This Is Why Endings Are So Disappointing

Most players don't finish the games they start. Is it any wonder, then, that endings get short-changed?

[P_Bomb]

It always blows my mind seeing these stats over the years, how so many games go unfinished. Imagine never finding out Samus was a woman, that Big Boss was still alive, that Booker was Comstock or that it was all just Mario's dream?

I can't count how many times games got better later in the campaign and all the cool sights and sounds, mechanics and moments I'd have missed otherwise.

[Macka1080]

It's kinda nuts, huh? I find it hard to not finish a game, even if it's not particularly great. I get a little antsy if I don't. What if, as you said, there's a massive twist, or a big payoff just around the corner? Most of the time that's not the case, but it's still perplexing how many people simply abandon games without seeing them through.

[jeremyj2913]

I'm the same way. I wasn't the biggest fan of Witcher 3 but I got so far that I have to return to it at some point because I have to finish it. Lol

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Very good article. I am currently going through my backlog now and feeling quite well with myself due to it. Not only did I experience timeless endings ranging from NES era and beyond but by the time I am done, any current games I've felt on the fence of buying will drop in price so it's somewhat a win-win. It always feels good marking another X on my checklist.

[Macka1080]

That's a smart idea! Considering how quickly games go on sale, too, you're not even missing out for long. Plus, older games provide interesting perspective on the games of today. Length, difficulty, tutorials: a lot has changed.

[drizzom]

Maybe these new games just aren't as engaging as older games so the player gets bored and stops playing.

[Godmars290]

Maybe because gaming has become more socially based.

Then again, only regarding the chart, the whole thing comes off as being more than a bit misleading.

I mean, how long does it take to finish Portal or Batman versus 20 hours?

[Macka1080]

I did examine some shorter games, which are in the second chart in the article. The completion rates definitely go up, but not by as much as you might think. Very few 2-3 hr games rise above 50% completion on average.

EDIT:
Can't reply to @Godmars290 below, so I'll do so here. All the data is taken from Steam achievement percentages, tracked by Valve itself. If you want to look at it yourself, you can find them right on a game's Steam store page. For the hour counts, I used howlongtobeat.com to get an average.

[Godmars290]

Okay, but where are you getting your data from? You provide a couple of links from superficially related examples then put up charts that may as well as be speculation.

Then again those speculations could be right because storytelling in gaming has become -been- so basic and trivial, but then so is the majority of what passes for being readable on the internet. Given that many write to provide "content" and just to write to generate hits.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

There is some truth behind both of your statements. We live an era where it's more important to tell everyone you own something then actually enjoying what you bought so your notions are not too farfetched.

[Sunny_D]

I can see where you're going with that. I bet the most recent example was Uncharted 4. It sold well, but how many nonfans bought the game, but never actually finish it? Probably a lot.

[Deadpooled]

@Sunny_D

I think it was less of a problem with Uncharted 4, the campaign took me just under 15 hours (in regards to this article, the game kept getting better and better with every chapter whether it was by storyline or action, and the boss fight and ending was incredible). Also because of the internet and youtube walkthroughs floating around, if someone gets stuck and gets impatient near the ending enough to quit, they could just watch the ending on youtube.

[Macka1080]

Could be. There are also so many more games now, so the second someone gets bored, there are a dozen other games vying for their attention.

[warriors_13]

games these days are massive. they need to be really enjoyable or engaging for me to want to finish them.

I prefer linear games with good story telling and pacing. games like tlou, uncharted, dark souls I'll definitely play till the end.

personally I can't finish most open world games. I get bored of the mundane tasks and it starts to feel like a chore.

[Macka1080]

The collect-them-all model of many open-world games has definitely been run into the ground. It's most frustrating when that kind of stuff is used to gatekeep story missions or lock the best abilities (as Just Cause 3 recently did).