20 Video Game ‘Good Endings’ That Are Worse Than The Bad Ones

Some games punish kindness or principled choices with outcomes that hit harder than ruthless ones. These are the endings that look virtuous on paper yet leave characters or players in tougher spots than the so-called bad routes. Each entry explains what the game actually does in its finale so you can see how the most altruistic path can carry the harshest price. No spoilers beyond the end states you choose and what they set in motion.

‘Far Cry 5’

Choosing to resist Joseph Seed leads to a chain of events that triggers nuclear blasts across Hope County. Companions are incapacitated during the escape and the player character is trapped with Seed in a bunker. The game locks the world in a post-blast state with no way to undo the devastation. Walking away earlier avoids the immediate catastrophe even though Seed remains free.

‘Far Cry 4’

Driving the Golden Path to victory hands control to either Amita or Sabal and both enforce violent policies after the war. Civilians face forced labor or religious purges depending on who leads. The country trades one form of authoritarian rule for another in the epilogue slides. Waiting at the opening meal with Pagan Min quietly ends the conflict and spares widespread reprisals.

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’

Encouraging Ciri to accept the Nilfgaardian throne creates a stable empire and stops court infighting. She abandons a life of travel and monster contracts to live under constant protection and ceremony. Geralt sees her only on strict terms and her freedom is replaced with duty. Supporting her independence avoids the palace yet leaves the realm without her reforms.

‘Ghost of Tsushima’

Sparing Lord Shimura keeps him alive but brands Jin as a criminal in the eyes of the shogunate. The island authorities continue the hunt for the Ghost and Jin must live in hiding. Shimura loses status while still bound to pursue his former ward. Ending the duel permanently closes the feud and halts the official pursuit.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’

Freeing Orpheus to stop the Netherbrain forces someone in the party to become a mind flayer. The transformation saves the city but permanently changes the character’s form and nature. Companions react to the sacrifice with grief and uncertainty about the future. Keeping Orpheus chained avoids the metamorphosis while strengthening a hostile power.

‘Papers, Please’

Helping your family and key refugees escape leads to your arrest at the border. Confiscated documents and an immediate tribunal end your career and freedom. The state treats your actions as treason and your home is seized. Complying with orders preserves your position and benefits but leaves others behind.

‘Frostpunk’

Ruling humanely without Order or Faith laws keeps hope high early but the city often fails during the final storm. Lack of extreme measures limits coal reserves and workforce efficiency when temperatures plummet. Refusing child labor and emergency shifts preserves dignity yet undercuts survival odds. Committing to harsh policies secures heat and food at the cost of rights.

‘Fable III’

Keeping every promise drains the royal treasury before the Crawler’s arrival. The kingdom lacks the funds to build defenses and many citizens die during the assault. Your popularity remains high but the population count drops in the final totals. Breaking pledges fills the treasury and saves far more lives during the invasion.

‘Shin Megami Tensei IV’

Choosing Law places angels in charge of society and imposes rigid order on Tokyo. Citizens lose autonomy as strict doctrines govern behavior and belief. Dissenters are punished while daily life centers on obedience. Neutral routes resist both extremes and aim for human self-determination despite greater short-term danger.

‘Metro: Last Light’

Achieving Redemption unites Artyom and the Little Ones to spare the Metro from annihilation. The victory requires a self-sacrifice that costs Artyom his life in the final moments. Survivors credit the act with ending the war and opening a chance for peace. The alternate outcome keeps Artyom alive while many others die.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’

Accepting Hanako’s plan restores corporate control after the parade confrontation. V helps Arasaka stabilize its leadership and is later placed into risky experimental care with no cure guaranteed. The space station epilogue confines V and separates them from friends and fixers. Other paths leave the city less orderly but preserve V’s connections and options.

‘Mass Effect 3’

Choosing Synthesis ends the war and removes the divide between organics and synthetics. Every species is rewritten at a biological level without consent as green energy reshapes life. The mass relays are damaged and galactic travel remains crippled for an unknown period. Destroy preserves unaltered biology while eliminating friendly AI in the process.

‘Fallout: New Vegas’

Backing the NCR brings recognizable government to the Mojave and reopens trade. The epilogue describes taxes, land seizures, and crackdowns on dissidents around New Vegas and Freeside. Sharecroppers struggle to meet quotas as the bureaucracy expands. Other outcomes avoid NCR rule while carrying their own risks.

‘Dragon Age: Origins’

Refusing Morrigan’s dark ritual prevents the birth of an Old God child and ends the Blight cleanly. The Warden dies in the final battle if no other countermeasure exists. Companions mourn and some alliances weaken in the aftermath. Accepting the ritual saves the Warden’s life while creating a new and uncertain presence in the world.

‘Spec Ops: The Line’

Surrendering at the end yields an immediate execution by the arriving forces. Attempting to lay down arms does not stop the cycle of violence that consumed Dubai. The credits roll after a brief radio exchange and a firing line. Fighting on can end with extraction and further casualties rather than a swift death.

‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’

Broadcasting the truth exposes the augmentation incident and names those responsible. Riots and reprisals follow as trust in science and governance collapses across cities. Sarif Industries faces public fury and regulatory crackdowns. Other choices attempt to steer the narrative or erase evidence to contain the fallout.

‘Fable’

Saving your sister keeps family intact but destroys the legendary weapon you hold. The lost power changes future fights and late-game encounters. Townsfolk praise the choice while your arsenal permanently shrinks. Taking the blade strengthens your combat options at the cost of kin.

‘Silent Hill: Downpour’

Choosing forgiveness uncovers Murphy’s role and returns him to a system that still treats him as a criminal. Escapes and transfers end with him under guard rather than free on the road. The town releases its grip without clearing his name in the outside world. Revenge-leaning resolutions remove obstacles while leaving different victims behind.

‘Nier Replicant’

Completing the final route by choosing the self-sacrifice option erases the protagonist’s existence. The save file is deleted and all progress vanishes to reflect the in-story price. Later content requires external steps to restore the data. Alternative endings preserve the file while leaving other characters with heavier burdens.

‘Nier: Automata’

Taking the offer to help other players during the credits shoots down the final defense for them at a cost. The game asks for your entire save data and wipes it when you accept. Your weapons, quests, and records are removed to make someone else’s ending possible. Refusing keeps your file intact and provides no assistance to anyone else.

Share the endings you think hit the hardest and tell us which games we should add in the comments.