Dialogue choices in games are a divisive matter. Some people hate them, whereas others can’t imagine getting into a game that doesn’t have them. Then there is the issue of how much emphasis is placed upon conversations by the game’s developers. While in some RPGs the dialogue trees are only there to give players the illusion of choice, other titles manage to give the gamers a lot more agency in pushing the narrative in a specific direction by talking to NPCs.
RELATED:Disco Elysium: Everything You Need To Know About The Final Cut Version
Nowadays, games likeDisco Elysiumtry to bring back the importance of dialogue that branches out into countless, radically different directions, but many classic role-playing games from the early 2000s have managed to do just that much earlier than ZA/UM’s masterpiece. It is mainly a domain of isometric, turn-based titles, but there are quite a few exciting RPGs that manage to incorporate top-tier writing in their dialogue systems, as well.
Updated July 08, 2025, by Maciej Grzymkowski:Amazon’s recent announcement revealing that aDisco ElysiumTV series is in the works was quite divisive. Some fans were excited about the possibility of watching Harry DuBois’s story play out in live-action, while others worried that Amazon’s oversight will mean that the game’s message will be dumbed down to protect corporate interest. Regardless of that discussion, this announcement led many more people to be interested in this title, as well as other games with large, impactful dialogue trees.This article has been expanded to include a few moredialogue-rich RPGssimilar to Disco Elysium.
16Neurocracy
Neurocracyis a game that definitely takes some getting used to. However, the sooner players adjust to the gameplay that resembles clicking through Wikipedia articles, the quicker they’ll be able to enjoy the intricate and incredibly well-written story.
In the words of its developers,Neurocracyis partially an alternate reality single-player game, and partially a hypertext novel. As players follow a trail of hyperlinks to uncover the mystery of the assassination of a prominent businessman, they simultaneously find themselves learning more and more about the dark reality of the game’s version of the year 2049. The game is played entirely in-browser, and its first episode is available for free.
15Sunless Sea & Sunless Skies
Failbetter Games crafted something special withSunless Sea, and then the studio did it again with its sequel,Sunless Skies. Set in a Victorian world, both RPGs provide players with the freedom to select their own goals for their journeys. This could involve pursuing some specific mystery or simply seeking success and riches.
Incorporating roguelike elements and naval (or space) combat,Sunless Sea+Sunless Skiesare text-driven adventures that utilize the written word to complement the visual world-building. Similar toDisco Elysium, these games are stacked with unique, quirky characters who will leave a long-lasting impression on players.
14The Forgotten City
Initially released as aSkyrimmod,The Forgotten City’spopularity resulted in the developers deciding to turn it into a standalone experience. Thanks to its unique, yet familiar setting, captivating storyline, and cleverly written dialogue, it turned out to be the right choice.
The 2015 version ofThe Forgotten Citywas downloaded over 3,000,000 times, but the ties to theElder Scrollsengine and lore have definitely hampered the creativity of its developer. Releasing it as an independent adventure in 2021 allowed Modern Storyteller to break away from Tamriel and remake the game’s environments to resemble Ancient Rome and expand upon the dialogue trees,turning a mod into a fully-fledged titlecapable of competing for major accolades.
13Wasteland 3
inXile Entertainment’s third entry in its Wild West RPG series has a memorable storyline, deep turn-based combat, and a whole lot of personality. Set in Colorado,Wasteland 3starts with two Arizona Rangers who reluctantly join forces with the Patriarch, a powerful figure who proves to be anything but “good.”
RELATED:Games To Play If You Liked Wasteland 3
Morally complex characters are at the heart ofWasteland 3, as the game’s post-apocalyptic world is filled with people who will do anything to survive and prosper. The dialogue is clever and consistent, while the battle system provides a lot of room for experimentation and growth.
12The Outer Worlds
Tonally, Obsidian’sThe Outer Worldsis more lighthearted thanDisco Elysium, but they are both RPGs that pushtheir charactersto the forefront. Reminiscent ofFalloutgames,The Outer Worldsblends serviceable first-person shooter gameplay with personality-based customization and sprinkles of social commentary.
Taking plenty of shots at corporations,The Outer Worldsshowcases Obsidian’s talent for humorous dialogue and rich storytelling. Witha sequel on the waythat will hopefully expand upon its predecessor’s ideas and scope, this is the ideal time to pick upThe Outer Worlds.
11Pillars Of Eternity
Pillars Of Eternityhas set out to revitalize the long-forgotten, classic genre of story-focused, tactical RPGs that dominated the PC gaming sphere back in the heyday of titles likeBaldur’s GateorPlanescape: Torment.The latter is also a must-play for fans ofDisco Elysium.
The team over at Obsidian are role-playing masters who managed to incorporate top-tier stories and dialogue choices even toaction-packed titleslikeFallout: New Vegas.Pillars Of Eternityis a slower, more text-focused experience that puts players in the driver’s seat as far as advancing the storyline through dialogue is concerned.
10Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
Much like some of the other best dialogue-heavy titles are based on theDungeons & Dragonslore, so isVampire The Masquerade: Bloodlinesinspired by a cult tabletop RPG. With a unique (for that type of game) setting of early 21st century Los Angeles. With plenty of impactful and engaging dialogue thrown into the mix, this 2004 game can still captivate role-playing enthusiasts for dozens of hours.
RELATED:PC RPGs With The Most Impactful Dialogue Choices
Despite having been released over 15 years ago,Bloodlines’gameplay still holds up, with players being free to choose between various playstyles and mission approaches, from stealthy, guns-blazing, all the way to a Charisma-based character build that can solve most disputes with witty conversation choices.
9Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Although they might not be as deep and expansive asDisco Elysium’sdialogue trees, the conversations inKingdom Come: Deliverancedo play a significant role in pushing the storyline forward as well as developing Henry’s (the main character) reputation across the kingdom.
Unlike many other class-based RPGs,Kingdom Come: Deliveranceallows players to mold the character into a specific profession by raising their corresponding skills. This means that those determined enough to develop their character’s conversational and storytelling skills can play the game out as a bard (although it’s a choice that might make some parts of the game extremely difficult).
8Tyranny
Since it is another isometric role-playing game developed and published by the Obsidian/Paradox duo, some players may find it a bit too similar toPillars Of Eternity,and understandably so. After all, the two RPGs use the exact same engine. The fonts in dialogue windows and the game’s graphics, in general, are nearly identical toPillars,however,Tyrannydoes introduce some changes that make it an even better title.
With a more lore-focused approach, high-fantasy fans will feel right at home when playingTyranny.The dialogue choices are closely connected to the history and background of the game’s world, and paying close attention to all conversations is of paramount importance when it comes to completing the game.
7The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With their third entry intoThe Witcherseries, the developers over at CDPR have managed to strike the perfect balance between creating a lore-rich, dialogue-heavy storyline and action-packed gameplay with multilayered combat.Furthermore, all of that was packed in an astonishingly beautiful world that tested the limits of the PS4 and Xbox One even back in 2015.
RELATED:The Witcher 3: Best Side Quests Most Players Miss (& Where To Find Them)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas been deservedly praised as one of thebest video games of the past decade, and much of this praise can be attributed to an incredibly well-written, multi-faceted dialogue system with seemingly irrelevant choices and romance options that have a ripple effect on the entire narrative and ending of the story.
