Games With The Most Disturbing Alternate Endings

Key Takeaways

Some games offer different endings based on player decisions, ranging from disturbing to tragic conclusions.
Examples include Drakengard’s grotesque endings, Fallout’s mutant transformation, and Silent Hill’s dark rituals.
Undertale punishes players for choosing a bad ending, resulting in a game-altering consequence.

As someone who has spent countless hours delving into the darkest corners of gaming, I must admit that these games have left quite an indelible mark on my soul. Each one presents a unique take on what it means to face the consequences of our actions, and how they can shape our lives forever.

After spending countless hours engrossed in a game, it’s often comforting to find out its conclusion. Typically, these conclusions are joyful, where our heroes triumphantly rescue the day, but even the gloomy endings can be fulfilling if they wrap up the story neatly; especially when there are no other options. Interestingly, certain games present multiple possible outcomes, contingent upon how the game has been experienced.

Some video game alternate endings can surpass a happy ending, but they might also be significantly worse. There are even some that are so unsettling they motivate the player to improve or opt for a more comfortable game next time. These are a few examples of the most unsettling non-traditional endings in video games, ranging from deeply melancholic to graphic and grotesque.

10. Drakengard

The Watchers Arrive And Bring Hell On Earth

In the captivating world of Drakengard, it seems like a challenge to pinpoint what doesn’t feel unsettling, as everything – from characters to events – carries an eerie twist. The final acts, Endings D and E, are particularly haunting, where Seere resorts to using his golem to annihilate his possessed sister, Manah. Prior to this, she was the primary antagonist, but she was merely carrying out the wishes of the Watchers. With their vessel expired, they opted to handle the situation themselves.

As a fan, I’d rephrase that as follows: In this game, colossal infants with teeth known as Grotesqueries appear. They mete out a fitting demise to Arioch, an elf who feasts on children, and compel Leonard, a priest who is touchy with kids, to explode in self-sacrifice for the safety of others. Ending D seals these beings away by Seere, while Ending E demands you to vanquish the Queen Beast, your mother, in a rhythm-focused battle set in contemporary Tokyo. This finale, though less unsettling, is deliberately provocative, as it requires a 100% completion of the game to unlock this peculiar ending.

9. Fallout

The Super Mutants Force The Vault Dweller To Join Their Cause

The Fallout series may have shifted genres over time, but it continues to preserve certain elements from its roots, such as providing multiple endings for crucial missions, each influenced by the player’s decisions. The Vault Dweller, in this franchise, can prove beneficial or devastating to whatever remains of humanity, or anything within the spectrum of extremes between these outcomes. Few games within the series have endings as unsettling as Fallout 1’s “Dipping” conclusion.

If a player is overcome by the brutal torment of the super mutants, they will reveal the whereabouts of their Vault and opt to enlist in the Master’s forces, transforming into a super mutant. This metamorphosis involves being swathed like a mummy and submerged in a vat brimming with the Forced Evolutionary Virus, sealing their fate as one of the Master’s mutated minions for eternity. Meanwhile, the CCTV footage from the Vault will document the grim sequence of events as their comrades are systematically eliminated by the approaching horde, eventually taking control of the facility.

8. Haunting Ground

Cruelty To Dogs Leads To A Cruel Fate

Fans of survival horror are eagerly anticipating that Capcom might show some affection for the often overlooked game, Haunting Ground, just like they did with other titles such as Project Justice. Originally spun off from the development process of Resident Evil 4, the game follows Fiona as she navigates a castle’s ominous dungeon and its disturbing inhabitants, relying on her loyal canine companion Hewie for assistance. The success of Fiona’s escape often hinges on her ability to befriend Hewie, making their bond potentially lifesaving.

Instead of this outcome, it might be more desirable for death to occur. Typically, Hewie would rescue Fiona from the game’s third antagonist, Riccardo – who is actually her uncle. The two were clones of Fiona’s late father, and Riccardo intends to use Fiona as a means to reincarnate himself as an immortal. If the player chooses to abandon Hewie in the Chaos Forest, Fiona will be left unprotected against Riccardo. The game’s dark ending suggests that Fiona has become heavily pregnant and is left in a deranged state, laughing hysterically.

7. Chrono Trigger

Chrono Learns How Hard It Is To Change The Future

Many people frequently ponder about the potential outcomes if their favorite developers were to work together on a project. More often than not, it results in disappointment, occasionally turning out strange (for instance, Hideo Kojima and Suda 51 produced an audio drama called Sdatcher, based on Snatcher), but sometimes it meets the high expectations set. An example of this is when the creator of Final Fantasy Hironobu Sakaguchi collaborated with the creators of Dragon Quest Yuji Horii and Akira Toriyama to create Chrono Trigger. This was a role-playing game that featured time travel, where Chrono and his companions had to prevent the fearsome beast Lavos from destroying the world in 1999.

In this game, there are several conclusions, each with distinct shocking surprises. The easiest outcome is when you lose against Lavos, who then unleashes flames that scorch the earth until it turns barren and lifeless. To make matters worse, a chilling message appears: “Yet…the future remained unaltered,” accompanied by Lavos’ terrifying roar. Until the player discovers how to alter destiny, the planet and its inhabitants will continue to face inevitable doom.

6. Persona 3

The Gang Go Out Singing As The World Ends

The Shin Megami Tensei games aren’t exactly light-hearted, making it understandable that even its spin-off, Persona, can take a dark turn. While there are opportunities for a happy ending in Persona, it’s also possible to have negative consequences – such as dooming the protagonist’s friends and family by siding with the antagonist in Persona 4, turning everyone into the God of Control’s pawns in Persona 5, or entering an eternal sleep within an illusion in Persona 5 Royal. However, things could always be more dire; in Persona 3, the player is confronted with a catastrophic decision to make.

On New Year’s Eve, the player is left with two choices: Let Ryoji live, confront the devastating power of Nyx who is fated to annihilate all existence, or end Ryoji’s life, forget about Nyx, and enjoy a tranquil ending with their companions. Killing him seems appealing, as it means everyone can graduate and celebrate. However, Aigis recalls the events, but she cannot help her friends remember or save mankind. They spend their remaining moments enjoying karaoke together before Nyx arrives to conclude not only the game, but also all life on Earth.

5. Dead Rising 2

A Father Gives Up On Life After He Fails His Daughter

The Dead Rising series features various conclusions, some of which demand meticulous time management and a good deal of perseverance. If players find themselves in chaos during gameplay, they might encounter less favorable outcomes. However, these endings often come with a humorous twist – for instance, a character’s witty quip before meeting the same fate as zombie food in Dead Rising 1, or another character receiving their comeuppance if they attempt to leave everyone behind in Dead Rising 3.

In a more somber turn of events, Dead Rising 2 required Chuck Greene to administer Zombrex to his daughter Katey regularly to keep her alive amidst the zombie apocalypse. If the player fails to do this and other tasks, a heartbroken Chuck is left in the safe house with only Katey’s backpack for company. Overwhelmed by grief, he allows himself to be consumed when the zombies overrun his sanctuary. Tragically, everyone perishes, the location is destroyed by arson, and Greene takes the blame for the outbreak.

4. Harvester

Amnesiac Hero Becomes The Killer His Cult Wanted Him To Be

In the game, you’re not just a Harvester, but rather an amnesiac named Steve Mason who’s mysteriously stranded in the 1953 Texas town of Harvest. As the locals treat him like one of their own, assigning him various chores, you’ll uncover the truth about this peculiar place through these tasks and more. In reality, the town is a virtual simulation controlled by a cult known as The Order of the Harvest Moon. Steve and another kidnapped individual, Stephanie, are the only actual people in the simulation.

In this simulation, Steve was intended to be psychologically manipulated and transformed into a serial killer for the cult’s use. By the game’s end, the player can decide whether to kill Stephanie, in which case Steve would brutally murder her and continue his killing spree in reality, or spare her, allowing them both to live out their days within the virtual world while the cult leaves their physical selves brain-damaged. It’s challenging to discern which outcome is supposed to be the morally wrong one.

3. Silent Hill 4: The Room

The Killer Completes Their Ritual

Silent Hill is well-known for its tragic conclusions, such as Harry Mason’s fading vision in the first game, or Heather’s possession in Silent Hill 3. Later games had their own twists and turns, although they didn’t quite match the original trilogy due to certain issues. However, Silent Hill 4: The Room is notable for its exceptionally grim ending, especially if the player chooses to abandon their haunted apartment, allowing Eileen to perish. In this case, Henry will manage to defeat Walter Sullivan, but won’t be able to halt the 21 Sacraments.

Via this ceremony, Walter believed he could resurrect his “mother,” who he was informed dwells within the flat he was left in as a child. He took his own life during the rite and returned as a spirit to carry out the other necessary deaths. By forsaking Eileen, Henry completes the final sacrifice needed. All the major characters die off-camera, and the surviving apartment tenants begin experiencing chest pains. Now, nothing can hinder Walter and his “mother” from ushering in a new era of darkness.

2. Silent Hill 2

James Goes Into The Water Or Tries to Enact a Rebirth

In general, the climactic conclusions in the Silent Hill series are considered canonical, such as those in the first and third games. However, Silent Hill 2 and its remake deviate from this norm, since James’ father in Silent Hill 4 mentions that he had gone to the town and subsequently vanished. This implies that one of two possible endings actually transpired. The ending that seems most probable is “In Water,” where James ponders his actions. Despite his efforts to be a good person, he could not shake off the guilt of having killed his wife, Mary, as her body was hidden in the trunk of his car throughout the entire journey.

Instead of accepting what he had done, he chose to drive to Toluca Lake and end his life by drowning. In contrast, “Rebirth” depicts James exploring the mythology of the town. He believes that if he follows the ancient rituals of the Old Gods, they might be able to revive Mary. He places her body in a boat and rows towards an island, leaving his fate uncertain. Regardless of what transpired, it seems that he did not return home after venturing into Silent Hill. It’s likely that drowning in the lake was a less painful alternative than attempting to cross it.

1. Undertale

Going On A Massacre Comes At A High Price

In most games, you don’t often encounter one where the game design forces a challenging outcome upon repeat play if you opt for a negative ending in the initial run; this is usually remedied by manipulating save data. However, in the game Undertale, if you annihilate every monster within each zone, your character Frisk will become increasingly feared by the other characters. The bosses will grow progressively harder, with Sans emerging as the most formidable opponent among them. By overcoming him, Frisk would have killed nearly all the monsters, concluding the Genocide route.

In a twist of events, Flowey murders Asgore to gain their approval, but ends up suffering the most tragic demise. The joy is short-lived though, as this action resurrects Chara, a former human who has fallen from grace. This character forces the player into an impossible choice: either erase the entire world or face an unplayable game. After a 10-minute pause, Chara will present the option to continue, but at the cost of the player’s soul. From then on, Chara contaminates every other ending with their influence. If the player valued the lives of characters like Toriel, Papyrus, Sans, and others, they should have never taken their lives initially.

2024-12-04 09:34