Open-world gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds. Players want more from these games now, especially if huge budgets for AAA games are being thrown around to ensure that a game in this genre is as notable as possible.
7 Best Open-World Games With Secret Endings, Ranked
Open-world games are extremely entertaining, as they have a lot to offer. Here are some titles in the genre with secret endings.
Sometimes, investing in a good writing team and letting fans enjoy stellar storytelling is a great way to keep players engaged. These titles earn bonus points if the narrative is so emotional that it makes people shed tears.
Final Fantasy 15
The Ending Will Leave Players In Tears
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Final Fantasy 15 is a beautiful mess of a video game that players will love, especially if they're interested in the game's multimedia universe. The story of Noctis and his friends is deeply human, despite the over-the-top dangers plaguing the world.
By the end of the game, Noctis makes the ultimate sacrifice and forsakes both body and soul to stop Ardyn and the Starscourge. If this wasn't sad enough as is, then a post-credits scene shows the gang enjoy one final night of camping, visibly emotional that their friend must die to save the world.
Marvel's Spider-Man
Peter Must Make The Ultimate Sacrifice
Marvel's Spider-Man
- Released
- September 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
For a game that could've phoned in its narrative, fans were glad to see how engaging the story was in Marvel's Spider-Man. It featured its fair share of emotional moments, such as when Miles lost his dad after an attack by Mr. Negative.
However, the most emotional moment of this game comes at the end, when Peter must let Aunt May die, since he held the only copy of the cure that couldn't be replicated if it was used at that very moment. It's a sad moment that will make players quite emotional at the end of a masterful open-world superhero game.
NieR: Automata
The Amazing Storytelling Of This Game Is Off The Charts
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Fans had no idea what they were in for with NieR: Automata. What seemed like a simple hack-and-slash action game with a femme fatale protagonist turned into a crushingly emotional tale about sentience and what it means to be alive.
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Some of the game's endings are massive emotional gut punches that will leave fans reeling. It helps that the powerful story beats are accompanied by pulse-pounding action that switches up the gameplay regularly to stop things from getting too stale.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Despite Going Full Shonen, The Game Manages To Be Emotional During Its Heartwarming Moments
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
There are many reasons why Ichiban Kasuga became such a beloved character with his debut in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This character's earnestness was palpable from the get-go and ensured that players would root for him in no time.
This also made his emotional outbursts all the more impactful, with the highlights being him lambasting Nanba and taking to the game's final boss in a distraught manner. Sure, these speeches may tick the classic shonen trope of the hero changing a person's mindset with their words, but the riveting build-up to these moments, coupled with some powerful performances, ensures that Ichiban's passionate rants will leave a lasting impression on players.
Cyberpunk 2077
V's Journey Is Doomed And Always Ends On An Emotional Note
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
The storytelling in Cyberpunk 2077 is off the charts, with all of its endings featuring an undertone of sadness. From Jackie's death to Evelyn's drastic act, there's no shortage of heartbreaking moments in the series.
One of the more emotional moments in the game comes when V ends it all instead of jeopardizing anyone's life. What follows is an extended suite of hard-to-watch reactions as the protagonist's friends leave a tearful goodbye message that's harrowing to watch.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan's Story Is As Emotional As They Come
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Dan Houser ensured that Red Dead Redemption 2 would feature the most mature story in a Rockstar game to date. Most players love this game at high Honor, since they end up loving and respecting Arthur Morgan's character development throughout a narrative journey for the ages.
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Watching him contract tuberculosis and feel regret for his violent past makes for a deeply human look at his character. This culminates in a brutal yet poignant finale for the protagonist, enjoying one final sunrise before breathing his last.
Disco Elysium
The Ending Will Leave Players In Tears
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
For a game as goofy as Disco Elysium, it's incredible how emotional this game can get. Harry Du Bois may be an alcoholic druggie, but he's also an ace detective who pursues every lead to exhaustion and shows Kim just how competent a detective he is.
The protagonist also has demons from his past that he has conveniently forgotten following a bender for the ages. This appears in the form of an old flame, with any mention of Dora leading to emotional moments that will leave fans with a ton of sympathy for this broken mess of a man.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Ending Will Leave Players In Tears
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made, with Geralt's goal of finding Ciri featuring its fair share of emotional moments. Reuniting with his daughter is a great moment, only for the Battle of Kaer Morhen to feature a heartbreaking moment.
In a bid to save Ciri, Vesemir angers Imlerith and goads Eredin's soldier into killing him. Long-time fans love Vesemir's death and weep tears of sadness at his demise, understanding why Ciri broke down at this moment after witnessing the death of a man who was like a grandfather to her.
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Players who have completed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can try out these similar games if they want to go through another action-packed experience.