10 Powerful Video Game Endings That Gave You Chills

9. Batman: Arkham City

Say what you will about the trajectory the Arkham series ended up taking, but the second game's story is absolutely stellar, and finishes on a fantastic high note. The relationship between Batman and the Joker acts as the crux of pretty much every entry in the series, but their dysfunctional dynamic takes centre stage in Arkham City.

For the duration of this narrative, the Joker is dying thanks to injecting himself with a serum in the previous game, which Batman has a single antidote for. Unfortunately for him, Batman is also infected, and after defeating his enemies, uses a portion of the cure on himself. It's a riveting moral dilemma Bruce is put in; the Clown Prince has done terrible things, but a superhero wouldn't just watch someone die, would they?

After weighing up his options, the Joker attacks and accidentally destroys the vail. While he's succumbing to his illness, Batman says that, despite everything his nemesis has done, he would have saved him. The game ends as Batman picks up the broken body of his former enemy, and walks out into a crowd of goons, who are just as stunned as the audience to witness the death of such an iconic character.