Key Takeaways
- Games need satisfying conclusions that match the quality of the story, not necessarily happy endings.
- Henri’s bleak fate in Amnesia: The Bunker and Simon’s remain in SOMA offer dark conclusions.
- Player choices affect the ending in BioShock, where saving the Little Sisters leads to a good ending.
As a seasoned gamer with a heart full of nostalgia, I must say that these ending scenes from some of the most iconic video games have left me both tearful and awestruck. Each one tells a deeply emotional story, wrapping up the protagonist’s journey in a way that feels satisfying yet poignant.
In simpler terms, every enjoyable experience eventually concludes, and how a game wraps up can greatly impact its overall quality. After spending countless hours discovering new worlds, battling formidable foes, and forming connections with their character, players crave a satisfying resolution to confirm that their efforts were meaningful and rewarding.
As a devoted fan, I don’t want the ending to necessarily be a joyful resolution where the characters live happily ever after, but rather an ending that aligns with the superior quality of the storytelling throughout, regardless if it’s bittersweet, unexpected, or leaves us hanging for a potential sequel.
8. Amnesia: The Bunker
Escaping Offers Henri No Reprieve
Amidst the turmoil of World War 1, Henri darts away from relentless artillery fire into a dimly-lit hideout. However, this sanctuary could potentially harbor greater perils. Henri needs to carefully ration his fuel to illuminate parts of the shelter, or he might become an easy target for the Beast, a monstrous entity that lurks in the darkness.
Following an exhausting ordeal of battling to stay alive within the bunker and the Beast, Henri ultimately manages to break free and return to the surface, with no certainty about the creature’s destiny. He plunges into a crater filled with dead bodies as the enemy approaches, suggesting that his own fate is probably doomed. The conclusion is grim and offers neither joy nor security for Henri, be it within or beyond the bunker.
7. SOMA
One Version Of Simon Remains Left Behind
The survivor of a car accident, Simon Jarrett, did not escape unscathed. He suffered major damage to his brain, prompting him to agree to an experimental brain scan that could result in his injuries being completely healed. However, he wakes up in an underground water facility, and it would seem during the time he was unconscious, the world suffered an apocalyptic event that has wiped away nearly all life above the sea.
Simon’s sole means of breaking free from the compound lies in activating the Ark, an advanced digital container storing a virtual reality where the minds of the staff have been transferred. The narrative unfolds with a glimpse into paradise, as Simon reconnects with Catherine, now inhabiting a human form. However, the game then plunges back into darkness. In this haunting conclusion, it’s revealed that only a duplicate of Simon has been released, leaving the original imprisoned forever.
6. BioShock
Players’ Treatment of the Little Sisters Determines Their Ending
Jack ends up reaching the decayed underwater metropolis known as Rapture following a plane wreck in the sea, using a lighthouse as the solitary navigation point. Initially intended to be a secret paradise for the elite, this place has now lost its former glory. The vibrant and stylish inhabitants of yesteryear have morphed into creatures called splicers, while the only other life-forms one can encounter are the unsettling Little Sisters and menacing Big Daddies.
In the final act of Jack’s tale, the last two elements significantly influence its outcome. Over-harvesting Little Sisters leads to a grim ending where Jack takes over Rapture and obtains nuclear weapons. On the other hand, saving the Little Sisters results in a favorable ending, depicting Jack and the saved sisters ascending to the surface and living happily ever after. After surviving the terrors of Rapture, this is what these characters truly deserve.
5. The Last Of Us
Joel Destroys Everything To Save Ellie
In a world overrun by the undead, there’s nothing more coveted than the hope of a cure. It’s our ticket back to normalcy, a chance to reclaim what we once had before the outbreak turned everything upside down. That dream is what compels me, Joel, to embark on a difficult journey cross-country, with Ellie by my side. She’s said to be immune to the bite of those monsters, and our last hope for mankind in creating a vaccine. It’s a gamble, but it’s all we’ve got left.
The delicate relationship between them grows stronger throughout the game, making them feel more like kin, with Joel assuming a paternal role towards Ellie. However, an unexpected revelation arises when he discovers that Ellie must perish to develop the cure; this knowledge leads him to prevent the operation, fighting his way through the hospital and safeguarding Ellie’s life instead. While not everyone may support Joel’s decision, it undeniably showcases the depth of his affection for Ellie, causing players to ponder their own actions in a similar scenario.
4. Signalis
The Promise Ending Offers A Heart-Shattering Conclusion
Signalis takes place in a totalitarian future, in which creations known as Replikas are used for workers and soldiers. Players control one of these Replikas, a ship technician who awakens from a crash and sets off to find Ariane, someone important she once made a promise to. Decisions made throughout the game can result in influencing which ending the player achieves, with a possible total of 5 including the false ending.
In a different tone, the conclusion of this game isn’t considered the ‘happy’ outcome, but rather it’s the one to strive for if players appreciate a bittersweet or tragic ending. Here, Ester locates Ariane, recalls the pledge she made, and ultimately takes her life. Injured, Ester also passes away near Ariane, creating a poignant scene that aligns with the game’s somber dystopian theme.
3. Little Nightmares 2
An Unforeseen Betrayal Reveals a Dark Secret
Enthusiasts of the initial “Little Nightmares” undoubtedly felt elated upon discovering Six’s reappearance in the sequel, where players navigated the terrors of the Pale City while controlling the series’ latest character, Mono. Along his journey, he encounters Six and they embark on a shared adventure, aiding one another to surmount numerous challenges and evade the menacing Thin Man. Despite their bond deepening through this experience, it was not sufficient to last them for an entire lifetime as inseparable companions.
As I leaped to safety after rescuing Six, she bounded over first, followed closely by me. I nearly tumbled off the edge myself, but thankfully, she grabbed me just in time. However, instead of holding on, she let go, sending me plummeting into the abyss. It was then that the chilling truth emerged – I was none other than the Thin Man this whole time. The shock of discovering my own identity, coupled with Six’s deception, made this ending one of the most bone-chilling twists in horror gaming history. This revelation is bound to linger in the minds of players for years to come.
2. Resident Evil Village
The Winters’ Storyline Reaches Its Bittersweet Conclusion
In the seventh installment of Resident Evil, they deviated from the traditional hero character by introducing Ethan Winters as the player. Now, in Resident Evil Village, Ethan is back, venturing into a secluded Romanian village in hopes of finding his missing daughter Rosemary. He bravely puts himself in harm’s way to rescue her from the Four Lords and Mother Miranda, who wishes to sacrifice her for a ritual aimed at reviving Miranda’s own deceased daughter.
At last, I managed to rescue my dear daughter, just like I did Mia in the previous game. But I knew that something had to be done about the megamycete for good. In order to protect Rose and my family, I chose to sacrifice myself by detonating the bomb. It was a bittersweet farewell, revealing the profound love I held for my daughter, while also leaving room for a new or returning character in Resident Evil 9. Honestly, it’s hard to say if there are many who made it through that ending without feeling a few tears well up.
1. Silent Hill 2
The Leave Ending Provides Closure For James And The Player
In the sequel of this legendary psychological horror game, the narrative diverges from that of the initial game, delving deeper into the tangible, emotional journey of James Sunderland. He’s lured to the named town following a letter from his departed spouse, promising a reunion at their cherished spot. Upon arrival, however, he encounters monstrosities more terrifying than he could fathom and other characters who share his quest for reasons known only to them.
The course of James’s narrative is significantly impacted by the choices and artifacts gathered throughout, and the ‘Leave’ conclusion is particularly noteworthy. In this finale, gamers witness James and Laura leaving town together, accompanied by Mary’s voice reading her letter. This creates a sense of melancholy amidst an otherwise peaceful setting. It signifies that James has come to terms with his actions and understands it’s time for him to move on. This ending provides resolution for James and a sense of finality for both him and the player.
Read More
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- XRP PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
- GOAT PREDICTION. GOAT cryptocurrency
- EUR USD PREDICTION
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- XAUT PREDICTION. XAUT cryptocurrency
- AURORA PREDICTION. AURORA cryptocurrency
- SC PREDICTION. SC cryptocurrency
- ANKR PREDICTION. ANKR cryptocurrency
2024-12-04 03:35