7 Open-World Games With The Best Endings, Ranked

Open-world games are among the best in gaming, as they allow for a ton of possibilities for players to have a wonderful experience through the variety and large maps they typically feature. Some titles even implement great day and night cycles to make the experience more immersive and give the impression that time is passing.

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Open-world games allow players a sense of total freedom, where gamers will find themselves naturally wandering off the beaten path.

Many open-world games have giant open cities that players can explore in depth to discover interesting NPC questlines and interactions. The narrative is also extremely important, so having an ending that leaves players speechless is critical. Here are some of the best open-world games with the best endings.

This article contains spoilers for the games listed below. Players should read with caution.

7

Cyberpunk 2077

The Game Can Have Four Endings, Some Of Them Tragic

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• Multiple possible endings
• Night City is breathtaking

Few games have taken the open world genre to such a wonderful place as Cyberpunk 2077. When it was initially released, this title suffered from criticism due to a few performance bugs on older consoles. However, over the years, it has been worked on significantly and is now one of the greatest titles of the last five years.

Not only does Cyberpunk 2077 have an incredible narrative and some memorable quotes, but there are also tons of different weapons for players to take advantage of and interesting NPCs to interact with. There are many different endings in Cyberpunk 2077, and all of them are great, as sad as they can be.

6

Fallout 4

Factions Play A Critical Role In How The Game Ends

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

• Four different endings
• Great companions to fight with and romance

While there’s a big debate in the Fallout community about whether Fallout 4 is the best installment in the series thus far, it’s undeniable that even if it isn’t, it still manages to deliver a great experience to players as they explore the Boston Commonwealth as the Sole Survivor.

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This title has four different endings that change depending on the faction that players choose to side with at the end. Each one has its own interesting things to them. However, it’s undeniable that the Institute’s ending is one of the best. Fallout 4 also has great Companions that players can take with them on their adventures, and even romance in some cases.

5

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

36 Different Endings, With Some Of Them Being Mind-Blowing

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content

• The Continent is full of magic and dangerous creatures
• The ending can be happy or tragic

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest games ever released, as it not only scratches the itch of those who love open-world games but also provides a compelling narrative set in a fictional world with fantasy elements and creatures, both friendly and not.

The Witcher 3 features amazing armor sets, tons of different steel and silver swords, and a large variety of MPCS and side quests that players should pursue to completion to get the most out of their experience. With a total of 36 different endings, players will find there’s no shortage of options regarding how Geralt and Ciri’s story ends.

Reaching Sovngarde And Defeating Alduin Is Extremely Rewarding

• Defeating Alduin in Sovngarde is epic
• No actual ending per se, but the late stages of the game are fantastic

The Elder Scrolls franchise is one of the best in its genre and has been so for a few decades at the time of writing this article. While installments like Oblivion and Morrowind are also amazing, many players agree that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is at the top of the list due to the many things it has to offer.

Although this title doesn’t have an actual ending in the same way that is expected from other games, the final battle against Alduin in Sovngarde and the beauty of this area offer a great conclusion to the base game.

3

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Two Different Endings That Feel Carefully Crafted

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

ESRB

E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

• Hyrule is massive and populated
• Compelling story and fun game mechanics

While there are many great titles in The Legend of Zelda franchise, it’s undeniable that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is among the top contenders, if not the best game ever released as part of it.

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From A Short Hike to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there are myriad open-world Switch games overflowing with fun optional content.

There are so many things to do in the Kingdom of Hyrule, that it’ll be hard for players to find themselves without quests to take on, NPCS to interact with, or enemies to take down. There are two possible endings to this title, both of which are very interesting.

2

Ghost Of Tsushima

An Epic Fight Between Two Family Members

Systems

Released

July 17, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity

• Players can choose to spare or kill Jin’s uncle
• The setting of the final fight is beautiful

Ghost of Tsushima is probably one of the best game depictions of Japan in the feudal era. Following the story of Jin Sakai as he tries to recover his homeland from the Mongolian invaders, this title features excellent combat mechanics that are both brutal and fun.

There are two possible outcomes at the end of Ghost of Tsushima: one where Jin chooses to show his uncle mercy and the other where he chooses to kill him. Regardless of what players choose, it’s undeniable that the final encounter is extremely emotional, and the beautiful setting where it takes place makes it even better. Throughout the game, players can upgrade their katana and get some of the best armor sets through effort and dedication.

1

Red Dead Redemption 2

A Sad And Heroic Farewell To A Beloved Character

Released

October 26, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• Outstanding game mechanics
• Amazing narrative

There’s no denying that Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute masterpiece, no matter how players look at it. The narrative is outstanding, the combat mechanics are great, the environments feel alive and carefully crafted, and the main inside quests offer a lot of fun.

The ending of Red Dead Redemption 2 will be greatly determined by Arthur’s honor level when players reach this stage of the game. However, the unfortunate truth is that, regardless of this, Arthur will always die, which has made more than one player shed a tear for his fate. One of the greatest things about this title is the hunting mechanics. So, those who like sitting in the wilderness patiently waiting for their prey might want to try the best weapons for hunting in Red Dead Redemption 2.

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