Video games have long been one-man or one-woman shows, but depending on the genre, you can sometimes find games that let you switch off main characters whenever you want, or at least through set points in the story.
This can offer new play styles, new story paths, or, at the very least, something different to look at. We’re going to check out some games that let you play as multiple characters throughout.
10The Last of Us
Joel and Ellie are a Formidable Team
The Last of Us
The Last of Ushas you playing through most of the game as Joel, but at a very pivotal turning point, the controls get turned over to Ellie, and it makes for one of the most interesting and challenging portions of the game.
Joel has some great gameplay too, but he is most certainly the aggressor, with brutal melee combat and ruthless takedowns being the highlight.
Ellie is formidable as well, but her gameplay is much more a survivor, which is highlighted all the more when confronted in a terrifying boss battle that has you running around a diner that’s slowly burning.
The combination of the two makes for some great gameplay and helps cement the game as an all-time classic.
9Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5is a game that is light on story but heavy on style.Here, you get three different playable characters and a 4th in New Game Plus mode.
The three are Nero, V and, of course, the iconic Dante. They each bring a unique playstyle to the forefront, which makes each of their sections of the game so thrilling to play through.
Nero has his Devil Arm, V has an assortment of companion creatures that attack in unique ways, and Dante has the best arsenal of all, with a healthy set of weapon styles to choose from.
Each of these characters has their own Devil Trigger form, which changes up the combat considerably, too. The boss battles are over-the-top nuts here, but even the basic battles are a ton of fun, giving you the opportunity to get the best scores possible.
It’s a short experience, buta fantastic onewith plenty of playstyle variety thanks to the different characters.
8The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Tale of Two
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3is one of themost iconic games of all time,and while you play most of the game as Geralt, there is a healthy portion dedicated to his ward, Ciri, as well.
Geralt has a much more grounded style of gameplay, requiring careful planning, preparation, and studying of enemies to survive. Ciri on the other hand, is arguably the most powerful creature in this game’s world.
She can teleport, dash around at lightning speed, and make a mockery of her foes, except when she gets overwhelmed.
It’s a unique and stark contrast between the two of them, which makes for some great changes in gameplay, and it feels like you’re playing two entirely different games at certain points.
7Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
An Amazing Cast To Experience
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirthdid what many thought was impossible and successfully adapted major portions of the original game.
Part of the reason it was so successful is due to the amazing cast of characters of which you get full control.
On a whim in battle, you canswitch to any character you have in your party. This gives you access to all kinds of playstyles, from Tifa’s intense hand-to-hand combat to Barret’s long-range gunplay. You can find a ton of fun here, no matter who you’re playing as.
There are even specific parts of the game that have you controlling individual party members, so even if you don’t engage with the character switching on your own, the game will make you.
It doesn’t hurt that the gameplay is fantastic, and learning the team-up attacks between different characters can be vital to coming away victorious in battle.
6Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven
It Will Take Generations to Win This War
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Sagais anextremely unique JRPGthat relies on your exploration of the combat system and the world more so than the story itself.
What makes it so unique is that to make it to the final battle, you will watch your main character live and die and pass on the mantle of this mission to the next generation.
That means you’ll be swapping characters constantly throughout the game, and with each one comes new abilities, as well as the chance to inherit abilities from previous generations.
It’s a fascinating approach to this genre that remains the only series of its kind to try such a thing, and so far, this remake has shown that there is plenty of interest in something unique.
5Detroit: Become Human
Three Androids, One Existential Crisis
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Humanis one of thebest narratives you’re able to experience in gaming. Throughout the game, you take control of three androids, all stuck in different circumstances.
One works trying to hunt down rogue Androids; another is an assistant to a painter, and another is a housemaid.
Slowly, each one finds themselves at the mercy of the humans they believe they can trust, and what results is a thrilling story that has some interesting puzzle-solving and action scenes and some incredible voice acting.
It’s one of the most powerful games we have today, and the graphics are still marvelous nearly a decade later.The journey of Marcus, Connor and Kara is not one to be missed.
4Grand Theft Auto V
Three Lifestyles, One Crime That Binds
Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto Vis one of the most popular games to this day, and while the online community has kept it going, it’s still anincredible single-player experience at its core.
That experience has you taking control of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin in an epic crime story with shades of Tarantino and other classic crime thrillers, which may be Rockstar’s greatest story to date.
Each character has their own lives, goals and areas of the city to explore, but they, of course, all converge at some point to make for one great crime story.
The gameplay is the same for each, but seeing each of their stories play out and how great the development of each character is.
3Octopath Traveler 2
8 Different Worlds Collide
Octopath Traveler 2
Octopath Traveler 2is a winding tale that takes you through the lives of8 different playable characterswho all have individual stories that eventually converge with one another.
In a way, this can feel like playing eight different JRPGs at times, as the backdrops for each character can change wildly depending on who you’re playing as.
Each character has their own specialty, too, so even though it feels like restarting each time you switch to another character, it’s a fun new challenge because you’ll get to learn a host of new mechanics each time.
The best part is, when the characters converge, and you get to mix and match these characters you’ve already spent so much time with, the resulting story is well worth the wait.
2Nier Automata
Android Rebellion
NieR: Automata
Nier Automatais anall-time classic, mixing themes of existentialism, slavery, and war in an amazing game that has some of the most over-the-top fights and fascinating twists in any game you can find.
Throughout your time with the game, you’ll take control of three different characters, each with their own movesets and stories to explore.
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Of course, on the surface, you’re only playing as 2B, but if you want to find the true ending of the game, you have to play through it three times, which includes a playthrough as 9S and then finally as A2.
The varying playstyles between each character keep the experience fresh and even if you don’t like how one plays, another may end up being more fun.
Seeing the story happen from different points of view sheds light on the world as a whole and adds to a tale that grows more and more interesting with each character you take control of.
1Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Two Spiders are Better Than One
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2is one of the best games of 2023, and part of the reason is the incredible interplay between Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
In addition, you also get to play as Mary Jane for some time, and even an additional character that I won’t spoil.
Each Spider-Man plays very differently, with Peter retaining much of his style from the first game in addition to exciting new Symbiote powers, while Miles gets to play around with his electric Venom powers, which give a whole new spin to what it means to be Spider-Man.
The story is fantastic and emotional, and though it starts slow, by the end of the game, you’ll be thrilled every moment you’re playing.
You also get to choose who you play as for the majority of the story, so you won’t be restricted to playing as one or the other for too long.
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