The endings in video games stick with us forever. After we finish a game that has completely changed us, it’s hard not to want to discuss and think about the ending. How it impacts us is no small feat, either. Ultimately, it’s the ending that makes or breaks the entire game. However, the games with multiple endings bring something else entirely to the table.
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Stories in video gamesare always immersive, but those with multiple endings really pull us in the most. They remind us that our choices throughout the game did matter. In other words, they showcase how our actions had consequences–both good and bad. Here are just some of the greatest games whose multiple endings impacted us.
10Resident Evil
TheResident Evilseries is no stranger to designing its games in such a way that encourages you to play it more than once — and the original Resident Evil is no exception. Resident Evil took the survival horror world by storm when it was released. It introduced us to the brave S.T.A.R.S. group and tasked us with putting their lives in our hands.
Even though the game only lasts seven hours, there are twelve unlockable endings. The ending you get mainly depends on who you were able to keep alive by the end. However, the only difference you’ll get with each ending results in short cinematics that seem similar to one another.
9Catherine: Full Body
In the remake ofCatherine, there are thirteen unlockable endings.Catherine: Full Bodyis iconic, and its multiple endings are one of the most redeeming parts of the game. Because every ending depends on nearly all the little choices you make, you’ll think twice during this game.
A third romantic interest was added into the mix with Full Body, which created more possibilities for players. Who you end up with and how their fates will go is all due to how you go about Vincent’s behavior. Mainly focused on the dialogue you choose and your answers in the confessional, you’re likely to get the ending you most desire. But keep in mind that your ending might not be for the best.
8Elden Ring
Interestingly,Elden Ringhas the most endings out of all the Soulsborne games. With six different endings, everything ultimately relies on who you’ve sided with. Even though it’s a lengthy game, you can still experience all these conclusions in one playthrough. As long as you save before defeating the final boss.
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Because the fate of the Lands Between is so ambiguous by the time Elden Ring comes to a close, there’s no clear good or bad ending that you can get. Each one is an utterly unique experience for players, and no matter what ending you get, you’ll definitely feel accomplished by the end of it.
7Silent Hill 2
If you count joke endings, thenSilent Hill 2technically has six endings. With four main endings and two ones on the less serious side, you’ll likely come out of Silent Hill 2 more heartbroken than you entered it. you’re able to obtain these specific endings based on how you treat Jamesas a characterand how you went about completing the game.
Silent Hill 2 is iconic for giving players a meaningful experience. Everything is significant, mostly focused on grief and guilt. No matter what ending you find yourself with; you’re bound to be struck deeply in the heart one way or another. However, when it comes to the two joke endings, those are just plain fun and wonderfully silly.
6Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegasis one of the greatest and most iconic additions to theFalloutfranchise. It perfectly captured the eeriness of traveling through a barren wasteland with a cast of unforgettable characters. In Fallout: New Vegas, there are three main endings in the base game and four in the DLC.
The number of endings can slightly expand based on your karma. Nonetheless, each ending of the game is an exhilarating ride. There’s no canon ending, which makes the conclusion of your story even more definitive. For better or for worse, these endings showcase a reflection of how you impacted the Mojave Wasteland.
5Bloodborne
At first, it isn’t obvious thatBloodbornehas three endings. But, beneath the two main endings lies a thrilling secret ending. And this ending is one that fans in the Bloodborne community consider being the “true” ending for the story — even if it is the most ambitious and strange one.
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Out of the main ones, you’re able to either achieve a “good” or a “bad” ending. Both of them give a fantastic insight into what could come next for Bloodborne, especially when it comes to the fate that your Hunter has been dealt with. It isn’t too difficult to get one ending over the other, but the third ending is the trickiest to get. This makes this idea that it’s the “true” ending feel even more apparent.
4Undertale
Undertaleis iconic for having multiple endings that can catch you off-guard. Unless you plan on killing everything in sight, you’ll be graced with either the Neutral or the True Pacifist ending. However, the notorious Genocide one is also a proper ending that turns the story on its head.
After playing Undertale for the first time, your initial ending slightly influences any of your future playthroughs. This is incredible as it plays on the classic idea of replaying a game to get a different outcome. Except, only this time, the game remembers everything. Even more so, the impact of your previous playthroughbecomes really heartbreakingif you did the Genocide ending. Above all else, it’s worth going into Undertale without a desired outcome in mind.
3Heavy Rain
Heavy Rainis iconic in the video game community for its various emotional endings. Because of how many choices there are for you to make, there are about seventeen endings that you can obtain. Some are more heartbreaking than others, and how it affects you can depend on how much you care about the characters.
From the very start of the game, you’re already pushed into quick-paced events that likely impact your story within the blink of an eye. Everything unfolds so fast that it can quickly go wrong. But, strangely, this is one of the many reasons that Heavy Rain is simply a masterpiece. It focuses on story and reality, all driven by horrendous actions.
2Until Dawn
While there are only six unique endings inUntil Dawn, there are hundreds of ways to get to them. Focused on a group of eight friends who all fight for their lives to survive, it’s no small feat to try to get them all to make it to the end. How many characters survive ultimately results in the ending you’ll get.
It’s a rough road to journey on as you attempt to save every character. You’ll get a happy ending if you manage to get them all to stay alive. But, on the other hand, if no one survives, the ending is extremely haunting. Regardless, it’s important to think about every decision thoroughly, as it could cost you the best ending possible.
1The Stanley Parable
The illusion of choice is an overarching theme in this experimental and narrative-driven walking simulator.The Stanley Parablefeatures an unreliable narrator that leads you toward their desired outcome. But, if you take the initiative to go about things your way, you’ll get an ending that will make your journey more entertaining.
There are nineteen endings available in The Stanley Parable, most of which end with the game restarting. A path that leads toward your freedom is the easiest to obtain, but that’s if you let someone else make all the choices for you. Out of all the games with multiple endings, this game is arguably the most unsettling. Without you, the narrator has no story to tell. And, with no story, there is no end.
