10 Video Game Finales That Left You Speechless

7. Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption Ending
Rockstar

Red Dead Redemption's finale is so good and so powerful, simply because of how understated it is. In contrast to the bombast of the rest of the game, the final hour or so lures you into a period of calm as you play as a retired John Marston, adjusting to his quiet new family life.

Obviously a Western like this could never end on such a sanguine note, and the longer you play through this section, the less convinced you are that this happy ending is going to stick.

And of course, it doesn't.

Cornered in a barn by the sheriff and his posse (the very people who promised you freedom if you helped them track down your old gang in the first place), Jack's goaded out and gunned down on his own land. What makes this section great is that you're allowed to shoot back at your attackers, but the sheer number of them means that it's always going to be a futile attempt at survival.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.