Complex RPGs Where One Decision Completely Ruins A Perfect Story

I love getting lost in huge RPGs where I can really do anything, but honestly, I need a good story to keep me hooked. When a game is going to take up 100+ hours of my life, I really need to care about the characters and what’s happening to them. It’s awesome when my choices actually matter and can change how the story ends. Sometimes, though, games make you do some seriously crazy things just to get the happy ending!

It can be really annoying when games have very strict requirements, especially if they don’t give you clear hints about how to meet them. What players hate most is when a single, seemingly small choice can prevent them from getting the best possible ending. Here are a few games where that can easily happen.

5. Triangle Strategy

A String Of Decisions, Where One Mistake Can Break The Chain

Developed by Square Enix, Triangle Strategy is a turn-based strategy RPG set in the world of Norzelia. The game follows Serenoa Wolffort, a member of a powerful military family in Glenbrook, as a fragile peace between three nations—Glenbrook, Hyzante, and Aesfrost—is broken by an invasion. Players start with a small group of allies, including Prince Roland and Serenoa’s fiancée, Frederica, and can expand their team by making choices that affect the story. Each character is distinct, offering unique skills, weapons, and abilities to master.

The choices you make in this game impact both your team and the story’s direction. It’s famous for its ‘Scales of Conviction’ system, where characters vote on how to proceed during key moments. However, near the end, your team will split over three conflicting plans, forcing a member to leave if you pick one. There is a way to avoid this and achieve a truly peaceful ending – uniting all nations and even marrying Frederica! But it requires specific actions. For example, in Chapter 7, you need to avoid using fire traps against the invading army, making the battle harder but opening the path to the best outcome. You’ll also need to help a smuggler with his goods and reveal Prince Roland’s true identity. Don’t forget to find a hidden item in Frederica’s village! These choices may seem small at the time, but they’re all crucial for reaching the happiest ending.

4. Persona 4 Golden

Don’t Make One False Move

The Persona role-playing games are famous for being both incredibly popular and very lengthy. Because of this, it’s perfectly reasonable if someone only wants to play through one of them once, or at least not for a long time. If you’re like that, it’s really important to make sure you get the ending you’re hoping for. In Persona 4 Golden, achieving the best ending depends entirely on the choices you make at the very end of the game.

To unlock the true ending, you’ll need to deepen your bond with Marie by maxing out her Social Link – the game wants you to really get to know her. You’ll likely need to do this with other important characters as well. On the very last day of the game (in March), talking to these characters will trigger heartwarming scenes, a series staple. Afterward, ignore the game’s prompts to go home and instead revisit the Riverbank and then the Velvet Room. Speaking with your companions in these locations will lead you to the Shopping District South, specifically the gas station attendant. Following this sequence unlocks Yomotsu Hirasaka, the final dungeon. You must visit this dungeon on this same day, as it can only be accessed this way. Izanami awaits inside, and completing this path is the only way to achieve the game’s ultimate conclusion.

3. Vampyr

Let Your Humanity Triumph Over Vampirism

Dr. Jonathan Reid faced an incredibly difficult situation during the 1918 flu epidemic, which followed World War I. Not only was he a doctor battling the deadly illness, but he had also recently become a vampire. Returning to London after the war, he took a position at Pembroke Hospital, hoping to help patients and find the medicine they desperately needed. But he was also struggling with his new vampire nature and the temptation to feed on those he was sworn to heal.

This game is set in different areas of London, each filled with unique people. The health of these characters affects the overall health of their district, and you, as the player, decide their fate. You can play as a helpful doctor, making medicines and healing people, or you can choose to prey on them, letting the districts descend into chaos and become overrun with enemies. While being a doctor might seem better, remember that the more you get to know the characters – and they have surprisingly detailed personalities – the more valuable they become as… food.

Progressing in the game is harder if you don’t feed on people, but getting the best ending requires you to spare everyone. One character, Dorothy Crane, is particularly important – she’s a central figure in the Whitechapel area. The story involves confronting her about blackmailing Lady Ashbury. You can choose to spare her, persuade her, or feed on her. While letting her resign as a healer seems safe, actually persuading her causes her to disappear and eventually return as a hostile vampire. This seemingly harmless choice severely damages Whitechapel, leading many players to start the game over after making this common error.

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Slightest Decisions Change Ciri’s Fate

Many role-playing games feature choices with massive consequences, shaping the entire game world. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt certainly has those grand moments, but it’s often the smaller decisions that truly matter. After the Battle of Kaer Morhen, Geralt has the option to cheer Ciri up by having a snowball fight with her. It seems like a lighthearted scene, but it’s surprisingly touching. Unbeknownst to new players, these seemingly minor interactions can actually determine Ciri’s fate – whether she survives or not.

Throughout the game, players face choices that help Ciri gain confidence and believe in her powers. Sometimes, this means letting her handle situations on her own. For example, Geralt can either let Ciri speak with Margarita and Phillipa alone if he encourages her, or he can accompany her. However, trying to protect her by joining her is actually seen as a negative decision. If Geralt makes too many choices that undermine Ciri’s confidence, she might fail to overcome the dangerous White Frost and perish.

1. Undertale

It’s Not Easy Being Friendly To Everyone

In most role-playing games, players constantly fight enemies to level up and become more powerful. But Undertale offers a unique experience with its pacifist option. Dedicated players can aim for a “True Pacifist” playthrough, though, as with the rest of the game, it’s full of unexpected challenges that make it surprisingly hard to achieve.

Trying too hard to avoid all battles in this special adventure can actually prevent you from achieving a True Pacifist ending. It’s not just about not attacking – seemingly small choices matter too. For example, even if you defeat and spare Papyrus, you must complete his encounter afterward, or your run is over. Similarly, you’ll need to revive Undyne with water and complete the encounter with Alphys. You must first finish a neutral playthrough before attempting the True Pacifist route, and remember that several requirements are easy to overlook if you’ve already experienced parts of the game. Skipping these steps will reset your progress, making this one of the most difficult challenges in the game.

2026-01-31 14:38