Best Games with Satisfying Endgames
What do you do after you’ve beaten the final boss and conquered the toughest challenges? Some games have great beginnings and middling middle sections, but what games have succeeded in creating a satisfying endgame experience? We’ve picked out some of the best games with satisfying endings, so read on to find out what they are.
What games aren’t included? Well, this list is mostly focused on single-player games, so multiplayer games where the endgame is just players being better than each other aren’t included. For example, we’ve skipped battle royale games like Fortnite, Blackout, and Apex Legends, despite the fact that these games have ongoing seasons with new gear, cosmetics, and battle royale maps to keep players hooked.
The Pokémon series has always been impressive when it comes to the postgame. Pokémon Gold and Silver impressed players when the Kanto region was added, and the battle against Red was an iconic moment in many players’ childhoods. Some debate the purpose of weaker gym leaders in the postgame, but others argue it encourages players to train new Pokémon since they won’t just steamroll through the game.
Dragons Dogma has one of the best endgames. After beating the game, there are harder monsters, new dungeons, and Dark Souls-inspired DLC for players to challenge themselves with.
If you’re looking for a more recent game with an excellent endgame, look no further than Pokémon G/S/C. Not only did the game expand to a second region, but it essentially gives you two games in one. For many, this is the best Pokémon game.
Old School RuneScape doesn’t have an actual defined endgame, but that’s the point. The game is constantly being updated and improved, so the endgame is whatever you want it to be. If you’re a hardcore player who loves the grind and setting new challenges for yourself, you can keep playing and setting your own goals.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s endgame has been praised as one of the best in recent years, but it could have been even more expansive. The Rockstar game features an impressive amount of content after you complete the main story, with new side activities, challenges, and ways to play, but it could have gone even further. In one interview, it was revealed that the developers were planning to include ranch expansion and missions with old gang members, which would have improved the story’s closure even more.
Path of Exile is a game that has no endgame. Well, that’s not strictly true. There are modes to play that offer no drawbacks, which is more than you can say for a lot of games. There’s hardcore, which is the standard mode with permadeath, and there’s the upcoming endless mode, which is the same as hardcore but with the addition of a checkpoint every 100 levels.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne adds the Guiding Lands as a definitive endgame zone for you to grind in. While some people will spend as much time as they can in this area, others will move on to the other parts of the game.
Nioh 1 & 2 and Stranger In Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin are both games that have infinity dungeons that are intended to keep players playing even after finishing the game. These are for those who want greater challenges to push themselves.
Yakuza franchise, with the exception of Kiwami 2, does a great job at providing a satisfying endgame experience. While the first Yakuza game doesn’t have a huge amount of postgame content, the sequels go above and beyond to offer closure to the story and memorable endings to the protagonist.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt‘s DLC Blood and Wine is often singled out for its excellent ending, and rightly so. The final expansion to The Witcher 3 features a lot of side quests to give the game a greater sense of finality. It offers closure to Geralt’s story and a memorable ending to go out on.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was designed with a full 100% completion in mind, which you’re encouraged to achieve after finishing the main game. This game is a perfect example of a game whose endgame is its whole purpose.
