RPG Stories That Start Simple But Become Complex

Role-playing game stories often begin simply and gradually become more intricate without slowing down. Persona 5 is a good illustration of this: it follows a group of Japanese teenagers who discover a hidden world where they can use magic to change things. The story has surprises, but they don’t drastically alter the overall plot.

Many other role-playing games feature stories with unexpected twists that can change how players see things. These surprises can be really effective, but occasionally they become overly complex. Regardless, these games all offer something different and have been around since the days of the original PlayStation.

There will be spoilers ahead.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy

A Fantastical Homage

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy starts like the classic Final Fantasy games, featuring four heroes battling an evil empire. Their mission is to restore light to the world by reigniting four magical crystals and bringing balance back to the land.

The story follows a familiar RPG formula, but it’s enjoyable because of the lively conversations between the characters and the compelling villains they encounter. The plot takes an unexpected turn near the end when the group is sent back in time, introducing a time loop mechanic. There’s more to the story than that, but I won’t reveal any further details to avoid spoilers.

Chrono Cross

Dimension Wars

Chrono Cross feels very different from Chrono Trigger. It features a tropical setting, doesn’t involve time travel, has a new battle system, and most of the characters are completely new. The story starts with Serge, the main character, getting caught up in a quest to help a girl named Kid steal a valuable item.

Around a third of the way into the game, Serge learns he accidentally caused the world to split into two separate realities: one where he died, and another where he lived. Players can then switch between these two versions of the world to see how things changed, much like how time travel worked in Chrono Trigger.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Beyond The Paintress

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a massive creature called The Paintress lives on a distant continent and annually wipes out an entire generation. Every year, a new expedition attempts to defeat her, and Expedition 33 is the most recent. When they arrive, the team is almost completely destroyed. Shortly after, the apparent hero, Gustave, dies and is unexpectedly replaced by someone connected to the villains – Verso.

Just when you think things are clear, a surprising reveal happens after encountering The Paintress, who initially appears to be the main villain. It turns out the entire world is a fabrication – a creation of someone else’s imagination. The full explanation is quite complex and would take a long time to detail.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Whispers Of The Heart

Final Fantasy 7 Remake intentionally plays with what fans expect. Many assume it’s a simple retelling of the Midgar portion of the original Final Fantasy 7, while others may not know what to anticipate. Initially, it appears to be just that, but the game quickly introduces a surprising twist after Cloud’s first meeting with Aerith and the completion of the Bombing Mission. Mysterious, ghost-like figures called Whispers begin to appear, attempting to steer the story back on its original path or prevent any alterations.

It turns out the story is actually a commentary on the world of Final Fantasy 7. It’s not a remake of the original game, but a sequel – or a look into an alternate reality where the events of the original Final Fantasy 7 on PlayStation already took place. And that’s only the beginning of what’s going on.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Emblem Babies, They’ll Make Your Dreams Come True

Fire Emblem Awakening follows a familiar Fire Emblem story: a peaceful kingdom is threatened by an evil one, and you must fight to protect the world from oppression.

Okay, so as a huge fan, let me tell you, the story gets crazy good! You spend a lot of time with Chrom and his army meeting this enigmatic character, Marth. Then, about halfway through the game, it hits you – Marth is actually Chrom’s daughter, Lucina, all grown up and coming from the future! Seriously, what a reveal! And it doesn’t stop there – suddenly, kids from other couples start showing up to help fight the real bad guy. It’s such an unexpected twist, and it totally blew my mind!

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Avenging The Prince

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, the story starts with Will, a young assistant to a Prince, and his fairy friend, Gallica. They journey to the kingdom’s capital city hoping to find a remedy for the Prince, who is suffering from a mysterious curse. Once they arrive, they meet a member of the resistance who believes Louis, one of the kingdom’s most skilled soldiers, is responsible for the Prince’s condition.

During the first eight hours of the game, Will’s team attempts to eliminate Louis. However, instead of succeeding, Louis unexpectedly returns to life as a radiant meteor, declaring that anyone wanting to take his place must compete in an election. Although Louis’s return remains a key part of the story, it now focuses Will and his friends on campaigning to become the new ruler.

NieR: Automata

It’s Not Just About One Character

In NieR: Automata, you play as 2b, an android sent to Earth with her partner, 9s. They’ve been dispatched from the last human colony in space with the mission of taking the planet back from the machines that have overrun it. The game offers a substantial 30-40 hour campaign with a complete story, though some mysteries remain even after the credits roll.

After completing the main story, players can start a new playthrough as the character 9, exploring a parallel narrative that fills in gaps and clarifies unanswered questions from the original game. There’s even another campaign after that which brings all the storylines together, making this a complex and multi-layered experience.

South Park: The Stick Of Truth

It’s Just A Game, New Kid

In South Park: The Stick of Truth, you play as the new kid in town who quickly gets pulled into a live-action role-playing game (LARP) with the other children. The game revolves around the Stick of Truth, a seemingly normal stick that everyone pretends has magical powers.

When the children start arguing over a special stick, the adults get involved and exaggerate its importance, treating it like a magical object. As is typical for South Park, the simple game quickly becomes incredibly ridiculous, culminating in a world-threatening invasion by actual Nazi zombies who want the stick for themselves.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

The Dark Side Of Amnesia

Okay, so Knights of the Old Republic is seriously one of the best Star Wars games ever made. You play as this character who’s lost their memory, but they’re strong with the Force, and the Jedi take them under their wing. Basically, the Jedi send you out across the galaxy to try and stop the Sith from becoming too powerful. It’s a classic!

In a surprising turn, the villain Darth Revan, who players were trying to defeat along with his follower Malak, is revealed to be the player character themselves. Throughout the game, players made choices aligned with both the light and dark sides, and now they must come to terms with the consequences of those actions.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

An Allied Civil War

In Xenoblade Chronicles 3, two warring nations have been fighting for as long as anyone can remember. When soldiers Noah and Mio, leading their respective sides, cross paths, they uncover a hidden force manipulating the conflict.

The war is being orchestrated by a sinister organization called Moebius. Noah and Mio, aided by a powerful being named Ouroboros that allows characters to combine into powerful machines, are trying to end the conflict. The story gets even more complicated with the addition of time travel and dimensional rifts, revealing alternate versions of Noah and Mio who are working with Moebius.

2025-12-31 11:36