"Branching pathways" refers to different options or choices that lead to different outcomes or directions. It implies the availability of multiple routes or possibilities to follow. Full definition
The structure of branching pathways gives learners a sense of agency or autonomy. (edutopia.org)
The world is littered with branching pathways that lead to obstacles that Dandara may not be able to overcome with her current abilities; those moments are filed away in the player's memory for later, because again, like any good «Metroidvania» game, Dandara has a healthy amount of backtracking. (switchera.net)
Those challenges come in the form of three storybooks, which feature branching pathways and multiple endings, encouraging you to replay to explore new decisions (and survive where you may have perished before) slowly uncovering the full truth of the core mysteries afoot. (gamingtrend.com)