Key takeaways
- Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together offers multiple story paths with impactful decisions
- Star Ocean: The Second Story changes drastically based on initial character choices
- Front Mission 3 has two distinct story paths determined by the initial decision
Unlike many Western RPGs, JRPGs are generally not known for branching story paths. Depending on the decisions the player makes, they tend not to encourage replays to see how the story plays out. The following games, however, are exceptions.
These titles have great stories that sometimes hinge on key decisions or even more subtle gameplay changes that some players may not even be aware of. RPGs are long, and getting gamers to go through them multiple times to see all the content there is is a big ask, but it just goes to show how great these titles are.

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6 Strategy Ogre: Let's stick together
Making difficult decisions that can cost lives
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (1995)

- issued
- October 6, 1995
- developer
- Quest Corporation
It is considered the pioneer of turn-based strategy games Final Fantasy Tactics. It's easy to see a lot of similar DNA in both games. Both of them involve a dark, politically charged storyline. but, Strategy Monster: Let's stick together separates itself from final fantasy spin-off by giving players the option to influence the story.
Several key decisions affect the way the story plays out. Some major characters may die early in the story depending on what the players do during the game. Most decisions revolve around moral choices, but some of them fall into grayer territory. Sometimes, players don't even know how a dialogue choice can affect the future.
In the PSP version and the 2022 re-release, players are able to return to the game after beating it and see how they played without having to restart the other decisions.
5 Star Ocean: The Second Story
Recruiting everyone in one playthrough is impossible
Star Ocean: The Second Story

- issued
- June 8, 1999
- developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment, Enix
on the surface, Star Ocean: The Second Story Looks more primitive than other PS1 JRPGs of the time. The graphics still use sprites instead of polygonal models like the other series final fantasy were already using. However, the game has more going on under the hood that makes it more advanced than its graphics suggest.

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To begin with, it is impossible to recruit all party members in a single playthrough. To get even bigger, the game changes significantly based on the initial decision of whether to play as one of the two characters. Later, choices made during the story still affect the ending. Players will want to beat it twice to get most of what the game has to offer, but more playthroughs allow gamers to see more of what's in store at the end.
4 Mission 3 ahead
Two scenarios that depend on a decision
Mission 3 ahead
- issued
- September 2, 1999
- publisher(s)
- Always entertaining, square electronic art
Mission 3 ahead Takes an interesting approach to the story for its time, making the game feel twice as long. At the beginning, players choose one of two scenarios and then the game's story turns in two drastic directions. There is some overlap in the battles and gameplay sections, but they are two different stories.
They also play differently so it doesn't feel like deja vu. Mission 3 ahead It wasn't the only game on the PS1 to let players choose between scenarios and main characters, but it was rare for RPGs. Resident Evil 1 And its sequel also lets players choose between two main characters going into the game.
3 The Riviera: The Promised Land
Part JRPG, part dating sim
- Release Date: July 12, 2002
- Developer: Sting entertainment
- Publisher: Atlas, Sting Entertainment, 505 Games
- Platforms: Wonderswan Color, Game Boy Advance, PSP, iOS, PC, Android, Nintendo Switch
The Riviera: The Promised Land Blends JRPG elements with the dating sim genre. Given this fact, players can expect a lot of dialogue options in the beat of the story. The adventure game is a unique spin on both styles of gameplay, with quirky twists on mechanics like exploration that don't really give players free movement.

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The main character, Ein, communicates with other party members, and the players favoring one of them affects how the game is played and the ending. Riviera The Game Boy Advanced has had an interesting release history, coming out exclusively in Japan in the WonderSwan color before reaching the States. A few years later a remaster came out on the PSP, and it's now also available on Windows.
2 The Triangulation Strategy
Decision making is a core mechanic


The Triangulation Strategy Players will feel familiar Final Fantasy Tactics or Strategy Ogre: Let's stick together. It features turn-based strategy combat in a medieval fantasy setting with rival kingdoms at each other's throats.
Decision-making is a key feature of the adventure, with the game essentially pausing for players to discuss decisions with key party members before moving on. This mechanic, called the Scale of Belief, sets The Triangulation Strategy Except for the other games on this list. The game lets players know when the impact of a decision is over and the main, unchanging part of the story continues.
1 Fire Symbols: Three Houses
Play the game three times for three different houses
Fire Symbols: Three Houses

- issued
- July 26, 2019
- developer
- Intelligent Systems, Koei, Koei Tecmo, Koei Tecmo Games
- publisher
- Intelligent Systems, Koei, Koei Tecmo, Koei Tecmo Games
As the name suggests, Fire Symbols: Three Houses There are three different paths players can take after a short prologue. Even after making this choice, the first half of the game for each house is not very different. Once players reach that halfway point, the changes are impossible to miss.
three houses The gameplay offers many choices in progression and customization, so even playing through the same paths again gives you the chance to experiment with classes and how the party will fight in battle. Even if one half of the game is the same, it's worth going through it three times to see everything included in the package.

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