Aside from stunning visuals, intriguing gameplay and unique concept, one of many things that make a video game a piece of artwork is the endings. The great endings do not only mark the last point of the whole story in the most captivating ways, but also contain the potentials of opening up a brand new story for a sequel (if it exists).
That's why game developers are spending more and more time polishing the endings for their games. It's the best way to leave echoes in gamers' hearts even long after they've finished the games, which might make the whole franchise become successful.
So today, let's have a journey with Gurugamer to go back and experience the 5 video games with the most dramatic endings we've ever seen. Without wasting your time any longer, let's have a look at the first one:
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Release date: 2007
Supported platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
The Modern Warfare series of Call of Duty is quite misleading for the ones that have just newly taken up, as its naming system lacks identifying elements. For example, the latest and also the most successful title - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is even newer than the fourth installment of the main series - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007). There is also a 'Remastered' title that adds a whole new level of mistaking to the series.
However, if you've experienced the whole story of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, you will never mistake this title with the other in this list again. Call of Duty is mainly famous for its captivating shooting experience, but Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is one of the few titles that have satisfying endings.
You can see that ending actions down here:
The last mission you and the other Loyalists have to encounter is when the helicopter Mil Mi-24 Hind blasting the bridge, preventing you from escaping. In the last fight for surviving, you'll have to experience the pain of seeing your comrades shot down one by one by the enemies, and soon, you'll get into the same situation when Zakhaev arrives himself and starts to unleash his fire.
However, sparks of hope come as your side's helicopter Mi-28 Havoc comes for the rescue, destroying the Mi-24 Hind. Suddenly distracted by the unexpected event, Zakhaev turns his back onto you, which gives Price the chance to give you - Soap an M1911. Not wasting his effort, you use the gun to kill Zakhaev and the rest of his crew.
Seriously wounded yourself, you barely survive as the helicopter airlifted you and take you to safety. This ending feels like you're experiencing the last resort of the main character in Hollywood movies, which left unforgettable memories of one of the best endings ever in the franchise.
2. Journey
Release date: 2012
Supported platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, iOS
Journey is the video game masterpiece from thatgamecompany, which has presented the whole community about the potential of video games to become a piece of art. And the fact that this game comes from an indie developer also inspired other independent devs to create games that are both visually stunning and intriguing story-wise.
Of course, good story-driven games could not lack its dramatic endings, and Journey has gone much further than that. It has summed up the whole adventuring story of you on the vast yellow sands in the most beautiful way, which inspired many to take another journey with a different route.
You can see that in the video below:
In this game, you'll take the role of a mysterious traveler, staring your own journey from the endless yellow sands. You have the special ability to fly for a short time with the help of your magical scarf, which helps you a lot with your exploring the landscape and get to the ultimate objective - the huge mountain that was slit from the peak to the middle.
The ending of Journey puts you into the aesthetic white landscape after you've collapsed on the snow. You've received the energy from other mysterious figures (that look very similar to you), and manage to reach the top of the mountain.
That's where you find the last point of your journey and the identity of yourself - turning into a shooting star - rising from the sky and drops back to the sands that you've stared. Then, you're given the choice to start the game again, which delivers the message of the life cycle, where no point is the end, and neither the start.
The ending doesn't give many twists, but the messages hidden inside its gorgeous visuals are the things that bring Journey to such a high level of success.
3. GTA V
Release date: 2013
Supported platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series has gained its reputation from its story-rich missions system, and GTA V - the latest and also one of the most successful titles - is not an exception. In fact, this is the first time in the series where you can take control of more than one character in the series, which allows you to experience the story even more thorough.
The journey of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin actually has three separate endings, in which you will be the one deciding which one will survive. All of them have their specific realistically cruel messages of paying your debts in the past and brotherhoods' forgiving, but we're talking about the ending in which you can save all three of the main characters.
You can see it down here:
The criminal story continues as Trevor and Michael temporarily set aside their grief about their dead pals - Brad and agree to work together. However, their enemies approach Franklin to persuade him to work for them by either killing Trevor or Michael. If you choose any of these two options, the ending will lead you back to your normal lives, but that's not what a true friend should do.
Instead, the game offers you another choice - deciding to save both of them but will require you to perform a deadly mission. Working with the two old guys, you'll help them escape from the heist, find their enemies, and send them to hell. You can decide to end the mission stylishly with your actions, but the ending where the crew pushes their enemies out of the cliff with the cars still brings me chills now.
4. God of War
Release date: 2018
Supported platforms: PS4
The God of War series is even easier for us to mistake their titles than the Call of Duty series. Following Kratos on his journey to slay the Nordic gods, the series is outstanding for both its satisfying hack-n-slash actions as well as the overturn of the Nordic concept. The one we're going to talk about today is the 2018's God of War, seeing the adventure of Kratos and his son - Atreus.
The newest God of War games marked a huge turn in the series, featuring the immature image of Kratos as a father rather than just jumping on the Gods in the most stylish way. His son - Atreus also brought a new way of narrative-telling as well as fighting, which was showcased fully through its ending (and the secret one as well).
See both of it in the video below:
The whole story of 2018's God of War rotates around the journey of the father and son couple - Kratos and Atreus to fulfill Faye's (Kratos' second wife and Atreus' mother) of having her ashes scattered from the highest place of the Nine Realms. However, as her identity as a Jotun (a Giant), the duo has to do several jobs before being able to cremate her body, which leads to their deadly encounter with the Aesir gods.
The ending of God of War features the tandem work of Kratos and Atreus to slay their last enemy - Baldur. The fight is all over the top, with the father-son duo falling behind, but then Atreus called the giant serpent to bite the heck out of Baldur, and then finally, fulfill Faye's last wish. However, the fun part remains behind, as the story revealed that Faye actually named her child - Atreus - as Loki. And the last scene where Thor has come to their house in Midgard, implies that Ragnarok will not take place soon.
I can't wait to see its sequel after ending the game!
5. The Last of Us
Release date: 2013
Supported platforms: PS3, PS4
Capping today's list with one of the best endings that we can find from a narrative-driven game - The Last of Us. Even though the game was released for more than 6 years, its story especially its open ending is still mentioned frequently nowadays, and not many titles in the industry now can replicate its success.
In general, The Last of Us features the journey of a man - Joel that has lost his daughter in a mysterious disease apocalypse namely Cordyceps fungus. Suffering from his unsettling loss, he has lived in the Earth's safe zone while carrying several illegal missions, and his life turns 180 degrees as he takes the task of 'shipping' a young girl - Ellie.
The story is full of touching moments, where Joel starts to find his daughter's image inside Ellie, and starts to grow some protective feelings towards the kind girls. Their journey to the destination is filled with dangers, but working together, they've finally reached the destination. However, waiting for the duo inside this facility is a hidden plot that none of them expect, which brings Joel to the place where he has to make his moral choice.
You can find what he has chosen in the video below:
To be more specific, Joel gradually finds out that Ellie was actually infected by the fungus but didn't turn into a zombie. Even more shocking that the one that hired him for this job - the leader of the Fireflies - Marlene - already knew about this, and all she wants is to make Joel protect Ellie to their facility. Their objective is to extract samples from Ellie to make a vaccine curing the disease for the people suffering here, but will end up harming the life of the girl.
Joel now has to take a tough option from letting Ellie die or saving her. And while some might think about the major first, Joel could not neglect his true feeling, and humanely decided to save the girl and flee from the operation area instead. He also decided to lie to Ellie about the truth behind the operation and hide her somewhere else in order for the girl to live safely.
The Last of Us: Part II is coming very soon, and I'm very excited to see how Ellie grows up and finds out about the truth!
Conclusion
That's the end of our list of 5 video games with the most dramatic endings. If you feel that we've missed out on some great titles, don't forget to let us know in the comment section below. And if you haven't tried any among those 5 games, we highly recommend checking them out at least for once.
Enjoy!