Dialogue systems are critical for story-heavy games that prioritize player agency and freedom. It's impossible for games to account for everything that a character might say at a given point, but keeping these options vast while also accounting for a player character's personality (whether chosen or crafted) can be a tall order indeed.
The following games are notable for having impactful dialogue systems that help push the immersive nature of their titles. Players want to get lost in a story-rich world where each and every little thing they do matters, and these titles ensure that their dialogue systems keep a note of everything the player has done up till that point to make for a truly enriching experience.
10 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is one of the greatest modern CRPGs of all time. It's easy to see that this game wears the Planescape: Torment inspiration on its sleeve with pride.
It's one of the few games where failing a dialogue check can actually be more entertaining than succeeding it! Disco Elysium urges players to move past their failures and figure out a different solution to their problems.
9 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an incredible CRPG made by the brilliant minds over at Larian Studios. The studio clearly has a ton of experience in crafting story-rich games, with Divinity: Original Sin 2 being their best work by a country mile.
The dialogue system of this game takes so many things into account, such as identity, gender, personality, player actions, and everything else along the same lines. It's easy to see why each and every conversation in this game is an utter joy!
8 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest video games ever made. Geralt's story ends on a massive high note in a lengthy adventure that is an absolute joy to play through.
The dialogue system in this game has many clever quirks that make each and every response important. From deciding whether Keira Metz gets hurt at Geralt's words to the very ending of the game changing based on what Geralt says in Ciri's presence, it's clear that The Witcher 3 ensures that players pay close attention to anything and everything they say.
7 Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the very best games in the series. The title combines the best of modern Fallout gameplay with the deep and intricate systems of the past to make for a highly immersive experience.
Role-playing takes precedence in New Vegas, with a player's stats and affiliations governing everything they say. The sheer complexity of the dialogue system is incredible and goes to show just how much love was put into this fantastic game.
6 Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is considered by many to be one of the best CRPGs released during the heyday of this franchise, which is pretty lofty praise given the quality of games that were released at the time. The dialogue in this game is intricate, complex, and highly enthralling.
Planescape: Torment has little comments and quips for everything that the player does, including both their successes and their failures. It's easy to see why the addition of combat in this game was seen as a negative by many, since the game thrives in its conversations and discussions instead.
5 Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines is one of the best role-playing games that many people have yet to check out. The game was a broken mess upon launch, turning many people off from experiencing an absolute gem.
The dialogue system of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines is brilliant and one of its biggest strengths. Players with low intelligence or Malkavian traits have completely different dialogue choices, although the game does end up getting slightly streamlined near the end when its budget started running out.
4 Oxenfree
Oxenfree is a game that understands how conversations play out. Its dialogue system is mostly a tool to get players immersed in the role of Alex as she talks with the people present in this stranded group.
Players can interrupt characters, stay silent, or just join a conversation without any issues. It's the natural flow state of the dialogue that makes Oxenfree such a fun experience.
3 Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol has a ton of issues that might detract from the overall experience. However, when it came to implementing the game's ambitious dialogue system, it was pretty successful indeed.
Alpha Protocol's dialogue system channeled the three JBs of espionage — James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Jack Bauer. As a result, players had the option to be suave, aggressive, or professional in their approach to any mission, with major parts of the narrative being influenced by what a player says!
2 Mass Effect
Mass Effect might seemingly have a more simplistic dialogue system that doesn't compare to the rest of the entries on this list. However, in terms of telling a story while keeping player agency at heart, all three games are a phenomenal success.
Sure, the Paragon-Renegade system might be binary... but they also play a major role in ensuring that players are invested in their choices and how they interact with someone. So, it might be simple, but Mass Effect's dialogue wheel and story presentation were pretty groundbreaking for its time and have definitely played a part in influencing modern games as well.
1 Deus Ex
All the games in the Deus Ex series (barring Invisible War) have excellent dialogue systems in their own right. The first game was truly groundbreaking for its time, accounting for a player's actions and interactions in a ton of conversations.
The Adam Jensen duology had moments where players could persuade certain characters to disclose their information, cease their villainy, or anything else along the same lines. They made for fun breaks in the middle of gameplay, with their rarity making these intense scenes feel all the more special.