Video games are generally satisfying because of their fun gameplay mechanics, memorable stories, and reward factor. However, there are some features in games that most players don’t even realize they’re enjoying. One such feature is the use of red herrings in the storyline, which enhances the flavor of the game. A red herring is a narrative device that is intended to mislead or distracts the audience from a relevant or important question.
In games, a red herring is used to enhance a player’s understanding of the world or to build a plot twist. Sometimes it’s just there to make the players think. There are many good examples of red herrings in games, such as the Lutece twins in Bioshock Infinite or the unsolvable case from L.A. Noire. However, a few games have truly mastered the concept.
10 BioShock
Bioshock is an all-time classic for many reasons. First, it is a satisfying shooter with a lot of replayability. Then, there’s the fantastic underwater game world of Rapture that the developers at 2K have masterfully created. However, the best thing about the game is its mind-blowing storyline, showing the main protagonist Jack uncovering one secret after another.
One such mystery unravels at the end of the game when players discover that the main villain, Ryan, was never the main threat. Instead, good guy Atlas was the main villain, using Jack to his advantage. Moreover, Atlas’ true identity was that of Fontaine, who most players thought was already dead.
9 Fallout 4
Fallout 4 was the much-awaited sequel to Fallout: New Vegas that was supposed to revolutionize the sci-fi post-apocalyptic role-playing genre. Unfortunately, it fell a little short due to outdated gameplay mechanics, limited conversation options, and toned-down RPG elements. Thankfully, one part of the game still worked well: the main storyline.
In Fallout 4, the main character’s goal is to find his son, Shaun, who was kidnapped. However, the game makes players assume he is still a baby until they discover Shaun is a 60-year-old man.
8 Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line is an excellent third-person shooter that came out in 2012 to average ratings. However, the game has become a cult classic due to its praiseworthy storyline and iconic quotes. In the game, players assume control of Captain Martin Walker, who is in Dubai on a recon mission to save Colonel John Konrad.
However, things go south when Walker starts experiencing hallucinations as he makes his way to the Dubai Seaside tower. Shockingly, Konrad was never alive. Instead, Walker’s hallucinations made him think he was talking to him. As it turns out, Walker was the main villain from the beginning.
7 Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops is one of the most popular Activision games of all time, for good reason. The game had great visuals for its time, satisfying gunplay, a fast-paced campaign, a zombie mode, and much more. However, the one thing that stood out was the main story, which no game in the series has matched yet.
In Call of Duty: Black Ops, players take control of Alex Mason, who’s teaming up with Red Army soldier Viktor Reznov throughout the story. However, as it turns out, Mason imagined the man throughout the game as he had dissociative identity disorder.
6 Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is an interactive drama title that exclusively came out on PlayStation 3 in 2010. However, it has since come out on PlayStation 4 and Windows, thanks to Sony. The game's plot revolves around Ethan’s missing child Shaun, as all the main characters try to solve the mystery of the “Origami Killer.”
Heavy Rain has multiple red herrings, and all of them are pretty good. First, Ethan’s blackout will drive players to think he may suffer from a dissociative identity disorder and is committing all the crimes. Then there are the other three protagonists, all of whom have health conditions that will always distract the players from the killer's identity until the end.
5 Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City is the critically acclaimed sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game is famous for its open-world gameplay and combat. However, the one thing that still shines bright is the story and the overall plot. In the game, players assume control of Batman, who’s trying to stop multiple villains, including Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Two-Face, Dr. Hugo Strange, Rā's al Ghūl, and more.
The main story still revolves around Joker, who wants a cure for his sickness. Midway through the game, it seems like he is all healthy again and is using Batman to his advantage. However, it turns out it was just a red herring to distract players from the ultimate finale.
4 Portal
Portal is based around a big red herring that motivates players till the end. The unique puzzle platformer from Valve is based on the idea of getting out of the Aperture Science Laboratories Computer-Aided Enrichment Center, using portals to clear the levels.
Unfortunately, the whole thing is a lie, as there’s no way out. Throughout the game, players will get evident hints like the famous quote, “The Cake is a Lie,” which implies that the reward is merely a fictitious motivator. However, most of the time, players will be too blinded by the idea of getting out that they’ll not pay attention to the obvious.
3 Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. is a 1985 game still popular 30 years later. The Nintendo gem is one of the oldest best platformers and one of the first home video games of its time. Moreover, who can forget the relatively simple storyline, which involves a plumber rescuing a princess from a green fire-breathing dragon turtle?
Super Mario Bros. is also one of the first games that used subtle red herring in its plot. It falsely motivates the players to find the princess in seven different castles by telling them, “Thank You Mario, But Our Princess is in Another Castle.” If only Mario knew that the princess was in the eighth castle, he could’ve saved some time.
2 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
It has been 20 years since Grand Theft Auto: Vice City came out, and it is still one of the best crime games out there. While the gameplay of this Rockstar Games title is outdated nowadays, it still delivers a fantastic story, with some of the most epic voice acting in a game.
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, players assume control of mobster Tommy Vercetti, who is on his way up to becoming the biggest gangster in the city. However, he has to take down various bad guys on his way. The game throws players off in the final mission when Tommy thinks Sonny has betrayed him. However, as it turns out, his best friend Lance was the real betrayer.
1 Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5 is one of the most underrated games in the series, featuring some of the best environments, gameplay mechanics, and story. In the game, players assume control of the Junior Deputy, Rook, as he explores beautiful Hope County, Montana, while taking down Seed siblings.
Throughout the game, the main villain Joseph Seed talks about the ultimate doom and end of the world. However, players assume he is just an unhinged man, a false prophet for everyone in Hope County. Little did players know his character was just meat to divert players from the actual canon ending in which a nuke clears everything, leading to spin-off Far Cry New Dawn.