Best RPGs With The Most Emotional Side Stories, Ranked

RPGs are renowned for delivering some of the most impactful, character-driven stories that leave a lasting impression on players. Thanks to their typically long runtime, RPGs give players plenty of opportunities to form emotional connections with their characters, making plot twists and unexpected revelations hit harder than in most other genres. Additionally, RPGs often shine through their deeply personal optional side quests — small yet powerful narratives that resonate strongly with those who play.

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For players seeking sprawling, epic tales filled with memorable characters whose personal struggles and conflicts are intricately explored, RPGs are the perfect choice. In many cases, it’s the optional side content that delivers the most emotional impact, often eclipsing the high-stakes main stories involving world-shaking events. Below, this list will explore some of the best RPGs celebrated for their deeply moving side stories, showcasing how these games evoke a range of emotions, from heartbreak to happiness.

7

Mass Effect 2

Personal Side Quests That Add Depth To Companions

• Over 40 Side Quests Total (Without DLC)

The Mass Effect Trilogy (or Legendary Edition) represents BioWare at its finest, delivering a cinematic and emotionally charged narrative filled with some of the most iconic companions the studio has ever created. Among the series, Mass Effect 2 is a standout entry, refining BioWare’s approach to companion quests and setting a gold standard for character-driven storytelling. Since its release, the formula established in ME2 has become a hallmark of BioWare’s design, with companion side quests often containing some of the games’ most effective moments.

Mass Effect 2 centers its narrative around the companions, each of whom comes with a compelling backstory and a personal conflict that Shepard must address to secure their loyalty for the main mission. The game’s optional content is easily some of the most heartfelt and engaging in the trilogy. Highlights include Samara’s quest to track down her daughter, Morinth, with a heart-wrenching choice; Kasumi’s daring theft mission to recover a memory-filled box tied to her past; Tali’s dramatic trial for treason among the Quarians; and Legion’s mission, which offers players a long-awaited exploration of the Geth’s nature and culture. These quests don’t just enrich the game’s world but provide moments of personal connection, intertwining epic stakes with intimate storytelling.

6

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

An Emotional Rollercoaster With Beloved Characters

Systems

Released

February 29, 2024

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

• 36 Side Quests Total, 23 Different Mini-Games

For fans of the original, the modern Final Fantasy 7 remakes deliver an emotional journey that thrives on nostalgia, but they also go far beyond that, offering an experience capable of transforming newcomers into lifelong fans. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth brings iconic characters like Cloud, Barret, Aerith, and Tifa back to life, now more fleshed-out and multidimensional than ever before, with plenty of time devoted to exploring their relationships and individual story arcs. While the game doesn’t boast as many optional stories as one might expect for a project of this scale, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth strikes an excellent balance by incorporating an array of mini-games and side activities that allow the characters’ interactions to feel authentic, letting their bonds grow naturally over time.

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One of the most remarkable aspects of Rebirth is its emotional range. While the game certainly has its share of tragic and heart-wrenching moments — like uncovering more about Vincent’s haunting past or spending tender, bittersweet time with Aerith and Ifalna at the station — it also embraces a bright, lighthearted side. By weaving in humor, silliness, and moments of joy, the game creates a rich, dynamic atmosphere that players will find hard to part with. This balance of tone ensures that Final Fantasy 7 is not only a powerful story of loss and resilience, but also one of friendship, warmth, and hope.

5

Baldur’s Gate 3

From Joy To Sorrow, It Delivers On All Fronts

• Over 80 Side Quests Total

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling and player agency, offering an experience that rivals even the most expansive RPGs like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. What sets Baldur’s Gate 3 apart, however, is the unprecedented level of flexibility it provides players, with dozens of side quests that can be tackled in countless ways. The game’s freedom of choice makes its optional stories some of the most replayable in the genre, with surprising resolutions, depending on the roles and paths players choose for each journey.

The narrative brilliance of Baldur’s Gate 3 lies in how seamlessly it weaves companion story arcs into the main plot. Characters like Shadowheart, Astarion, Karlach, and Gale are not just side additions, but key figures of the stories that give Baldur’s Gate 3 all its flavor. Unlike many modern RPGs that shy away from dark themes or controversial choices, BG3 embraces them wholeheartedly, giving players the freedom to explore paths of monstrous evil or morally gray decisions, resulting in some truly unforgettable moments. Yet, Baldur’s Gate 3 also knows how to balance its darker elements with humor, as Larian injects its signature layer of comedy throughout the game, with plenty of moments bursting with silliness and absurdity.

4

Cyberpunk 2077

Exploring Human Nature In A Dark World

• Over 90 Side Quests Total (Base Game Only)

Cyberpunk 2077 follows closely in the footsteps of The Witcher 3, solidifying CD Projekt Red’s reputation as a master of the RPG genre by placing compelling, emotional, character-driven narratives at the core of the experience. While the game may feature fewer truly gut-wrenching side stories than Geralt’s final adventure, its dystopian setting allows it to tackle unique and often darker themes, exploring the complex and unsettling facets of human nature.

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Notable examples include the haunting “Sinnerman” questline, where players confront themes of faith, redemption, and sacrifice in the most unnerving circumstances, and the enigmatic Peralez surveillance storyline, which dives into paranoia and existential dread. These quests don’t merely aim to leave players emotionally devastated — they instead provoke nuanced, often conflicting feelings, leaving players grappling with ambiguity and unease. The game’s expansion, Phantom Liberty, is a must-play addition that raises the bar even higher, delivering some of the most memorable stories Night City has to offer.

3

Elden Ring

Subtle Storytelling Filled With Tragic Fates

• 36 Total Side Quests (Base Game Only)

Known for its sprawling world and colossal scope, Elden Ring is surprisingly sparing when it comes to characters and side quests, especially for a game that can easily surpass 100 hours of playtime. Adding to the challenge is the game’s cryptic storytelling and obscure questlines, which many players agree are nearly impossible to complete without consulting a guide. Yet, despite its understated narrative approach, Elden Ring excels in crafting emotional and impactful questlines that resonate deeply with players.

Relying less on dialogue and more on atmosphere and subtle discoveries, FromSoftware masterfully weaves tragic and interconnected fates into its characters while placing crucial, often heartbreaking choices in the hands of the players. Few could walk away from the game unaffected after guiding Iron Fist Alexander through his journey of honor and self-discovery, aiding Millicent as she grapples with her identity and purpose, or uncovering the haunting truth behind Rya’s past. Elden Ring proves that even with minimal exposition, a world and its inhabitants can leave a lasting impression.

2

NieR: Automata

Gut-Wrenching Revelations With Deep Philosophical Subtext

• Over 60 Side Quests Total

Despite being widely regarded as a masterpiece, NieR: Automata often feels like it deserves even more recognition for its remarkable achievements across nearly every aspect. Perhaps one of the most emotionally charged action RPGs to date, NieR: Automata masterfully subverts expectations, delivering constant surprises and offering side quests that resonate deeply, capable of moving even the most stoic players to tears. Its multiple playthroughs are essential for fully appreciating the depth of its story.

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Exploring themes such as the pointless nature of war, violence, and hatred, NieR: Automata still manages to convey glimmers of light and hope, even as its plot twists and side quests leave players emotionally shattered. From the complex connection between 2B and 9S, to the morally ambiguous Adam and Eve, and the touching tales of the machine race, the narrative weaves a tapestry of personal and existential struggles. Hidden gems like Emil’s memories (with extra layer for the fans of the original Nier), Pascal’s tragic fate, the heartfelt interactions within the Machine Village, and the ever-evolving world shaped by major events that affect every location and character further enrich the experience, elevated by a soundtrack that speaks directly to the soul. NieR: Automata is not just a game — it’s a transformative journey, so deeply layered and resonant that it’s almost impossible to walk away unchanged.

1

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The King Of Emotional, Branching Narratives With Surprising Twists

• Over 100 Side Quests Total (Base Game Only)

For nearly a decade, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has reigned as the undisputed king of emotional side stories in RPGs. Renowned for its wealth of meticulously crafted quests, each one offers something unforgettable — be it a shocking twist, a morally ambiguous choice, a touch of humor, or a mix of all three. The game’s expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, further elevate its narrative prowess, introducing even more nuanced characters, tragic tales, and impactful consequences that linger with players long after the credits roll.

Some of the most iconic optional quests — such as the Bloody Baron storyline, the haunting possession tale in Skellige, and the bittersweet saga of the von Everec family — are just a glimpse into the emotional depth that defines The Witcher 3. Across the 150 hours it takes to fully explore the game’s vast world, players encounter a rollercoaster of feelings unmatched by most titles in the genre. Now, the challenge falls to CD Projekt Red to surpass their own masterpiece with the upcoming Witcher 4 — a monumental task that fans eagerly anticipate.

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