Actions have consequences is the concept behind emergent gameplay. Whether it involves building a community to weather upcoming hardships or guiding a character along a dangerous path, every move has the potential to be crucial. These games range in coverage, with some giving you plenty of details on each option and others simply asking you to use your best judgment.
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Sometimes the most inconsequential choice can make all the difference down the line. Of all the games that practice this kind of gameplay, a select number of titles and series are most effective in making you feel the weight of your decisions.
8The Mass Effect Series
TheMass Effectgames have mastered pacing and buildup. While the original trilogy has one overall story, each game starts slowly before introducing more extreme elements. On top of creating a rich sci-fi universe with a lot of original ideas, it also changed just how engaging and exciting game narratives can be.
From the very first title, it’s made very clear that every action you make will determine what kind of leader you will be and how others will respond to your behavior. This carries over between games as the stakes get higher and more lives are put at risk, so everything has to count for something.
7Metal Gear Solid 5
TheMetal Gear Solidgames have a reputation for redefining the stealth genre. Despite how capable all the variations of Snake seem to be, they are still human. All it takes is one well-armed grunt to catch you off-guard in order to force a restart. In MGS5, a greater emphasis is put on management and the relationship Snake has with his allies, partners, and soldiers.
Depending on how you interact with them, and the changes you make to your organization as you progress, you’ll get a different experience during the missions. At its core, is the kind of Snake you choose to be: Lethal or non-lethal.
6The Banner Saga Series
Not every game that has the word ‘Saga’ is worthy of it, but The Banner Saga games are most deserving. Set in a dying frost-covered world where the gods have long since died and an apocalyptic force seeks to wipe out the life that remains, The Banner Saga tests youas a tacticianand a leader.
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You’re in charge of taking care of the warriors and civilians that have chosen to follow you to safety. Resources are constantly dwindling, and frequent events will pop up putting both your followers and active units at risk. Based on your choices, the final battles can become a near-impossible task.
5The Telltale Series
Telltale does not have the most positive story with so many talented members of the team having to endure harsh working conditions. As a result, they created a number of narrative-based adventure games with amazing stories, characters, and visuals. Their library includesThe Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, Batman, and even Back To The Future. Each story puts you into the role of the lead character caught in a chaotic situation.
It’s made very clear from the start that the future is dependent on every choice you make. The choices can be as small as finding certain items, or as large as choosing to aid one character over another. All of them feed into the final results of the story.
4Frostpunk
There’s debate over whether it would be more difficult to live in a cold or hot climate, and Frostpunk makes a strong case for the former. It’s a world that has frozen over, society has collapsed, and what remains of humanity has been pushed to the far north. Fortunately, humans discover a large and functional coal generator, and it’s up to you to determine how to maintain it.
Heat is absolutely necessary, but so is food, shelter, and health, among other things. you may choose to prioritize whatever you want, just ensure you’re thinking long term, otherwise, the generator will die and any survivors along with it.
3The Dark Pictures Anthology
The problem with so many horror films is that characters tend to behave in illogical or irrational ways. To see if you could do better in such a situation, there’s theDark Pictures Anthology. Each title revolves around a group of youthful friends on some sort of adventure or activity in an isolated environment.
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You’ll take on the role of each of the characters throughout the game, giving them a chance to decide their own destiny. As a result, they’ll be put in dangerous situations, and you’ll have to make quick decisions under pressure. Even innocuous decisions such as deciding to climb a ladder may come back to bite your face off later on.
2Fallout New Vegas
TheFalloutgames have made a name for creating a number of titles set in a far-future Earth ravaged by the results of nuclear war. Since going 3D with Fallout 3, the series experienced greater popularity and kept it going with Fallout New Vegas. This title stands out as being one of the few series where you play as someone already living in the new world instead of emerging from a Vault.
As a courier seeking revenge, you wind up as part of the upcoming conflict between the strongest factions in the region. Based on the missions you take, the decisions you make, the characters you kill, and the people you side with, your journey will decide the outcome of the region and the fates of all your allies.
1Dune: Spice Wars
Duneis a legend in the sci-fi genre, often credited with helping it grow the way that it has. It led to multiple books, films, and games, with the most recent being Dune: Spice Wars. The developers definitely did their homework by creating an intricate and complex game all about trying to establish a spice empire on the key planet of Arrakis. As one of the four major factions, you’ll decide how to establish and expand your empire to get the most spice to grow in both wealth and power.
Politics and espionage play a huge role in how you advance with every relationship either hurting or hindering you. The biggest challenge is trying to keep your system efficient and the people involved in it happy while still making enough to make the necessary contributions.
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