Who doesn't love a happy ending? In most video games, the answer is simple: save the world, get the girl or guy, and ride off into the sunset. Yet some of the most unforgettable finales in the medium come from doing the exact opposite. As a 2023 retrospective from Game Rant noted — and as players in 2026 still discover through remasters, retro collections, and emulation — a well-crafted 'bad' ending can be far more compelling than a squeaky-clean victory. These aren't failures of design; they are invitations to walk on the wild side.

Spoiler warning: major endings discussed below.

The Starkiller What-If: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The game's good ending sees Galen Marek, aka Starkiller, sacrifice himself so his allies can escape. His noble death inspires the Rebel Alliance. It is heroic, bittersweet, and exactly the kind of selfless act that makes Jedi look good on a poster. But if players choose to kill Darth Vader instead, they get a crazy alternate timeline where Starkiller lives on as a claw-handed cyborg. Through canon-breaking DLC, he hunts iconic Star Wars characters with brutal efficiency, force-pushing Obi-Wan into the incinerating end of the Millennium Falcon and corrupting Luke to the dark side after slamming him into an X-Wing. It is a power trip with a rocket strapped to it, and in 2026 it remains a cult favorite.

Catherine: Hell's Own Dating Sim

Vincent, the lamb-like protagonist of Catherine, faces a choice that would make most dating sim heroes sweat: pursue chaotic freedom or do what society expects. Choose chaos, and he ends up ruling Hell's demon hierarchy. The fun-loving blonde of his dreams, Catherine, turns out to be a spawn of Satan — who, surprisingly, is a pretty chill guy in the end. The 'sensible' ending gives Vincent a long, meaningless but respectable life with his long-term girlfriend, Katherine. That sounds nice and all, but reigning over Hell with demonic powers? Chef's kiss. Better to reign in Hell than serve in a boring apartment.

Rayman 2: Treasure Over Heroism

A little less than halfway through The Great Escape, Rayman finds a room full of gold coins and a magical elixir that can save his friends. The heroic limbless wonder is expected to resist temptation. But choosing 'I want treasure!' triggers a secret ending where Rayman is magically transported to a secluded desert island beside his new pile of riches. He lives out his days under the sun and grows fat — presumably because the gold turned out to be chocolate coins. After saving the world from evil once before, doesn't he deserve a break? No good deed goes unpunished, but a bad deed apparently comes with a beachfront retirement.

Blood Omen: Kain's Canonical Villainy

At the end of Blood Omen, Kain is offered a classic dilemma: sacrifice himself to restore balance or reject his role, dooming the planet and embracing ultimate power. Vampires aren't exactly known for altruism, so most players role-playing Kain would choose the latter. The 'bad' ending was so cool that the developers made it canon for the rest of the series. Besides, it is much harder to write sequels in a world where everything is hunky-dory thanks to the previous protagonist's terminal sacrifice. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but Kain paved it with style.

Streets of Rage: Betrayal Never Tasted So Good

The bad ending in Streets of Rage is only available if the player is willing to betray a real-life friend. If player one and player two reach the top of Mr. X's tower, player one is offered a deal: defeat a friend and join the crime syndicate as a top lieutenant. In single-player mode, this offer never appears. But if player one beats up their friend — at the mere cost of a lifelong friendship — they then face Mr. X himself. Win, and they take his place as the new crime kingpin. The good ending is just coffee at sunset. The bad ending is cold-blooded, ruthless, and frankly more memorable.

Far Cry 6: The Boat Ending

After surviving gunfights, explosions, machete swings, and climbable radio towers, Far Cry 6 protagonist Dani Rojas is offered keys to a boat that will take her to Miami. The player is expected to turn around and rejoin the fight. But if they hop in the boat, they get an early ending where Dani sips a drink on the beach while distant news of her friends' demise plays on the radio. Since Far Cry 4, the series has been famous for false endings that let players turn their backs on violence. Far Cry 6 is no different, though it does attempt a little guilt trip before the credits roll.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows: Symbiote Supremacy

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2008's Spider-Man: Web of Shadows gave players a glimpse of what happens when Peter Parker stops pulling his punches. With the symbiote suit affecting his judgment, the player decides whether he wields power responsibly. Or not. After enough bad choices, Peter breaks up with MJ and hooks up with the symbiote-corrupted Black Cat. The game ends with Spider-Man lording over New York City with a symbiote army, proudly wearing the much-beloved black suit. Given the amount of heckling Spidey gets from New Yorkers and the media, plus the number of times MJ has broken up with him, it doesn't sound all that bad.

Metal Gear Solid: Stealth Gear Over Romance

Super-sleuth sneak masters who finished the PS1 classic Metal Gear Solid with the good ending — resisting torture and saving Meryl — were rewarded with a bandana granting infinite ammunition and a romantic moment. However, that item is largely useless when considering that guns are loud, silence-breaking tools. By Metal Gear Solid 4, the relationship becomes bittersweet. Give in to the torture mini-game, and Meryl dies. Snake instead joins Otacon, who gifts him the game-busting Stealth Gear for the next run through Shadow Moses. The bad ending literally breaks the game in the player's favor. That is what the French call a 'nice problem to have.'

In 2026, these endings are still debated in forums, video essays, and retro streams. The original article's point holds up: bad endings are not low-quality or unsatisfying. They show what happens when morals slip or resolve falters in the face of temptation. Compared to a selfless act of heroism, these finales might sound less than ideal, but in reality they totally rock — especially next to the game's 'true' ending. Happy endings are fine, but the dark side has better loot, better drama, and better memes. Players should not feel guilty for choosing chaos. After all, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back — usually with a cyborg arm and a throne in Hell.