For a computer game ending to be truly satisfying, it needs to be more than just a text screen or a short cinematic. After all, you've probably spent a few dozen hours with the game, and the end is a reward for your perseverance.
Unfortunately, great endings are rare. They seem to be most common in role-playing and adventure games. In fact, of the many candidates we had for our top ten, there were only a handful that didn't come from these two genres. Of course, this imbalance among the genres has something to do with the fact that role-playing and adventure games are traditionally more story-driven, and as such lend themselves to great conclusions.
A great ending must not only wrap up the story, but it must provide a fitting end. Alluding to a sequel is fine, but it shouldn't leave you hanging. Length is an important factor as well; there's nothing as disappointing as finishing a 40-hour game, only to be rewarded with a mere 15-second movie.
Most importantly, a great ending must be emotional. Our top ten include endings both happy and sad, but they all have one thing in common: Once the game was finished, the finale stayed with us and made the whole game a more memorable experience.
Be warned that by the nature of the subject, each of these entries is filled with spoilers. For this reason, we have provided links at the top of each page so you can simply see the names of our choices, without having to read the details.
And now, here are GameSpot's ten favorite computer game endings, presented in alphabetical order.
Next: The happy ending
