RPGs with unexpected branch endings

Mass Effect, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Baldur's Gate 3 All are impressive and massive RPGs with lots of dialogue options. With multiple story choices, players know they have the opportunity to write the story as they see fit, which may lead to different endings.

When games, especially RPGs, have dialogue options, it's obvious that they will lead to multiple endings or at least branching stories in some context. It might be surprising to know that the following RPGs also have multiple endings, and they can come at the last minute. Some of these may be more surprising than others. No major spoilers needed beyond the fact that there are multiple endings in these games.

Final Fantasy 6

The end for all

Let's start with a classic turn-based example, Final Fantasy 6Which is devoid of meaningful choices throughout the game. There are different orders in the events players can choose to do, but that's about it. The big ending split will depend on how many party members players rescue and recruit in the second half of the game.

If players get them all, they will get to see small epilogues for their party members. If they are missing some party members, they will not be included in the final montage, which is much longer if the players find everyone. There aren't many final fantasy Branch finished games, making Final Fantasy 6 special

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Fact or fiction?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 A more modern turn-based example is one that offers few options in the game, such as whether players want to romance, limited to a selection pool. It doesn't affect the story in any way, so the big decision will come after the final battle.

Two party members will be pitted against each other, and players will have to choose who to side with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Which ending is canon has a fanbase split, which is a good thing, because it can create positive discourse. If the next game is a direct sequel, Sandfall Interactive will have to make a choice for players.

Parasitic eve

In the Chrysler Building!

Parasitic eveA turn-based and action hybrid, featuring an ending that is literally explosive, detective Aya Brea looks to solve a crisis in New York City. Players can then restart the game and keep equipment, as well as get the key to the Chrysler Building, which is now an optional dungeon.

There are 77 floors, most of which are random between layouts and monsters, making it one heck of a climb without much opportunity to rest. On the top floor, players can fight a boss, which will lead to a new ending with a very story-heavy character that opens up the plot in a wild way.

Nier: Automata

The ABCs of endings

Nier: AutomataAn action RPG, there are 26 endings, AZ, with endings AE being the main ones looping into each other. Along the way, players can stumble upon happier or more tragic endings based on the choices they make, usually related to gameplay actions. For example, there are some points in the story where if players die, they will not just get a game over screen.

Instead, they can get an ending that forces players to start the whole thing over. Another example is killing some NPCs when they don't have to. Nier: Automata It's already a long game, but if players really want to see it all, these endings should keep them occupied.

Chrono Trigger

When to beat Lavos

Chrono Trigger A turn-based RPG involving time travel, whose main villain is a giant space alien named Lavos. Although the possibility of time travel exists, it may not occur to players that they can interrupt the flow of time to end it sooner. After players beat the game for the first time, and they get to make most of the progress, it should be obvious.

Different portals will be available, and players can challenge Lavos at different points, which will change the ending in big ways. Some paths will be more difficult than others, depending on which characters players can take into battle, including Chrono facing Lavos alone.

Undertale

Passive, killer, or in the middle

Undertale The other is a turn-based and action hybrid, featuring choices through a battle system. To get the two best endings, players must commit to either saving every monster they encounter or killing every monster they encounter.

The pacifist path is considered the main ending, but if players decide to be a little more uneven in their decisions, leaving some monsters over others, they can get neutral endings, which aren't narratively satisfying, but they can be funny. Like silent hill series, Undertale For example, the dog ends.

Shin Megami Tensei 4

Create your own path in the Apocalypse

Shin Megami Tensei 4A turn-based RPG, is an example where players will actually make dialog choices in the game, which would fall under the Neutral, Law, and Chaos categories. That said, these choices don't give players any clues as to whether they could lead players to an alternate ending, though some actions may be more obvious than others.

What players say will be added, along with nearby choices to lead players to Neutral, Law, and Chaos ending paths. This will determine which players will side with angels, demons, or humans, making the neutral ending one of the most challenging to achieve.

spoke

Should I stay or should I go now?

spoke is an action RPG about a woman, Frey, who is swept into a mysterious world similar to an Isekai anime. Inuyasha or The devil is a part-timer.

This is another game where people don't have many options other than deciding whether to help or not and taking on quests. In the end, players have to decide if they want to stay in this fantasy land or go home. The choice isn't as cut and dry as that, but players will know what they're signing up for based on context clues.

Final Fantasy 10-2

from all angles

Final Fantasy 10-2A turn-based RPG, is another final fantasy A game with different endings, and it's a direct sequel to the previous game. There is a tree ending, or at least one that sets about answering whether or not Tidus is still alive, which is what the central plot is about.

In the game, players will decide to side with one of three factions: the Youth League, the New Yevon Party, and the Machine faction. There is a percentage meter to complete, and to reach 100%, players need to complete side activities and replay the game to max everything out, which can be long, but the job system at least keeps things interesting.