When we boot up a new video game, we trust the developer to lead us down a trail of thrills and excitement to a satisfying conclusion. Along the way, we’ll encounter perils and struggle to determine who is friend or foe, but these stories typically follow a traditional structure—one that result’s in a sense of closure and accomplishment by the end credits.
Unless, of course, the developer decides to completely veer off the trail with a twist that leaves us dumbfounded, confused, and sometimes even a little broken inside. The best video game plot twists stick with us, so no matter how early in the story they may be revealed, we’re still thinking about them days after. Heck, sometimes even years later!
A narrative twist can make or break a game, so we wanted to highlight some of the most effective plot twists in gaming history. It’s so easy to muck up a curveball, but these are six absolute treasures worth savoring. (Make sure to get your PlayStation gift cards ready for these twisted games we have in store for you!)
Let’s dive in. Spoilers ahead, of course!
Final Fantasy VII — Aerith’s Fate
Early on in his adventures, former 1st Class SOLDIER Cloud Strife helps rescue Aerith Gainsborough, a flower merchant and last surviving member of an ancient race known as the Cetra. At first, it seems that Aerith will merely be a distractive love interest for Cloud, but the seemingly innocent girl is a formidable fighter and quite magical. When the villainous and misguided Sephiroth calls upon Meteor to damage the planet and subsequently absorb its lifestream while it heals itself, Aerith steps in with the mysterious White Materia to save the day.
That is, until Sephiroth’s signature Masamune Blade impales her abdomen. The sudden death may not necessarily be considered a twist, but the brutality of her murder was something else entirely. She was part of your party. You sunk resources into her and gave her armor you’d essentially never see again. You spent hours bonding with her character, and in one devastating cutscene, she was gone.
There are several plot twists in Final Fantasy VII, but this is the one people still talk about, decades later. Let’s hope Aerith escapes her tragic fate in VII Remake Part 2!
Silent Hill 2 — The Origin of the Monsters
Surviving the monsters of Silent Hill is one thing. But finding out that they only exist because you’re racked with guilt, sexually deprived, and suffering internally will really screw with your head.
The fiends patrolling the dilapidated world of Silent Hill have always had mysterious origins, but in Silent Hill 2, we’re hit with the reality that the main character, James Sunderland, is subconsciously bringing these horrors to life. The worst of them, Pyramid Head, is a physical manifestation of James’ guilt for suffocating his dying wife.
The game reveals that other monsters, like the iconic Nurse, are a product of James’ lust and confused sexual feelings for fellow Silent Hill prisoner, Maria. The first Silent Hill had a similar revelation, where the lost daughter of protagonist Harry Mason was manifesting creatures based on her fears, but this twist hits quite a bit harder.
It’s easier to empathize with James throughout the game since we’re controlling him, but it’s also difficult not to be a bit peeved after learning he’s responsible for the grotesque monsters of Silent Hill 2.
Spec Ops: The Line — The White Phosphorus Attack
Very few war titles make players feel the impact of their actions. You fire off several thousand rounds of ammunition, kill the “bad guy,” and go about your business. Yager Development wanted to break that cycle with Spec Ops: The Line, and on more than one occasion, it absolutely did.
One of the game’s more impactful twists came when Captain Martin Walker and the rest of Delta Force bomb what they believe to be an area heavy with insurgents of the Damned 33rd, the game’s antagonists. When the smoke clears, they realize they’ve done something far worse.
The scorched earth left behind after the white phosphorous attack is littered with the dead and the dying. What Delta Squad didn’t expect was for many of those bodies to be civilians, who’d been lured just outside a location known as the Gate by the 33rd. It’s rare for the “good guys” to do so much damage to the innocent, and the scene plays as a powerful twist that’s sure to leave players stunned.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots — Revolver Ocelot’s True Intentions
Revolver Ocelot made his appearance in 1998’s Metal Gear Solid, and was notably the only villain to survive. Through sequels and prequels, players were led to believe he was driven by selfish motives and always had a plan that benefited himself.
Then came the conclusion to the Solid Snake timeline, Guns of the Patriots. By the time the credits rolled, director and creator Hideo Kojima spun the whole narrative on its head and left long-time fans stunned. It’s a bit difficult to get into fully without exploring the expansive lore of Metal Gear Solid, but the short of it is this: Revolver Ocelot wasn’t as evil as previously thought.
His ultimate plan was to free the world of the Patriot AI that had taken control of most facets of life. Of course, that also meant returning to the days where men like he and Big Boss, legendary soldier and Snake’s “father,” thrived. So, his motives weren’t what we’d call “pure,” as he essentially would have recreated the Wild West. But he would up not quite being Solid Snake’s foil as initially portrayed.
BioShock — “Would You Kindly”
A really impactful twist completely changes how a player views the things they’ve accomplished. BioShock does exactly this with three simple words: “Would you kindly?” Spoken throughout the game by a revolutionary named Atlas, the otherwise innocuous words had quite the effect on protagonist Jack. They were the trigger words embedded in Jack’s brain during hypnosis. Say them, and the hapless hero couldn’t help but comply with whatever request followed.
While finding out the protagonist is a pawn of some higher power is twisted enough, BioShock had even more up its sleeves. As it turns out, Atlas never existed and was instead a guise of Frank Fontaine, the rival of Rapture’s founder, Andrew Ryan. From the plane crash at the game’s intro to the murder of Ryan, Jack was merely being manipulated as Fontaine’s puppet to carry out his devious deeds.
Shadow of the Colossus — What Are the Colossi?
There are a few instances in gaming where players find out they’ve been the bad guy all along. No matter how many games have tried or will try it, they will have a hard time matching the impact of Shadow of the Colossus.
Controlling a young man named Wander, players embark on a quest to slay 16 colossi, thinking they are resurrecting a maiden named Mono. The whole damsel-in-distress scenario draws us in, as who doesn’t want to be the white knight that saves the day. Unfortunately, Wander winds up doing the exact opposite.
Manipulated into killing the colossi by a disembodied voice named Dormin, Wander inadvertently becomes corrupted. The death of each colossus releases an essence of Dormin that possesses Wander, ultimately turning him into a vessel for the demonic entity. The tragedy of Shadow of the Colossus is that Wander wasn’t trying to be a bad guy. His good intentions were twisted and manipulated by the nefarious being.
What Are Your Favorite Video Game Plot Twists?
There you have it, folks! Some of the biggest plot twists in the history of gaming. Hopefully, you enjoyed this list as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
In any case, do let us know in the comments below what plot twists in gaming surprised you when you first experienced them! We’d love to hear your thoughts.
For more fun lists, check out our 5 Best Mini-Games, as well as 5 Video Game Mysteries that remain unsolved.
