to maintain Snake’s willpower and refusal to concede. But if you mess up even once, he gives in, and in doing so dooms Meryl to death. So, the choices are to break your fingers or let the best girl perish…you’re a mad man Kojima.
7
Recruiting Everyone
“Fire Emblem: Three Houses” (2019)
Subsequent playthroughs to see all outcomes of this epic RPG are practically a must, since depending on the house you choose to teach at the academy, the fate of the kingdoms drastically changes. More often than not, this will lead to you having to face off against students from other houses when war inevitably breaks out, even killing them on the battlefield…unless you play it smart and recruit them before the timeskip. If your stats are high enough in certain disciplines, you can recruit ninety percent of the cast to your side. There are some obvious exceptions, but at the very least you don’t have to brutally murder your favourite character just because they fly under a different flag.
6
Taking Survivors To Iosefka
“Bloodborne” (2015)
With beasts all over the shop, you’d be forgiven for wanting to take any and all survivors to a place of safety and healing. And what better place than a clinic? Especially with the sultry and sweet Iosefka running things. Well, like all things in Yharnam, the truth often turns out to be bleak and ugly. Turns out that an imposter has taken over the clinic, and for every innocent you send her way – she’ll turn them into celestial minions you’re forced to cut down. Why couldn’t you just send them over to the Oedon Chapel Dweller? He was chill!
5
Finding the Journal
“Until Dawn” (2015)
By this point in the game, the threat of a serial killer has been swapped for that of bloodthirsty Wendigos, and while most of the cast’s fate are tied to motion controls, there is one soul you have to work extra hard to keep alive – that being Josh. To ensure that a Wendigo doesn’t squash his skull like a melon, you must thoroughly explore the underground caves, where you’ll eventually come across the journal of Hannah– Josh’s sister and one of the missing girls whose supposed demise kicks off Until Dawn’s slasher-themed story. Turns out she survived her fatal fall…but over time was affected by the mountain’s curse to become a Wendigo herself. Relay this info to Josh and he’ll recognise her right before she’s about to kill him. Though we can’t exactly say this new ending is any better than a quick death.
4
Chara Lives
“Undertale” (2015)
So, for whatever reason, you decided for your first playthrough of Undertale that you’d tackle the genocide route. Go full evil. Kill every monster in the underground. Nor sparing a soul or even attempting to form friendships. Now you feel guilty and want to pursue the pacifist route. Earn that good ending to ease your conscience. Well, too bad. As soon as the genocide run is completed, it’s basically imprinted on all subsequent playthroughs of the game. Case and point - Chara possessing your character in the final moments of the perfect good ending, reminding you of the sins you committed. It's haunting and genius at the same time, showcasing how everything can’t be undone with new game plus.
3
Repairing the Normandy
“Mass Effect 2” (2010)
The Suicide Mission is arguably Mass Effect’s most iconic moment, and to ensure every crew member survives, Shepard has to make some serious decisions in regard to his team-mates and their skills. Some obvious, some not so much. But even before they venture onwards to the Collector Base, they can potentially doom a good chunk of them if they don’t properly prep the Normandy. This involves speaking to select team-mates about upgrading the ship’s armaments, shields and armour – all of which are vital if you want to ensure everyone makes it back alive – though it’s not exactly spelled out for you!
2
Saving Kate
“Life is Strange” (2015)
One of the darkest moments from this beloved time-twister of a game, student Kate has been driven to her breaking point and intends to take her own life by jumping from one of the Academy’s buildings. With her power to rewind time, Max has a chance to save her by talking her down from off the ledge…assuming you can convince her. The only way to keep Kate from ending it all is to have snooped around her dorm room prior in the episode – get to really know her and her inner demons. Fail to do so and Kate will be removed from the narrative entirely.
1
So That's The End of My Story...
“Fahrenheit” (2005)
Oh David Cage. Giving us a litany of meme material even when modern gaming was still in its infancy. There are plenty of potential death scenes for the likes of Lucas depending on what actions you choose to either take or ignore. One of the funniest just happens to be if you forget that taking a swig of alcohol after taking some pills is apparently an instant death sentence. Within seconds of getting a sip of the good stuff, Lucas goes straight into cardiac arrest, just like that. And it’s…kinda hilarious. Of all the silliest endings you could get – this is right up there!
Which off the cuff gaming decision do you regret making? Let us know in the comments!
