History Main / StoryBranching

* Two ''AceCombat'' games included major story branching: ''VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere'' and ''AceCombatXSkiesOfDeception''. However, only the former had MultipleEndings, while in the latter, all branches converged for the final mission. Minor branching was present in other games, as well, but it usually availed to one or two mission-long branches, which converged back again into the linear storyline.
** ''AceCombat5'' branches off at two different times before converging back into the main story. Your wingman Chopper asks you a question in the middle of a mission and your Yes/No answer determines the choice. The questions he asks has nothing to do with anything relevant to the missions.

The amount of StoryBranching determines the degree of ''plot'' (non-)linearity. See SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpenness for the possible degrees of ''exploration'' (non-)linearity. See also StoryToGameplayRatio.

* In ''ChronoCross'', there are three ways to sneak into Viper Manor early in the game, depending on which character the player asks for assistance. Each route progresses through a different area and gives the player a different party member in the process. Afterwards, the decision of whether to save Kid affects another set of characters added to the player's party. Another branch in ChronoCross happens when you must choose whether to save Kid at the cost of destroying an ecosystem. Again, the choice you make will determine the characters at your disposal.

* Not just VideoGame/{{Persona}} but a number of ShinMegamiTensei games have branching paths where you choose between Law, Chaos, or Neutral allegiance.

* Not just {{Persona}} but a number of ShinMegamiTensei games have branching paths where you choose between Law, Chaos, or Neutral allegiance.

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' games all have some degree of StoryBranching, for example, the SEBEC route in ''{{Persona}}'', and the Female Protagonist Route in ''[[{{Persona 3}} P3P]]''.

* ''{{Persona}}'' games all have some degree of StoryBranching, for example, the SEBEC route in ''{{Persona}}'', and the Female Protagonist Route in ''[[{{Persona 3}} P3P]]''.

* {{Visual Novel}}s in general ''thrive'' on this kind of thing. One could say that story branching is the only kind of gameplay there is to them.

StoryBranching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be LostForever (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order--but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. Also to distinguish is "cosmetic branching", wherein your choices mainly affect CharacterCustomization (like [[AndYourRewardIsClothes clothes]] and [[KarmaMeter moral standing]]) while the game {{railroad|ing}}s you into essentially the same level, objective, and "choice" progression. For a more in-depth look, refer to '''Analysis.StoryBranching'''.

* Subverted in ''EpicMickey'', where the player's ExpositionFairy explicitly hints that they may solve puzzles and defeat Bosses in multiple ways (typically with either Paint or Thinner) and the player must pick a course of action; this affects NPCs' opinions of Mickey throughout the adventure, but it has zero effect on the adventure itself, nor its ending (though ending cutscenes do reflect the actual choices made).

* After completing the game once in ''StarFoxCommand'' and receiving a relatively mundane ending, the game unlocks alternate story paths the player may select after completing each mission - these progress through different areas (with different party members), branching and interleaving to yield a total of nine distinct MultipleEndings.
* Shmup ''G-Darius'' was all about branching levels that took you to one of several MultipleEndings. The opportunity to choose a level occurs in the middle of the level that you are currently playing.

* ''ResidentEvilOutbreak'' had several scenarios where the plotlines would branch and you could take a different path of escape.

While {{Adventure|Game}} and {{Role Playing Game}}s are frequently built on plotlines that progress in only one scripted direction, sometimes a video game developer offers the player a choice about which direction a given segment may proceed, by offering multiple paths that run paralell to each other.

* TheWitcher2 also has a major choice, but it is made fairly early in the game. Based on your choice there, the storyline develops in one of two rather different ways which only come together again in the final chapter.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'' has a variation wherein you still play every stage, but ''your actions'' within those stages will affect on what kind of ending you will get (like spare X in this level while kill Y in another level).

** AceCombat5 branches off at two different times before converging back into the main story. Your wingman Chopper asks you a question in the middle of a mission and your Yes/No answer determines the choice. The questions he asks has nothing to do with anything relevant to the missions.

Subtropes include MultipleEndings (where plot branches occur at the finale, leading to different denouments) and MultipleGameOpenings (where the story starts along a branch). Compare and contrast ChooseYourOwnAdventure, the manner in which branching plotlines appear in other media.

StoryBranching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be LostForever (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order--but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. Also to distinguish is "cosmetic branching", wherein your choices mainly affect CharacterCustomization (like [[AndYourRewardIsClothes clothes]] and [[KarmaMeter moral standing]]) while the game railroads you into essentially the same level, objective, and "choice" progression. For a more in-depth look, refer to '''Analysis.StoryBranching'''.

* Although ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' follows Creatore/BioWare's SctriclyFormula "Find-Four-PlotCoupons" for the most part, there is a significant story branching at the end of Redcliffe Village quest, where, depending on your resolution of the Broken Circle (another plot coupon quest), you may be either forced to make a SadisticChoice or able to TakeAThirdOption. If you haven't started the Broken Circle yet, you can even [[TakeYourTime put the Redcliffe quest on hold]], save the mages, and ''then'' take the third option.

StoryBranching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be LostForever (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order--but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. Also to distinguish is "cosmetic branching", wherein your choices only affect superficial things (like [[AndYourRewardIsClothes clothes]] and [[KarmaMeter NPC reactions]]) while the game railroads you into essentially the same level, objective, and "choice" progression.

* In the original ''VideoGame/Gothic'', you could decide which camp to join after starting the game, opening up different quest lines which eventually converged back into a single plot.

* ResidentEvilOutbreak had several scenarios where the plotlines would branch and you could take a different path of escape.

StoryBranching occurs when the players' choices determine which levels, objectives, and other choices they will face later in the game and which will be LostForever (at least, [[ReplayValue in the current playthrough]]). This makes them distinct from optional {{Side Quest}}s, which do not so much drive the central plot forwards as detract you sideways (though particularly long side-quests can feature story branching of their own); and from {{Plot Coupon}}s, which you can often collect in any order--but the overall plot only progresses once you have ''all'' of them. Also to distinguish is "cosmetic branching", wherein your choices only affect superficial things (like [[AndYourRewardIsClothes clothes]] or [[KarmaMeter NPC reactions]]) while the game railroads you into essentially the same level, objective, and "choice" progression.

The amount of StoryBranching determines the degree of ''plot'' (non-)linearity. See SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpenness for the possible degrees of ''exploration'' (non-)linearity.

* In LucasArts's ''IndianaJonesAndTheFateOfAtlantis'', early on the player must choose one of three paths: The "Team" path has Sophia Hapgood join Indy as backup, the "Wits" path has a plethora of complex puzzles, and the "Fists" path has lots of action sequences and fistfighting. Each path has a different plot, including different CutScenes and locations to visit.

While {{Adventure|Game}} and {{Role Playing Game}}s are frequently built on plotlines that progress in only one scripted direction, sometimes a video game developer offers the player a choice about which direction a given segment may proceed, by offering multiple paths that run paralell to each other.

While {{Adventure|Game}} and {{Role Playing Game}}s are frequently built on plotlines that progress in only one scripted direction, sometimes a video game developer offers the player a choice about which direction a given segment may proceed, by offering multiple paths that run paralell to each other.

[[AC:Adventure Games]]

[[AC:First-Person Shooters]]

[[AC:Flight Sim]]

[[AC:Platform Games]]

[[AC:Real Time Strategy]]

[[AC:RPG -- Eastern]]

[[AC:RPG -- Strategy]]

[[AC:RPG -- Western]]

[[AC:Shoot 'Em Ups]]

[[AC:Survival Horror]]

[[AC:Visual Novel]]

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The amount of StoryBranching determines the degree of ''plot'' (non-)linearity. See SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpenness for the degree of ''exploration'' linearity.