Some gamers may skip the cutscenes and dialogue, but for many, a good story can make or break a game. However, not all video game plots are easy to follow. In fact, some games have such complicated stories that fans have to turn to the internet to fully understand them. While that can be a flaw, it’s sometimes a feature. In fact, some games with convoluted plots also happen to be among the most beloved of all time.
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How a story unfolds depends on the game. Some, like Hades 2, take an untraditional route, revealing the full story via dialogue. Others, like Baldur’s Gate 3, offer multiple stories depending on the choices you make. And then, there are games that have so many twists and turns, it’s hard to keep hold of the story altogether. The games on our list might have impossibly difficult plots, but fans love them anyway.
3. Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross takes place in the same universe as Chrono Trigger, but it’s quite a different game. Like many convoluted plots, this one involves parallel worlds and alternate realities. Our protagonist, Serge, works to uncover the truth of his world and the one in which he died as a kid. Naturally, that’s hard to follow on its own, but there’s also the addition of numerous side characters to keep track of, making this game notoriously complicated.
Due to its complicated and hard to follow plot, Chrono Cross has a bit of a mixed reputation. It received critical acclaim and sold incredibly well, but some fans were frustrated at how it differed from Chrono Trigger. Despite the fact that it can be tricky to keep track of all those people alongside the time travel plot, those who love Chrono Cross really love it, earning it a spot among the most popular games with hard-to-follow plots.
2. Xenogears
This 1998 RPG from Squaresoft eventually spawned the entire Xeno franchise. While the gameplay itself hasn’t necessarily aged well, many still consider this to be one of the better JRPG plots of all time. That is, if you can actually manage to follow it. The game is steeped in complex lore and leans heavily into big concepts like philosophy and sci-fi. On top of that, there are plenty of plot twists to keep up with, and that’s before you factor in the main character having amnesia.
Some gamers definitely feel that Xenogears had a bit too much going on, with so much foreshadowing and nuance that it becomes impossible to follow. But for many, the struggle of unpacking the plot is well worth the effort, resulting in a rich story filled with meaning. So, despite the struggle to fully grasp what’s going on, Xenogears remains a beloved JRPG to this day.
1. Kingdom Hearts
Arguably, few franchises have quite as complex and confusing a plot as that of Kingdom Hearts. This is partly due to the fact that the game features many spin-offs, some of which are hard to access today due to being for specific, older platforms. And yet many of these side games offered crucial insight to help players understand the journey of Sora, Sora’s nobody, Roxas, and the other guy who also looks a lot like them, Ventus.
Yet despite how difficult it is to fully grasp what’s going on in Kingdom Hearts these days, the fanbase is strong. We’re still waiting for Kingdom Hearts 4, but the enthusiasm for that next installment hasn’t really died down. Sora’s adventure may be complicated and occasionally hard to follow, but it’s clear that gamers are invested in what comes next, all the same.
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