Many times I am dissappointed in the game endings. Usually because they just end abruptly. I often times have a lot of questions about parts of the story which were never answered.

I personally think the best ending to a game was in Return to Zork because the developers really wrapped up the story cleanly with no questions at the end. Also, we got to see each of the people or places where we were really stuck and spent many hours. Plus, at the time this was all very new to us. A close second would be Zork Grand Inquisitor - now THAT was a fun game!

So, which game for you has the most satisfying ending?

Syberia 1 and 2 had great endings, I thought that both chapters were tied up beautifully, and very movingly.

Shadow of Destinies and The Last Express.

Hi cutiechix37

I agree with you as regards Return to Zork, in fact I think many of the old games had better endings - which properly completed the storyline

Cheers.

Mad

Do you think that in the case of newer games it's because the developers are already planning a sequel to whichever game, and therefore leave a few threads hanging, or a cliffhanger? (I'm thinking specifically of Still Life and Dreamfall, both games coming up for discussion here as having unsatisfactory endings. )

Hi Rushes

A cliffhanger ending is OK (for me, anyway) if I am aware there is going to be one. In my opinion a pre announcement should be made - as has been done with the Agon series.

Otherwise I consider it bad practice by the developer.

I get rather annoyed if I have paid full price for a game only to find I have to pay full price for others (sequels) before I have a "complete" story

Cheers.

Mad

Zork Nemesis and Grim Fandango.

Two of my favorite games!!!

Grim Fandango and The Longest Journey.
It's not strictly an adventure, but Twinsen's Odyssey had a good ending.
I can't remember the Zork games very well. I should probably replay them some time.

I tend to remember games that had bad endings more, probably because they make me mad.

Hey cutiechix37

For me it is:

Syberia 2 is a wonderful end.
Scracthes and The Longest Journey

Love Maria

Well these are mostly older games but...

Endings I loved
Journeyman Project 3 - Legacy of Time
Myst
Journey to the Center of the Earth

Dumbest/most unsatisfying ending ever IMO:
Beyond Time - ugh -

Endings I have mixed emotions about:
The Watchmaker - seemed oddly appropriate for the story but...
Black Mirror 1 - ditto

Secret Files: Tunguska has a good ending.

I liked the ending to Keepsake. I thought that was a wonderful game.

Bets

The Longest Journey and Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders.

My vote goes to Grim Fandango. Not only did everything get wrapped up nicely, the ending made me happy.

Grim Fandango, Monkey Island series and Day of the Tentacle.

I also want to mention that all these games you all are mentioning not only had great endings - they are all great games! Perhaps a good ending makes a game that much more memorable?

Hi fellas,

I love this thread. Cutie Chicix37 and Mad - I love your views. My sentiments, exactly!!!

I have played too many adventure games with weak endings. What's the deal with some developers? They should hire proper writers!

Sorry Phoebe, I have to disagree totally with Scratches. That game's ending was too confusing and abrupt for my taste.

Some recent games I played have great endings. They are not adventure games, but there are some adventure game elements in them:

Bookworm Adventures - Casual Game
The developers did an incredible, breakthrough job making a word spelling game into an RPG complete with experience levelling, monsters, ability enhancing inventory items, monsters, bosses and a great story with at least two twists in the game and a great ending.

Onimusha 3 - Button meshing action game
Endorsed and starring two major actors, this Japanese action game had the gamer switching between the two major characters in different time periods to solve puzzles together. There were twists and surprises and easter eggs for the ending.

My favorite is probably Syberia. I think it's the only time where I had a true emotional reaction during the final cutcene of a game. I remember the first time I played it being so stressed whether she would catch that train!

I also thought the ending of Paradise was a real gut punch (though I didn't think the entire game itself was so fabulous). That ending is probably the most haunting of any game I've played, it really stayed with me after the end of the game.



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My Fav ending is Syberia 1,2 that is a grand finale .. a great game from beginning to end, perfect!

Love Maria

Have to add in Riddle of the Sphinx and The Omega Stone. Felt ROTS could have ended there but was happy to see a sequel to it.

Grim Fandango! Breath taking.

Darn it. Now you guys have me wanting to play Grim Fandango again. Been a loooooong time.

Will this play on XP or is it strictly 95-98?

Bets

The Longest Journey

Monkey Island 2 and Discworld 2 also had very good endings.