8 Games Where You Face Yourself At The End

While playing through a game, you can be forced to face all sorts of bosses. Some will be much larger and have better powers than you, but you have to persevere. Then, you get to the final boss, which is the confrontation that the entire game has been building toward. Typically, this adversary is even bigger and better than the others. However, on some occasions, they’re your exact equal. In fact, they are you.

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They could be a dark version of your character, another you from another timeline, or something else entirely. Regardless of what their story is, they’re you, and you have to face them. This always makes for an interesting situation, but it doesn’t happen too often. Here are some games in which it occurs.

8

Bioshock Infinite

Booker Vs. Comstock

BioShock Infinite

Released

March 26, 2013

Developer(s)

Irrational Games

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

The main premise of Bioshock Infinite is that you play as a man called Booker DeWitt, who is tasked with going to the city in the sky to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth. She is being held by a man named Comstock, a tyrant who runs the entire city. Finding her isn’t too bad, but getting her to safety proves to be tricky. It all leads to a confrontation with Comstock.

There isn’t really a boss fight, as it’s more of a cutscene where Booker drowns Comstock. However, it’s right after this that you and the protagonist learn the truth: Booker and Comstock are the same person. They are simply two versions of the character from different timelines who took vastly different paths in life.

7

Black Myth: Wukong

Destined One Vs. The Great Sage’s Broken Shell

Systems

Released

August 20, 2024

Developer(s)

Game Science

Publisher(s)

Game Science

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence

Black Myth: Wukong is one of many games that adapt the iconic story of The Journey To The West. Black Myth: Wukong does things a bit differently, though, as the iconic main character, Sun Wukong, dies at the start of it. In the process, his six senses are turned into relics and scattered across the land.

You play as a monkey called the Destined One, who goes on a journey to find these relics. However, late in the game, you discover that the Destined One is one of those relics, as he’s the mind of Sun Wukong and the reincarnation of the character. In the final battle, you face the re-animated corpse of Wukong, aka The Great Sage’s Broken Shell. So, it’s basically two Sun Wukongs fighting.

6

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Good Superman Vs. Evil Superman

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Released

April 16, 2013

Developer(s)

NetherRealm Studios

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence

Injustice is a DC fighting game containing some of the most iconic superheroes in comic-book history. Yet, many of them don’t act like it. This is because, at the start of the game, Superman goes mad after The Joker tricks him into killing Lois Lane and destroying Metropolis. This leads to him becoming a tyrant and taking over his universe with the help of several other so-called heroes.

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Batman leads the resistance against them. He is struggling, though, until other members of the Justice League are transported there from another universe. These heroes still fight for good but aren’t strong enough to topple evil Superman until they figure out how to bring their version of Superman into this twisted universe. As the good Superman, you battle the evil one in the final fight of the game.

5

Infamous

Cole Vs. Kessler

inFAMOUS

Systems

Released

May 26, 2009

ESRB

T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

The main villain of the original Infamous game is a man named Kessler. He is an evil guy who is causing problems for Empire City and protagonist Cole McGrath. So, as Cole, you intend to defeat the evil Kessler using your signature lighting powers. Unfortunately, the old villain has some impressive powers, too.

This is because he is Cole from another timeline. He failed to save his home city from a dangerous beast in his timeline because he fled with his family. Then, once his family died, too, he was all alone in his timeline. Filled with regret, he transported himself to your world to correct his mistakes. Yet, his methods of doing so aren’t great.

4

Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link

Link Vs. Link’s Shadow

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Systems

Released

December 1, 1988

Developer(s)

Nintendo R&D4

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

As always, the ultimate goal for Link in Zelda 2 is to save Princess Zelda. On this occasion, she’s been put into a deep sleep. Link is the only one who can wake her up, but to do so, he needs the Triforce of Courage. He has to do a lot to get it, including gain access to the Great Palace and battle guardians.

The final foe you have to face is a dark version of Link. His name is Link’s Shadow, and he’s just a shadowy version of the main protagonist. Therefore, like you, he’s armed with a sword and shield. Also, like you, he’s tougher than he looks, making this one of the better final boss fights in the series.

3

Dragon’s Dogma

Arisen Vs. The Seneschal

Systems

Released

May 22, 2012

Engine

MT Framework

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence

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At the start of Dragon’s Dogma, you create your character and set out on an adventure to slay a mighty dragon. You may assume that the dragon is going to be the final boss of the game. Yet, the actual last boss is a special being known as the Seneschal, which is a kind of guardian. Once you beat it, you take its place.

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Things get more interesting on your second playthrough, though. Once you get to the end on the second go around, you meet the Seneschal once again. This time, however, they’re your character from the first playthrough (if you’re playing offline), meaning you have to battle your old self.

2

Spec Ops: The Line

Captain Walker Vs. Colonel Konrad

Released

June 26, 2012

Developer(s)

Yager Development

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

In Spec Ops: The Line, Captain Walker’s squad makes their way into Dubai after hearing a distress call from Colonel Konrad. The country is in a terrible situation due to vicious sandstorms, and Konrad attempted to help with relief efforts. Once you get there, though, you are misled by Konrad and his allies, which leads to you accidentally killing a bunch of civilians with white phosphorus. Walker blames Konrad for this and vows revenge.

Late in the game, you get face-to-face with the villain and have the chance to shoot him. But this is when you realize that he’s already dead and has been for a long time. It turns out that Spec Ops: The Line is a game where you can’t trust what you see, as Walker has been hallucinating. His subconscious has been trying to protect him from the reality that he’s responsible for killing all those civilians, not Konrad. Therefore, this “final boss” is really just you.

1

Shadow Of The Colossus

You Become The Final Boss

Systems

Released

February 6, 2018

Developer(s)

Bluepoint Games, JapanStudio, Team Ico

ESRB

T For Teen due to Blood, Violence

In Shadow of the Colossus, “You are the final boss” is more literal, as this game features a unique version of this concept. During the game, you play as a young boy who attempts to eliminate all the colossi to save their friend. In the process, they’re freeing and being corrupted by an evil creature named Dormin.

After you defeat the last colossus, you run into a man named Emon, who can clearly see the corruption, so he has his ally eliminate you. Yet, shadow figures take over your body, turning you into the shadowy giant known as Dormin. As the beast, you battle Emon and his warriors, and it very much feels like they’re the protagonists and you’re the big, bad boss. While they can’t overpower you, Emon does manage to seal you away, saving everybody.

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