6 Classic Franchises That Can Have Dark Endings in Gaming

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Video games based on popular stories sometimes show a bleak future for characters we love. Usually, games stick to the established personalities and ideas from the original source material. But, because many games have different endings, developers can explore the darkest possibilities for these characters and their worlds, showing what could happen if things went terribly wrong.

Many games now feature bleak outcomes that show what happens when players fail to use their skills effectively – essentially, a “bad ending” for beloved characters. Sometimes, these dark endings are developed into full campaigns where players actually become the villains, tasked with defeating the heroes they previously supported. Here are six examples of popular franchises facing potentially devastating conclusions in video games.

Batman: Dark Tomorrow

Released in 2003 for the GameCube and Xbox, Batman: Dark Tomorrow laid some groundwork for the later Batman: Arkham games. The game culminates in a showdown between Batman and his classic foe, Ra’s Al Ghul. But to achieve the best ending – where Batman truly saves the world – players first had to locate and disable Ra’s bombs. Otherwise, even if Batman defeated Ra’s, the villain’s explosives would detonate, destroying a third of the planet. This bleak outcome occurs in multiple endings, leaving a grim fate for the DC Universe even after Batman’s victory.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players team up with Marvel heroes to fight large groups of villains on various gaming consoles. Each level has a hidden goal that, if completed, improves the game’s ending. But if you skip these optional missions, the future of the Marvel Universe looks bleak. Failing to fully explore the game and rescue everyone could lead to serious consequences, like the death of Charles Xavier, the end of mutants, Thanos taking over, or even the destruction of the Western United States by an asteroid.

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest

The game The Lord of the Rings: Conquest played a lot like Star Wars: Battlefront, letting players experience famous battles from Middle-earth. A unique and somewhat controversial feature was an ‘Evil’ campaign where Frodo fails at Mount Doom, giving Sauron a chance to take back the One Ring. In this mode, players control Sauron’s forces, attacking and destroying the remaining heroes and their armies. While it’s entertaining to play as powerful villains like the Balrog or Saruman, this campaign presents a grim and devastating outcome for the world of The Lord of the Rings.

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

Released in 1992, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is a beloved point-and-click adventure game where players take on the role of Indiana Jones in a worldwide quest. The game features multiple possible endings, often determined by the fate of Indy’s companion, Sophia, and whether the villain, Ubermann, is ultimately outsmarted. However, two endings are particularly bleak. In one, Indy can be defeated by the Nazis, leading to a narration suggesting Hitler will conquer the world. In another, the game’s final transformation doesn’t affect Sophia or Ubermann – it happens to Indiana Jones himself. He briefly gains incredible power, but his body can’t handle it and turns to ash. While this does destroy the Nazis nearby, it gives Indy a rather unfortunate and ignominious end.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The Star Wars: The Force Unleashed games take place between the prequel and original Star Wars trilogies. Players control Starkiller, Darth Vader’s hidden apprentice. The game offers two endings: a heroic one where Starkiller sacrifices himself to save his friends, and a darker path where he embraces the Sith and kills Vader. Choosing the dark path unlocks extra missions where Starkiller, now fully corrupted, drastically alters the original trilogy. He defeats Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, turns Luke Skywalker to the dark side, and ultimately destroys the Rebel Alliance by killing Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Leia, who has been trained as a Jedi.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

South Park: The Stick of Truth cleverly translates the show’s signature humor into an RPG, even poking fun at common fantasy game storylines. A key moment arrives when players find a bomb—a ‘snuke’—hidden inside Mr. Slave. To proceed, they have to shrink down and defuse it. But if they fail the mission or accidentally set it off, the entire town of South Park is obliterated in a radioactive explosion, instantly ending the game and rolling the credits. It’s a darkly funny way for the game to end, wiping out the whole town.

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2025-10-27 21:42