Video games are distinctively unique compared to other forms of entertainment, as you spend significant amounts of time controlling protagonists, building deep relationships with characters, and spending hundreds of hours within their constructed worlds.

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It is essential that, after having invested so much of your time, the end of a game's story is impactful and has a satisfying emotional weight to it. Expectations for high-quality narratives have increased over the years, but luckily for us, games have come a long way since their 8-bit forefathers, with their silent protagonists and text-based dialogue. Here are some of the best game endings that leave the player wholly satisfied.

It should go without saying for a list about endings (but we’ll say it anyway) that there are heavy spoilers for every game in this list.

10 Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

The Prince handing Farah the dagger of time in the end of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Arguably the best game in the series, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has an engaging plot that is told in a refreshingly unique narrative style.

In the game’s final moments, Farah dies tragically, which forces the Prince to travel back in time to before he ever met her. He recounts to her the whole story, revealing where the game’s narration has been directed the entire time. After leaning in for a kiss and receiving a cringe-worthy rejection, the Prince rewinds time and leaves, as the only person that knows what truly happened. Although not quite the romantic Hollywood ending you might hope for, it is still one of the best showcases of a deep and nuanced relationship within a game.

9 Halo: Combat Evolved

Collage of the final Pillar of Autumn Warthog run and Master Chief in the end cutscene in Halo Combat Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved is brimming with atmosphere, especially in its explosive ending. After discovering that Halo was nothing more than an elaborate self-destruct button for the flood, the Chief and Cortana detonate the fusion reactor of the Pillar of Autumn and make a daring escape through the huge space cruiser.

The frantic Warthog breakout sequence is one of the most memorable end levels in gaming history. Seeing Master Chief escape just in time, the Halo ring shatter, and the flood being thwarted, is all extremely satisfying. We also get to witness the Chief finally take off his helmet for some well-deserved rest. Let’s just hope he gave it a bit of a clean before Halo 2.

8 Batman: Arkham City

Batman carrying the Joker at the end of Batman Arkham City

The Batman Arkham games are some of the best representations of the Dark Knight, and Arkham City is the most impactful of Rocksteady’s trilogy.

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The finale of the game sees a terminally ill Joker attempt to cling to his reign of terror by curing his sickness. In the last battle with Batman, Joker accidentally destroys the antidote that would have cured him, and solidifies his fate. A stoic and broken Batman carries out Joker’s lifeless body and lays him on the ground, without a word. This moment is surprisingly heartbreaking, considering how much grief the Joker has caused the entire city. It shows Batman’s emotional connection to a tragic figure who he ultimately wanted to save.

7 God Of War

Kratos following Atreus at the peak in Jotunheim at the end of God of War

2018’s God of War is a departure from the series in that it takes a far more serious tone and includes Kratos’ son, Atreus, to accompany him on his god-slaying journey.

After an entire game battling the ancient gods and deadly creatures of Norse mythology, they finally arrive at the highest peak in Jötunheim to scatter Atreus’ mother’s ashes. Before the ascent, Atreus stumbles upon a mural which depicts their entire journey throughout the game, as well as an uncertain future for Kratos. Seeing their issues resolved and the fully-blossomed relationship between father and son is incredibly touching, and witnessing them finally reach their destination pays off in a very gratifying way.

6 Mass Effect 2

All squad members you can choose in the suicide mission at the end of Mass Effect 2

Following on from dozens of hours of building relationships and performing tasks with the crew of the Normandy SR-2, the final ‘suicide mission’ in Mass Effect 2 is something that will stay in the minds of those who played it for a very long time.

Depending on the choices you made throughout the game, the ending could change quite significantly. Characters have the chance to die permanently and will not show up in the third game, which makes your decisions feel meaningful and impactful. The final scene shows the awakening of the full force of the Reapers. They pose a threat to the entire galaxy, which raises the stakes and sets up the next game perfectly.

5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Witcher Ending

Ciri sitting with Geralt in an inn for her Witcher ending in The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

Ciri’s ‘Witcher ending’ in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is as close to a ‘good’ ending that you will get from CD Project Red’s masterpiece. There are a number of outcomes for Ciri, including becoming Empress, following the path of a Witcher, or suffering a tragic death at the hands of the White Frost.

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There are no clear right or wrong choices to be made, but having Ciri join Geralt on his travels as a Witcher seems to be the most fitting - especially after spending many hours trying to track her down throughout his journey. It makes the most thematic sense, as it’s the role that she always wanted to play and serves as a somewhat happy ending for Geralt.

4 Portal 2

Chell holding Wheatley as they travel through a portal on the moon in Portal 2

Both Portal games were near-perfect masterpieces that included innovative and challenging puzzles, and a delightfully hilarious story to accompany their impeccable level design.

The ending of Portal 2 sees the lovably deranged AI, Wheatley, be thwarted in his lust for power in an exciting sequence where you teleport him to the moon. After Chell and the ever-quotable GLaDOS resolve their differences, Chell escapes to the surface and is serenaded by some operatic turrets and GLaDOS as she sings “Want You Gone”, which is a wonderful fan-pleasing throwback to the viral hit “Still Alive” from the first game.

3 Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Cassie, Nathan and Elena talking in their family home at the end of Uncharted 4

After spending four Uncharted games with the cool-headed Nathan Drake and his band of lovable treasure hunters, the action-heavy adventure series comes to a very satisfying and poignant end.

Years after Nate and his brother Sam are reunited, and he and Elena decide to continue to live a life of (more responsible) adventure, we find their young daughter living in an idyllic tropical beachside house. She searches for her parents and stumbles upon the treasures and trinkets of their wild, previous life. When confronted, Nate tells her everything, hinting at a possible sequel starring his daughter, Cassie. It’s a fitting end for Nate and the beloved characters we have all grown to love for so many years, and gives them the happy ending they all deserve.

2 Red Dead Redemption

John Marston against an entire firing squad at the end of Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption is set at the turn of the 20th century in the Wild West, where John Marsten must find and eliminate the gang that once betrayed him in an attempt to keep his family safe.

After having done all that the Bureau has asked of him, John realises that he is Edgar Ross’ last target. Ross finds John and tragically guns him down, leaving a widowed mother and a devastated son to pick up the pieces. Thankfully, you get a chance for redemption as you get to control John’s son, Jack, years later on his quest for revenge. Jack tracks down Ross and shoots him dead, honouring his father and serving a satisfying dose of justice before the credits roll.

1 The Last Of Us

Joel saving Ellie at the end of the Last of Us

At the end of The Last of Us, the Fireflies make it clear that they need to remove the infected portion of Ellie’s brain to make a cure, which will undoubtedly kill her in the process. Joel, having developed a deep father-daughter bond with Ellie, does not allow this, and goes on a murderous rampage to save her and escape. This dooms the fate of humanity.

Although bittersweet, we empathise with Joel. We know he is extremely selfish and objectively wrong, but given the chance, it's probably what we would have decided to do to save those that we love. It perfectly reflects the themes of the game, and elevated storytelling for the entire gaming medium.

Next: Most Bittersweet Video Game Endings