10 Video Games That Secretly Change Without You Noticing
A living, breathing world.
As video games have grown increasingly more complex over the decades, developers have been able to make the worlds they create more reactive to the player's actions. Instead of levels that were once comprised of basic textures that remained that way throughout the whole game, the choices that players make during their time playing now has the potential to drastically effect the game's world.
Most of these consequences are immediately obvious. Whether it's choosing to turn Megaton into a crater in Fallout 3 or getting any of the characters in the Dark Anthology series brutally killed through careless decision making, developers often make the results of the player's actions clear.
Sometimes, however, these changes can be so subtle that it's possible that many players were too distracted playing the rest of the game to even notice they happened.
While these can include less obvious outcomes to player choices, the most interesting are those which occur throughout the course of a game without the player's direct input. Not only does this create a world that feels more alive and immersive, but these examples also highlight the amount of detail the developers poured into these games to make them the best that they could.
10. Building The New World - Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
A lot has been said about the countless reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute masterpiece. Alongside its incredible narrative and immersive gameplay, Rockstar's version of turn-of-the-century America is also one of the most detailed video game worlds ever created.
Out of all the insane details that make this world feel alive, being able to see how construction projects alter the landscape is by far the most easily missed.
By taking a break from robbing trains and hunting animals, players can notice several buildings being built across the map. In Valentine, a group of workers can be seen turning what starts as a simple wooden frame into a bustling establishment by the epilogue. Likewise, if players donate money to help fund a shelter for homeless veterans in Saint Denis as Arthur, players won't just see the finished Memorial Hall when returning as John, but Arthur's name will also be visible on a plaque.
Other noteworthy changes that likely went unnoticed include the devastating effects of deforestation caused by a logging company alongside the eventual completion of an entire railway line.
There are no limits to how impressive this game is.