The Mass Effect trilogy is often hailed as the pinnacle of sci-fi video games in terms of story, and it’s easy to see why. There’s plenty of room for great roleplaying as Shepard, between Paragon and Renegade options. The story isn’t convoluted, but there’s a sense of heroic urgency and responsibility as the Commander, whose choices have a real impact. Most importantly, it sports some of the best, most memorable companion characters and romance partners in all of gaming history. Garrus and Liara lovers will understand.
Great Games Where Your Decisions Truly Matter
The following games stand out for forcing players to make tough decisions that can drastically change the story.
Needless to say, it’s pretty hard to top that, even if Mass Effect 3’s ending was a major letdown for many after three rock-solid games and hours of questing. However, speaking purely in terms of plot and storytelling, their depth, and the emotional payoff from them, there are a few contenders that arguably manage to top the trilogy’s story, even if just by a small margin.
Minor spoilers ahead for the following games.
BioShock
A Simply Iconic Story With A Gut-Wrenching Twist
Everyone loves a good, gut-wrenching twist, and no game does this better than the first BioShock. However, it’s not just the infamous “Would you kindly?” twist that makes the story feel so alive. BioShock doesn’t rely on dialogue or cutscenes to tell its story, yet it’s still considered one of the best video game plots in history. How come?
The main reason is the clever worldbuilding that shines through environmental storytelling (idle chatter from enemies and random graffiti on the walls) and the various audio logs that reveal what truly happened in the underwater city of Rapture, into which protagonist Jack is thrust following a mysterious plane crash by a lighthouse. Without spoiling too much, these events are far less coincidental than one would imagine.
