There are few things quite as intense as a good self-destruct sequence in a video game. The beauty of the sequence is that it can come in many different forms. It could be happening in a base or on some kind of ship, and you can have full control of every moment, or it can be played out in a tense cutscene.
Regardless of the situation the self-destruct sequence is in, they are almost always heart-stopping. Seeing your favorite character fight to survive against a tight timer is always something that leaves people wondering whether or not a character really will make it out of a tough situation.
10 Super Metroid
The ending of Super Metroid may not be the game’s only self-destruct sequence, but it is one that has become legendary for more than a few reasons. First, the entire situation is one of the most exciting self-destruct escapes in gaming. Period.
Few things are better than only having a few minutes to get off of a planet that is about to explode. Of course, you also have the option to save some alien critters on your way off just to really drive home how much of a hero Samus is even if she should have just called it quits.
9 Resident Evil Remake
Making your final escape from the Spencer Mansion in the Resident Evil Remake is a tense thing. You are likely more than well enough equipped to handle anything that comes your way, but once that timer starts officially counting down, most people probably get a bit suspicious.
Rather than a simple escape, you have to take on the Tyrant in a second round on the roof of the mansion. It’s tough to run out the timer in the fight, but that doesn’t make it any less tense. It’s all worth it in the end to escape the nightmare… for now.
8 Alien: Isolation
Rather than working under a tight timer or having a sequence filled with high-impact action, Alien: Isolation went in a completely different route from most games. The thing that makes the segment so great is that it’s focused on actually starting the self-destruct sequence.
Creeping around a ship with a horrific Alien creature potentially around every corner already makes every moment of Alien Isolation an incredible experience. But the fact that the final rush to escape could bring the Alien on you at any moment, making the final rush a choice between speed or stealth, was beyond words.
7 Kirby Super Star Ultra
Sure, when you escape the Halberd it’s actually because it’s going to crash into the ocean (complete with explosions), but it is going to involuntarily destroy the ship, so it still counts. The thing that makes it so great is the surprisingly dark situation for a Kirby game and the excellent music for the section.
Made even better, you get to square off against Meta Knight in a one-on-one fight before finally heading out on your final escape. It’s a fun and fast-paced section in a series of games that usually feel a bit more relaxed.
6 Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Since Conker’s Bad Fur Day implements almost every gaming trope possible throughout the game, it only made sense that it would use a self-destruct sequence at some point. While the timer isn’t really the biggest problem, rushing can lead to a lot of difficulties.
There are plenty of different things in your way to trip you up as you make your escape, and it might result in most people having to restart the escape multiple times. It’s not easy, but Conker is already a game that can be surprisingly hard at times.
5 GoldenEye 007
The Train mission from GoldenEye 007 is a bit infamous to some people due to how simple and linear the entire thing is, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a fan favorite. Speedrunners make the level look easy with plenty of time to get everything done before escaping the train.
With the right steps, the escape isn’t all that difficult, but inexperienced players might have to try the closing moments of the level a few times to get it right. Even after you’ve dipped out of the train, that doesn’t mean your escape is over.
4 Parasite Eve
There are more than a few people who love Parasite Eve and believe that the games deserve a lot more attention. While that’s up to each individual, it is hard to say that escaping the Ultimate Being doesn’t feel good.
Rather than initiating the usual loudly blaring self-destruct sequence, you sabotage the ship you’re on with a build up of pressure and escape just before a massive explosion. For how old the game is, it’s surprising how great the cutscene still looks to this day.
3 Halo: Combat Evolved
The entire Halo series seems to love massive structures blowing up, and most fans of the series appreciate that greatly. Heck, everyone would love to be Master Chief for a day with the life he leads. There are few things as exciting as gunning it on a warthog in order to make it out of a sticky situation.
The original Halo stands out for being one of the best games in the earlier era of 3D to make a game feel like a cinematic action movie. The entire finale of the original Halo is one that fans of the series will likely never forget.
2 Resident Evil 4
Pretty much everyone loves Resident Evil 4, even though it does make a significant departure from the horror that filled the earlier games in the series. Since this installment is so action-packed, it only makes sense that its finale is just as thrilling.
An entire island is exploding, and there’s only one option for a safe escape, a jet ski. It’s an over-the-top segment in a fantastic game, even letting you do sweet flips while you make your escape. The time limit isn’t hard to best, but the segment is incredibly memorable.
1 Ocarina Of Time
While not a traditional self-destruct sequence, in Ocarina Of Time, Ganon’s castle is coming down and you only have so much time to make it out with Princess Zelda. It shocked a lot of gamers by being one of the tensest moments in the game after facing what seemed to be the final boss.
It’s not a simple run to an exit, as you’ll still have to put some of your skills to work in order to make it out before the timer ticks down. The situation might have been too tough for some players, leading to that dark timeline in the Zelda canon where Link loses.