Video games allow us to shape the universes we visit through interaction, which is one of our medium’s greatest appeals.
Being able to enter entire worlds and influence the events and characters within them is magical,achieving sensations no other artistic medium can match.
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These are among the independent masterpieces that have come closest to perfection, according to Valve’s platform users.
However, particular titles go above and beyond to fulfill this transformative fantasy, giving us unprecedented agency to change the stories as we wish.
This is particularly true among independent titles, which is why today I’ve decided to bring you this list ofthe ten best indie games where your choices matter.
10The Stanley Parable
Decisions That Matter, But Don’t
The Stanley Parable
IncludingThe Stanley Parableon this list is somewhat of a cheat, asthe entire game revolves around demonstrating the false sense of free will that decision-making video games provide, since everything is predetermined in the code.
Nevertheless,reaching this conclusion only happens when you string together a vast series of decisions throughout the plot, which leads to completely unexpected outcomes that gradually allow you to piece together the overall puzzle.
The choices inThe Stanley Parablearen’t there to change the title’s message but to reinforce it through a dichotomy: to understand your powerlessness in terms of freedom, you need to do everything possible to exercise it anyway.
This is among the most powerful and revolutionary indie games I’ve had the pleasure of playing, so it’s always worth recommending. It’s not a title like the rest of the list, and yetit’s worth it because even futile decisions need to be made.
Shaping a Kingdom
Regarding decision-making video games, it’s practically impossible not to think ofReignsas one of their greatest and most interesting representatives.
Although it’s by far the simplest title on the list mechanically, it’s also among the most engaging thanks to thecountless possibilities it offers to build a unique story.
Taking on the role of a monarch and deciding the fate of an entire kingdom, even if it’s just a few lines written on notes, really makes you reflect and analyze the circumstances, with no need for flashy graphics or characters with visibly complex emotions.
Reignsthrives on subtlety and is a lot of fun thanks to its balance between accessibility and complexity. I’ve rarely spent so much time playing on my phone, but the hours fly by when you’re enjoying this gem.
8Undertale
Opposite Stories
As one of thebest story-driven gamesof all time,Undertaleis the kind of experience that leaves a lasting impression on you, and it won’t let go no matter how many years pass.
Occasionally, I’m reminded of the emotional and delicate circumstances the game places you in to experience the entirety of its world, especially when it comes to its characters andbosses.
AlthoughUndertalehas predefined paths over which we have little agency, selecting one or the other is a decision with countless ramifications, as the title offersopposing adventures that truly change how you feel while playing.
The title doesn’t have the complexity of decisions that other games on this list do, but every secret you decide to uncover and every character you choose to forgive shapes your journey through the smallest details.
Undertale’s paths are clear, yet consideringits endings approach hundreds of variations depending on every small decision you make, despite how innocuous they may seem, I think it makes the cut.
A Thriller of Dialogues
As time has gone on, I’ve become less and less of a fan of stories about naive young people in supernatural settings because I get frustrated, butOxenfreeis a welcome exception.
Between its believable characters, magnificent atmosphere, and dynamic dialogue,it’s a perfectly paced adventure where its narrative quality blends charmingly with its thriller style.
Breaking away from the typical stereotypes of this type of work,Oxenfreeis a unique game whose story both frightens and seduces, creating a constant stream of sensations that mesh so well together that it makes you want to play it many times to see all its alternative routes.
I do think I played it somewhat later in life, but even so, I appreciate it very much. Had I played it more when I was younger,I’m sureOxenfreewould have left its mark on me like few other games.
Between Morality and Power
One of the common characteristics of games where you make decisions is thatthey’re often encouraged through dialogue selection, which can occasionally feel artificial or monotonous.
Consequently, playingSunderedfor the first time was an eye-opening experience, as it showed me thatdecisions in video games are made every second, including how we interact with their gameplay systems.
In this case, they are manifested through the title’s power scale, thus influencing the way you interact with the game’s difficulty.Feeling obligated to break my moral compass to actually finish the campaign was as saddening as it was magnificent.
Sunderedis a challenging Metroidvania that demands a fair amount of patience and skill, so it establishes an important compromise for the player. It feels natural and adds a sense of despair every time you do something you don’t want to, but you believe is necessary.
As you have to choose between surrendering your humanity in favor of becoming more powerful or maintaining your consciousness and making the experience much tougher,it’s incredibly refreshing not to have to deal with it through lines of dialogue alone.
5Papers, Please
The Family or the Homeland
Papers, Please
When video games aim to create stories where decisions affect the plot’s course, they typically rely on emotional cinematics or deep conversations to demonstrate our impact on their world.
On the other hand,Papers, Pleasemanages to portray the consequences of our actions in a more subtle way,using only newspapers and tallies of our stats at the end of each day to show us the outcomes of our work.
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These experiences demonstrate how profound and thoughtful the interactive medium can be.
As time goes by, our job as customs agents becomes more arduous becausewe have to choose between making decisions that could negatively influence the country of Arstotzka or endangering the health of our family.
Allowing a couple to enter the country despite not having the proper papers, accepting bribes, turning a blind eye to people in need…Papers, Pleaseis full of rough moments that, given the naturalness of its gameplay,truly leave an impression difficult to erase.
4The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
This Is How Politics Works
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
Deconstructeam has become one of my favorite developers thanks to its ability to create dense and captivating spaces that will inspire hours of introspection.
InThe Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood’s case, the team embraced its political nature and created one of the most complex yet realistic graphic adventures,transforming every dialogue into a universe that makes you think as if your life depended on it.
Thanks to its wonderful mythology and tremendous characters,every conversation demands considerable intellectual interaction from the player, presenting varied and satisfying outcomes that encourage replayability.
Constructing tarot cards and unleashing our artistic creativity is fun, but whereThe Cosmic Wheel Sisterhoodexcels is in its capacity to send all kinds of messages that can easily find parallels in our own reality.
It’s a thought-provoking experience, and if you’re willing to engage in serious, sober dialogue with it,the game will respond with many astoundingoptions that will delight you.
A Journey of Many Destinations
Road 96is among the most beautiful demonstrations of the journey being what matters instead of the destination, although this doesn’t diminish its complex political personality.
The game proposes a fairly clear framework for its message about immigration, partisan differences in democracy, freedom of expression, and other variables that are profoundly relevant to current public discussion.
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In the process,Road 96allows the player to shape the events that unfold, responding with outcomes that are impressive, thoughtful, and excessively emotional, thanks to itsclever fusion of a narrative game with roguelike elements.
With its masterful soundtrack and impeccable artistic style, including characters that are all too easy to connect with, the plot constantly forces you to make decisions through mechanics and dialogue,always providing satisfying answers,even when they aren’t the ones you want.
2Pentiment
The Art of Choosing
Since playingPentiment, I’ve never stopped thinking it’s the best video gameObsidianhas ever made, even though I’m not that big of atrue-crimefollower.
The depth of Andreas Maler’s story and its surroundings is among the most captivating, dense, and realistic I’ve experienced after decades of playing video games, withemotional magnitudes that make you analyze each event as if it were your own life.
Tassing is a living context that grows with you as you watch your wonderful protagonist and the iconic cast of supporting characters grow, creating a sense of spontaneous community that connects with you like few other games of this century.
I’m not one to replay games in general, much less graphic adventures, butre-experiencingPentimentis almost mandatory to appreciate the wealth of different perspectives and outcomes it holds.
Plus, it hassome of the best art ever seen in the industry and revelations that leave you speechless, so it’s truly difficult not to look atPentimentwith the eyes of a fan.
1Disco Elysium
A Universe of Complexities
Disco Elysium
As one of thebest indie gamesin history, anRPG with infinite replayability, and one more reason to believe video games are art, it was impossible for me to make this list without includingDisco Elysium.
If we keep in mind why many entries made it into this article, such as the dialogue’s depth, the quality of the story and supporting characters, or the ability to transform from the smallest to the largest detail,Disco Elysiumhits all the right notes with unparalleled excellence.
The city of Martinaise offers one of the most developed, human, complex, and impressive experiences the video game industry has to offer, perhaps even the most, with nothing to envy of the major productions that call themselves mature.
When you think about the difficulties of existence, the complexity of relating to other people, the overwhelmingness of trying to choose our future, or even the pain of forgetting our past,Disco Elysiumstands there as a perfect mirror of you,your life’s circumstances,and life itself.
No two playthroughsof Disco Elysiumare the same, no matter how hard you try. Its millions of lines of script aren’t there for nothing, and that’s coming from someone who’s played it three times and still feels like they’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.
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