Highlights
- Some video games start with hidden traps or choices that can end your adventure prematurely. Watch out for dialogue options!
- In certain games, declining the quest or not following the main path can lead to unexpected endings or even game overs.
- Be cautious when starting a new game – some choices like refusing a quest or stepping back can lead to surprising outcomes.
The start of most video game adventures are designed to ease you into the game mechanics and introduce you to the world and characters. Typically, these early stages function as a foolproof tutorial, setting you up for success throughout the rest of the game. However, some video games break this etiquette, allowing players to fail before they’ve truly begun.
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Some games add hidden traps in their early game introductions that can prematurely end your adventure. These are usually triggered by players who like to try every dialogue option or those unlucky enough to stumble into them. Be wary when you start your next game!
9 Decline The Quest To Save The World
Golden Sun
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
- Released: December 11, 2001
- Genre: RPG
Golden Sun follows a group of magical adepts as they journey to save the world from being destroyed by alchemy, a power that was sealed a long time ago. Throughout their journey, the adepts learn how to wield Psynergy and discover the truth behind alchemy. Of course, this all happens if they agree to go on the quest in the first place.
At the beginning of the game, while still at the Sol Sanctum, you are asked if you want to embark on the adventure and save the world. Most heroes would emphatically agree. But if you decline, you can leave the sanctuary and roll credits.
8 Stumble To Your Doom
Karateka
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Karateka |
Karateka Remake |
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Karateka was inspired by Japanese media, particularly samurai films and manga. It was a revolutionary game at the time, especially for its use of cinematic storytelling, sound design, and rotoscoping animation. You control a martial artist as he fights his way through enemies to save Princess Mariko, his one true love.
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After the title screen, you start your epic journey on a beautiful, scenic cliff, raring to bust some heads. But if you’re really not feeling it, you can always inch backward and stumble off the cliff, ending your tale prematurely and leaving Princess Mariko to her fate.
Only the original Karateka game allows you to stumble off the cliff.
7 Take Your Suitcase And Leave
Star Trek: Borg
- Platform: macOS, Windows
- Released: November 18, 1996
- Genre: Interactive Movie
Star Trek: Borg takes place in its own continuity, not associated with any specific Star Trek series. The game follows Starfleet Cadet Qaylan Furlong during a Borg invasion. Q approaches the cadet and offers him the opportunity to go back in time to save his father. The game follows a choose-your-own-adventure format as Qaylan navigates a series of challenges to reunite with his father.
The visual effects shots in Star Trek: Borg were originally shot for the pilot episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
The game begins as Qaylan’s ship is under attack by the Borg. The Captain orders Qaylan to pack his bags and evacuate. Q approaches Qaylan in his quarters, giving him the choice to leave with the rest of the crew or to fight. If Qaylan evacuates, his life will continue as normal, and he will never change his family’s destiny.
6 Don’t Pick Up The Magic Paintbrush
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Platform: macOS, Windows, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Released: June 10, 2021
- Genre: Adventure
Chicory: A Colorful Tale follows an anthropomorphic dog (whose default name is Pizza) on a quest to bring color to the Picnic Province. Long before the events of the game, a paintbrush was created from the branch of a magical bush tree. This paintbrush was passed down from generation to generation until it reached Chicory, Pizza’s boss. Chicory uses the magic paintbrush to paint the world in her own style. When all color suddenly disappears, it’s up to Pizza to wield the power of the paintbrush to bring color back to the world.
The protagonist is named after your favorite food.
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Of course, Pizza could also choose to leave the weird, magical paintbrush well enough alone and let the professionals do their job. Chicory trained for this. She’ll be fine.
5 Take The Joy Pill And Believe Whatever You Want
We Happy Few
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Windows
- Released: August 10, 2018
- Genre: Adventure, Stealth
We Happy Few takes place in the town of Wellington Wells in a dystopian alternate timeline of Earth. Before the events of the game, a “Very Bad Thing” happened in Wellington Wells, leading to the creation of a hallucinogenic drug called Joy. The drug suppresses bad emotions and makes the user view the world in a brighter, optimistic light. But Joy’s side effects include addiction, short-term memory loss, reduced appetite, nightmarish hallucinations, and being susceptible to manipulation. Never forget to read the fine print.
We Happy Few was primarily inspired by Brazil, a 1985 dystopian film.
At the start of the game, protagonist Arthur Hastings can choose to take his daily mandated Joy, stay in Wonderland, and the story ends. Or he can refuse it and see how deep the rabbit hole goes. The choice is up to you.
4 Delete Monica… Just Monica
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Beware story spoilers!
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Doki Doki Literature Club! |
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! |
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From the onset, Doki Doki Literature Club! (DDLC) seems like your run-of-the-mill dating sim visual novel. You play as a high school student who joins the school’s literature club at the behest of your childhood friend, Sayori. You begin by getting to know your other club members: Natsuki, Yuri, and club president Monika. But at the end of the first act, the game takes a dark turn when Sayori commits suicide.
One by one, each of the characters kills themselves until all that is left is Monika. She reveals that she knew it was a game and wanted you all for herself. She manipulated the other characters’ files from the directory to maximize their darkest tendencies before deleting them from the game. The only way to stop her is to delete her character file from your computer. When you restart the game, Monica is gone, and Sayori is the club president, but she starts to exhibit Monica’s behaviors before the game closes.
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If you already know the game’s story, you might be tempted to prematurely delete Monika’s character file. This promotes Sayori to club president, and Monica is nowhere to be found. Sayori realizes the unavoidable story of DDLC. She panics and closes the game. If you reopen the game, you’ll be greeted with Sayori’s dead body. If you linger for ten seconds, the words “now everyone can be happy” will appear onscreen.
3 Name Yourself Gaster
Undertale and Deltarune
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Undertale |
Deltarune |
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Undertale and Deltarune were both created by Toby Foxx. Undertale is the story of Frisk, a human child who falls into the realm of monsters; Deltarune follows the adventures of Kris (a human teenager), Susie (a monster), and Ralsei (a prince from the Dark World) as they seek to seal the Dark Fountains and save the world.
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While both games are not confirmed to be sequels to each other, they both reference a mysterious character named W. D. Gaster. You only encounter Gaster in Undertale through random luck or by modifying the game files. Thus far, there have been no overt references to Gaster in Deltarune. Like many video games, you choose a name for yourself at the start of Undertale and Deltarune. If you choose GASTER, the game will restart. Very suspicious….
2 The Events Of The Game Are Obviously Real
Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal
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Persona 5 |
Persona 5 Royal |
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Persona 5 follows a group of high school students, led by protagonist Ren Amamiya (code name: Joker), who have supernatural abilities that let them enter an alternate realm called the Metaverse. There, they use their abilities to steal malevolence from adults to make the world a better place. During their vigilante activities, they uncover a conspiracy that could engulf all of Tokyo.
At the start of the game, before the story even begins, the screen displays a typical disclaimer: “This story is a work of fiction. Similarities to persons living or dead in your world are purely coincidental. Only those who have agreed to the above have the privilege of partaking in this game.” You are then asked if you accept the terms. If you say no, then the game will acknowledge that you think Persona 5 is real and say, “I cannot allow you to partake of this game,” before you are kicked back to the title screen.
1 Don’t Go Into The Vault
Fallout 4
In the Fallout series, humanity survives nuclear calamity by taking refuge inside vaults. Fallout 4 begins right before the nuclear bombs are dropped. The protagonist and their family escape into Vault 111, where they are tricked into entering cryogenic sleep. While unconscious, the protagonist’s spouse is killed, and their son is kidnapped after 150 years. 60 years later, the life support system malfunctions and wakes up the protagonist, starting the story.
However, you can choose not to enter the vault at the beginning of the game. You can explore the area outside the vault, but if you tarry too long you will be caught in the nuclear explosion, prematurely ending the game. But at least you avoided the vault experiments.
