RPGs That Are Worth Playing Just For Their Endings

Key Takeaways

RPG endings should surprise, satisfy, or break hearts, elevating a game’s greatness.
Undertale
offers poignant endings, challenging combat, and themes of mercy.
Dragon Age: Origins
features a final epic battle against an archdemon with potential sacrifices.

As a seasoned gamer with a heart full of nostalgia and a mind buzzing with memories, I can’t help but be captivated by the tales spun by these magnificent games. Each one, a testament to the boundless creativity and technical prowess of their creators.

Role-playing games (RPGs) are typically known for their extended playtime, offering a central narrative that can span tens or even hundreds of hours, along with numerous subsidiary missions and treasures to discover as a means of delaying the advancement of the primary storyline. When players eventually decide to resume their journey towards the eagerly anticipated finale, they seek an ending that justifies their patience, one that will leave them gripping their controller in tense anticipation, filled with awe, joy, or perspiring from sheer excitement.

Surprising conclusions, whether they bring satisfaction, heartbreak, or something in between, give value to the journey, making even an exceptional game extraordinary or rescuing a mediocre one from obscurity.

6 Undertale

A Final Fight No One Will Forget

RPGs That Are Worth Playing Just For Their Endings

Undertale swiftly gained nearly universal acclaim, brimming with abundant appeal through its inventive sprites and enchanting narrative of a human who stumbled into the realm of monsters hidden beneath the Earth’s crust. Navigating every pathway and engaging with the world unveils further insights about the monsters and their struggles, as well as the human King Asgore and his Queen Toriel, nurturing their son Asriel.

In the game Undertale, there are numerous humorous instances, but it doesn’t shy away from sad moments and its combat isn’t a walk in the park. The bullet hell challenges are prevalent in many boss battles, and they intensify significantly during the Flowey fight. The music, creature designs, and gameplay will inspire players to persevere as the spirits of other children in the Underground assist them until it’s time for retaliation. Even after the story concludes, players have the option to show compassion towards Flowey, a character who, despite being malevolent, still elicits sympathy from the player. This touching finale makes every second spent playing the game worthwhile, as this is the very skill players have been honing throughout their journey – the capacity to show kindness to someone who might not reciprocate.

5 Dragon Age: Origins

Time To Take The Fight To The Archdemon

The initial installment of the Dragon Age series began with quite an impact. Hordes of Darkspawn, led by the Archdemon, burst forth from under the earth, spreading their contagion across Ferelden. Following a dismal loss at Ostagar, the remaining Grey Wardens need to rally allies to fight again and hopefully emerge victorious this time. The Grey Wardens possess an ancient duty – to slay the Archdemon personally, giving up their lives in exchange to ensure its permanent demise.

“Origins” – A Game with Challenging Sections

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

One Of The Most Epic Final Boss Fights In The Series

The adventures of Link in the open world on the Switch have become resounding victories, incorporating aspects that make The Legend of Zelda games exceptional, all while introducing fresh concepts like open-world exploration and crafting recipes. In Tears of the Kingdom, we get glimpses into the past, shedding light on the occurrences that led to Ganondorf’s resurrection, allowing him to once more terrorize Hyrule with his rule.

In the modern era, Link joins forces with the now ancient Zelda to confront Ganondorf. Once gamers have exhausted all content within Tears of the Kingdom and prepare themselves to engage Ganondorf, they are rewarded with an ending that truly caps off the experience perfectly. After vanquishing the initial phase of the combat, Ganondorf transforms into a dark dragon, escalating the battle skyward in an extraordinary airborne conflict. This leads to a climactic finale that neatly wraps up the narrative, making it a satisfying conclusion for a game as grand and time-consuming as this one. It’s truly rewarding for the countless hours invested in completing such an outstanding title.

3 Divinity: Original Sin 2

One Ending In Particular Has Interesting Implications In Multiplayer Mode

Before wowing the world with Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios was responsible for the successful and acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin 2, set in its own unique and original world, Rivellon. Rivellon is home to a substance known as Source, an important ingredient for magic which has an unfortunate side effect of summoning Voidwoken, powerful beasts that can sense whenever Source is used. As such, a hunt for Sourcerers has been called, which the player or players find themselves in the midst of.

In this multiplayer role-playing game, you don’t have to play on your own. Instead, you can invite up to three friends to join you in the game, where each player can either select a predefined character from Origin or create their own. The game offers various endings, one of which allows players to become Divine. However, only one can achieve Divinity, leading to potential conflict among friends as they vie for supremacy. This unexpected twist left many gamers in disbelief and feeling betrayed.

2 Mass Effect 2

The Suicide Mission Remains One Of The Best In The Series

Despite meeting an untimely end, Commander Shepard continues to face challenges as they are revived to spearhead humanity’s battle against the enigmatic Collectors, a race resembling insects that serve the Reapers, a force threatening to destroy the universe. The Collectors have been relentlessly assaulting human colonies and abducting every settler without mercy. The Council refuses to intervene, leaving Cerberus with no choice but to resurrect Shepard and assign them the mission of uncovering the Collectors’ plans and hopefully thwarting their nefarious actions.

It’s undeniable that the initial moments of Mass Effect 2 were nothing less than fantastic, and the tension escalates significantly in its final act, as the Normandy crew undertakes the ominously titled Suicide Mission. Shepard must make critical decisions about who to delegate tasks to, or risk losing comrades and potentially meeting their own demise. In this instance, choices truly matter and can lead to the most severe repercussions.

1 NieR: Automata

The True Ending Unites The Community

In this game titled “NieR: Automata,” players will encounter a variety of endings for each letter of the alphabet, some amusing and others profound. The journey they embark on is one of the wildest gaming experiences, leading them to the genuine ending eventually. You assume the role of an android whose duty is to eliminate the hostile machines that have conquered Earth, so humans can potentially return someday. However, unbeknownst to you, 2B and 9S, the characters you play as, are on a futile mission since humanity has already perished. Together, you explore numerous locations, battle countless robots, and unwittingly embark on an exciting yet ultimately meaningless adventure.

In NieR: Automata, players are deceived multiple times by what appears to be the ending of the game. However, the story continues from different characters’ perspectives, such as 9S or A2. Only when they reach a credits mini-game do players have certainty that the game has truly ended…but not before playing through an extremely challenging mini-game, which can only be conquered using data sacrificed by other players. Once the credits conclude, players are prompted to leave a motivational message for future gamers experiencing the same ordeal. They then have the option to erase all their saved progress to aid another player. This innovative approach leaves players emotional as they watch their game data disappear before their eyes, but they will feel it was worth the experience.

2024-09-30 16:34