Summary
- Some games can turn players into apocalypse bringers, destroying entire worlds.
- Narrative choices, noble or evil, can annihilate worlds in Baldur's Gate 3, Mass Effect 3, Clair Obscur.
- Simulation titles like Solar Smash and Spore let you destroy planets and civilizations for fun.
Be it that players are seeking to destroy the World, or that they accidentally do so, some games can turn those who play them into apocalypse bringers. Those who enjoy causing strife and mass murder while playing the evil side might rejoice, since there are a few games that allow them to directly push the narrative into a world-ending direction. But for those who don't know what they are doing, until it's way too late, these endings might come as a surprise.
From games where villainy is the common currency, to decisions that end up causing such destruction that it becomes appalling for those players witnessing the consequences of their own actions. Here's a list of the best games where you can Destroy The World (if you're not careful).
This list contains spoilers for the following games: Baldur's Gate 3, Mass Effect 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Readers are advised to exercise discretion.
Baldurs Gate 3
Things Can Go Horribly Wrong In The Sword Coast
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
A Vampire, a Shadow Priestess of Shar (allegedly), and a Warlock enter one of the most populated and dangerous cities in the Sword Coast. What's the worst that could happen? Turns out, chasing after the Dead Three's cult was not such a good idea, even less when carrying an altered Mindflayer parasite in their heads. But that randomness and cast of multifaceted characters is what makes this game one of the greatest RPGs.
With all the possible band endings present in Baldur's Gate 3, and all the things that can end up wrong after a bad dice roll, there's also a slight chance of unleashing unspeakable horrors upon the world, destroying everything in Faerûn, and possibly all of Abeil-Toril in the process. Needless to say, this doesn't happen all the time, unless players go for the awful ending that kills everybody, or let Gale's magic bomb explode in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, total annihilation is possible.
Solar Smash: Annihilation
An Upcoming Planetary Doom Simulator
- Developer: Paradyme
- Release Year: 2025 (Upcoming)
- Platforms: PC
Solar Smash is a pretty interesting simulation engine where players can literally destroy entire planets, using the cosmic forces to create immeasurable destruction on a planet, planetoid, moon, or similar. Solar Smash: Annihilation is the sequel to this particular planetary destruction sim game, and it will include a multiplayer feature, where players can cooperate to destroy entire solar systems and compete against each other to see who prevails.
Solar Smash: Annihilation is thought to be released between the third and fourth quarter of 2025, and all its gameplay footage looks incredible. It might seem like players will be able to use a varied number of weapons, tools, and even cosmic eldritch forces to break apart entire worlds. Looks fun!
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Choosing To Side With Verso Will Destroy The World
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
It is undeniable that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to establish a new record in terms of both incredible gameplay and narrative. But it is also true that its story is heart-gripping and incredibly tragic. The very flow of the narrative takes players into an increasingly dramatic scenario where they must take the ultimate difficult choice: Let go of a perfect dream world, or destroy it forever.
Needless to say, if players choose to take Verso's side at the crucial moment, they will destroy everything in the Fractured world inside the painting. Some might sympathize with Maelle's need to hold out to the past, even though it's hurtful and fills her with bitterness, but the great majority of players, after truly comprehending Verso's sorrow, will choose to end his suffering. And thus, they will become world destroyers. Even if it's a simulated magical world.
Spore
From the Extinction of a Single Species, To The Death Of An Entire Planet
Spore
- Released
- September 7, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
Spore is one of the most underrated yet incredible fun games ever made, and it has such an unique mechanic that players won't find anything else like this title. It starts with a single cell, and ends up with a Space Empire, which, by the way, can also play the role of alien invader/destroyer of worlds and civilizations.
This game developed by Maxis, is brilliantly executed. From the early stages of a species, barely getting out of the primordial waters of their planet, to a tribe of primitive yet colorful characters, trying to bring peace through music (they literally go around and play instruments to make peace with other tribes, and it's awesome). Of course, being warlords that want to dominate the entire planet is also an option, and the choice is for the players to take. The next stage, brought with the Space Hero expansion, added galactic exploration even before Hello Games dared to release its procedural marvel No Man's Sky.
Mass Effect 3
Sometimes, Death Is The Only Choice
Mass Effect 3
- Released
- March 6, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
In certain RPG games, decisions matter, and in the Mass Effect series, this is written in stone. There are certain endings where Commander Sheppard had to make difficult choices, and some of them ended with things getting extremely bad. One of these endings happens in Mass Effect 3, when the players don't gather enough military strength, and the conditions are not ideal.
Choosing the Destroy Ending at this point causes all Mass Relays to be destroyed, along with the Reaper invaders, and a substantial percentage of the Earth. This devastates the planet and destroys it effectively, causing not only one of the worst possible endings in the franchise but also the death of its main character.