Games with choose your own adventure book style meaningful choices?

[wafflebrain]

Alternatively, games with choices that have the most impact, or the most diverging plotlines based on those choices. Essentially games with the most potential for missed content during a preliminary playthrough which lends itself to the best replay value in terms of story. Many games try to do this in a broad way but it tends to be mostly smoke and mirrors with your choices ultimately not changing the outcome or experienced diverging paths that much at all.

This isn't limited to modern gaming, I'm all for anything going back to text based adventure games.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Visual Novels probably offer the most "change" in a route and missable content compared to most other experiences.

While perhaps not as much as you'd want, I felt the variety in Late shift & She see's Red was pretty good as far as FMV goes anyway

 

[sir_crocodile]

some SRPG's tend to have this a bit - from most to least substantial for the overall story - Vanguard Bandits, Rondo of Swords, the three Shining Force 3 scenarios (SF3 more affects the characters you get rather than the overall story).

 

[Schlomo]

Quantic Dream games are king in that department.

 

[Xagarath]

Choice of Games have an entire business model based around creating these. They must have over a hundred titles by now.
(Disclaimer: I've written a game for them)

 

[styl_oh]

I'd say Disco Elysium

you can't possibly see, or be, everything on one playthrough

the game contains something like 1mil words in its script

 

[Rosebud]

Indie devs are amazing at this kind of game.

Save 75% on Suzerain on Steam

Assume the role of President Anton Rayne and guide the nation of Sordland. Amidst brewing international conflicts, need for reform, deep-seated corruption, and economic recession, you must make the decisions in this political drama. How will you lead?

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The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante on Steam

A narrative-driven hardcore RPG set in a gritty world ruled by real but unrelenting gods. Set out on a challenging lifetime journey, where every choice has a price and entails consequences. Will you become an inquisitor, a judge, or conspire against the old order? Dare to decide!

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Reigns on Steam

Sit on the throne as a benevolent (or malevolent) medieval monarch of the modern age and swipe your royal controller either left or right to impose your will upon the kingdom.

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Bury Me, My Love on Steam

Bury me, my Love tells the story of Syrian refugee Nour and her husband Majd, as Nour undertakes a perilous journey to safety in Europe.

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Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You on Steam

Big Brother has arrived - and it’s you. Investigate the lives of citizens to find those responsible for a series of terror attacks. Information from the internet, personal communications and private files are all accessible to you. But, be warned, the information you supply will have consequences.

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80 Days on Steam

1872, with a steampunk twist. Phileas Fogg has wagered he can circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. Travel by airship, submarine, mechanical camel, steam-train and more. Race other players and a clock that never stops in TIME Magazine's Game of 2014.

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Do Not Feed the Monkeys on Steam

A digital voyeur simulator where you watch strangers through surveillance cameras. Invade their privacy and witness their most intimate moments, but don’t interact with the subjects – anything could happen if you dare feed the monkeys!

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[Ashes of Dreams]

While most Shin Megami Tensei games hold back the plot deviations until near the end, I think the SRPG spin-off series Devil Survivor has this running throughout the whole thing. Just taking the first game as an example, you're constantly given the choice of where to go and what to do during story segments, and what scenes you encounter drastically change the flow of the game from much earlier on than usual.