10 'Emotional' Video Game Endings That Fell Completely FLAT

Many thanks to the talented WhatCulture staffer who whipped up the above picture to explain why Witcher 3's worst ending was more rage-inducing than tear-jerking.

In CD Proket's seminal trilogy concluder, the ending you get depends on how you interact with Ciri across several key scenes. Should you make too many wrong choices in these moments, the ending sees Ciri getting killed in the final battle. This results in the final scene of the game - and indeed, the entire trilogy - being Geralt (Ciri's father-figure and the player character) clutching her pendant while being swarmed by monsters.

It's a tragic ending, yes, but not a satisfying one. Firstly, Ciri's death completely undermines all the foreshadowing in the game about her following in Geralt's footsteps and becoming a Witcher herself. As a result, Ciri's demise is more baffling than upsetting - a poorly executed plot twist that annoys more than it surprises.

Secondly, the criteria to get Ciri's 'good' ending is utterly maddening. Told Ciri to stand up for herself in an important meeting? She dies. Shared a beer with her instead of having a snowball fight? She dies. Told her to restrain her violent impulses instead of indulging in them? Guess what, she lives! No, only joking, of course she dies.

Granted, the game does allow for a couple of 'wrong' choices. But when the wrong choice is so unclear, it's easy to accidentally kill Geralt's adopted daughter through nothing but good intentions.