11 Best Video Game Endings Of All Time

GR: First impressions are incredibly important, but the last few minutes of a game—whether right before the credits roll or in some cases after—often make or break an entire experience for the player. How does the story end? Are we left with some incredibly cruel cliffhanger? Does everyone live happily ever after? To pay tribute to some excellent storytelling, we've decided to highlight eleven games that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.

Obviously, there are way too many games to possibly include all that are worthy of recognition, and some just have too many different endings that properly discussing them would be a headache and a half (I'm looking at you, Chrono Trigger) so please bear that in mind before you decide to chew me out. Okay? Thanks.

[dbjj12088]

Lots of great picks in here. Super convenient to have Youtube videos of each game on the list too.

[thorstein]

Yes, but no Portal 2 makes Thorstein AAANNNNGRRRY!

[knifefight]

Man, I loooooved the end of Portal 2. What a freaking clinic that game put on in terms of storytelling. But I suppose with only 11 slots, any author's list was bound to exclude someone else's faves :(

[Blastoise]

Knights of the old republic anyone?

[Blacktric]

-Portal 2 ending

-"Good"

Thanks for the laugh. Also Reach shouldn't be on that list. AT ALL. Replace it with something like KOTOR as Blastoise suggested and you're set.

[greatcrusader44]

Bit confused, what makes KotOR ending among the greatest ever? I haven't played it in awhile but don't remember the ending being extraordinary, I mean there wasn't anything wrong with it, but just seemed like a straightforward ending. You talking about the twist that happened on Leviathan? If so I wouldn't count that as part of the ending since there is a good 10 hrs left of gameplay afterwards (Depending on what star map you haven't gotten yet)

[Bimkoblerutso]

^ An "ending" isn't defined by an arbitrary number of hours or a single portion of the game. It's the events that lend closure to the primary arc of narrative.

Regardless of how much time was left in the game, the "twist" was basically the big answer to many of the game's questions.

[Getowned]

Half-Life 2: Episode 2! YEAH!! lol I loved the ending it was epic, the sh!t really hit the fan lol

I also enjoyed the ending to the Portal games.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Pretty terrible list, actually. Both Halo 3 (lol) and Halo Reach (LOL) are on the list, when even putting one of those games on the list is a bit of a stretch. Where are Ico or Shadow of the Colossus? Where is Bioshock? Uncharted 2? KotOR? Silent Hill 2? Terranigma? Ultima 7? And not a single PC game on there at ALL (Baldur's Gate, Fallout, and Planescape Torment all come to mind), and not a single game prior to the N64/PS1 era.

[Irishguy95]

MGS 3 and 1. 2 of my favorite games ever. Nice to see some love for Halo's endings as well

[alexcosborn]

That is why both franchises are easily two of my favorites!

[TrendyGamers]

I really enjoyed the Halo Reach ending.

[Snookies12]

Cool list and all, but putting 2 per page is kind of lame. If you HAVE to do multiple pages only do like 2 maybe 3 pages max. Otherwise a lot of people won't bother.

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

FF Crisis Core is my number 1. And beating KH when I was young was so sad. Going through all that just to be separated from Kairi and Riku was horrible. I wanted Sora to jump so bad. inFAMOUS 2 had 2 really good endings also.

[TheLyonKing]

Was very emotional both crisis and kh 1.

God I need to Play kh 1 again. Square can really produce emotional story telling when they try.

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

Once that collection comes out I'm gonna beat KH1 10 more times. I play either KH 1 or 2 every summer. It's just so good.

And also, FF10 and 358/2 Days were also very emotional.

[Norrison]

Infamous 2 good ending was epic. Even though my top 10 endings are (no order)
Alan Wake
FF7
KH
Bastion
Max Payne 3
HL2 and ep 2
Portal 2
TWD
AC2
Darksiders

[vishant101]

I have a question what happened at the end of Alan wake? like seriously the ending blew my mind

[Mikefizzled]

I see it as Alan created Mr Scratch and you play as him throughout the game whilst Alan writes the book 'Departure'. The darkness influences Alan into killing Alice at the start of the game. But she does not die, only until Alan realises this at the end where he changes the story so that she is freed and he remains trapped in the cabin. Zane tried to have a happily ever after ending but his loved one died because he survived.

[Xof]

Throne of Bhaal had the best ending in my book. Absolutely perfect way to finish off the greatest gaming series in history.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Sadly, most of the console-kiddies on this site haven't played the BG series, so people are going to disagree.

[raiden-49]

I agree with this list as I love mgs1.

[SockeyBoy]

I really loved the ending on Dust: An Elysian Tail. Far out I enjoyed that game.

[GTRrocker666]

Deus Ex HR, Dead Space, and God of War 3 had pretty good endings

[Conzul]

Get some whiteout for that last one and we'll talk.

[Hellsvacancy]

I really liked the ending to inFamaous

[GTRrocker666]

Yeah the Infamous series has a good storyline

[KongRudi]

I allways liked the endings in Nuclear War on the Amiga.
Especially when noone won, and the earth were nuked until the globe exploded. :)
I also liked it when there were winners tough.. But when noone won, were the best one.

link:
http://youtu.be/iWUOzcrzoKo...

I also really like the end of Journey on PS3, when you end with a partner. :)

[Kratoscar2008]

Persona 3 both the answer and the Journey endings are better than most of the list, those made me cry.

Runner up FFX.

[doogiebear]

Agreed. Persona FES endings are the most emotional, thought provoking endings I ever saw. Also, Final Fantasy 8's ending was a real mind-twister too.

[Kratoscar2008]

Yeah your right FF8 ending is mindblowing.

[CrescentFang]

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors for me

[A2X_]

Good list, but the fact that still no one mentionned Shadow of the colossus makes me sad.

[kupomogli]

Aside from Crisis Core and Snake Eater receiving well deserved spots, that list is garbage. Although everyone has an opinion.

[oldfriend86]

Never cared for any of the Halo endings, besides Reach. Definitely agree with Metal Gear choices, i this list was meant to be in order, I'd put 3 on top.

[BrianC6234]

Uncharted 2 should be on that list.

[TenSteps]

Not really. I mean don't get me wrong Uncharted 2 had great characters and great interactions among those characters. But the story for the most part was cliche.

[BrianC6234]

Uncharted 2 had a great ending. This isn't about the story, it's about the ending. It at least was as good as the Halo games as far as endings are concerned.

[TenSteps]

But the ending was cliche and predictable. I said story because I meant the entirety of UC2's story was predictable and all in all the ending is till a part of the story.

What I'm trying to say the ending is only as good as the way the story has built up on it. That's my argument on the situation. And UC2's ending was built up on a cliche story thereby making the ending predictable.

I won't comment on Halo, I've never played them.

[Kos-Mos]

Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, but american kids do not understand art.

[oIITSBIIo]

Batman AC have a great multi ending

[GaminGuys]

Always makes me laugh when people do a top games review and leave out the biggest games. Totally pointless. No COD cos ya just gotta be different. Wheres COD4 and don't tell me it wasn't a sublime ending. Even MOH Warfighter ending could have made an appearance here.

[bebojet]

Castlevania should've been on the list.

[Deku-Johnny]

Good list. I'd have used the ending to Kingdom Hearts 2 rather than the first one though.

[Moncole]

Mass Effect 3 has the best ending in a parallel universe.

[FoxHound_]

Good list. I always enjoyed listening to Ocelot's conversations with a higher power when the credits finished rolling.

[VforVideogames]

Alan wake was one of the top 10 endings of all time on my list

[TOBLERONE538]

i'm gonna just say it, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ending was incredibly emotional.

[cooperdnizzle]

I agree with a few on the list, not a bad list at all. Right off the top of my head i would throw in Silent hill 2, the ending with James confronting his wife and the truth of what really played out emotional and awesome as hell.

Second off the top of my head, heart of darkness. Awesome ending to a great underrated game.

[JonnyBigBoss]

Metal Gear Solid 3!!!

[gamernova]

You had me at kingdom hearts :)

[EditorAtGNG]

Prince of Persia had one of the best endings EVER. It was so charming and awesome, while also maintaining a strong sense of conclusion AND a cliff hanger... Arguably one of the best games of all time and start of a franchise that will be remembered for decades to come.

PS: Half Life 2: Episode 2 still gives me the chillz. And still no news on a sequel. I mean, really Valve... you can't just leave us hanging like this. Freaking hurts.

[kesvalk]

where is Braid? my mind imploded at the ending of it!

[bayonetta]

nice 2 see Metal Gear Solid 3 on the list

[Venoxn4g]

I would add Okami

[OneAboveAll]

I thought the new Mortal Kombat re-boot's ending was pretty good.

[stage88]

Crash Bandicoot 1 - Saving Tawna

Loved that ending and the music.

[CanadianTurtle]

Infamous 1 had an outstanding ending