There are a lot of games out there that promise character development, but only a few manage to deliver. For the best games with character development, it’s essential to look at what makes it so crucial in the first place. One of the most important aspects of developing a character is creating a sense of immersion for the player. When players feel like they are inhabiting the shoes of their characters, they become more invested in their stories and their outcomes. This is why games that focus on dialogue and choices tend to be better for character development than games that focus purely on the action. We’ll prove that.
1. Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is known for its deep and engaging story, and its characters are a big part. The player takes on the role of Commander Shepard, and throughout the game, they must make choices that will affect their character and the people around them. The Mass Effect games are some of the best examples of games with solid character development because every choice you make has a meaningful impact on the story. We won’t spoil the rest.
2. Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser
This title is a prime example of strong character development games. The player is put in the role of an Inquisitor, tasked with saving the world from a mysterious threat. Throughout the game, the player must make choices that affect the world around them. These choices also shape the Inquisition and the player’s character. It is up to the player to determine how their Inquisitor will grow and how they will interact with the people and events of the world. The Trespasser expansion for Dragon Age: Inquisition brings the story to a close and allows the player to see the consequences of every decision they made.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world RPG for PC that gives players a lot of freedom to explore. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter drawn into a conflict that could have world-ending consequences. The decisions you make throughout the game will shape the world around you, and the characters you meet will react to your choices in various ways. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best examples of a game that features strong character development because your choices have a real impact on the world around you.
4. Persona 5
Persona 5 is a role-playing video game developed by Atlus for PlayStation 3 and 4. It takes place in modern-day Tokyo, following a group of high school students who harness Persona powers to fight evil. The game is chronologically the fifth installment in the Persona series and introduces a new setting, story, and characters. Players control a party of five characters: Akira Kurusu, Ann Takamaki, Ryuji Sakamoto, Morgana, and Yusuke Kitagawa. Akira is the protagonist of Persona 5; like previous protagonists in the series, he can summon multiple Personas. The other four characters are each paired with one of Akira’s Personas.
5. Dark Souls III
The game has been critically acclaimed for its deep and engaging storyline and the complex relationships between the characters. The game follows the protagonist’s journey, named the Ashen One, as they travel through the world of Lothric in an attempt to put an end to the cycle of death and undeath. They will meet a cast of exciting characters, each with their motivations and backstory.
One thing that makes Dark Souls III unique is how it handles character development. Rather than simply giving players information about the characters through exposition, the game allows players to piece together the relationships and lore themselves. This game encourages players to think about the world and its characters and creates a life-like experience.
6. Inside
Inside is a puzzle-platformer game for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, published by Playdead. The game is about a boy exploring a dark world filled with puzzles and deadly creatures. The player can control the boy to jump, climb, swing on ropes, and carry objects. The boy can also die from falls, environmental hazards, or being killed by the creatures. This game is unique because it’s a side-scroller, but the environment and characters are 3D.
7. Bloodborne
In Bloodborne, you are a hunter who has come to Yharnam, a city plagued by a terrible curse of bloodlust. You must find and kill the source of the plague before it spreads to the rest of the in-game Gothic horror world, where you must fight terrifying monsters to survive. The character development in Bloodborne is some of the best we have ever seen. As you progress through the plot, you learn more about your character and his backstory. You also gain new abilities and weapons that allow you to fight more formidable enemies. By the end of the game, you are a completely different person than when you started.
8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you can choose to play as one of many characters, each with a unique backstory and personality. You can also decide how your character grows over time, making the game feel genuinely personal. Plus, the world of Skyrim is vast and filled with endless possibilities, meaning you’ll never get bored. The game encourages you to explore and role-play; it’s an experience you won’t forget any time soon. To make things even better, the game’s visuals are stunning and help to bring the world to life, and there are a plethora of player-made mods.
9. Fallout 4
In the video game world, a few franchises always manage to deliver when it comes to character evolution. Fallout 4 is one of those games. Set in a post-apocalyptic Boston, you play as the sole survivor of Vault 111, who must now find their way in a world that’s been drastically changed. The personalities you meet along the way are incredibly well written and fleshed out, and the actions you take have a tangible impact on the game’s outcome. Simply put, this game focuses on character growth and RPG.
10. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
This is an action-adventure stealth video game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Konami. Set nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes and eleven years before the original Metal Gear, The Phantom Pain follows Venom Snake as he awakened from a nine-year coma in 1984. Snake must traverse through hostile environments with enemy soldiers to accomplish mission objectives. The game features an open-world environment where players can freely travel and scour. Plus, the title incorporates a base-building system similar to the one featured in previous Metal Gear Solid titles.