Worst Game Endings – 10 Disappointing Finales
- Few things can ruin a game's overall impression like a poor ending.
- Let's take a moment to reflect on games that are remembered for their weak conclusions.
- What, in your opinion, are the worst video game endings?
The Most Disappointing video Game Endings in History
Table of Contents
- The Most Disappointing video Game Endings in History
- The Most Disappointing Video Game Endings in History
- Top 3 Worst Endings in Gaming History
- Games With Endings That You Might Consider Missing From the List
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Video Game Endings
- What makes a video game ending bad?
- Why are video game endings so critically important?
- How much does the game developer team involve in its ending?
- What are the most common pitfalls that lead to bad endings?
- Can downloadable content (DLC) fix a bad ending?
- What are some video game endings that are almost universally praised?
- Comparison Table: Good vs. Bad Game Endings
Few things can ruin a game’s overall impression like a poor ending. Whether the plot resolution is nonsensical or the creators leave certain threads unresolved, a bad ending can manifest in numerous ways. This list will serve as proof of that.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on games that are remembered for their weak conclusions. “Niektóre z nich są tak kuriozalne,że aż ciężko mi uwierzyć,że nie było nikogo w zespole deweloperskim,kto zaprotestował i wymusił zmiany.” (Some of them are so bizarre that it’s hard to believe there wasn’t anyone on the development team who protested and forced changes.) Given the apparent lack of courage and competence, we can now scrutinize these games.
What, in your opinion, are the worst video game endings? Is there a title missing from this list?
Top 3 Worst Endings in Gaming History
1.Fable II
Peter Molyneux promised that the ending of Fable II would be epic and bring tears to our eyes. The result? Disappointing. “Podstawowym problemem był niemal całkowity brak walki z ostatnim przeciwnikiem, który padał po jednym ciosie. Do tego wybór moralny na koniec, który nie miał większego wpływu na świat. Większość zresztą i tak wybierała tę “bramkę”,która przywracała do życia psa,bo dużo on dawał w czasie rozgrywki.” (The main problem was the almost complete lack of a fight with the final opponent, who fell after one blow.In addition, the moral choice at the end, which had no major impact on the world. Most people chose the “gate” that brought the dog back to life, because it helped a lot during the game.) Add to that a number of unresolved plot threads. Ultimately, players were left feeling very disappointed. The effect was certainly amplified by promises of an unforgettable experience and great emotions associated with the culmination of an epic adventure. All of which proved to be entirely unfounded.
2. Dead Space 3
The final act of the Dead Space trilogy is often criticized for aspects other than its ending.However, it’s important to remember that the ending was notably weak. It initially appeared that the two main characters were making a great sacrifice to save humanity, which seemed reasonable. “Gorzej,że po napisach końcowych okazuje się,że jest wręcz odwrotnie. Takie magiczne i niewytłumaczalne przetrwanie często jest bardzo źle odbierane. Do tego DLC Awakened, które kontynuuje historię pokazując, że wszystko co widzieliśmy w Dead Space 3 finalnie i tak nie miało większego znaczenia.” (Worse, after the end credits, it turns out that the opposite is true. Such magical and inexplicable survival is frequently enough very poorly received. In addition, the Awakened DLC, which continues the story, shows that everything we saw in Dead Space 3 ultimately didn’t matter much anyway.) A potential fourth installment might have improved the situation, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see it.
3. Batman: Arkham Asylum
The first Batman game by Rocksteady was a fantastic surprise at the time.Everything about it was brilliant… except for the ending.Some issues were classic, such as the unsubtle hint of a sequel and the lack of a more meaningful conclusion, which seemed warranted in such a triumphant game. “Największym problemem jest jednak ostatnia walka. Na koniec gry Batman musi się zmierzyć z Jokerem, który przybiera bardzo nietypową dla siebie formę. pojedynek przez to jest schematyczny, nudny i kompletnie niepasujący do tego złoczyńcy.” (The biggest problem, however, is the final fight. at the end of the game,Batman has to face the Joker,who takes on a very unusual form.The duel is thus schematic, boring and completely unsuitable for this villain.) This is a prime example of how an absolutely fantastic game was ultimately devoid of even a handful of good ideas. Fortunately, Arkham City offered an absolutely fantastic and surprising ending by contrast.
Okay, here’s the enhanced content focusing on identifying potential omissions from the list of worst video game endings, along with additional FAQ and insights.
The Most Disappointing Video Game Endings in History
Few things can ruin a game’s overall impression like a poor ending.Whether the plot resolution is nonsensical or the creators leave certain threads unresolved, a bad ending can manifest in numerous ways. This list will serve as proof of that.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on games that are remembered for their weak conclusions. “Niektóre z nich są tak kuriozalne,że aż ciężko mi uwierzyć,że nie było nikogo w zespole deweloperskim,kto zaprotestował i wymusił zmiany.” (Some of them are so bizarre that it’s hard to believe there wasn’t anyone on the advancement team who protested and forced changes.) Given the apparent lack of courage and competence, we can now scrutinize these games.
What, in your opinion, are the worst video game endings? Is there a title missing from this list?
Top 3 Worst Endings in Gaming History
1. Fable II
Peter Molyneux promised that the ending of Fable II would be epic and bring tears to our eyes. The result? disappointing. “Podstawowym problemem był niemal całkowity brak walki z ostatnim przeciwnikiem, który padał po jednym ciosie. Do tego wybór moralny na koniec,który nie miał większego wpływu na świat. Większość zresztą i tak wybierała tę “bramkę”,która przywracała do życia psa,bo dużo on dawał w czasie rozgrywki.” (The main problem was the almost complete lack of a fight with the final opponent, who fell after one blow. In addition, the moral choice at the end, which had no major impact on the world. Most people chose the “gate” that brought the dog back to life as it helped a lot during the game.) Add to that a number of unresolved plot threads. Ultimately,players were left feeling very disappointed. The effect was certainly amplified by promises of an unforgettable experience and great emotions associated with the culmination of an epic adventure. All of which proved to be entirely unfounded.
2. Dead Space 3
The final act of the Dead Space trilogy is often criticized for aspects other than its ending. Though, it’s vital to remember that the ending was notably weak. It initially appeared that the two main characters were making a great sacrifice to save humanity, which seemed reasonable. “Gorzej,że po napisach końcowych okazuje się,że jest wręcz odwrotnie. Takie magiczne i niewytłumaczalne przetrwanie często jest bardzo źle odbierane.Do tego DLC Awakened, które kontynuuje historię pokazując, że wszystko co widzieliśmy w Dead space 3 finalnie i tak nie miało większego znaczenia.” (Worse, after the end credits, it turns out that the opposite is true. Such magical and inexplicable survival is frequently enough very poorly received. In addition, the Awakened DLC, which continues the story, shows that everything we saw in Dead Space 3 ultimately didn’t matter much anyway.) A potential fourth installment might have improved the situation, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see it.
3. Batman: Arkham asylum
The first Batman game by Rocksteady was a fantastic surprise at the time. Everything about it was brilliant… except for the ending. Some issues were classic, such as the unsubtle hint of a sequel and the lack of a more meaningful conclusion, which seemed warranted in such a triumphant game. “Największym problemem jest jednak ostatnia walka. Na koniec gry batman musi się zmierzyć z Jokerem, który przybiera bardzo nietypową dla siebie formę. pojedynek przez to jest schematyczny, nudny i kompletnie niepasujący do tego złoczyńcy.” (The biggest problem, however, is the final fight. At the end of the game, Batman has to face the Joker, who takes on a very unusual form.The duel is thus schematic, boring, and completely unsuitable for this villain.) This is a prime example of how an absolutely fantastic game was ultimately devoid of even a handful of good ideas. Fortunately, Arkham City offered an absolutely fantastic and surprising ending by contrast.
Games With Endings That You Might Consider Missing From the List
Here are several more games known for less-than-stellar endings, prompting a broader discussion about the original list:
Mass Effect 3: The original ending sparked widespread controversy due to its lack of closure and perceived disregard for player choices made throughout the trilogy.
Lost Odyssey: While the game has emotional moments,the final boss fight and overall ending can feel anti-climactic compared to the journey.
Halo 5: Guardians: Its ending was criticized for its frustrating cliffhanger, weak villain, and departure from established lore.
Shenmue 3: with the long gap between shenmue 2 and 3, players anticipated a satisfying conclusion, but faced abruptness that left them disapointed.
Far Cry 5: The unsatisfying ending frustrated many who had put hours into liberating the fictional Hope County.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: A decent outing in the long-running franchise, but the ending was considered fairly generic and didn’t really capture the essence of the adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Video Game Endings
What makes a video game ending bad?
A video game ending can be considered “bad” for a variety of reasons:
Plot Inconsistencies: When the ending contradicts established lore or introduces elements that don’t align with the game’s narrative.
Lack of Closure: Leaving too many questions unanswered or failing to resolve key plot points.
Anti-Climactic Final Boss: A weak or uninspired boss battle that doesn’t provide a satisfying culmination to the game’s challenges.
Unimpactful Choices: When player decisions throughout the game have little to no effect on the ending.
Abrupt or rushed Resolution: An ending that feels hurried or incomplete, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.
Unjustified Character Actions: When characters act in ways that are out of character or don’t make sense in the context of the narrative.
Cliffhangers Without Promise: Ending on a cliffhanger without a commitment to a sequel or further clarification, frustrating investment.
deus Ex Machina: Sudden and unexpected resolutions that feel unearned
Moral ambiguity without payoff: Asking players to make challenging moral choices, only to offer a flat or meaningless outcome from those choices
Why are video game endings so critically important?
Endings are crucial as they provide closure to the player’s experience.They are the final impression left by the game and can influence how the entire experience is remembered. A good ending can elevate a game from being simply enjoyable to truly memorable, while a bad ending can retroactively diminish the player’s recognition for even the best gameplay and story elements.
How much does the game developer team involve in its ending?
Game development is a team effort with crucial roles in designing the ending:
Narrative Designers/Writers: Craft the story, dialog, and character arcs, determining how the plot resolves and ensuring thematic consistency.
Game Directors: Have a vision for the entire game
Level Designers: Responsible for designing the environments for the events.
Gameplay Programmers: Program the gameplay mechanics for the final fights.
Art Directors: Ensure the visual style during the ending is consistent.
Producers: Manage the development timelines.
What are the most common pitfalls that lead to bad endings?
Here are some frequent issues that lead to underwhelming conclusions:
Rushed Development: Time constraints due to budget or deadlines frequently enough force developers to cut content or simplify the ending.
Changing Creative Direction: Alterations in the game’s vision during development can lead to a disjointed or unsatisfying conclusion.
Poor Planning: insufficiently detailed planning from the outset can result in plot holes or unresolved storylines.
Studio Interference: Publisher decisions or external pressures can sometimes force developers to compromise their creative vision.
Fan Feedback Overreach: Altering the ending based on incomplete feedback can have major setbacks and unresolve important plots.
Can downloadable content (DLC) fix a bad ending?
Sometimes,but it’s a risky proposition. In a few cases, DLC has been used to expand upon or provide more context to an unsatisfying ending. However, this approach can be controversial because it essentially requires players to pay extra to receive a complete or satisfying conclusion.
What are some video game endings that are almost universally praised?
Here are a few examples of video game endings widely considered to be well-executed:
Red Dead Redemption 2: A bittersweet but emotionally resonant conclusion to Arthur Morgan’s story.
The Last of Us: A controversial but thought-provoking ending that sparks debate about morality and choice.
Chrono Trigger: Multiple endings that reward exploration and provide a sense of closure.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: A poignant and iconic ending that elevates the game to legendary status.
Comparison Table: Good vs. Bad Game Endings
| feature | Good Ending | Bad Ending |
| ——————– | ———————————————- | ————————————————— |
| Plot resolution | Clear, satisfying, and consistent | Confusing, unresolved, or contradictory |
| Character Arcs | Meaningful conclusion to character development | Abrupt or illogical shifts in character behavior |
| Impact of Choices | Reflects player decisions | Ignores or negates player choices |
| Final Boss | Challenging and thematically appropriate | Easy, repetitive, or disconnected from the story |
| Emotional Impact | Evokes a strong emotional response | Leaves the player feeling indifferent or frustrated |
| Overall Impression | Enhances the overall gaming experience | Diminishes the player’s appreciation for the game |
These FAQs should give a more extensive overview and suggest potential additions to the list.