10 Games That Ended On A Cliffhanger

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As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that I’ve seen my fair share of cliffhangers. But none have been as torturous as those left dangling by these games. The suspense was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and the wait for resolution was like being stranded on an island waiting for rescue (if that island happened to be filled with pixelated enemies).

One of the oldest and, debatably, most annoying storytelling tropes is the cliffhanger.

When a tale concludes with a cliffhanger, it usually means that various matters remain unresolved and pending for the characters. At times, the scene may abruptly switch to credits with a character in immediate peril.

In the same vein, games aren’t immune to this pattern either, often concluding with suspenseful cliffhangers.

Some issues are effectively addressed quickly, often within a year or two through follow-ups or sequels. On the other hand, others remain unresolved for as long as a decade, and in some cases, may never be resolved at all.

10. Doom (2016)

Oops, All Argent

Since the outset of the 2016 resurgence of Doom, Dr. Samuel Hayden consistently expresses his conviction that the enigmatic energy from Hell holds the key to solving all human problems.

In conclusion, following the Slayer’s victory over the grotesquely transformed Olivia Pierce in the game, Hayden snatches the Crucible, a device capable of producing Argents.

As a fervent admirer, I hurl my adversary into the cosmic abyss using the Slayer’s tether system, allowing me to immerse myself wholeheartedly in the intriguing mysteries of Argent research.

As a gamer immersed in the Doom Eternal universe, I can confirm that the nerve-wracking cliffhanger was skillfully addressed, with the Slayer returning to a colossal space fortress drifting aimlessly through the cosmos. The details of how this massive interstellar citadel came into possession aren’t exactly crystal clear, but it’s not entirely necessary to know, at least for now.

9. Halo 2

A Fight That Needed Finishing

Almost all the primary Halo games conclude with a suspenseful plot twist, since they’re designed as interconnected chapters in an ongoing narrative. Among these, Halo 2 stands out as particularly noteworthy.

In a very grave situation, Halo 2 finds us with Cortana under the control of the Flood’s Gravemind, and the numerous Halo installations primed for an activation originating from somewhere unclear.

In the meantime, Master Chief finds himself transported to an unknown battleground within the vessel of the Prophet of Truth. When inquired by Admiral Hood about his presence, Master Chief casually replies, “I’m here to wrap up this battle.

With the unveiling of Halo 3, the developers cleverly prepared an enticing slogan to generate excitement: “Complete the Struggle.

8. Mega Man Legends 2

We’re Diggers On The Moon

In Mega Man Legends 2, Mega Man Volnutt manages to vanquish Sera, ultimately persuading her to halt the Carbon Reinitialization Program with assistance from Gatz and Yuna.

Consequently, they find themselves in a predicament: due to Gatz’s demise during the encounter with Sera, they are left without a means of escape on board Elysium.

In the final moments of the game, Mega Man remains aloft, while Roll starts sketching blueprints for a rocketship, intending to soar up and save him.

Man, it’s been a real bummer not having another Mega Man Legends game drop after all these years, given the clamor from fans. Looks like our favorite robot is stuck drifting aimlessly through digital space for now.

7. Alan Wake 2

Resolved In A Patch

At the heart of Alan Wake 2’s finale, Alan and Saga find themselves ensnared within the ominous Dark Realm, as Mr. Scratch wields power over Casey’s form.

According to Alan’s instructions, Saga expels Scratch from Casey using a device called the Clicker. Subsequently, Alan is fatally struck by a beam of light, the Bullet, to eliminate him.

In an effort to check if the tale’s impact had been reversed, Saga tries to reach her daughter on the phone, but the game mysteriously switches to a black screen without revealing the outcome.

Remarkably, this issue was addressed subsequently in an update following the initial release. With the introduction of the Final Draft, a fresh ending is provided for a new playthrough, disclosing that Saga’s child is safe and Alan has gained command over the Dark Realm.

6. Half-Life 2: Episode 2

Still Memed On To This Day

If you’re unaware as to why the internet has jokingly criticized Valve about Half-Life 3 not being released yet, you can understand the reason by finishing Half-Life 2: Episode 2.

In the closing stages of the game, Gordon and Alyx triumphantly overpower the Combine troops who were attempting to hinder the Resistance from firing their rocket designed to close portals.

The rocket takes off, leaving the Combine stranded on Earth. Just as people are about to depart, a contingent of Combine Advisors emerges. In this scenario, both Gordon and Alyx are bound, whereas Eli Vance meets his demise.

Eli intended to share crucial details about the Black Mesa incident with Gordon, but since another Half-Life game hasn’t been released yet, it remains a mystery what those details were.

5. Shenmue 3

Three Cliffhangers In A Row

The Shenmue series is designed as an integrated storyline, focusing on Ryo’s pursuit of Lan Di, seeking vengeance for the murder of his father.

Regrettably, each installment in the series thus far hasn’t wrapped up the vengeance quest but instead has carried it on.

Following an 18-year delay since the release of Shenmue 2, it was ultimately Ryo who managed to locate Lan Di within the mountainous regions of China.

Yet, Lan Di swiftly overpowered him right away, disappearing once more. This implies we might need to patiently wait an unknown amount of time for the next Shenmue installment to find out what transpires next.

4. Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time

Stuck In Ancient Egypt

Initially, all the three games within the original Sly Cooper trilogy concluded quite decisively, albeit with varying degrees of optimism. Regardless, they left room for a satisfying conclusion. But then came the sequel, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, which brought some unexpected changes to the series.

Amidst the struggle between Sly and Le Paradox on their time-traveling airship, there occurred a tear in the fabric of space-time. Managing to guide his team to safety, Sly then pushed Le Paradox off the edge into the sea, just moments before their entire airship disappeared.

Bentley, Murray, and Carmelita are clueless about where and when Sly might be, but they’ve made a pact among themselves to find him somehow.

At last, we see a finale where Sly and his airship somehow touch down near the mighty pyramids of old Egypt. Their predicament remains unresolved as of now.

3. God Of War 2

More Of A Cliff-Climber Than A Cliffhanger

By the finale of God of War 2, Kratos wields the mighty Blade of Olympus and harbors an intense animosity towards the deities within him.

He travels back to the Great War to recruit Gaia and the Titans to his cause.

Currently, I’m reassuring my fellow Olympians that ol’ Kratos ain’t worth fretting over once the ground starts rumbling beneath our feet. No sweat!

From his vantage point, he gazes at the towering cliff face where Gaia and the Titans are laboriously ascending, with Kratos’s fierce shrieks echoing as he rides upon her shoulders.

In a concise manner, the suspenseful ending from God of War 3 began directly where it left off, showing the titans ascending Mount Olympus.

2. Kingdom Hearts 3

Sora In Shibuya

Almost every game within the Kingdom Hearts universe concludes with an unresolved ending, not only those from the primary series. It’s worth noting that when it comes to leaving things open-ended, the main series really excels at it.

In Kingdom Hearts 3, following Kairi’s loss of both her heart and physical form, Sora employs the Power of Waking to bring her back to life. However, he is cautioned that this action might endanger his own being. Despite this, Sora remains confident that his friends will find a solution, as they always do.

Following Kairi’s resurrection, Sora vanishes entirely without a trace. In response, his companions embark on diverse investigations and training regimes with the aim of locating him.

In an enigmatic finale, Riku experiences a dream set in a metropolis resembling Shibuya, called Quadratum. The whereabouts of Sora remain a mystery, with the answer to be unveiled only when Kingdom Hearts 5 arrives.

1. Psychonauts

Took Sixteen Years To Resolve

As I wrapped up my gaming session with Psychonauts, I thought the ending was pretty satisfying initially. I helped Raz conquer Coach Oleander’s inner turmoil, transforming him into a mentally stable and remorseful character. To make things even sweeter, Ford extended an offer for a full-time position as a Psychonaut to our hero, which he gratefully accepted.

Yet, just as everyone is packing up from the camp, the counselors get troubling reports – Truman Zanotto, the Grand Head of the Psychonauts and father to Lili, has been abducted.

Raz, Lili, Oleander, Sasha, and Milla board the Psychonauts’ jet and fly off to save the day.

For quite a while, the conclusion regarding Truman’s fate in Psychonauts: The Rhombus of Ruin remained unknown (from 2017). However, it wasn’t until Psychonauts 2, released in 2021, that we finally got all the pieces to complete the puzzle.

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2024-12-17 20:39