When Life is Strange was first released back in 2015, it wowed gamers with its immersive and emotive narrative. The game tells the story of Max Caulfield, a photography student with the ability to rewind time. After Max has a premonition that her town will soon be destroyed, she's forced to make some difficult decisions that eventually go on to shape the futures of everyone around her.

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What makes the game so engaging is that almost every choice that Max has to make is given to the player. Each one has a different outcome, meaning that playthroughs can vary quite a bit depending on the person playing. The most important choices in Life is Strange can potentially have devastating consequences, as those who choose to read on will soon discover.

Updated June 5, 2022, by Raviprakash Nanduri: The Life is Strange: Remastered Collection is available either as a standalone game or as part of the Ultimate Edition of True Colors, the collection includes remastered versions of the series' first two installments, Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. The Life is Strange series of video games is heavily story-driven, and the story uniquely develops based on player choice.

The games can be broken down into a series of major choices that have a major impact on the outcome of the story while other minor choices affect interactions with supporting characters. First-Time Life is Strange players will probably feel stressed when the game throws these choices at them. Reading up on the outcome of these choices will help them develop the story in the direction they desire and feel more in control.

15 Save David & Joyce's Marriage Or Watch Their Relationship Collapse

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Whether David and Joyce remain together may seem a little insignificant when compared to some of the other big choices in Life is Strange. That's because, in many ways, it is, though the idea that the words of a high school student could have such a huge impact on a couple's relationship is still a little scary and will probably make many players think twice before they speak as a result.

Given Chloe's relationship with her stepfather and the strength of her bond with Max, most players tend to badmouth David at every opportunity. This ultimately leads to him and Joyce breaking up for good, but players can save their relationship if they choose to side with David instead. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Chloe won't be too thrilled about this, but Joyce does seem to be happier with David in her life.

14 Help Alyssa Or Ignore Her

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It's difficult not to feel sorry for Max's awkward classmate Alyssa, who ends up being a target for many of Arcadia Bay's bullies throughout the game. This will usually prompt players to step in and help her whenever they're given the chance to do so, with four such opportunities presenting themselves throughout the game's five episodes.

If players choose not to help her even once, Alyssa will fall to her death during the game's final episode. Assuming that they do help her on all four occasions though, they'll instead have the option to save her. This, in turn, will lead to Alyssa saving Max from a falling sign during a huge storm a little later on in the game.

13 Blame Chloe Or Take The Blame

Life is Strange - Chloe's Weed

In the first episode, Chloe's Stepfather and the School security guard, David Madsen discovers Chloe's weed stash and confronts her about it. During this sequence, players can hide in the closet or do nothing and get discovered by David. If the player doesn't manage to hide in time, David will confront both Max and Chloe. This breaks into a player-choice sequence where the player can decide on whether to blame Chloe for the weed or to take the blame for it. If Max manages to hide in the wardrobe, the player sees a choice sequence where they can choose to either stay hidden or reveal themselves to David.

If the player blames Chloe for the weed, they lose Chloe's trust and she will not reveal her gun to Max. If the player chooses to take the blame, David will report Max to the police and Max might get suspended from Blackwell Academy, either when she reports Nathan's gun or when she blames David for harassing Kate. This decision can also have an impact on how the adults treat Max in the next episodes.

If the player stays hidden, Chloe will be angry at Max, but she isn't suspended from Blackwell academy and David does not report her to the police. He reports Chloe instead. If the player reveals themselves to David, Chloe will be very happy, but David will hit Chloe anyway and reports Max to the police, and she gets suspended from Blackwell.

12 Steal The Money Or Leave It

In the game's third episode, players are faced with a tough call very early on when Chloe and Max stumble upon some money in the headmaster's office. Chloe thinks that it would be a good idea to take the money, but it's ultimately left up to Max and the player to decide. Should they go ahead with stealing or leave the money behind?

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This ends up being a crucial choice because of the impact that it has on Max and Chloe's relationship. If players take the money, Chloe will be more relaxed and happy. If they choose to leave it, however, she becomes aggressive. The worst thing that happens to those who do steal is a guilty conscience, as evidenced by one of Max's dreams.

11 In The Street Or Parking Lot

During the third episode of Life is Strange, Max breaks into the home of Frank Bowers. The former drug dealer and dogfight runner had a revelation and started saving dogs. When Max gets to his home though, Frank's dog causes a slight problem. She has a bone that she wants to play with and players get to choose where to throw it.

At first glance, this doesn't seem like a significant call, but what makes it mean something are the potential consequences. Throw the bone in the parking lot, and the dog may be a slight problem later on, but nothing major. Throw it in the street, however, and the dog gets hit by a truck. The latter makes things easier, but Max (and most players) will feel guilty.

10 Who's To Blame?

One of the biggest moments of the game comes when Kate attempts suicide. "Attempts" is the key word here, as whether or not she's successful depends entirely on the choices that players make throughout the game. Regardless of whether she succeeds or not, when asked about who or what caused it, Max can choose to blame Nathan, David, or Mr. Jefferson.

David was the main person bullying her, so he's a strong possibility. Nathan dosed her, which is a terrible thing and also makes him responsible. Mr. Jefferson did make her cry, but he seems like an odd inclusion for this choice when compared to the other two. It ultimately turns out that Mr. Jefferson is a bad guy though, so while this choice doesn't impact the overall story too much, it does clue players in that there's something up with Jefferson.

9 Shoot Or Don't Shoot Frank

Life is Strange - Shoot or Don't Shoot

During the second episode, Frank Bowers, Chloe's drug dealer confronts Max and Chloe in the junkyard. He gets into a heated exchange with Chloe and pulls out his knife on her before Max points the gun at Max and requests him to deescalate the situation. At that moment, the player is given a major choice sequence where Max can either shoot or not shoot Frank.

It's important to remember that regardless of what choice the player makes here, the gun is empty and nothing violent will happen. If Max chooses to shoot Frank, he will be angry as well as amused but leaves the scene. While this option will lead to Chloe respecting Max more for standing up for her, Frank will become more difficult to deal with in the next episodes, recalling this incident when Max tries to befriend him.

If Max chooses not to shoot Frank, Chloe will perceive Max as a coward and Frank takes the gun and walks away. While he will become easier to befriend in the next episodes, he will not allow her to take a picture of him while he's eating.

8 Take Or Leave The Gun

While Max inspects Frank Bowers' RV, she finds a gun and is faced with the seemingly simple choice of taking it or leaving it behind. The lesser effect is how it impacts the bond between Max and Chloe, which many players consider to be one of the best video game relationships in history. Taking it makes Chloe excited and so that's probably a good thing.

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The bigger consequences come in the following episode. The fight with Frank will be more difficult for players who don't have a gun, though taking it results in Chloe being the one to kill Frank and possibly his dog. Many players care deeply for Chloe and don't want this to be something that she has to deal with, so tend to leave the gun to protect her.

7 Warren Vs Nathan

Life is Strange - Warren vs Nathan

In the fourth episode, after Nathan discovers Max and Chloe outside his room, Warren steps in and starts beating Nathan up. This then breaks into a player-choice sequence where the player can choose to either stay out of it or stop Warren from excessively beating Nathan up.

Choosing to stay out of it leads to Warren laying a proper beat down on Nathan and Chloe taking his gun and later shooting Frank. Nathan is humiliated and some students are seen gossiping about it. If Max intervenes and stops Warren, he thanks her for stopping him from stooping to Nathan's level and Nathan picks up his gun and runs away. Crucially, intervening will stop Chloe from taking the gun and players are closer to the "No One Got Hurt" outcome after the confrontation with Frank in the fourth episode.

6 Chloe Vs. Frank

During episode four, players are faced with what is probably the most complex decision in the game. It is broken down into three parts and each has a different outcome. This comes during the fight against Frank, with players' dialogue choices potentially having a big impact on the way things turn out.

One outcome sees Chloe kill Frank, which is generally considered to be the worst option. Another causes Chloe to wound Frank by shooting him in the leg, though that still isn't ideal. The best possible outcome is arguably the one in which no one gets hurt, and players gain Frank as an ally.

5 Kissing Chloe

When Chloe and Max are spending some quality time together in Episode 3, the opportunity arises for Max to make a move and plant a kiss on Chloe. Again, this might seem like a trivial choice at first glance, but it actually matters quite a lot in the grand scheme of things.

There isn't a ton that directly impacts the game's narrative, with most choices instead affecting how the player feels. If they do go for the kiss, it often means that players are buying into this potential romance. Considering the game's final choice, what they do during this moment could, therefore, mean the world.

4 Go To The Cops Or Find Proof

This is one of the toughest calls in the entire game. Early on in the second episode, Max has a conversation with Kate. She opens up about the things that have happened to her and some of them are highly illegal. Players are then given the to take what they've learned to the police or search for more proof.

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It's a hard choice to make because finding proof is, in theory, a sensible idea. However, it disappoints Kate quite a bit. When she attempts suicide later on, it is more difficult to save her if players opted to look for proof. Going to the police, on the other hand, results in her thanking Max and that newfound trust makes it much easier to save her life later on.

3 Warning Victoria

The revelation about who Mr. Jefferson really is comes as quite a shock to most players. He's a danger to the young women around him and Max's knowledge of that could help to save some of them. That's the case during episode four when Max believes that fellow student Victoria is his next target.

The outcome here is determined by players' previous interactions with Victoria. If they opt to warn her, she may or may not be inclined to believe them. That determines whether or not she gets stupefied and taken to the darkroom. Also, if players choose not to warn her, her response will again be based on prior conversations.

2 Saving Kate

As noted earlier, Kate's suicide is a big part of the game. Max sees it happen but then uses her time rewinding powers to try and talk her down. This interaction is crucial because it is literally a life or death situation. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, here are a multitude of dialogue choices here that can make this is a minefield to navigate.

Obviously, there are still only two outcomes. Kate is saved or Kate commits suicide. Max's adventure isn't majorly changed by either outcome, but there are plenty of different possibilities depending on what happens. However, the most important thing for players is just knowing that they may have saved a life. Especially since Kate will frequently message them if she survives.

1 Arcadia Bay Or Chloe

It's the game's final decision, and it is easily the most pivotal. After surviving Mr. Jefferson and everything else that's been thrown at them, Chloe and Max face their most difficult moment together. Max reveals what will happen to Arcadia Bay and figures out that she caused it, as saving Chloe earlier in the game is what brought about the storm that will destroy the town.

The only way to prevent the storm is for Max to go all the way back to the beginning of the game and allow Chloe to be killed. Players must therefore decide whether to save Arcadia Bay by losing Chloe or to save their love and let the town go down. The ending of the game will vary quite a bit depending on which one they choose.

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