10 Divisive Video Game Endings Nobody Agrees On
8. Borderlands
Borderlands has you searching for the Vault, a legendary structure rumored to contain powerful alien technology. After a long and arduous journey, you finally make it, but its contents are not what you expected.
Turns out the Vault isnt a technology cache, but is instead a prison containing The Destroyer, an ancient creature with the ability to destroy everything. You were deceived and led to kill this monster, and the game ends with you gaining nothing.
Its easy to see why so many were disappointed by this ending. Borderlands is an RPG that puts a lot of emphasis on loot to the point where finding the ultimate score is the main narrative thrust of the game. To have all your efforts undermined for a twist can feel extremely underwhelming and make it feel like a waste of time.
Conversely it could be argued that this undermining of expectations is what makes it great. The realization that the Vault isnt what it seems, and that things are much bigger than your selfish ambitions, opens the world up and makes the story more interesting. Its a nice twist that, if perhaps it were in another medium, might be more universally well received.