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The COOLEST Bad Endings In Video Games
Alright, lads and lassies, let’s get one thing straight: we all love a good ending in video games, right? You save the world, everyone lives happily ever after, and the credits roll with some epic music in the background. It’s all sunshine and rainbows. But hold on a sec—what if I told you that there are bad endings out there that are way more interesting, way more twisted, and honestly, cooler than your typical goody-two-shoes endings? Yeah, you heard me right. Some bad endings are so epic you’ll be left thinking, “Why didn’t I choose this earlier?”
Introduction of bad endings in video games being cooler than good endings.
So, if you’re the kind of gamer who likes a bit of chaos, power, and, dare I say, a little bit of villainy, then grab a seat because we’re diving into some of the coolest bad endings in video games. And just a heads-up—there will be SPOILERS ahead. So if you’re the type who gets salty about spoilers, consider this your warning. But hey, you clicked on this article, so I’m guessing you’re here for it. Let’s get right into it!
1. Streets of Rage (1991) – Becoming the New Crime Boss
Alright, let’s kick things off with a classic. Streets of Rage—the OG beat ‘em up that defined the genre for the Sega Genesis. Normally, in this game, you beat the living daylights out of Mr. X, the main baddie, and refuse his offer to join his criminal empire. Boom, you’re the hero, you saved the city, and everyone cheers for you.
But wait, there’s a bad ending that’s way more interesting. If you’re playing with two players (because let’s face it, who plays Streets of Rage solo?), one player can choose to join Mr. X while the other refuses. This leads to an epic showdown between the two players. If the one who chooses to join Mr. X wins the fight, they take over the criminal empire. Yeah, you heard me. You become the new crime boss!
Streets of Rage bad ending description where the player becomes the new crime boss.
Think about it. Instead of being the good guy, you’re now the guy running the streets, calling the shots, and living the high life as the city’s top villain. It’s a power move, and honestly, it’s way cooler than just walking away as the “hero.”
2. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows – The Villain Path
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows gives you the chance to experience one of the darker sides of Spidey. Throughout the game, Spidey has the option to stick to his heroic ways or embrace the power of the symbiote suit. And let me tell you, the villain ending is something else.
If you make a bunch of selfish, evil choices throughout the game (which, let’s be real, is half the fun), you end up losing the trust of your allies—Wolverine, Black Cat, and even Mary Jane. But what do you gain? Crazy power. Spidey fully embraces the symbiote, and by the end, he’s not the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man anymore. No, he’s a power-hungry monster.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows villain ending with the symbiote suit.
In this ending, the city’s in ruins, your friends have turned against you, and you basically rule everything with an iron fist. Sure, you’re a bad guy now, but the sheer power you wield is insane. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Spidey go full villain once in a while?
3. Dishonored 2 – The Iron Fist Ending
Now, Dishonored 2 is an interesting one because it’s all about choices and the chaos system. The more people you kill, the more chaotic the world gets, and that affects the ending. If you’re a murder-happy psycho (like I usually become in stealth games, because let’s face it, I suck at stealth), you’ll get the bad ending.
Dishonored 2 bad ending where Corvo or Emily rules with an iron fist.
In this particular ending, Corvo (or Emily, depending on who you play) doesn’t just reclaim the throne—they rule the empire with an iron fist. And it’s not one of those “benevolent dictatorship” deals either. Nope, you’re a straight-up tyrant. You’ve killed everyone who’s stood in your way, and now you’re feared throughout the land.
Sure, the good ending has you restoring peace and all that, but come on—who doesn’t want to be the ruler of an empire where everyone’s afraid of you? It’s a bad ending, but man, it feels good flexing on everyone.
4. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – The Shura Ending
Okay, Sekiro is one of those games that makes you want to throw your controller across the room. It’s punishing, it’s brutal, but damn, is it satisfying. And like most FromSoftware games, it has multiple endings based on your choices. One of these endings is called the Shura Ending, and it’s probably the easiest ending to get, but also the most morally corrupt.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Shura Ending.
Basically, at a certain point in the game, you can choose to betray your mentor and go on a killing spree, siding with one of the game’s major villains. The result? You become a Shura, a warrior consumed by bloodlust and destruction. You pretty much wipe out anyone who stands in your way, and the world is left in ruins because of your actions.
What’s great about this ending is that while it’s bad for everyone else, you, the player, become this insanely powerful warrior with no one left to challenge you. It’s the ultimate “power trip” ending, and honestly, after dying a million times in this game, becoming this overpowered maniac feels like sweet, sweet justice.
5. Dragon Age: Origins – The Bloodthirsty End
Ah, Dragon Age: Origins. One of my all-time favorite RPGs. The amount of player choice in this game is ridiculous, and it all leads up to a variety of different endings. But if you’re like me and enjoy causing a little chaos, you’ll love the bad ending where your character becomes a total tyrant.
In this ending, if you make all the wrong (or right, depending on how you look at it) decisions, your character can become a ruthless ruler, using blood magic to manipulate and control those around you. You basically become a dark overlord, spreading fear and violence across the land.
Forget about being the hero who unites everyone against the Blight. In this ending, you’re the guy (or gal) who takes over the world and rules it with an iron fist. It’s twisted, it’s chaotic, and it’s absolutely glorious.
6. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Embrace the Dark Side
Okay, Star Wars fans, buckle up. The Force Unleashed is one of those games that lets you live out your wildest Force-wielding fantasies. You play as Starkiller, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, and the game gives you a choice: stick with the Light Side or fully embrace the Dark Side.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed dark side ending.
If you go full Dark Side, things get intense. You betray your allies, kill your mentors, and become an absolute Sith badass. In the bad ending, you end up taking Vader’s place as the Emperor’s right-hand man, ruling the galaxy with an iron fist. And let’s be honest—while the Light Side is all about balance and peace, the Dark Side is where the real fun is.
You get crazy Force powers, you’re feared across the galaxy, and you’re basically unstoppable. Sure, it’s a bad ending, but man, it’s so satisfying.
7. Catherine – Ruler of the Underworld
Now, Catherine is a bit of a weird one. It’s part puzzle game, part romantic drama, and part psychological horror. You play as Vincent, a guy who’s stuck in a love triangle between his longtime girlfriend Katherine and a mysterious and seductive woman named Catherine. The game has multiple endings, but one of the coolest bad endings is where Vincent chooses to embrace his darker side.
In the bad ending, Vincent ditches both women and fully commits to Catherine, who turns out to be a demon. He becomes the ruler of the underworld, living out his days as a demonic overlord. Yeah, it’s wild.
The good ending has Vincent settling down and living a normal life, but who wants that when you can be the king of demons? It’s a bizarre, trippy ending, but it’s also kind of awesome in a twisted way.
Final Thoughts: Sometimes, Bad is Just... Better
So, there you have it—some of the coolest bad endings in video games. Sure, saving the world and being the hero is great and all, but sometimes, embracing your darker side just feels way more satisfying. There’s something about getting a bad ending that can feel like a reward in itself, especially when it comes with power, chaos, and a little bit of villainy.
And let’s be real—sometimes, being bad is just more fun. Whether it’s taking over a criminal empire, ruling the galaxy as a Sith, or becoming the king of demons, these bad endings give players a chance to see what happens when they throw morality out the window and go full chaos mode.
If you’ve ever gotten one of these endings, you know what I’m talking about. If not, maybe it’s time to fire up one of these games and see what happens when you stop being the hero and start being the villain.
Let me know in the comments—what’s your favorite bad ending in a video game? Did I miss any epic ones? Let’s talk about it!
And that’s it for today, folks. Thanks for sticking around, and as always, keep gaming, stay awesome, and don’t be afraid to embrace your dark side once in a while.
