Unlike books or movies, video games put you in the driver’s seat. Hands on the wheel — or controller, rather — you rev the engine, stomp on the accelerator, and prepare for the twists and turns ahead. (Games aren’t always fast-paced, but it’s a metaphor.) From there, it’s only a matter of time before you reach the end of the road.
With games that embrace the emotions this vicarious control can instill, it’s no surprise that many of us have relinquished our controllers for a box of tissues by the end. We’d suggest having your own Kleenex on hand as we discuss five game endings that left us in tears of joy, shock, sadness, or a mix of the three.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic exhibition of all the good, bad, and in-between that humanity is prone to. Above all else, though, it’s the story of Joel, a gruff smuggler who does what he must, and Ellie, a young girl immune to the plague. The development and eventual strengthening of their bond drives the narrative — and is why the ending hurts so much.
Upon reaching the Fireflies, capable of extracting the cure from Ellie, Joel learns a harsh truth: the surgery will kill her. Joel had lost his daughter Sarah before the world collapsed. He held her in his arms as she succumbed to bullet wounds. He won’t let Ellie go so easily.
Joel rampages and escapes with an anesthetized Ellie. Upon awakening, Joel lies to her that the Fireflies had “dozens” more like her, all unsuccessful in providing a cure. Later, when she insists to know whether he was being truthful, he swears on it. But the depressing look in her eyes and her half-hearted “okay” convey a disappointment beyond words. She knows.
Red Dead Redemption
Floundering to connect with his son Jack, outlaw John Marston clearly has a difficult time readjusting to family living. His effort, however, hints at a deep love between them — a love soon cut short by John’s past. The army surrounds his farm, and a final stand ensues.
With no way out, John sends his wife Abigail and Jack to safety, leaving him to face his demons alone. Sighing, he steps out to meet them, and Edgar Ross, the man who used John to do his dirty work, is among them. Despite taking out a few, John is promptly gunned down. He has no final words, but what more is there to say? His family is safe, and that’s all he wanted.
Flashing forward some years, with Abigail buried beside her husband, Jack seeks vengeance on Ross — and gets it. Jack duels and defeats Ross, striding off as “RED DEAD REDEMPTION” flashes across the screen in sync with a conclusive guitar stroke. That John’s death was not in vain turns pain into relief.
Persona 5
As the protagonist, a transfer student falsely convicted of assault, high school is hard enough when you’re also battling society’s scum using supernatural powers. It’s only bearable because of the friends you make, from the loud-mouthed Ryuji to the stoic-yet-compassionate Makoto. You choose how much time you spend with each (making the protagonist more of an avatar than anything), and many of the relationships you’re able to form are as close as games can get to real life.
When all is said and done, you say your heartfelt goodbyes and prepare to return to your hometown. On your way to the train, however, you notice something across the street: Ryuji waving and calling you from the open door of a van, with the whole gang inside! They plan on driving you home — not before hanging out — and for the first time in a game full of choices, you’re grateful to sit back, relax, and just enjoy the company. As the van heads off into the distance, banter and laughter sounding from within, it’s impossible not to smile. And sob.
Journey
Journey is not a game so much as an experience. Gameplay elements are sparse, and there is no heads-up display to act as your guide. It’s just The Traveler (you), the seemingly endless expanse of ruin-peppered desert, and a gorgeous Grammy-nominated soundtrack as you venture onward, toward a mountain you see from the crest of a dune.
Upon the mountain’s snowy ridges, buffeted by frigid winds, The Traveler gives into fatigue and cold. After coming so far, it’s devastating to watch. Yet when all hope is lost, The Traveler rises, imbued with unnatural energy, and soars to the mountaintop. The music, the scenery, and the general ambiance of the scene feel like a culmination of everything thus far.
At the peak, The Traveler’s newfound power seeps away as it walks into the peaceful light ahead. All fades to white, and as the credits roll, a star ascends from the mountain, then descends to the very dune you stood on as your journey began. Without a moment of dialogue, Journey manages to relate the most beautiful story of coming full circle ever told.
Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is Wander‘s story more than it is yours. As the game opens, Dormin, a god-like entity, agrees to resurrect Mono, a girl sacrificed for unspecified reasons, should Wander defeat the 16 colossi roaming the land. You have no choice in his violent crusade.
Near the end, things fall apart. Agro, Wander’s loyal horse, falls off a crumbling bridge — not before bucking him off to safety. He defeats the final colossus — only to be deceived and possessed by Dormin. In his final moments, Wander, now a literal shadow of his former self, reaches out towards Mono’s lifeless corpse — but is sucked into oblivion by a powerful spell that destroys him and Dormin both.
Between the moral questions and the shocking final events, your resolve is torn asunder… until Mono wakes up. Until Agro returns, limping on three legs. Until they find Wander alive, reduced to a horned baby (symbolic of his witless deviltry). The trio retreats to a sunny garden, where confusion and sadness mingle with hope and serenity. But their futures? Uncertain.
