Most role-playing games tend to feature some of the most memorable plots in video games. They permit the player to fully immerse themselves in a fictional world wherein they have complete control, commonly offering side quests and customizations to further envelope a player.
Though a game's main story will often act as a selling point, the final mission or last act will usually provide the cherry on top. A conclusion can feature a variety of different elements. A good story will serve to enhance a finale's emotional impact, whereas a challenging series of fights will provide a rush of adrenaline.
9 Undertale
After stumbling into the Underground, the main character named Frisk is tasked with escaping its confines as quickly as they can. They meet an array of characters on their journey that seek to aid them, but many also seek to destroy them.
The final chapter of the game sees Frisk facing off against Flowey, an emotionless plant fixated on preventing their escape. They reveal their traitorous ways to Frisk during the game's finale before swiftly attacking them. The fight sees Flowey adopting a completely different style from anything else present in the game, making it one of the more frightening end games in video gaming.
8 Mass Effect 2
The beginning of Mass Effect 2 sees Commander Shepard meet an untimely demise when the Normandy is destroyed by the Collectors. Knowing that only she alone is capable of rallying a group strong enough to defeat the Reapers, Cerberus places her consciousness in a new body.
The ending of the game sees Shepard and her companions infiltrating the Collector Base. Depending on the player's choices before this Suicide Mission, not every party member is guaranteed to survive. As she navigates the base's tight hallways and reunites with her lost crew members, she is eventually forced to face the Human Reaper, a colossal being with which she has little experience in handling.
7 Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Though many fans of Skyrim tend to enjoy the game's side content more than the actual story, it is difficult to deny the impact of the story's climax. Set in a world where deceased dragons are being resurrected, the Dragonborn must uncover who or what is the cause.
Consumed by thoughts of revenge, Alduin resurrected these ancient creatures to assist him in conquering the world once more. After journeying to Sovngarde, the player must join forces with beings from the past to put Alduin's reign of terror to a halt once and for all.
6 Final Fantasy 10
The story of Final Fantasy 10 rarely offers its players a moment of respite. Kicking off in the city of Zanarkand, Tidus is forced to watch as his home is devastated by Sin's attack. He eventually ends up in Spira and decides to accompany Yuna on her pilgrimage to defeat the giant whale that plagues their world.
The final parts of the game see Tidus and his companions attacking Sin head-on while standing atop their airship. They injure the creature severely, allowing them to enter its mouth in which lies a harrowing world. Tidus eventually finds his father in the creature's depths and is forced to defeat him with Nobou Uematsu's incredible score setting the tone.
5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The main story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt tasks Geralt of Rivia with tracking down his time-hopping surrogate daughter. With the help of Yennefer, the two often come close to locating her, but they are always a few moments too late.
The climax of the game sees Geralt reunited with Ciri but, unfortunately, they have little time to catch up. Eredin Bréacc Glas attacks, covering the land with ice in the process. The ending sees the player controlling both Geralt and Ciri in various combat situations before forcing Geralt to make a heart-wrenching decision involving Ciri's wellbeing.
4 NieR: Replicant
The original NieR ending tasked the player with saving Yonah from the Shadowlord. Though the game had multiple endings, Ending C and D were arguably the most deserving of a canonical status due to the sense of finality that came with them. However, the NieR: Replicant remake permitted its players to experience an entirely new ending in the form of Ending E.
This segment saw Kainé delving into the depths of the Forest of Myth in the hope of uncovering answers to her questions. While descending these narrow tunnels, Kainé meets friends from her past and enemies from the future, but her most notable encounter pits her against blackened clones of herself.
3 Kingdom Hearts 3
Kingdom Hearts once told a simple tale of friendship, but that is no longer the case. With each series entry comes an array of new characters, settings, and plot points that now serve to tell a far greater story than what was originally intended.
The ending of Kingdom Hearts 3 documents the long-awaited clash between light and darkness. Taking place in the Keyblade Graveyard, Sora must face off against thirteen terrifying enemies from his past to prevent the summoning of the χ-blade.
2 The World Ends With You
Set in a dream-like world based on the city of Shibuya, The World Ends With You has an incredibly bizarre premise. Unlike the real Shibuya, this plane of existence acts as an afterlife, offering the deceased a chance to return to the world of the living if they complete a series of games.
The ending of the game sees Neku, Beat, and Shiki teaming up to take down Megumi Kitaniji, the sole creator of these sinister games. The player must consecutively beat all the Noise summoned by Kitaniji to complete the game, but it is far from easy.
1 Horizon Zero Dawn
The opening of Horizon Zero Dawn sets to tell a simple story of a young woman who seeks recognition. No longer seen as an outcast, Aloy is tasked with venturing beyond the Sacred Lands to uncover the truth, hidden from her by her predecessors.
As she learns more about the world's history, she also discovers Hades, an artificial intelligence hellbent on restoring power to deactivated machines. Aloy, alongside her new companions, forms a pact to prevent Hades from doing so, leading to a series of challenging boss battles and shocking reveals.