History Main / GoldenPath

* The ''VideoGame/{{Grow}}'' series from Eyezmaze.

Has nothing to do with the ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' sequels.

Has nothing to do with the Dune Sequels.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' actually implements invisible level caps on enemies in different world areas (as detailed [[http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Challenge_scaling here]]) to subtly guide you into an easy quest progression (even though you can actually go wherever you want as soon as you leave Lothering). The first entry in their list is the Mage Tower, which is a very good idea, anyway, because not only will you be able to pick up the designated party healer right away, but you will also be taking full advantage of the numerous, permanent stat boosts that you can get there. In addition, it will also allow you to TakeAThirdOption when facing a SadisticChoice later on in the game.

Some video games have a linear set up. Others, usually VisualNovels or games with {{RPG elements}}, give the player many choices as to where to go and what to do, and when and what things are done can have an impact on how the game unfolds, sometimes in huge ways. The Golden Path is the path that will offer the player the best gameplay, story, rewards and/or secrets the game has to offer. The Golden Path usually leads to the GoldenEnding in MultipleEndings games, and sometimes is the only way to get there, although this is not always the case. Some single-ending games can have a very rewarding Golden Path, usually by using hidden secrets and story elements. Developers can try to avert the creation of a definitive Golden Path by [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything creating unique content for each possible player choice]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Fahrenheit}}'' includes the possibility of an interactive OptionalSexualEncounter with your former girlfriend if you make the right choices at one point of the game. After that, it's LostForever.

Some video games have a linear set up. Others, usually VisualNovels or games with {{RPG elements}}, give the player many choices as to where to go and what to do, and when and what things are done can have an impact on how the game unfolds, some times in huge ways. The Golden Path is the path that will offer the player the best gameplay, story, rewards and/or secrets the game has to offer. The Golden Path usually leads to the GoldenEnding in MultipleEndings games, and sometimes is the only way to get there, although this is not always the case. Some single-ending games can have a very rewarding Golden Path, usually by using hidden secrets and story elements. Developers can try to avert the creation of a definitive Golden Path by [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything creating unique content for each possible player choice]].

* In the first ''{{Knights Of The Old Republic}}'' game, it's best if you complete either Tatooine or Kashyyk first and save Manaan for your third adventure and leave Korriban last. Because on the first two planets, the characters HK-47 and Jolee Bindo may join your party and you'll have more chances to know them better, there's also a sidequest that involves Jolee on Manaan; if you attempt to do Korriban any time before that Bastila will stay in the ship during it, so [[spoiler:the fact that she will be captured after completing three planets]] reduces the impact of her absence to zero, at least there.

* ''ValkyrieProfileLenneth'' is a rather obnoxious example. The game boasts 3 endings! Except... One of the endings is nothing more than a [[NonstandardGameOver fancy]] GameOver, the normal ending bypasses a lot of the interesting stuff, and is about 2 lines long ("Congratulations! Go to sleep; BTW, this game has more stuff"), and ''then'' there's the good ending, which is both the GoldenPath and GuideDangit. Averted in Silmeria, which has only one path, and Convenant of the Plume, in which all 3 paths are satisfying (well, the A Path ending was kind of rushed...), need to be played for the full experience, and have an easily identified branching point (the Plume destroys your enemies but permanently kills an ally each time it's used; how willing you are to sacrifice your friends determines your path).

* ''ValkyrieProfileLenneth'' is a rather obnoxious example. The game boasts 3 endings! Except... One of the endings is nothing more than a [[NonstandardGameOver fancy]] GameOver, the normal ending bypasses a lot of the interesting stuff, and is about 2 lines long ("Congratulations! Go to sleep; BTW, this game has more stuff"), and ''then'' there's the good ending, which is both the GoldenPath and GuideDangit. Averted in Silmeria, which has only one path, and Convenant of the Plume, in which all 3 paths are satisfying (well, the A Path ending was kind of rushed...) and need to be played for the full experience.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither their birth family nor the family that raised them and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of Valla]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither their birth family or the family that raised them and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of Valla]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither his/her birth family or the family that raised him/her and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of the Invisible Kingdom]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelation'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither his birth family or the family that raised him and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of the Invisible Kingdom]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelations'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither his birth family or the family that raised him and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated [[spoiler:and the Avatar crowned ruler of the Invisible Kingdom]]. Note that this is the only path that the GreaterScopeVillain can actually be fought in.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' has an entire ''game'' that's the GoldenPath: ''Revelations'' is a DLC game that starts when the Avatar [[TakeAThirdOption takes a third option]] and sides with neither his birth family or the family that raised him [[spoiler: and ends with the GreaterScopeVillain defeated and the Avatar crowned ruler of the Invisible Kingdom]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', it is possible to max out all of your social stats and social links in a single playthrough. This is ''nearly impossible'' in ''3'' (you have ''no'' leeway at all), ''slightly'' less ridiculous in [[UpdatedRerelease FES]], and still not that easy in ''4''.

Some video games have a linear set up. Others, usually games with {{RPG elements}}, give the player many choices as to where to go and what to do, and when and what things are done can have an impact on how the game unfolds, some times in huge ways. The Golden Path is the path that will offer the player the best gameplay, story, rewards and/or secrets the game has to offer. The Golden Path usually leads to the GoldenEnding in MultipleEndings games, and sometimes is the only way to get there, although this is not always the case. Some single-ending games can have a very rewarding Golden Path, usually by using hidden secrets and story elements. Developers can try to avert the creation of a definitive Golden Path by [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything creating unique content for each possible player choice]].

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' actually implements invisible level caps on enemies in different world areas to subtly guide you into an easy quest progression (even though you can actually go wherever you want as soon as you leave Lothering). The first entry in their list is the Mage Tower, which is a very good idea, anyway, because not only will you be able to pick up the designated party healer right away, but you will also be taking full advantage of the numerous, permanent stat boosts that you can get there. In addition, it will also allow you to TakeAThirdOption when facing a SadisticChoice later on in the game.

* It's usually a good idea to go to the mage tower first in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', because not only will you be able to pick up the designated party healer right away, but you will also be taking full advantage of the numerous, permanent stat bonuses that you can get there. In addition, it will also allow you to TakeAThirdOption when facing a SadisticChoice later on in the game.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', it is best to leave Blackmarsh for last, since completing it before will skip the Grey Warden initiation of the companion you hire last.

** Back to the first game, it's way better to do Therum first in order to have Liara in your party as soon as possible, as possibly leave Virmire for last.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' games are prime examples of this, more so in the second and third games, in which it was not possible to replay a robot master's stage, and there were items and power-ups that were only accessible using a certain weapon or ability the player may not have possessed yet. Subverted in the first game, where a hidden item is required for the fortress, but the game is nice enough to let you replay stages.

* The ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' games are prime examples of this, more so in the first two games, in which it was not possible to replay a robot master's stage, and there were items and power-ups that were only accessible using a certain weapon or ability the player may not have possessed yet.

** Actually, in Mega Man 1, you can replay stages (unlike later MM games, the boss returns), and there's even a hidden item that's required to beat Dr. Wily's fortress (the Magnet Beam). It's the second and third games where you can't replay stages.