RPGs That Are Worth Playing Just For Their Endings

RPGs tend to be the games that last the longest, featuring a main overarching story with 10s or even 100s of hours of gameplay, and plenty of side quests and collectibles to hunt in order to procrastinate progressing the main plot. When players eventually do decide to jump back in and reach the long-awaited conclusion, they want it to be worthwhile, an ending that will have them white-knuckling their controller in open-eyed shock, joy, or sweating profusely from their eyes.

Endings that come as a surprise, offer a satisfactory conclusion, or tragically break hearts make it all worthwhile, elevating what might be a great game to greater heights, or being the saving grace of a lackluster experience.

6 Undertale

A Final Fight No One Will Forget

Undertale shot to almost instant fame, oozing plentiful charm with its creative sprites and captivating story of a human who fell into the world of monsters beneath the surface of the Earth. Playing through each route and interacting with the world reveals more truth about the monsters and the hardships they face, and more about the human King Asgore and his Queen Toriel, raising their son Asriel.

There are plenty of funny moments in Undertale, but it doesn’t pull its punches in the sad times, and its combat is not to be underestimated. The bullet hell challenge is presented in many boss fights, and this is ratcheted up even further during the Flowey boss fight. The music, monster design, and gameplay will fill players with determination as the souls of the other children in the Underground aid them until it’s time to turn the tables. Even after all is said and done, players can show mercy to Flowey, who, while evil, is still a creature players can feel sympathy for. It’s a poignant ending that makes every minute of the game worthwhile. After all, this is what players have been practicing for all this time — the ability to show mercy to someone who wouldn’t extend them the same kindness.

5 Dragon Age: Origins

Time To Take The Fight To The Archdemon

The first game in the Dragon Age franchise started the series with a bang. Darkspawn emerged from underground under the guidance of the Archdemon, spreading their blight all across Ferelden. After seeing bitter defeat at Ostagar, the two surviving Grey Wardens must muster up enough support to wage war once more, and hopefully win the fight this time around. The Grey Wardens have a sacred duty to slay the Archdemon with their own hands, sacrificing their life in exchange to ensure it dies for good.

Origins is a beloved game, while at the same time certain sections can feel like a chore, especially during the inevitable second, third, or twentieth run. The fight at the end though, especially at its time of release, did simulate an actual full-scale war, and everyone involved knew this was the final hour that would make or break the future of the kingdom. Facing the Archdemon is no small feat, as no final boss should be, and depending on certain decisions made by the player, their own allies could perish during the fight.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

One Of The Most Epic Final Boss Fights In The Series

Link’s open world outings on the Switch have proven to be smash-hit successes, including elements of what makes The Legend of Zelda games so great, while innovating the series with new ideas such as open-world exploration and crafting recipes. Tears of the Kingdom shows visions of the past, revealing the events that led to Ganondrof’s resurrection, who has returned to resume his reign of terror over Hyrule.

Link, alongside a now draconic Zelda, team up to take him down in the present day. Once the player has squeezed every ounce of content out of Tears of the Kingdom and gears up to take on Ganondorf, they are treated to a conclusion that really is the cherry on top. After defeating his first phase of the fight, Ganondorf assumes the form of a dark dragon, taking the next stage of the battle in the air in an epic and amazing battle, culminating in a cinematic finale that ties up the story nicely. It really is a rewarding end for a fantastic game that is worthy of every second of those countless hours it takes to complete.

3 Divinity: Original Sin 2

One Ending In Particular Has Interesting Implications In Multiplayer Mode

Before wowing the world with Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios was responsible for the successful and acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin 2, set in its own unique and original world, Rivellon. Rivellon is home to a substance known as Source, an important ingredient for magic which has an unfortunate side effect of summoning Voidwoken, powerful beasts that can sense whenever Source is used. As such, a hunt for Sourcerers has been called, which the player or players find themselves in the midst of.

Since this is a multiplayer game, no one needs to play alone, and players can share the adventure with up to three friends, selecting an Origin character or creating their own. As expected of an RPG of this magnitude, there are multiple endings, one which involves the players ascending to Divinity. Each player is free to choose this option, but the catch is that only one can truly be Divine, which will lead to friends having to fight each other for supremacy. Safe to say, many gamers were shocked at the revelation, and the betrayal.

2 Mass Effect 2

The Suicide Mission Remains One Of The Best In The Series

Even in death, Commander Shepard can’t seem to catch a break, as they are brought back to life in order to lead humanity’s fight against the Collectors, an insect-like race working for the universe-destroying Reapers. They have routinely invaded human colonies and taken every single colonist, and the Council isn’t willing to step in and help. Cerberus decides to take matters into their own hands, resurrecting Shepard and charging them with the task of investigating and hopefully putting a stop to the Collectors’ machinations.

It can’t be denied that the opening minutes of Mass Effect 2 were nothing short of amazing, and the stakes are only heightened with its end game, as the Normandy crew embark on the aptly-named Suicide Mission. Shepard must make the right calls on who to assign to what task, or they will lose friends, and can even end up dying themselves. Here, decisions actually matter and can have the most dire consequences.

1 NieR: Automata

With an ending for every letter of the alphabet, players will see many conclusions to NieR: Automata, some humorous and others more serious, before they reach the true ending following one of the wildest rides in gaming. Playing as an android tasked with disposing of the dangerous machines that have overtaken Earth in hopes humans can one day return, 2B and 9S traverse many different locations and take down thousands of robots, unaware that humanity is extinct and their mission in life is futile.

NieR: Automata will fool players more than once with an ‘ending’, only for the game to continue from another character’s perspective, such as 9S or A2. Its only when players see a credits mini-game that they can finally rest assured the game is complete…once they play through a seemingly impossible mini-game that can only be won thanks to the sacrifice of others players’ data. Once the credits have finished rolling, they will be asked to leave an encouraging message for others going through the same scenario. Then they can choose to delete all of their saved data in order to help another player. It was a novel move, and even as their save file vanishes before their tear-filled eyes, players will know it was all worth it.