Best Open-World Games That Didn’t End Happily Ever After, Ranked

Not all video games necessarily need to have happy endings. Sometimes, a title’s narrative can subvert expectations, ending on a downer or a poignant note. When done well, this can have a major impact on players without making it feel like their efforts were completely wasted.

Games that end up nailing these sad endings should be lauded for their success in using the narrative to capture a player’s attention. These endings leave gamers satisfied after finishing the title, even if they didn’t enjoy a typical happily-ever-after ending.

Far Cry 5

The Game Will Always End With A Nuclear Apocalypse

Far Cry 5 served as a much-needed evolution for the series, addressing a lot of the complaints players had with the franchise refusing to grow over time. It also took a bold risk with its narrative, especially when it came to the ending.

After players think that they’ve arrested the big bad and brought an end to the cult ruining Hope County, Joseph reveals a trump card. It turns out that he was planning to nuke this area and reduce it to a barren wasteland, succeeding in his plan in one of the most shocking video game endings of all time.

Final Fantasy 15

Noctis’ Final Camping Scene With His Friends Is A Tear-Jerking Affair

Final Fantasy 15 is a game that could have been a lot more, had it not spent eons in development hell. However, players who made an effort to get invested in the Final Fantasy 15 multimedia universe loved what this game brought to the table.

Despite the story’s faults, the ending will shock fans as Noctis sacrifices body and soul to stop Ardyn and prevent the Starscourge. The post-credits scene hammers in the ending’s emotions, with Noctis in tears as he celebrates his friendships one final time around the campfire before the gang heads to Insomnia.

Mafia: Definitive Edition

The Protagonist’s Rise And Fall Is A Tantalizing Story

Mafia is one of the best story-driven games fans can enjoy. Tommy Angelo starts as a simple taxi driver before proving his worth to the mob and becoming one of the most powerful mobsters around.

However, in a bid to save himself, he cooperates with the police and becomes persona non grata with the mob. Despite going into witness protection and living a peaceful family life, his criminal past comes back to haunt him as he’s gunned down on his front lawn, bringing his life to a crashing end.

Ghost Of Tsushima

In A Bid To Get Rid Of The Mongols, Jin Discards His Samurai Honor

The Mongols have no concept of honor, and this is something Jin becomes familiar with over time. He realizes that fighting the Mongols at their own game was the only way to liberate Tsushima Island, eventually driving away this invading force at the cost of being wanted by the Shogunate for his dishonorable ways.

This culminates in a duel with his uncle, Lord Shimura, as Jin must defeat this father figure in combat and leave his past behind. Regardless of whether players give Shimura the honorable death he covets or leave him to wallow in his shame, the ending of Ghost of Tsushima makes it clear that Jin sacrificed everything so he could liberate his home.

Grand Theft Auto 4

Niko’s Journey In Liberty City Will Always End On A Downer

Unlike most other games in the series, Grand Theft Auto 4 boasts a mature story that is far from the jovial adventures fans expect in these titles. There’s no denying that the game features the patented GTA hilarity fans expect, but the ending will sober players up after the high of being an effective, hardy criminal.

No matter what choice Niko makes near the end, he will always lose a person close to him. He may get his revenge in the mission that follows, but it feels hollow, especially with the phone calls that follow the ending, making it clear that Niko is heartbroken after losing either his cousin or his lover.

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Spider-Man Must Make A Hard Choice With Aunt May’s Life On The Line

The excellent storytelling of Marvel’s Spider-Man is a huge part of what makes this game so special. Players love seeing a mature Peter Parker in his element as he takes down powerful villains and tries to save New York City one more time.

After Devil’s Breath spreads across New York City, Peter gets his hands on a cure that can save Aunt May, one of the many people afflicted by the disease. However, doing so will prevent this last copy of the cure from being replicated to save thousands. Peter must make a hard decision as Aunt May dies for the greater good.

Cyberpunk 2077

V’s Quest To Regain Control Of Their Body Is Doomed From The Get-go

V’s journey to prevent a premature demise after Johnny Silverhand’s engram starts taking over their mind makes for a great story that Cyberpunk 2077 players will eat up. Despite featuring multiple endings, none of them offer a happy conclusion for fans.

V can sell their soul to Arasaka, but they’ll be discarded after being used and have barely any time to live. Allying with Rogue or the Aldecaldos lets players mount an assault to reach Mikoshi, although a beloved character will die in the process, and V will realize that they’re doomed, no matter what they do. Even the ending of Phantom Liberty, which cures V and lets them live a normal life, has an underlying sadness to it, especially since the rest of the world assumed they were dead and have already moved on.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan’s Tale Will Leave Fans In Tears

Dan Houser’s brilliance led to one of the most emotional narratives told in a Rockstar game. Red Dead Redemption 2 single-handedly turned Arthur Morgan into one of the most beloved video game protagonists of all time, who experiences an incredible level of character development throughout the series.

After contracting tuberculosis, Arthur’s days are numbered. If he has High Honor, he gets to see the sunrise one final time before his demise. If his honor is too low, then Micah will shoot him in the head and give him a jarring sendoff. Even if players avenge his death as John, the evidence left behind gives the Pinkertons the leverage they need to manipulate Marston, setting up the events of Red Dead Redemption.