good plot twists for stories

One good plot twist could be that the character who seems to be the hero is actually the villain all along. For example, in a detective story, the detective who has been leading the investigation turns out to be the mastermind behind the crimes he's supposed to solve. It completely flips the reader's expectations.

One good plot twist could be that the person the main character thought was their soulmate turns out to be a long - lost relative. It completely changes the dynamic of the relationship and adds a whole new layer of complexity and drama. For example, they might have been on the verge of getting married when this revelation comes to light.

The discovery that the entire world the characters live in is a simulation. In a short science - fiction story, the characters are going about their normal lives until they start to notice glitches in the world around them. As they dig deeper, they find out that their whole existence is just part of a complex computer - generated simulation, which turns their understanding of reality upside down.

One good plot twist could be that the two characters who seem to be falling in love are actually long - lost siblings. It completely changes the dynamic of their relationship from romantic to a more complex family - oriented one.

Character development plays a role too. If a character has a hidden side that is revealed as a plot twist, it should be consistent with their previous actions and personality to some extent. For example, in 'Shutter Island', Teddy's true identity as a patient rather than an investigator is a major plot twist. But looking back, his strange experiences and mental states on the island can be seen as clues, and his character's journey makes the twist feel more earned.

One good plot twist could be that the main character, who has been searching for a missing heirloom throughout the story, discovers that it was in their possession all along, hidden in a place they never thought to look. Maybe it was inside an old family photo album that they never fully explored.

Play with the expectations of the genre. In a romance story, instead of the expected happy ending, one of the lovers has a terminal illness they've been hiding. This subverts the typical romantic plot. Another way is to misdirect the reader. Drop false clues that lead the reader to think one thing is going to happen, but then pull the rug out from under them with a completely different outcome.

One great story with a good plot twist is 'The Sixth Sense'. The twist that the main character is actually dead all along completely changes the viewer's perception of the whole movie. It's a brilliant psychological thriller.

The main suspect in a mystery story has a perfect alibi that the detective can't break. But then it's discovered that the suspect has an identical twin that no one knew about. The twin was the one who committed the crime while the suspect was creating their alibi. This sudden revelation adds a whole new layer of complexity to the mystery and forces the detective to start their investigation anew.

One of the best plot twists is in 'The Sixth Sense' where it's revealed that the main character is actually dead. This completely changes the viewer's perspective on all the previous events in the movie.