We’ve all been there. You’ve poured hours into a video game, navigated treacherous landscapes, slain countless enemies, and finally reached the epic climax. Anticipation builds, adrenaline pumps… and then the ending hits you like a glitching boss fight gone wrong.
Here, we delve into the abyss of disappointment with the top 10 video game endings that left us feeling cheated, confused, or just plain angry. Consider this a cautionary tale, or maybe a cathartic release for those who’ve experienced these digital downers firsthand.
Mass Effect 3
This ending is infamous for a reason. After a sprawling adventure building towards a galaxy-altering showdown, players were presented with a confusing choice that ultimately boiled down to a color-coded suicide mission for Shepard.
The lack of closure and the disregard for player investment left a bitter taste in many gamers’ mouths. BioWare attempted to appease fans with extended cutscenes, but the damage was done.
Halo 2
Cliffhangers can be effective, but Halo 2’s ending felt more like a middle finger to players. Just as the epic battle against the Covenant reaches a fever pitch, the game cuts to black, leaving us stranded mid-campaign and desperate for answers.
While the cliffhanger set the stage for Halo 3, the abrupt ending did little to satisfy players who had just finished a thrilling campaign.
Assassin’s Creed III
This ending felt like a betrayal of the entire Assassin’s Creed lore. After spending the game embodying Connor, a Native American fighting for his people against the Templars, the ending reveals
that Desmond Miles, the modern-day protagonist, has essentially achieved nothing. His actions have merely freed Juno, a powerful being who becomes the new antagonist. Talk about a downer ending.
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5’s ending was shrouded in ambiguity, which can be interesting, but here it just felt unsatisfying. After defeating the cult leader Joseph Seed, players are presented with a series of
apocalyptic visions that leave the fate of Hope County unclear. Did the nukes fall? Did the cult win? The lack of concrete answers left players frustrated and wanting more.
The Walking Dead: Season One
This Telltale game is lauded for its emotional storytelling, but the final episode’s ending left some players feeling manipulated. After a series of tough choices that supposedly impacted the narrative, the
game’s climax hinges on a single, seemingly inconsequential button press. The emotional payoff felt unearned, leaving some players questioning the weight of their choices throughout the season.
Bioshock Infinite
Bioshock Infinite had a mind-bending narrative that culminated in a complex series of choices for the protagonist, Booker DeWitt. While the ending explored themes of sacrifice and alternate realities,
it also felt like a convoluted way to “reset” the game and erase player progress. For some, the ending felt less like a satisfying conclusion and more like a frustrating loop-the-loop.
Spec Ops: The Line
This psychological shooter isn’t afraid to mess with players’ heads. The ending reveals that the horrors Walker, the protagonist, has experienced were all figments of his guilt-addled mind. While this twist is
undeniably impactful, it undermines the entire gameplay experience and the player’s investment in Walker’s struggle. The ending is effective in its shock value, but it leaves a sense of hollowness instead of closure.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Hideo Kojima loves his meta-narratives, and Metal Gear Solid 2 took it to a whole new level. The ending throws a lot at players, questioning the nature of reality, the control of information, and the very purpose of video games.
While intellectually stimulating, the ending felt deliberately obtuse and left many players feeling confused and frustrated, unsure of what they had just experienced.
Superman 64
This entry might be a bit of a cheat, but Superman 64 deserves a special mention for its sheer awfulness. The entire game is a buggy mess, but the ending takes the cake. After defeating Lex
Luthor in a visually underwhelming battle, Superman… collects rings to unlock a picture of Lois Lane. That’s it. No epic showdown, no character development, just a frustrating collect-a-thon with a nonsensical reward.
Gone Home
Gone Home is a walking simulator praised for its exploration of family drama and coming-of-age. However, the ending left some players feeling cheated. After spending the game piecing together
the protagonist’s missing sister’s life, the final revelation is a simple coming-out letter. While thematically important, the payoff felt underwhelming for the time invested in exploration and discovery.
This is just a taste of the video game endings that have left players feeling frustrated and disappointed. But hey, even bad endings can be a source of amusement and shared commiseration.
So, the next time you encounter a clunker of a finale, remember, you’re not alone. And who knows, maybe your experience will inspire a future blog post about the worst video game endings ever (part two)!
