Back to the game after the holiday season, I was challenged by a friend to put in simple terms what constitutes a meaningful choice and how it can be incorporated into a TTRPG. So, I decided to write down my ideas and share my thoughts with you:
They say choices represent freedom, and while I’m not here to make you ponder, I like to think of choices as threads or pathways in a web of stories waiting to be told. These choices exist as points or nodes—where we decide to go left, right, or straight ahead. But freedom doesn’t mean an endless number of options. Realistically, choices are finite, and that’s okay. The essence is to make sure all the options are logical, impactful, and contribute something meaningful to the outcome.
It’s thus not about the number of choices, though—it’s about their depth. A meaningful choice doesn’t just pad the story with extra fluff; it resonates. It has weight. Imagine standing at a fork in the road where one path feels too risky, while the other is even worse. That tension, the unknown, is what I am talking about— between a rock and a hard place.
Similarly, in story-driven adventures, the quality of choices is everything. A common mistake is creating a bunch of meaningless decision points that only lead to one predetermined outcome; and do not get me wrong, this strategy indeed gives you unique outcomes, but I foresee a race against the designer. Instead, meaningful choices should shape the narrative and give players a reason to revisit the story without feeling like they’re repeating themselves. This means each choice needs consequences that matter and ripple through the game.
I’m a visual person, so I like to map out these decision points to see how the journey plays out. This helps me spot where players have real agency and where I might need to add more. It also keeps the overall balance, so no single node feels overly important while others feel flat.
When it comes to designing these choices, I have a straightforward approach; First, trade-offs are essential. A good choice has to involve some level of sacrifice—something you gain, but also something you give up. If every option is a win-win, it’s boring.
Next, think about the experience you want to create. Players should feel invested in the game, emotionally and strategically. You can do this by avoiding repetitive, tedious tasks and adding a bit of FOMO. Make every decision feel like it matters, even if it’s a small one. And I can’t highlight enough how important emotional investment is— but this comes together with both good story-telling and game mechanics (I wrote a relevant rant on innovation and minimalism too).
At the same time, choices need to move the story forward. If decisions don’t lead anywhere or don’t have a visible impact, players lose interest. There should always be a sense of progress—something that makes players feel like their actions changed the game in a meaningful way. Of course, no investment comes without cost. Whether it’s losing resources, missing opportunities, or making a risky move, there has to be some level of risk. A choice without stakes is just going through the motions, and that gets old fast. Imagine a game where you gamble with unlimited money—it’s pointless. The thrill is in the risk of losing something valuable while trying to win more!
For example, picture a scenario where you have to choose between saving an ally or completing an objective. Whatever you decide, there’s a consequence—maybe an ally dies, or the mission fails. That lingering sense of imperfection, of living with the outcome, is what makes the story stick with you.
With that said, what I find particularly clever and interesting are these moral dilemmas. These are often found in story-driven masterpieces, and when done right, they pull you in. There’s something amazing about being so invested in a game that you stop to think about your own morals. That’s the pinnacle, in my opinion and really make the difference among the best of the titles.
If I could summarize everything in one sentence, I would say that players get hooked by the thrill of uncertainty and risk, elements that trigger curiosity and of course drama- who doesn’t like drama. Emotional investment comes from a well-crafted pattern of decisions, and strategic thinking goes a long way in creating that experience.
If you read that far, I hope you could find value in my thoughts and if you disagree I would be happy to argue with you. If you would like to see more like this and much more on Game Design, Story-telling and TTRPGs in general, make sure to Subscribe to our Substack Page.
