Darkest Sci-Fi Video Game Endings

I’m a huge sci-fi fan, and honestly, a lot of the time, especially with horror, things don’t end happily. It’s the same with a bunch of sci-fi games – they can leave you feeling really down. Sometimes there’s a sequel that wraps things up nicely, but when these games first came out as one-off stories, they totally shocked people! And believe me, a lot of us are still hoping for some closure.

A sad or tragic ending isn’t automatically a negative if it’s handled effectively. For instance, a character’s death can be meaningful if it’s a selfless act for the benefit of others. Regardless of whether an ending is happy or sad, memorable endings often stay with players long after they finish the game.

It goes without saying, but the following games will be spoiled fully.

Half-Life 2: Episode 2

Still Waiting

People have been eagerly awaiting a new Half-Life game – either Half-Life 3 or Half-Life 2: Episode 3 – for over ten years. While the original game is fantastic and deserves a sequel, the main reason is that Half-Life 2: Episode 2 ended with a dramatic and unresolved cliffhanger, leaving fans wanting more.

Just when Gordon, Alyx, and Eli finally reunite, their happy moment is ruined by an attack from robots. The robots try to capture Gordon and Alyx, and during the chaotic escape, Eli is shot and seemingly killed. This shocking ending has left fans speculating ever since the game concluded in 2007.

Dead Space 2

Eye On The Prize

Dead Space 2 improves on the original with a more captivating story and gameplay. Isaac Clarke can now talk, making him a more developed character, and the plot continues his struggle against the dangerous Markers. The climax of the game involves a deeply personal and psychological fight against illusions of his wife.

It’s not actually his wife – the Marker is playing tricks on his mind, but it’s enough to completely shut Isaac down. The game ends with him sitting motionless as the research facility explodes, signaling his defeat. Luckily, he’s eventually saved, leading to a positive, though still disturbing, conclusion.

Prey (2017)

A Gooey Ending

Prey is a scary psychological horror game set on a moon station overrun by creatures that can perfectly imitate objects and people. The game has multiple different endings, and even the best one leaves some questions unanswered. While interpretations vary, it appears the player character, Morgan, was brought to the Talos 1 station as part of an experiment aimed at achieving human immortality.

Whether players escape Talos-1 alone or with others doesn’t change Morgan’s fate. Morgan will either die, be forced to relive the experience, or be left deeply traumatized by what happened, regardless of whether they manage to escape.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7

Carry On My Wayward Son

The world of Final Fantasy 7 leans more into science fiction than other games in the series. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 tells the story of Zack, Cloud’s friend, and his journey to become a top member of Shinra’s SOLDIER program. Throughout his adventures, he faces loss and ultimately flees Shinra with Cloud, who is unconscious and unresponsive.

Just as Zack and Cloud are nearing safety, a group of soldiers intercepts them. Zack fights bravely, but ultimately falls in battle. With his dying breath, he entrusts his iconic Buster Sword and his hopes for the future to Cloud.

Returnal

Personal Demons

Returnal is a challenging and bleak shooter where players take on the role of Selene, who crash-lands on an alien planet. From the beginning, it’s clear things won’t have a happy ending. As you navigate a series of interconnected rooms, you’ll experience unsettling, fragmented flashbacks of Selene’s past, creating a disorienting and mysterious atmosphere.

It’s revealed that Selene isn’t actually an astronaut; the entire experience is a manifestation of her trauma following the accidental death of her daughter, Helios. She’s also struggling with difficult family relationships with her parents. Essentially, everything is happening within her mind, though the game doesn’t clearly show whether she ever overcomes this internal struggle.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Two Worlds Split

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a long and complex game, like many in the Xeno series. The central conflict, a centuries-long war between two nations, turns out to be a manufactured event. It was all orchestrated to provide entertainment for powerful, god-like beings within an organization called Mobius.

Okay, so it turns out Noah and Mio, the main characters, actually have future versions of themselves who were working for the bad guys, Mobius! It’s a pretty heavy story, but here’s the twist: after everything, they discover their worlds were connected a long time ago, but they aren’t supposed to be together. It means we, as the players, have to say goodbye to Noah and Mio as their worlds separate and everything basically resets. It’s a bittersweet ending, for sure.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

A Robotic Future

The ending of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is incredibly surprising and complex. A major twist reveals that Lou, who appeared to die early in the game, actually lived on in another world and rapidly aged into the character known as Tomorrow.

It’s revealed that she’s Sam’s biological daughter, and their first embrace as father and daughter brings a happy resolution – for a moment. The scene then jumps forward in time, showing a much bleaker world filled with robots delivering packages. Tomorrow appears older, and it’s heavily implied that everyone else in their group may have perished, leaving the world’s condition uncertain.

NieR: Automata

The End Of Humanity

To unlock the true ending of NieR: Automata, you need to complete the game at least three times. Each playthrough lets you experience the story from the perspective of different androids – 2B, 9S, and A2 – and gradually reveals the history of Earth and why robots ended up taking control. The game’s story centers around humanity having fled to space and sending androids to Earth in an attempt to win it back.

The unsettling truth is that humanity has been gone for a long time, and now only malfunctioning robots remain scattered throughout space. To break this endless loop, players are asked to sacrifice their game progress, essentially helping another player at the cost of their own, which creates a rather bleak experience.

Mass Effect 3

It’s About The Journey

The Mass Effect trilogy centers around Commander Shepard’s fight against the Reapers, culminating in the events of Mass Effect 3. Players initially had three ways to end the conflict. One option was to destroy the Reapers, but this would also wipe out all synthetic life, including helpful characters and allies.

Shepard had the option to control the Reapers, often considered the most destructive outcome. Alternatively, organic and synthetic life could combine to create a new form of existence. An update later allowed players to reject this, restarting the cycle. Both choices are bleak; even merging with machines means the end of both organic and synthetic life as they originally existed, effectively ending their individual identities.

BioShock Infinite

Sins Of The Father

BioShock Infinite is a particularly dark game in the BioShock series due to the weighty themes it explores. The story centers around Booker, a detective sent to the floating city of Columbia to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth from its leader, Comstock. However, Booker’s mission isn’t what it seems; he’s actually seeking revenge on Comstock for taking his daughter, Anna, and the memories of the rescue were fabricated.

The story takes a surprising turn when Elizabeth reveals she’s actually Anna, from a different universe, and that Booker used to be Comstock before finding religion. This cycle has repeated across multiple universes, and the only way to break it is for Booker to die. He’s ultimately killed by his daughters from other universes, who drown him. While Zack’s death in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 is tragic but ultimately hopeful, Booker’s death feels overwhelmingly bleak for players because of its finality.

2025-12-20 02:38