One of the most important things about a game is how it begins. The initial game content, such as the gameplay, plot hooks, and characters, all have to draw the players in, impressing them enough to give the game a chance. However, there are those who say endings are equally, if not more important.
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Endings should be satisfying for the players to experience, as the last few hours of the games are the ones players are likely to remember most. As the player’s last hurrah, developers should always aim for it to be anexciting and explosive end, as that is sure to leave players satisfied while keeping the door open for a sequel.
9Mass Effect 3
TheMass Effecttrilogy is all about the terrifyinggalactic threat of the Reapers, a race of sentient machine life-forms that aim to eradicate all intelligent life in the universe bar one species, allowing the universe to flourish for thousands of years before returning to rinse and repeat. The Reapers are shown in glimpses across the trilogy, but they invade in the thirdMass Effect 3.
Mass Effect 3’s endgame sees Shepard fighting through hordes of Reapers, eventually limping their way to the crucible after being nearly lasered in half. It’s undoubtedly one of the most thrilling moments to come from the series, as it is not only Shepard’s life that hangs in the balance but also the fate of the rest of the world.
8Dragon Age: Origins
The first entry into BioWare’s grim fantasy world is still regarded asthe greatest entry in the franchiseto date. Set during the time of a Blight, which sees countless Darkspawn pour across the world, slaying people or taking them to add their numbers under the directions of the Archdemon, players control a Grey Warden, a skilled warrior who is the only one truly capable of ending the Blight.
Most people hail the opening of this game as the best part, butDragon Age: Origins' endgame content is also worthy of people’s recognition. An entire game campaign’s worth of traveling the world, gathering allies and companions culminates in one final effort against the Blight, where the Grey Warden will finally face off against the Archdemon and end it once and for all.
7Undertale
Toby Fox’s debut into game-making took the world by storm with its charming characters, catchy music, and notoriously difficult bosses, particularly during the endgame. Players who took the pacifist route found themselves face to face with Flowey, whose form mutates until it takes up nearly the entire screen, and players will be forced into bullet-hell gameplay to survive the encounter.
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But if players chose the ‘genocide’ route, in which they chose to kill all the characters they encountered, Sans would be awaiting them, and players would be forced to endure the notoriously difficult boss fight that is sure to get their adrenaline-pumping. As far as endgame content goes,Undertalehas some of the most thrilling and perhaps most frustrating.
6Divinity: Original Sin 2
BeforeBaldur’s Gate 3, there wasDivinity: Original Sin 2, the second installment in the RPG game duo that putLarianon the map. In this RPG, players took control of a Sourceror, people with a power known as Source running through their veins, which attracts monstrous creatures from the Void. In an effort to stem the tides of these creatures, the Divine Order is purging any Sourcerors they find, turning them into husks.
As with other Larian RPGs, players can create their own unique character from the wide range of classes and races unique toDivinity: Original Sin 2’s world, or take control of one of the available origin characters. There is alsothe option to play with friends, which can make the endgame content even more thrilling when they are pitted against one another, as only one can become the next Divine.
5NieR: Automata
NieR: Automatawas a truly unique RPG experience set in the distant future, where humanity left Earth as hostile robots overran the planet. Androids were developed to fight these machine lifeforms in the hopes Earth could be liberated and humans might return, not knowing that the humans are now extinct.
What sets this game apart from others is that there are numerous false endings scattered throughout the game that most players will experience by accident, such as eating a mackerel or self-destructing while aboard the Bunker. As such, there is a case to be made that all the content duringNieR: Automatacould be part of the endgame, as players might never know when they might trigger one of these false endings. In addition to these, the canon’endings' of the games alone are thrilling, such as the end that sees gameplay continue while the credits roll, and will undoubtedly punch a hole in the players' hearts.
4Persona 5
Persona 5brought back the split game formula fans know and love, where they must strike a balance between living the life of an ordinary school student while moonlighting as aPersonauser and fighting the dangerous shadows that lurk unseen in the world by non-users.
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In the fifth installment, players assumed the role of Joker, who was transferred to Tokyo following some trouble with the law after he saved a woman from being kidnapped. He and the rest of the Phantom Thieves band together to change the hearts of the rotten adults in society but find themselves with one hell of a final boss. The Phantom Thieves must face off against God, a powerful being that can soak incredible amounts of damage. The fight is a thrilling send-off before Joker parts ways with his friends duringPersona 5’s bitter-sweet ending.
3The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis one of the longest RPGs in recent memory, with plenty of exploration, side-quests, and Gwent to playinstead of chasing the main story. Geralt is taking up his swords once again as he chases after Ciri, who is fleeing from the Wild Hunt. After many hours, they finally reunite and decide to stand together against the threat.
Players will intermittently take control of Geralt and Ciri throughout the game, and this trend continues into the endgame when they make their stand against the Wild Hunt. Geralt and Ciri must face off against a series of tough foes in a row, makingThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntone of the most adrenaline-pumping games at its end.
2The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdomwas a much-celebrated entry in theLegend of Zeldafranchise, following the success of the beloved open-worldBreath of the Wild. After the safety of the Kingdom is once again threatened by the evil Ganondorf, Link must prepare to face him and end the looming threat he poses, once he has foundevery last korok seed, of course.
When players feel they are ready, they must embark deep below Hyrule Castle to find the Demon King, but even the road towards him is fraught with danger. Players must fight through a legion of tough enemies even before they face off against the challenging final confrontation. Every moment ofTears of the Kingdom’s endgame is thrilling and sure to have players' hearts pounding.
1Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2is often heralded as the best game in the series thanks to the bold new direction the series took by killing off the central character, Commander Shepard, in the opening sequence. They are resurrected by Cerberus and brought on board to work with them to stop the next Reaper threat, the Collectors, who are kidnapping entire human colonies to add more soldiers to their ranks.
Mass Effect 2’sendgame is one of the most notorious, appropriately named the Suicide Mission. If players aren’tcareful with what character they choosefor each role, they risk endangering that character and the mission as a whole. Players will also have to demonstrate game skills as they fight through an army of Collectors, eventually reaching the final confrontation. Once the fight is done, players will see a glimpse of the Reapers approaching the galaxy en masse, further enhancing the endgame’s overall tension.
