Which of these ending types are your favorite?

[Yousef]

The ending where I beat the game and it’s off my backlog.

 

[ObscureJigglypuff]

In my case depends on the context and how the story is build around that ending. This is of course entirely subjective.

For example i didn't like the happy ending in FF type-0
Is an aberration lol
But i love that sad part of the ending where i was crying with Rem and Machina.

 

[Omar_best1235]

1- Happy ending
2- Sad ending
3- bittersweet ending
4- cliffhanger ending

I like the happy ending not too much but i if there evil ending or bad ending i like the both very much

 

[miguk]

I remembered a few I didn't include in my last post:

Non-endings (the film just kind of stops in the middle of something mundane) are another high risk, high reward, except with more risk than reward. They were pretty popular in 90s indie cinema. Sometimes they work fine.

Spoiler: spoiler for 90s indie films

(Clerks, My Own Private Idaho; Good Will Hunting kind of also counts)

Other times, they just operate as lazy cliffhangers.

Spoiler: spoiler for 90s directors who need to go back to art school

(Richard Linklater films, Gus van Sant films other than those mentioned)

Macbeth endings (everyone dies) can be great when serious effort is put into them. But in the hands of an edgelord director, they're pretty meh.

Harem endings depend on the work itself. Did the main character(s) earn that kind of arrangement, or are they too much of an ugly b✹☠⚔☢☣d to deserve it? It can actually be quite touching if done right (watch

Spoiler: spoiler for a German film

The Edukators / Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

for a rare live-action example), but if the writer is just a slob that's asking for a visit from the FBI, it's probably not going to work.

Spoiler: spoiler for a sub-par RPG

(✹☠☢☣ you Rex from Xenoblade 2; you did nothing whatsoever to earn Mythra's love and treated her like complete trash, and you barely deserve the other girls.)

 

[ATenderLad]

Harem endings depend on the work itself. Did the main character(s) earn that kind of arrangement, or are they too much of an ugly b✹☠⚔☢☣d to deserve it? It can actually be quite touching if done right (watch

Spoiler: spoiler for a German film

The Edukators / Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

for a rare live-action example), but if the writer is just a slob that's asking for a visit from the FBI, it's probably not going to work.

That's new to me, looking for that one tonight. (*Love* Daniel Bruhl in other movies)

On topic, that's a tough question for me to answer...everything has it's place and time. I suppose I only dislike the tone of an ending if it feels forced; like the old indie standard "and then they died", hoping the impermanence of life adds some extra gravitas to a story, like adding any old spice to a dish. I was just watching Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) and Vanishing Point (1971), two car chase darlings from the 70's that go that route, and in both cases it came off a bit lazy and hazy.

Not that the opposite is much better, a neat and tidy happy ending can feel like like a cheat if it's unearned. Picture the difference between, say, Godzilla Minus One (2023), which I won't spoil but it's hard not to cheer at the end, versus say:

Spoiler: Maybe too recent of a movie

, The new Gladiator

Actually, let's say the ending of Game of Thrones, where everyone left alive just sort of agreed war was getting tiresome, and washed their hands of the whole bloody affair.

A good ending is a good ending, but maybe they can start being multiple choices, like Clue (1985).

 

[Rylioli]

im usually content with a happy ending but a sad ending is whatll stick with me far longer, i still remember when i watched the metal gear solid 4 ending for the first time. now thats a ball buster that stuck with me

 

[Ikagura]

bittersweet.

If it's too sad I get unsatisfied and cliffhangers can lead to nowhere as no more games are made.

 

[lothermus]

1- Happy ending
2- Sad ending
3- bittersweet ending
4- cliffhanger ending

Kinda childish, but I really don't like sad endings in videogames. Specially those creepy ones like in Drakengard hahaha but they are fun do watch. I love the happy ones, and the cliffhanger ones like in Alan Wake.

 

[Tonberry]

I like happy endings in stories that have a lot of struggle in them, because it always feels good then.

Then again, Persona 3 is like my favorite ending of any game and it sort of feels like it’s like happy and sad at the same time. Or maybe that’s what bittersweet means? I haven’t thought much about the word before.

I also like the endings in Bloodborne, because all of them were WTF endings lol

 

[Mr. SyS]

I have a preference for happy endings but I'll take any that neatly resolve every plot thread. Cliffhangers are the ones I don't like. MML3 never.

 

[Ian Naxieas]

To those who watched the Mist

Jesus Christ. I don't even know what I'd qualify that ending as. I think your choice is the most fitting out of the presented options, but there are many words I'd use for that ending. x) Also, may I ask how you got the spoiler to be all fuzzy looking instead of being in a spoiler box?

I don't like happy/sad/bittersweet/cliffhanger endings just for the sake of it. For me a story has to end in a meaningful way that will make the journey worth it, doesn't matter how it ends.

Ultimately, this. I think it's hard to put many endings into a category as well. I think you could call On the Beach's ending a mixture of bittersweet and sad, for example. Bittersad? Sadsweet? In the end I just want something that's satisfying and meaningful.

THAT SAID, if I had a gun to my head I'd go with bittersweet. I can think of a lot of things that end that way and I find them the most memorable.

I also like the endings in Bloodborne, because all of them were WTF endings lol

Oh, and cliffhangers can go to hell. I can only think of a few good ones, they're usually just obnoxious.

 

[starseeker300]

Whatever makes the best sense for the story's tone and direction

ff15's ending was bittersweet and it was great
chrono trigger's endings 1 and 2 were happy and it was great

as long as the ending isnt stupid or an asspull itll be fine in my book

 

[Mago]

Depends on the kinda game but the only one I actively dislike is 4 in situations in which there is no sequel to resolve things so youre just left with no real end.

 

[Ikagura]

Depends on the kinda game but the only one I actively dislike is 4 in situations in which there is no sequel to resolve things so youre just left with no real end.

Yeah, basically an ending with a cliffhanger should only be done when the sequel is in preparation already.

Like BttF Part 2 having a small trailer of Part 3 for movies.



or maybe just foreshadowing the next antagonist like in Turok 2.