Highlights
- Great video game stories need satisfying endings that tie up loose ends and leave a lasting impact on players.
- Games like God of War, The Witcher 3, and Undertale feature endings that resonate with players, showcasing the power of a well-crafted conclusion.
- Uncharted 4: A Thief's End delivers an exceptional ending that elevates the series, making the journey through the first three games worthwhile.
There was a time when a simple core gameplay loop was all most video games needed to make themselves popular among the masses. With the technology employed in this industry evolving by leaps and bounds, it's easy to see why players demand more from the games they pay top dollar for. These games need to have some great stories that draw players in with an iron grip, never letting them go.
A great video game story is never complete without an ending that wraps up any loose ends and allows players to enjoy these games to the fullest. Some of the best games ever made that players still remember fondly to this day feature extremely satisfying endings that will stay in the minds of players for years to come.
7 God Of War
God of War's reboot was a massive step in the right direction, allowing players to control a mature Kratos who has left his bloodthirsty life behind as he tries to be a good father to his child. While there's no denying that God of War Ragnarok has a bigger scope in every way, it's the reigned-in nature of the first game that made the journey feel way more personal.
So, when Kratos and Atreus finally scattered Faye's ashes in Jotunheim, it made for a great time indeed. Not only did this game end with Atreus and Kratos' bond being stronger than ever, but it also shed some light on the mysterious surrounding the unexplained aspect of the series while also establishing Atreus' true identity as that of the Trickster God, Loki.
6 Persona 5
Persona 5 Royal is certainly the best way to enjoy this game, but one aspect that feels slightly worse than the original release is its ending. Maruki may be an interesting antagonist, but his sudden face turn at the end makes no sense.
On the other hand, the original ending of Persona 5 saw the group head out on a road trip after the events of the main game came to an end. It's a great feel-good ending that caps off the player's adventure on a high note, allowing him to spend some time with his new group of friends before he has to go back to his actual family.
5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest video games ever made, featuring an epic story that leads players down a wild goose chase to find Ciri, who has been eluding the Wild Hunt all this time. Geralt's quest to save his adoptive daughter and stop Eredin is a blast from start to end, making it clear why people love this game even now.
While two of the game's endings are pretty sad (especially the one where Ciri dies), one of the possible conclusions sees Ciri becoming a witcher. It's the path that everyone wanted Ciri to take, and seeing her team up with Geralt makes the entire adventure worthwhile.
4 Undertale
The indie gem that is Undertale features three ending paths which are all pretty great in their own right. The Genocide Route ending is easily the worst one of the lot, having dire implications for the game's world and its characters. However, the other two endings are excellent and cap off a person's adventures in the best way possible.
The Neutral Route ends the player's journey on a high note as everyone manages to get along with each other at the end. However, in the Pacifist Ending, Flowey is also redeemed after his true identity as Asriel Dreemurr is revealed. Players fight against him in an excellent boss fight where their friends come together to save the day and help redeem Asriel as well.
3 Omori
Omori is a psychological horror game that will lull players into a false sense of security before scaring them silly time and time again. It's easily one of the best indie titles that fans can check out if they want to experience a story that will shock them to their very core.
After the revelation of what really happened to Mari comes to light, Sunny decides to persevere against Omori and face his problems head-on, culminating in an emotional musical performance that will cause players to burst out in tears. This, coupled with Sunny finally speaking his first words in the game as he confesses what actually happened, makes for a great time and caps off the protagonist's emotional tale on a high note.
2 Portal 2
The first Portal game was a surprise that came out of nowhere, featured in the legendary Orange Box that had some of Valve's best games bundled in one neat package. No one expected this puzzle title to boast such high quality, and the positive reception convinced Valve to release a sequel that upped the ante in every way.
Portal 2's script is off the charts and makes for one of the funniest video games ever made. The background of Aperture Science is explored quite a bit as well, with Glados and Chell forming an unlikely partnership as they prevent Wheatley from going completely rogue with his power trip by sending him to the moon.
1 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
The first three Uncharted games haven't really aged all that well, with the gameplay being as uninspired as ever while the platforming had its issues too. However, the characters and storytelling in these games helped players look past these problems in modern times, and it helped that the level design was also pretty great in its own right.
Playing through the first three games can be a chore at times, but it's all worth it once players check out Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. The gameplay is better than ever before with the narrative and character writing reaching a new peak that Naughty Dog had reached after the release of The Last of Us. This game capped off Nathan Drake's journey on a positive note, with the epilogue serving as one of the best moments in the entire series by a country mile.