The most successful video-game releases this year, such as Elden Ring and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, were praised not only for their incredible graphics and gameplay but also for their well-structured and immersive narratives. Crucially, the endings of these games are memorable and satisfying, leaving a lasting impression on players.
As with any good story, a video game’s ending offers players a solid conclusion that ties up any loose ends. On Reddit, avid gamers have discussed which of their favorite video games have the most satisfying endings.
Planescape: Torment
Released in 1999, Planescape: Torment is an RPG that’s based on a Dungeon & Dragons setting. Despite not being commercially successful, the game has won the hearts of critics due to its story-focused gameplay. The game offers players a variety of endings, which vary depending on the choices they make.
In a Reddit thread, Sarkat highlights that they best liked the game’s ending which allowed the protagonist of the game to “merge” with their nemesis. They also add that they “haven’t seen a more intelligent and profound ending, as there are lines in the game’s final dialogue that reveal touching insights about mortality and personal growth."
Max Payne 2
Max Payne is a popular RPG shooter franchise from Rockstar Games. In the second game in the series, the titular hero’s loyalty is tested after going on a mission that aims to demystify a dangerous conspiracy. Max Payne 2 has two different endings that can be unlocked through different difficulties.
Whichever ending the gamer unlocks, CantaloupeCamper notes that Max gives a great “end line” that “hit a really strong note” with them. They further explain that the line will strike a chord with those who have "lost someone very close to them”. The ending of the game is also made more impactful by its film-noir art style, especially since the central theme of the narrative is Max’s romantic relationship with a contract killer.
Metal Gear Solid 4
Hideo Kojima, one of the greatest auteurs in gaming, has crafted a highly emotional and memorable ending for his critically acclaimed game Metal Gear Solid 4. In the game’s final scene, Solid Snake is reunited with Big Boss who unfortunately dies beside the grave of his mentor.
The final words of Big Boss where he willingly accepts that it's his time to go will forever stay in the hearts of gamers. Redditor GamingIsMyCopilot also notes that while “a lot of” the game “was all fanfare”, they loved every minute of it, especially the ending scene with Big Boss. They “felt satisfied and was happy” with how it ended, especially since the game was jampacked with high-action cutscenes and innovative gameplay.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is an episodic video game that focuses on a young girl named Clementine who needs to navigate a new world that’s full of zombies called walkers. What’s memorable about the game is that the choices that the players make will influence how the game ends.
However, no matter what the player does, Clementine’s mentor Lee will sacrifice himself for her and still die, which makes for an emotional ending. Redditor DannyInternets highlights that the game created a story where they felt “more invested in and connected to the characters”. While there’s a lot left to be desired with The Walking Dead’s gameplay, its conclusion is triumphantly moving and satisfying.
Red Dead Redemption
Upon its release, a lot of gamers raved about Red Dead Redemption, due in large to its visuals, gameplay, and voice acting. The game also has a compelling ending involving an outlaw named John Marston who needs to work with the government to save his wife and son.
The game has a very tragic ending that involves the main character dying as he’s soon betrayed by those who hired him. On Reddit, CatWizard explains that while they “hated what happened to John Marston” they thought that the ending “was a nice touch of revenge”. The story of vengeance is continued in the game’s sequel, where John’s son Jack Marston hunts down those who killed his father.
Dishonored
One of Bethesda Game’s best titles is the 2012 action-adventure game Dishonored. The game primarily follows an assassin named Corvo Attano who is on a mission to clear his name. Dishonored has an interesting gameplay system that tracks the player’s actions, which then changes what happens in the game without directly affecting its story.
Dishonored primarily has two endings that largely depend on how many people Corvo kills. Redditor GrandErotica comments that they found the game’s low chaos ending more “satisfying” and that its “ending music is just so fitting”. The low chaos ending can be unlocked if the player carefully and diligently chooses who he kills in the game, as opposed to just murdering every enemy they encounter.
Portal 2
Many gamers consider Portal 2 to be one of the best puzzle games of all time. Just like its predecessor, the player still uses a portal gun to solve puzzles. The game’s single-player campaign also has a narrative that focuses on a character named Chell, who is subjected to various tests by an AI program named GLaDOS.
The ending of Portal 2 sees GLaDOS free Chell from the facility, after deciding that Chell is not worth killing. A comment by Reddit user Ironalpha notes that all they could think of during the game’s ending is to say “thanks to the devs who made it possible” for them to have “an overwhelmingly positive experience”. The game’s ending is also made more poignant by the developer’s song choice, which was “Want You Gone” by Jonathan Coulton.
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
The Assassin’s Creed franchise includes 12 mainline games that have received varying responses from critics and gamers. The fourth entry in the series, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, is one title that has received mixed reviews due to repetitive gameplay.
However, the ending of the game is a memorable one, as it makes a callback to the franchise’s previous games. Redditor tauntthechicken highlights that while Assassin’s Creed: Revelations wasn’t their “favorite in the series”, they liked how the game “tied up the Ezio and Altair storylines with a nice bow”. That said, the game might be more satisfying to those who are big fans of the franchise than to those who are new to the world of Assassin’s Creed.
Dark Souls
Souls-like games are known for their sprawling narratives, and the 2011 game Dark Souls isn’t an exception. Players assume the role of an undead character in the game who goes on a journey across the massive world of Lordran. The game has two endings that see the players bring a new dark era to Lordran or retain the world as it is and keep the undead at bay.
In a Reddit comment, AndyHUNGRY exclaims that due to the game’s incredible difficulty, they were “so happy to see the credits after” dying more than a hundred times in the game. It will take completionists about 106 hours to finish the game, so it’s understandably relieving to slay the final boss and choose between the game’s two endings.
Mass Effect 2
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The action RPG Mass Effect 2 is a game that features multiple endings that are driven by the choices they make along the way. The game puts the spotlight on a human soldier named Commander Shepard who needs to recruit crew mates for a suicide mission.
Redditor DeadcatXL adores the conclusion of the game and thinks the speech Shepard gives before the final mission “was awesome. They also add that they prefer their first attempt where they had “some people die” as it’s so “sudden and unexplained”. Because the game’s narrative does a good job of making the players attached to the characters, the deaths that happen in the game have a bigger emotional impact.
Source:gamerant.com