5 Unforgettable Game Endings That Will Surely Leave You In Tears

by

A game’s ending is where its story comes together, delivering on major plot points and emotional resolutions. Strong endings are what players remember long after they finish playing, prompting them to reflect on everything that happened. A truly great ending can elevate a good game to legendary status, making it something players enthusiastically recommend to others.

Game endings can be really divisive – they can either solidify a game’s legacy or ruin the entire experience, depending on how the story and characters are handled. Some games, like The Last of Us Part II, are well-known for their bold and unexpected endings that differ greatly from the rest of the gameplay. While these endings aren’t always popular, they are often unforgettable. Generally, games that truly resonate with players put a lot of thought and effort into crafting satisfying finales, more so than many other titles.

5. Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption tells a story of survival in the Wild West. You play as John Marston, and your progress depends on your choices as he hunts down his former gang members. While you’d expect a happy ending after such a difficult task, the game’s world is unforgiving. Just as John returns home, he’s betrayed by federal agents and must fight to protect his family, ultimately sacrificing himself to ensure their escape.

Although you eventually avenge John’s death by confronting Edgar Ross in an epilogue, the image of John, riddled with bullets and facing a line of soldiers, remains one of the most powerful scenes in video game history. This moment is so impactful because of how well-developed John Marston is as a character – his interactions and the moral code you build through your choices throughout the game make his fate truly resonate. Being able to actively seek revenge on Ross’s men before your inevitable death further enhances the immersive and tragic experience of John’s final moments.

4. Nier: Automata (Ending E)

NieR: Automata has a lot of different endings – five main ones and 21 hidden endings, plus an additional one from the DLC. Some endings are discovered almost by accident, by skipping objectives or doing unexpected things. But Ending E is unique. Many players consider it the game’s true ending, as it brings everything together and offers a powerful resolution that contrasts with the sadness of the earlier endings.

Endings A through D result in tragic outcomes for 2B, A2, and 9S. However, Ending E represents the combined effort of the characters and the player to break the cycle of repeated tragedy. In a unique and symbolic finale, you fight the game’s credits themselves, which can be seen as a battle against the forces controlling the world of NieR: Automata. While emotionally difficult, this ending is made more powerful knowing other players have experienced it, and you even have the option to help others by deleting your save file after completing it.

3. Telltale’s The Walking Dead (Season 1)

Telltale Games was once renowned for its compelling stories, and their The Walking Dead is often considered their finest achievement. The first season of the game is filled with difficult choices that genuinely impact the story, making you feel responsible for what happens. This adds a lot of emotional weight, especially with the strong connection players develop with the main characters, Lee and Clementine. Even though you try your best, the sadness of Lee’s eventual fate is particularly powerful and makes the ending incredibly impactful.

Throughout the game, Lee acts as a father figure to Clementine, and your choices focus on keeping them both safe and finding moments of happiness. Sadly, the first season always ends with Lee being bitten by a zombie. What makes this especially heartbreaking is that Clementine is forced to make the difficult choice of either shooting Lee or letting him turn into a zombie, a moment that powerfully reflects the core themes of The Walking Dead comics and TV series.

2. Halo: Reach

I’ve always felt like sacrifice is a huge part of the Halo games, especially Reach. But what really set Reach apart for me was that it let me create my own Spartan – Noble Six. It wasn’t about playing as Master Chief this time. Right from the start, customizing my armor made me feel so much more connected to the story. I was fighting alongside a really skilled team of Spartans, and it felt personal, knowing we were all going down fighting to protect humanity.

The story of Halo: Reach centers on the doomed defense of the planet Reach against the alien Covenant. As you play, you witness the slow and tragic fall of everything and everyone you know. Each member of your team makes a heroic last stand, and ultimately, you do too. The game is particularly remembered for its ‘Lone Wolf’ mission, where you play through your character’s final moments, fighting off the Covenant while ensuring humanity’s last chance for survival escapes.

The sight of a cracked helmet, accompanied by mournful music, marks the final moments of a hero who wouldn’t live to see the Covenant defeated, but whose sacrifice paved the way for humanity’s eventual triumph. Many Halo fans still vividly remember the image of Noble 6’s helmet resting on the ruined landscape of Reach, even long after the game first came out.

1. Silent Hill 2 (Leave Ending)

Similar to NieR: Automata, Silent Hill 2 features multiple endings, but three provide the main conclusions to its deeply psychological story. The ending you get depends on how you react to a hidden truth about the main character, James: his guilt over his wife’s death is the source of all the terrifying things he experiences. Other endings, like “In Water” and “Maria,” explore this truth in different ways. “In Water” implies James takes his own life, while “Maria” suggests he’s doomed to repeat the events that led him to Silent Hill.

Although all the game’s endings are emotionally intense, the ‘Leave’ ending offers the most sense of resolution. Here, James finally faces his true feelings about his wife, acknowledging the guilt and bitterness that drove their tragic fate and haunted him for so long. This ending allows James to begin accepting his actions, even if he can’t fully forgive himself. It ultimately lets him escape Silent Hill with Laura, another person harmed by the town.

The last letter from James’ wife, Maria, is the most impactful part of Silent Hill 2. The scene, where James walks away from the town, is particularly haunting. Very few games explore the inner lives of their characters with such depth, and this game’s ending is enough to make it unforgettable.

What game ending really hit you emotionally? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

Read More

2026-02-26 18:17