Plot twists serve as a potent narrative mechanism in the realm of video games. By dropping subtle hints and foreshadows, these twists can leave players astounded with revelations that encourage them to revisit the game and clue into the intricacies once overlooked.
Nevertheless, despite the prowess of these narratives, not every plot twist impacts players as powerfully as intended. As gamers become more adept at recognizing narrative strategies, some twists can feel a bit predictable, thus reducing their shock value.
Though predictability may not be the most detrimental flaw in a game’s story, it can limit the emotional impact of players grappling with the consequences of character decisions. Fortunately, even games with somewhat predictable twists still manage to maintain a high level of engagement and enjoyment among players.
Warning: Major Story Spoilers Ahead!
10 Horizon Zero Dawn
Whether He Wanted It or Not
In Horizon Zero Dawn, an intricate history unfolds before the main narrative, featuring GAIA, an artificial intelligence tasked with rejuvenating Earth post-Faro Plague. Aloy, the protagonist, journeys through stunning landscapes seeking her origins and battling the Eclipse cult.
During her quest, she encounters Sylens (RIP Lance Reddick), a clever and mysterious Banuk who recruits her assistance. However, Sylens withholds crucial information until the pivotal mission, “The Mountain That Fell.”Here, he reveals that he orchestrated the rise of the Eclipse cult under the direction of HADES. Additionally, Sylens was instrumental in reactivating the AI in his relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Players suspected his ulterior motives almost immediately upon meeting him. Although Sylens aids Aloy, he does so only because their objectives align, illustrating that his path is rooted in self-interest, pushing the narrative into morally gray territory.
9 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Ichiban’s Origins
Ichiban Kasuga takes center stage in Yakuza: Like A Dragon, stepping into the shoes of the storied Kazuma Kiryu. His narrative closely mirrors Kiryu’s as he unjustly serves time for a murder he did not commit.
Entwined with the Arakawa Clan, Ichiban shows unwavering loyalty to Masumi Arakawa and his son Masato, whom he shares a birthday with. Even during his 18-year imprisonment, the clan patriarch sends heartfelt correspondence, expressing his affection and longing.
However, one might question Arakawa’s seemingly intense affection for Ichiban—why would a yakuza leader exhibit such tenderness towards a subordinate? This question becomes clearer when it’s revealed that Masumi Arakawa is Ichiban’s biological father, while Masato is the son of another yakuza insider, Jo Sawashiro. Coincidentally, they were both placed in coin lockers as infants.
Through a chaotic mix-up, Arakawa raised Masato in a presumed parental role, leaving Ichiban to be fostered by Jiro Kasuga, the proprietor of a soapland.This obvious familial connection detracts from the twist, even as its tragic elements echo through the story: Arakawa dies unaware of Ichiban’s true lineage.
8 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Played Us Like a Damn Fiddle
As an acclaimed open-world stealth experience, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain falters in delivering a shocking twist that resonates with players. Set nine years post-MSF destruction, “Big Boss”awakens from a coma, assuming the alias Punished “Venom”Snake to seek out those responsible for his plight.
As the narrative unfolds through flashbacks and recordings, it becomes clear that Venom Snake is not Big Boss but rather the field medic who shielded him from explosions at Ground Zeroes. Transformed through surgical procedures and hypnotherapy, Venom Snake serves as a body double while the actual Big Boss pursues larger ambitions.
This twist, while visually apparent to observant players, does connect several dots within the series, including subtle hints regarding Venom Snake’s identity throughout the gameplay experience.
Furthermore, eager fans will note the numerous inconsistencies pointing to Venom’s misleading identity, including voice inconsistencies and behavioral cues that draw attention to his duplicity.
7 Baldur’s Gate 3
Don’t Trust Your Dream Guardian
As the plot thickens in Baldur’s Gate 3, players discover that the Dream Guardian, whom they have spent considerable time customizing, is actually the Emperor, a mind flayer leveraging Githyanki Prince Orpheus’s power to thwart your Illithid transformation.
Despite appearing helpful, the Emperor’s inherent Illithid nature reveals his manipulative tendencies—he aims to utilize your strength while diverting attention away from his dark motives. This theme of betrayal helps shape the narrative significantly.
Throughout the story, the Emperor’s self-serving tactics become evident, including his past manipulations of Duke Stelmane and the murder of his closest ally, dragonly Ansur.Even if you form a strong bond with him, his betrayal feels inevitable, echoing the game’s underlying narrative motifs.
6 Devil May Cry 5
Daddy Issues
The renowned Devil May Cry series, celebrated for its hack-and-slash gameplay, has never relied heavily on storytelling depth.In Devil May Cry 5, the connections between V, villain Urizen, and character Nero are laid bare, if not bluntly.
While the game hints at the relationship between these characters, it becomes glaringly straightforward when it’s revealed that Nero is, in fact, Vergil’s son. Even seasoned players recognize the signs that lead to this revelation, particularly when recalling Nero’s Devil Trigger awakening.
This predictability casts Vergil as a neglectful father, raising the question of whether he’s ever intended to assume responsibility for his actions.
5 Resident Evil Village
Why Won’t You Die?
Even among video game characters, Ethan Winters stands out for his almost miraculous ability to survive mortal injuries in both Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village. While classic video game logic might explain his resilience, the truth behind Ethan’s indomitable nature is grounded in the plot.
Ethan’s real state reveals that he died during his encounter with Jack Baker in Resident Evil 7, yet his body was revived by the megamycete fungus, granting him supernatural regenerative abilities. This correlation ties into his daughter Rose’s development of similar powers due to her father’s altered biology.
4 Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
A Heroic Sacrifice
As Link journeys through the landscapes of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild, he encounters three divine dragons connected to the Triforce. However, Tears of the Kingdom introduces a new fourth dragon bearing a familiar visage. This enigmatic Light Dragon soars to impressive heights, shedding tears that scatter across the kingdom, hinting at deeper connections.
Upon collecting all 11 tears from geoglyphs, it becomes apparent that Princess Zelda has been thrust back 10, 000 years—her remarkable choice to swallow her secret stone transforms her into the Light Dragon.This act imbues Link’s Master Sword with divine power.
The poignancy of Zelda’s transformation lies in her prolonged slumber of a century during the events of Breath of the Wild, now turned into a dragon for 10, 000 years.
3 Life Is Strange
Have You Seen This Girl?
Rachel Amber remains a shadowy figure throughout Life Is Strange, as her allure captivates various characters in Blackwell Academy. Most notably, Chloe’s investigation into Rachel’s disappearance drives much of the narrative.
Her elusive presence foreshadows tragic undertones, especially in the prequel, Before the Storm. Ultimately, Chloe and Max uncover Rachel’s grave, revealing her fate intertwined with the malevolent actions of serial killer Mark Jefferson and Nathan Prescott.
Despite her untimely end, Rachel’s legacy ignites a path toward resolution for her friends.
2 Bayonetta
The Resemblance Is Uncanny
In the original Bayonetta game, the fierce Umbran Witch finds herself pursued by the powers of Paradiso due to possessing one half of the “Eyes of the World.”Within her quest, she encounters characters like Jeanne, another Umbra Witch, and Cereza, a little girl with a striking similarity to herself.
As Bayonetta struggles with the child who constantly refers to her as “mommy, ” the twist unfolds revealing that Cereza is, in fact, her younger self. This twist prompts questions about the concept of timelines and existence.
The story explores Bayonetta’s father Balder’s descent into madness, illustrating his attempts to manipulate time and power, leading to Cereza’s abduction and the awakening of Bayonetta’s latent memories.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Healthcare Sucks, Partner
Red Dead Redemption 2 transports players into the gritty reality of America in the late 1800s, complete with meticulous recreation of life’s many hardships, including illness.As the story unfolds in the Beaver Hollow chapter, Arthur suffers a serious health crisis, revealing his diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Though tuberculosis is manageable in modern medicine, Arthur’s fate is sealed—regardless of decisions made in-game, he ultimately succumbs to the illness. Signs of his condition hint at the looming tragedy, beginning with an early debt collection that leads him to contract TB.
The narrative arc ultimately exposes Arthur’s character development, forcing him to face his own mortality and make impactful choices that aid others in need before he meets his demise.
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