RPGs that don't punish you for “bad” choices

Key things

• RPGs often neglect evil gameplay, but some games like Baldur's Gate 3 allow for unique experiences without penalty.
• Fallout: New Vegas features nuanced role-playing, where the paths of good and evil come together with equal rewards and punishments.
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2 provides an introspective exploration of the Dark Side's morality and features mature options with depth.

It's easy for role-playing games to focus on telling only one side of the story and conveniently ignore the needs of players who want to engage in evil gameplay filled with bad decisions. An unfair perception has developed among the masses that playing evil is not the ideal way to play any game. But the truth is that most RPGs that try to promote player freedom do so without putting as much effort into evil gameplay as they do good.

Fortunately, some RPGs do a great job of allowing players to pursue evil gameplay and making bad decisions without major narrative consequences. In some cases, this lack of punishment is justified by gameplay advantages that allow players to enjoy a different flavor of the game and a story that is unique.

5 Hogwarts heritage

There are no penalties for using Unforgivable Curses or hoarding storage power

Hogwarts heritage may be a barebones RPG in many ways, but most players won't mind if they can combine spells to beat opponents to a pulp before finally getting the chance to try the three Unforgivable Curses. This franchise has made it clear time and time again that the use of these curses is strictly prohibited and that any student who engages in such an activity can be expelled, so it's strange to see a fifth year face no punishment for whipping out these spells. in front of teachers and students.

At the end of the game, players who finally reach the ancient magical repository can choose to keep the power for themselves instead of destroying it. Despite a cutscene showing the player character's eyes glowing ominously, there is no penalty for this action, aside from a confusing moment where players are left in the dark about Professor Figo's death until the final cutscene. Some players may not appreciate the lack of role-playing in this title, but others won't mind if they can enjoy the powerful fantasy of taking down multiple enemies at once with the cast of Avada Kedavra.

4 Baldur's Gate 3

The Bad Playthrough features exclusive content, with certain party members approving the player's actions

One of the deepest RPG experiences fans can enjoy, Baldur's Gate 3 it's a joy to play and can keep fans entertained for hundreds of hours, especially if they want to play both good and evil. Both alignments are viable in this game and do a great job of keeping players engaged until the end, which is no mean feat. Players wondering if they'll miss out on some content by making a bad decision in the game can rest assured that they won't.

They may lose access to certain companions and allies, but gain new ones in the process, with Minthara being one such character that is unavailable when playing well. It is one of many simple ways Baldur's Gate 3 will customize players and ensure they enjoy the deepest and most engaging role-playing options in a worthy successor to BioWare's legendary series.

3 Fallout: New Vegas

Different role-playing ensures that being evil is also exciting

Obsidian Entertainment is known as a master of quality role-playing games, and nowhere is this more evident than Fallout: New Vegas. Despite technical issues that marred the experience at launch, fans have hailed the title as one of the best RPGs of all time and an entry that could rival the Fallout 2 as the best entry in the series. The main reason is the quality of roleplaying opportunities that make good and evil games viable.

Players could either side with the NCR, the Legion, or no one, preferring to make their way as a legendary courier. It's rare for a game to make evil this fun, but Fallout: New Vegas it delivers in spades. This also applies to companions, whose personality determines whether they agree with the player's alignment or reject them for the same. Both rewards and punishments are evenly distributed depending on which side players choose, so it's clear why Fallout: New Vegas it deserves the moniker of being a unique RPG that needs to be seen by more people.

2 Tyranny

Players can opt for different flavors of evil in this compelling CRPG without any penalties

That's a shame Tyranny never managed to reach its full potential, with the final third of the game falling apart as the story hastily plunged to an underwhelming conclusion. What most people remember, however, is the journey that took players on an epic adventure where they become Archons with the same power as an Overlord threatening to take over the world. Tyranny is a grim CRPG at times, but the delicious flavors of evil will ensure that fans are enveloped in this unique experience.

The fact that infanticide is a choice players can make to improve the world is indicative of how Tyranny does not punish players for their bad choices. In fact, it can be argued that this game itself has no bad choices and it is left up to the player's interpretation of events and the character they are playing to decide what course of action they want to take.

1 Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords

Perhaps the most introspective and thoughtful exploration of the dark side of the force

While Star Wars can be a fascinating IP, even its biggest fans have to agree that The Light and Dark Side of the Force is a bit too binary and doesn't leave room for a lot of nuance. So it was a no-brainer Star Wars media that explored what it means to be good and evil would be a huge hit if the writing was stellar and Knights of the Old Republic 2 he did not disappoint in this regard.

The game features the most nuanced and mature take on what the Dark Side of the Force is all about, with Kreia highlighting the very flaws of the Force and why it's an inherently flawed concept. It's one of the most fascinating explorations of the Force, to the point where players can make decisions that at first seem wrong, but are probably more justified than they appear.