Another Top 10 Worst Video Game Endings

Get ready, because the bad endings just keep on coming. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for Another Top 10 Worst Endings in Video Games.

Once more, we're scouring the big wide world of gaming for its most disappointing, frustrating or otherwise poorly-constructed game endings. New or old, abrupt or drawn out, anything that pushes our buttons and leaves us fuming is on the table.

Choice can be a wonderful thing, but what happens when every option is kind of terrible? At the end of this fantasy role-playing game, the Hero of Bowerstone stands victorious over the evil Lord Lucien Fairfax after a seriously anti-climactic standoff and innumerable lives lost in the process. Fortunately for the Hero, the seeress Theresa has the power to grant one wish – she can resurrect the innocent people lost in the conflict, revive the Hero's family, or gift the Hero with a million gold pieces. No matter what choice you make, something of greater value is lost.

Sometimes it sucks to be a hero. That's probably what modern assassin Desmond Miles was thinking when two god-like beings presented him with a choice at the end of the 2012 game “Assassin's Creed III”. Desmond is told that he can either sacrifice his own life to activate a globe-spanning shield that will repel oncoming solar flares, or he can let the flares hit and become a messiah that inspires a religious war. Naturally, since the later option is effing stupid, Desmond elects to give his own life – in the process leaving the world's future uncertain.

One of the first major games of 2015, and it ends with a whimper. Our werewolf-killing hero Galahad has just bested his former ally Lucan and can regain his status among the titular Order... only, surprise, Lucan's father and Lord Chancellor of that same Order comes along to kibosh that plan. Instead, Galahad must kill Lucan and remain in disgrace to protect the status quo. We're not sure whether to be shocked or angered by this story turn, but we're certainly not feeling amicable. This also leaves the door open for an obvious sequel that absolutely nobody is asking for at this point.

Questionable choices seem to be a common theme here. On their quest to prevent the rise of Lucifer, paranormal investigator Edward Carnby and his lovely friend Sarah Flores find themselves standing before an interdimensional gateway. Edward activates the gateway, drawing out Lucifer – only for Sarah to intervene. Whether the player chooses to shoot Sarah or spare her life, someone is always possessed by Lucifer and no one we care about goes home happy. Then there’s the dialogue…

Two paths to choose from, one inevitable outcome: disappointment. Whether your character Commander Parker chooses to ally with the Brotherhood of Nod or the Global Defense Initiative, all roads lead to the Nod-controlled Scrin tower. Kane, the Brotherhood's leader, asks Parker to use his ocular implant to open an interplanetary portal and let the Brotherhood leave Earth. Unfortunately, Parker is only able to do so – thus ending a decades-long war – after being fatally wounded by his own former commanding officer. Poor guy didn't even get to see the fruit of his labors. Also, after years of being the pioneers of FMV cutscenes, this last bit seems awfully cheap, especially for 2010…

Even after twenty years, gamers still don't know what to make of this one. The second adventure of budding pirate Guybrush Threepwood comes to a close when he and his mortal enemy LeChuck come face-to-face once more. Having been critically injured, LeChuck pleads with Guybrush to remove his mask – which reveals him to be … Threepwood's brother? Then the two transform into kids running around a theme park and... look, confusing doesn't even begin to describe it. The developers must of realised how bad of an ending it was, because in the sequel The Curse of Monkey Island’s intro they just gloss over this mess of an ending with the line “I don’t know how you escaped my carnival of the damned,” neither do we.

This one gives new meaning to the phrase, “Life is but a dream”. Imagine: you've just faced off against the evil frog king Wart, and you're now being treated to the heroes of “Super Mario Bros. 2” enjoying their success. Suddenly, the screen shifts to that of a sleeping Mario, and the message is clear – the game you just played was all Mario's dream. Not only does that undercut the feeling of victory, it's also ridiculous in light of the game introducing certain iconic enemies and characters into Mario canon.

We'd really appreciate some clarity on this one. “Too Human” ends with the Aesir Corporation, cybernetically-enhanced versions of the Norse gods, celebrating their victory over evil... all except the undead god Baldur, who's weary of his comrades' attitude. Although the official ending is a muddled mess, there’s also a cliffhanger after the credits that teases at a sequel – which, as we know now, is definitely never gonna happen.

In a universe where the ability to confuse is practically a talent, the conclusion to “Metal Gear Solid 2” remains something unique. It's straightforward enough to begin with, as our androgynous hero Raiden bests the revolutionary leader Solidus in battle. Then players are “rewarded” with the following: a lengthy, ham fisted philosophical treatise courtesy of Solid Snake; a less-than-clear declaration of love from Raiden to his pregnant girlfriend; and a post-credits plot twist scene undercutting all of Snake's previous efforts. Not really a great way to get you pumped for the last fight. Its a good thing Metal Gear Solid 3's ending was really good otherwise Kojima would have never lived this one down.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Takeshi's Challenge” (1986)
“RAGE” (2011)
“Call of Duty: Ghosts” (2013)
“Dark Matter” (2013)

Nothing's quite as insulting as this. In the game's final mission, you are Razor Six-Four, an elite sniper tasked with eliminating one General Vasquez from afar. You sneak over to a vantage point, get a look at him through your scope, pull the trigger... and cue credits. That's not a joke, either; this game has the audacity to end without providing any sort of closure. What is to become of Razor Six-Four? Will eliminating the general make the world a better place? Why should we even care, when the game certainly doesn't?

Do you agree with our list? What game endings get you hot and bothered? For more critical Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.