As an industry, we see a surprising number of sad endings – or at least endings that aren’t exactly happy – in our video games. Video game stories almost seem to be obsessed with ending on a grim note- which, mind you, I don’t really have anything against, especially when said sad endings are well implemented. Perhaps it is because of this abundance of sombre endings that when we get a happy one that is truly well executed, it stands out in memory even more. In this feature, we’re going to take a look at what we feel have been fifteen of the most impactful happy endings in games in recent years- some of these might be partly happy, some might have more cheerful implications, while others might just be happy endings period.
Also, there will be spoilers ahead. I mean, it’s a feature about endings, so you probably knew that, right? If we start talking about a game you don’t want spoiled, watch on at your own risk.
XENOBLADE CHRONICLES 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 could have so easily been a game that ends on a depressing note, either on a small scale, or a large scale, or even both, but it stubbornly sticks to the themes and tones it exhibits, and concludes on a surprisingly positive note. In the grand scheme of things, the world of Alrest manages to break free from its never ending cycle of death and decay, while on a more personal level, the story of Rex and Pyra ends on a fitting and cozy “boy meets girl” note.
