Games With Endings That Still Confuse And Fascinate Players

Video games are a special way to tell stories, often giving players choices that impact what happens. Some game creators intentionally end their games with ambiguous or symbolic conclusions, leaving a lot open to the player’s interpretation. These endings frequently spark long-lasting discussions among fans, who carefully examine every detail to uncover hidden meanings. Here are a few games known for their thought-provoking and debated conclusions.

‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

The story centers on Booker DeWitt, who is trying to save a woman named Elizabeth from the flying city of Columbia. As the game progresses, players discover that the villain, Comstock, is actually another version of Booker from a different reality. Elizabeth explains that there are endless parallel universes, and special structures called lighthouses connect them. In a surprising turn, she drowns Booker during a baptismal ritual to ensure Comstock is never born in any of those realities.

‘Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty’ (2001)

Raiden learns the entire Big Shell mission was a carefully constructed simulation run by a mysterious organization called the Patriots. He discovers the Colonel he was taking orders from wasn’t a real person, but an AI built from what society expects. This AI explains it wants to manage the information people receive, believing it can prevent society from being overwhelmed by unimportant things. The game concludes with a live-action scene where the characters talk about genetics and memes, and directly address the audience.

‘Bloodborne’ (2015)

In the city of Yharnam, hunters are trying to find out what’s causing a terrible disease that transforms people into monsters. The player’s decisions determine the ending: they can wake up and forget everything, take over as the caretaker of the Hunter’s Dream, or undergo a profound transformation by consuming special items. This final path evolves the hunter beyond human limits, suggesting they will guide a new age of existence as a powerful, cosmic being.

‘Inside’ (2016)

In a bleak, futuristic world where people are controlled by others, a young boy struggles to survive against dangerous security measures. The story culminates with the boy becoming part of a huge, monstrous being made of bodies called the Huddle. This creature escapes the facility, rolls downhill, and finally stops by the ocean. The ending is ambiguous, leaving players to wonder if the escape was real or simply another part of an experiment.

‘Braid’ (2008)

In this game, Tim uses time control to save a princess who appears to have been kidnapped by a monster. However, the last level reveals a shocking truth: the princess was actually fleeing from Tim, not seeking rescue. This twist suggests Tim is the real monster, and his pursuit of the princess is driven by harmful intentions. Additionally, secret messages within the game hint that the story is a symbolic representation of the development of the atomic bomb.

‘Death Stranding’ (2019)

Sam Porter Bridges journeys across a broken United States, working to reconnect scattered settlements while dodging dangerous, ghost-like creatures. The story culminates in the shocking revelation that his mother, Amelie, is a powerful being meant to cause the world’s destruction. To postpone humanity’s end, she willingly isolates herself. Sam then returns to life and dedicates himself to raising his daughter, Lou, who everyone believed had died.

‘NieR: Automata’ (2017)

In the game, androids 2B and 9S battle machines on a ruined Earth. To unlock the complete story, players face a challenging final fight against the game’s credits – a fast-paced, intense shooting sequence. Players can even help each other with this difficult battle by giving up their own saved progress. Once completed, the game permanently deletes your save file, reinforcing the game’s central ideas about loss and the fleeting nature of existence.

‘Control’ (2019)

Jesse Faden goes to the Oldest House searching for her brother, who was taken against his will. She unexpectedly becomes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control and discovers the building has been invaded by a dangerous force called the Hiss, which has also affected her brother, Dylan. Jesse manages to free Dylan from the Hiss’s influence, but he’s left in a coma. Although the immediate threat of the Hiss is dealt with, it isn’t completely gone. The game concludes with Jesse embracing her new position as Director, leaving many questions about the Bureau, the Board, and the Oldest House unanswered.

‘Alan Wake’ (2010)

In the eerie town of Bright Falls, a writer desperately searches for his vanished wife while struggling against a terrifying darkness that makes his stories real. Alan discovers he needs to finish his tale with a satisfying conclusion to rescue his wife, Alice, from a sinister force. Ultimately, he makes a heartbreaking sacrifice, imprisoning himself in a nightmarish realm so Alice can return to the real world. His final, poignant words reveal a shocking truth: it wasn’t a lake, but an ocean.

‘Soma’ (2015)

Simon Jarrett unexpectedly finds himself in a futuristic underwater base, realizing he’s actually a robotic copy. His original body is long gone. The game culminates with Simon sending a digital ark – a collection of human consciousnesses – into space, hoping to preserve humanity. The player experiences the ending through the perspective of the Simon left behind, while his robotic counterpart continues to exist within the virtual world.

‘The Witness’ (2016)

The game features hundreds of puzzles set on a beautiful, deserted island. Once players finish the last puzzle, their character takes an elevator ride over the island, and the game starts over. A hidden ending reveals a developer removing a VR headset, implying the entire island adventure was a virtual reality game designed as a perception test.

‘Limbo’ (2010)

A young boy journeys across a dangerous, black-and-white world, dodging deadly traps and enormous spiders, all in search of his sister. His quest leads him to crash through a glass barrier into a forest, where he spots a girl. She looks up at him as he gets closer, but the scene abruptly cuts to black. Many believe this ending suggests both children are deceased and stuck in a kind of afterlife.

‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001)

James Sunderland journeys to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter seemingly from his deceased wife, Mary, who died three years earlier. The story unfolds to reveal that James was actually responsible for Mary’s death, ending her pain and his own. Depending on the player’s choices, the game concludes with James either taking his own life, attempting to bring Mary back through dark magic, or leaving town with a young girl named Laura. A unique, comedic ending reveals that a Shiba Inu dog was secretly orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.

‘Mass Effect 3’ (2012)

Commander Shepard faces the Reapers in a last-ditch effort to save the galaxy. An advanced AI, known as the Catalyst, presents Shepard with three options: destroy all synthetic life, take control of the Reapers, or combine organic and synthetic DNA. Each choice dramatically impacts the galaxy’s future and whether Shepard survives. The original ending sparked debate because it didn’t fully explain the results of these decisions.

‘Spec Ops: The Line’ (2012)

Captain Walker and his team venture into a Dubai devastated by a massive sandstorm, searching for a missing colonel. As they continue, the line between reality and illusion blurs, and they face increasingly difficult ethical dilemmas. The shocking truth is revealed at the end: the enemy Walker was pursuing had actually been dead the whole time. Walker’s mind had fractured as a way to deal with the terrible actions he unknowingly took during the mission.

‘Returnal’ (2021)

After crash-landing on the planet Atropos, Selene finds herself stuck in a repeating cycle where she relives the same events after each death. She discovers a perfect copy of her childhood home and begins to remember a traumatic car accident from her past. The film’s conclusion leaves the audience questioning what’s real, blending the alien landscape with Selene’s painful memories of her mother and son. It’s never fully revealed if Atropos is an actual planet or a kind of personal hell created by her own feelings of guilt.

‘Signalis’ (2022)

Elster, an android, journeys through a crumbling, corrupt facility to find her missing partner. As the story unfolds, reality itself begins to break down due to a powerful, otherworldly force. The game’s endings aren’t fixed; they change depending on how you play, hinting at different possibilities for a promise Elster made. With its strange visuals and fragmented narrative, the ultimate fate of Elster and her partner remains a mystery, open to the player’s understanding.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

In Elden Ring, players take on the role of the Tarnished, journeying across the Lands Between to mend the shattered Elden Ring and claim the title of Elden Lord. The game offers multiple endings: players can choose to support Ranni the Witch and bring about an age defined by the stars, or embrace the destructive power of the Frenzied Flame and engulf the world in chaos. The ‘Age of Stars’ ending involves distancing the world’s established order from humanity by sending it into the vastness of space. The game’s story deliberately keeps the origins and motivations of the Greater Will and the Outer Gods shrouded in mystery.

‘Dark Souls’ (2011)

In the world of Lordran, a hero known as the Chosen Undead embarks on a perilous journey to the Kiln of the First Flame. There, they face a crucial decision: rekindle the flame to extend the reign of the gods, or allow it to die and usher in an age of darkness. Choosing to rekindle the flame requires a sacrifice from the hero, but only postpones the inevitable darkness. Letting the flame fade allows the natural order to continue, though it plunges the world into an unpredictable future for humankind.

‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)

A little knight journeys through the fallen kingdom of Hallownest, trying to stop a magical plague. The standard ending has the knight take in the plague and become the new Hollow Knight, sealed away to contain it. However, players can unlock a secret ending by venturing into the source of the plague and defeating the Radiance. This permanently destroys the infection, but it appears to engulf the knight and their siblings in shadow.

‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ (2020)

Cloud Strife and his friends battle the Shinra Corporation in the city of Midgar. Along the way, they face mysterious beings called Whispers, which try to force events to follow the story of the original game. The group chooses to fight and overcome the Arbiter of Fate, freeing themselves from a predetermined path. This action alters the timeline, potentially saving characters who previously died.

‘Kingdom Hearts III’ (2019)

Sora and his companions unite to overcome Master Xehanort and stop a devastating Keyblade War. To save Kairi from being destroyed, Sora uses a powerful ability called waking, but this unintentionally changes reality. The game concludes with Sora disappearing as his friends enjoy themselves on the Destiny Islands. However, a hidden scene reveals Sora awakening in a lifelike Tokyo, and Riku in another contemporary city.

‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’ (2015)

In the game, you play as Venom Snake, leading a team of mercenaries to get revenge on Cipher. A surprising reveal shows that Venom Snake isn’t the famous soldier Big Boss, but a medic who had surgery and was hypnotized to look and act like him. The real Big Boss has been secretly working to create a powerful nation of his own. Venom Snake comes to terms with being a copy and ultimately sacrifices himself in a battle with Solid Snake, as seen in the earlier games.

‘Little Nightmares II’ (2021)

Okay, so the game’s story messed with my head. I played as Mono, and we were trying to get to this signal tower in this really creepy, broken-down city. Turns out, the tower was messing with reality itself. I finally beat the main bad guy, the Thin Man, and saved Six, my companion. But then… she totally betrayed me! We were escaping, and she just… dropped me into this huge pit. It wasn’t just a normal fall, either – the walls were made of flesh and… absorbed me. Then, the game showed me a flash-forward, and I realized I became the Thin Man! It’s a whole time loop thing, and I’m stuck repeating it all over again. Seriously, what a twist!

‘Twelve Minutes’ (2021)

A man finds himself reliving the same day over and over, each time starting with a police officer accusing his wife of murder. He soon discovers the officer is actually searching for him – his wife’s father, who he has forgotten is himself. This repeating day is revealed to be a form of therapy, forcing him to confront buried memories of a traumatic experience. To escape the loop, players must decide whether to suppress the truth or face it.

‘Transistor’ (2014)

Okay, so I played this game, and it’s pretty intense. I’m Red, and I’m fighting to save this city called Cloudbank. The coolest part? My sword talks, and it is my boyfriend, basically. He’s trapped inside it as this digital consciousness. I managed to beat the thing that was wiping the city out, but it was too late to actually fix everything. It’s super sad, but I ended up making this choice – I stabbed myself with the sword, the Transistor, to join him inside its digital world. Now we’re both chilling in this peaceful countryside simulation inside the sword, while everything outside is just… silent. It’s a really emotional game, honestly.

‘Hyper Light Drifter’ (2016)

Okay, so I’m playing this game where I’m basically a wanderer who’s really sick, and the world is totally wrecked. My goal is to find something, anything, that can save me. The big bad of the game is this thing called Judgment, and it’s at the heart of everything. I finally take it down after a brutal fight, but pushing myself that hard… it’s too much. I end up dying from my illness right after. But it’s not a total loss. My last moments? I see this jackal guiding me towards this bright, white light, and as I’m fading, I can see the world starting to recover. It’s kinda bittersweet, honestly.

‘Fahrenheit’ (2005)

Lucas Kane finds himself at the center of a bizarre mystery after committing a murder while seemingly not in control of his own actions. His search for answers quickly expands beyond a simple investigation, spiraling into a worldwide battle involving ancient Mayan prophecies and powerful artificial intelligence. As the story unfolds, Lucas develops extraordinary abilities and ultimately confronts a literal embodiment of the internet. The outcome of the conflict, and who controls the key to eternal life, depends on the choices Lucas makes.

‘Deadly Premonition’ (2010)

FBI agent Francis York Morgan is investigating a strange murder in Greenvale, but he’s also battling a hidden part of himself named Zach, who seems like a separate person. The story takes a surprising turn when it’s revealed the player has actually been controlling Zach all along, and York is the one who ultimately disappears. Complicating the case are eerie, supernatural trees and bizarre, gas-like zombies.

‘Killer7’ (2005)

Harman Smith commands a team of seven assassins, each representing a different facet of his own personality. The story centers around a tense political battle between the US and Japan, sparked by broken agreements and missile attacks. The game culminates in a showdown that might not have actually occurred, given the unusual nature of the main character. The ending reveals the conflict continues indefinitely, jumping forward a century to demonstrate its timeless nature.

‘Drakengard’ (2003)

Caim and his dragon, Angelus, are locked in a battle to protect the world from the Watchers and the Empire. In a surprising turn of events, they’re flung through a dimensional portal and land in present-day Tokyo. There, they face off against a colossal queen beast in a spectacular rhythm-based fight above the city. However, their victory is short-lived, as the Japanese Air Force quickly shoots them down, leaving them impaled on a tower.

‘The Vanishing of Ethan Carter’ (2014)

Paul Prospero is a detective who looks into the vanishing of a boy named Ethan Carter in Red Creek Valley. During his investigation, he uncovers murders and comes across strange, otherworldly creatures – everything from astronauts to ancient sea monsters. However, the truth is far more heartbreaking: Paul isn’t real. He’s a creation of Ethan’s imagination, born from the trauma of a house fire. As Ethan tragically succumbed to smoke inhalation trapped inside, he conjured up these fantastical events as a way to cope with his final moments.

‘Virginia’ (2016)

FBI agent Anne Tarver looks into a disappearance in a quiet town hiding a strange secret. The story unfolds visually, with quick cuts and dreamlike scenes, and without any spoken conversation. Anne has unsettling visions of alien encounters and mysterious ceremonies, leaving it unclear what’s real and what isn’t. The film concludes by hinting that Anne’s life and work will repeat themselves, but the mystery of the missing person remains unsolved.

‘Firewatch’ (2016)

I took this fire lookout job hoping to get away from everything going on in my life, and mostly just chatted with my supervisor, Delilah, over the radio. But things got weird fast – we started picking up on some seriously strange stuff, like it seemed the government was listening to everything and there were these restricted zones around the forest. We thought we’d stumbled onto a huge conspiracy! Turns out, it wasn’t some big plot at all. It was a really sad accident involving an old lookout and his son. It was heartbreaking, honestly. Delilah and I never actually met, we just talked on the radio the whole time. In the end, a wildfire started, and we both just had to evacuate. It was a pretty intense summer, to say the least.

‘No Man’s Sky’ (2016)

In this game, you journey through an ever-changing universe created by the game itself, with the ultimate goal of reaching the galaxy’s center. Once you do, the universe resets, and you start a new adventure in a completely new galaxy. The story reveals that this universe is actually a computer simulation run by a failing artificial intelligence named the Atlas, and you’re witnessing its final moments.

‘Outer Wilds’ (2019)

The game takes place in a solar system stuck in a 22-minute time loop, always ending in a supernova. The player ultimately reaches the Eye of the Universe, a place beyond reality. Entering the Eye triggers the end of the current universe and the birth of a new one, shaped by the player’s actions. The game ends with a view of this new universe, teeming with life born from the player’s journey.

‘Layers of Fear’ (2016)

In this game, you explore a constantly changing Victorian house with a painter who’s struggling to finish his greatest work. As you look around, the house transforms, hinting at the painter’s growing madness. The ending you get – whether it’s a portrait of his wife, himself, or just a chaotic blur – depends on what you find during your exploration. The game frequently loops, suggesting the artist is endlessly stuck in his all-consuming passion.

‘Outlast 2’ (2017)

Blake Langermann is desperately searching for his wife, Lynn, in a dangerous, isolated area run by a powerful cult. Throughout his search, Blake is haunted by vivid and disturbing hallucinations of his childhood school, specifically the memory of a friend named Jessica’s death. The game culminates with Lynn giving birth, but she shockingly claims there’s no baby before she dies. Blake is left alone, cradling what he thinks is a newborn child, as the sun seemingly explodes, bringing about the end of the world.

‘Prey’ (2017)

In the game, you play as Morgan Yu, battling alien creatures called Typhon on the space station Talos I. The shocking twist is that the entire experience is a simulation created by Alex Yu. Alex is trying to determine if a Typhon hybrid – implanted with Morgan’s memories – can develop empathy. At the end, you’re faced with a crucial choice: trust Alex and take their hand, or eliminate everyone present.

‘Scorn’ (2022)

The game follows a human-like character traveling through a strange world made of living tissue and machines. They’re trying to reach a portal that promises a kind of evolution, but a parasitic creature attacks them along the way. In a tragic finale, the character transforms into a helpless, fleshy form, reaching for the portal but unable to escape. The game doesn’t offer any explanations – players must piece together the story of this disturbing world on their own.

Tell us which game ending left you the most baffled in the comments.

2026-02-03 03:51