Summary
- Final lines in survival horror games can range from thought-provoking to emotional and shocking.
- Metro 2033's final choice prompts players to question their actions with a memorable line.
- Silent Hill 2's ending delivers an emotional gut-punch with Mary's reassurance to James.
At the end of a survival horror game, after the hellish adventure is finally over and the protagonist can take a deep breath of relief, they will often have one final line to let out before the credits roll. Well, this is usually the case, as there have even been some occasions where it's the villain who gets to have the final say, getting players prepared for the next adventure to come. Either way, the survival horror genre is packed full of final lines that have stuck with fans because of how impactful and memorable they ended up being.
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Whether it's a thought-provoking comment to get players to reflect on the journey or even just a cheeky one-liner to break up the tension, there's simply no telling what a person is going to say after they have essentially been to hell and back. When taking a look at all of them, though, this is how these last lines rank in terms of their shock factor and memorability.
8 "When We Burned The Dark Ones From The Face Of The Earth, Was Something Lost As Well...?" - (Metro 2033)
Players Are Forced To Question Their Final Decision
Metro 2033
- Released
- March 16, 2010
- ESRB
- M // Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
While the main enemies that players will be tasked with taking out in Metro 2033 are the radiated beasts that scour the surface, they will also be encountering mysterious entities known as the Dark Ones. Whether these beasts are friendly or dangerous isn't made clear, though it does seem like they at least attempt to reach out to Artyom during his adventure. At the very end of the game, players are given two choices: spare the Dark Ones or use a fleet of missiles to wipe them off the face of the earth.
If players choose the latter, while they will ensure that the Dark Ones won't be a problem going forward, they'll also be given this thought-provoking line that suggests that maybe these beings weren't all that bad after all. It's a real gut punch for anyone who saw the Dark Ones as nothing but evil creatures, but it also heavily encourages a second playthrough, which shows just how powerful of a line it is to end on.
7 "Catherine?...Catherine?" - (SOMA)
SOMA
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Horror
There's nothing scarier in a survival horror game than being left alone in complete darkness. This is something Simon comes to find out in the closing moments of SOMA. After a misunderstanding between him and his AI companion, Catherine, Simon begins to lash out at her, causing Catherine to short circuit. As the lights begin to fade and Simon is left in complete darkness, he helplessly cries out for the one person who was there to keep him company throughout his hellish adventure.
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It's a simple quote, but it's one that took many people by surprise because of how random and sudden it is when considering the series of events leading up to it. It also earns bonus points for being a quote that feeds into the core of what makes horror games so exciting: being able to dive into a creepy story completely alone without anyone around to rely on for any assistance.
6 "Just Give Me Some Real Fresh Air..." - (The Evil Within)
Sebastian Finally Gets To Experience The Real World After Being Locked In STEM For So Long
The Evil Within
- Released
- October 14, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Survival Horror
Players only get to spend a few seconds in the real world at the beginning of The Evil Within until Sebastian is suddenly transported to a grimy and gory otherworld after he and his companions hear a high-pitched screech coming through the radio. In reality, Sebastian has entered the STEM program, which is hooked up to Ruvik's sick and twisted mind, leading him on one heck of a journey, filled with all sorts of monstrous ghouls and beasts.
Sebastian barely manages to make it out of STEM alive, but upon waking up and running into a police officer, the only thing he asks for is some fresh air. In a way, it's a rather humorous line considering everything Sebastian has been through, but it feeds into the unusually quirky and tongue-in-cheek humor that this series and Shinji Mikami as a director would be known for.
5 "I Wish I Could Just Talk To Someone..." - (Dead Space Remake)
Isaac's Mind Becomes Corrupted After Being So Close To The Marker
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
When Isaac and his crew rock up to the USG Ishimura after picking up on a distress signal, the engineer holds out hope that his girlfriend, Nicole, who works on the ship, is still alive. Though this seems highly unlikely considering that the whole ship is infested with mutant Necromorphs who can easily slice a human in two, he actually manages to meet Nicole, at least, sort of.
The truth is, throughout the story of Dead Space, Isaac spends a lot of time in close proximity to the alien artifact known as the Marker, which has slowly been creeping its influence into his mind. While he may have gotten away with his life still in one piece, this final line, which is said by a hallucination of Nicole, makes it clear that Isaac's nightmare is far from over. This is a line that perfectly syncs the game up to Dead Space 2 while also emphasizing the sheer torment that comes from being exposed to the Marker.
4 "More And More I Find Myself Wondering If It's All Worth Fighting For. For A Future Without Fear...Yeah, It's Worth It" - (Resident Evil 5)
Chris Realizes Why He Continues To Fight Against Bioterrorism
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Chris is a character who has been fighting against the spread of bioterror ever since he made it out of the Spencer Mansion in the first Resident Evil game, but it becomes clear that this has been far from an easy journey for him. By the time Resident Evil 5 rolls around, Chris has become a loyal member of the BSAA who, once again, is sent on a mission to clamp down on a virus, which causes him to question whether it's even worth continuing the fight. This is something he admits right at the end of the game.
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It's therefore relieving when Chris finally concludes that his efforts have been worth it, considering it comes moments after he was able to stop a maniacal mastermind with a god complex from destroying the entire world. At the same time, it's also pretty heartfelt to hear such an iconic survival horror protagonist reassuring himself after embarking on such a tough journey that pushed him to his absolute limit, both physically and emotionally.
3 "It's Not A Lake, It's An Ocean" - (Alan Wake)
A Shocking Final Line That Spawned A Ton Of Theories And Debates
Alan Wake Remastered
- Released
- October 5, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
After finally confronting Barbara Jagger and putting an end to her once and for all at the end of the first Alan Wake game, the writer himself is able to complete the story that had been coming to life around him, allowing balance to be restored. In the process, though, he finds himself trapped in the Dark Place, and after writing the final line "it's not a lake, it's an ocean," the screen goes black before a mysterious figure starts calling for Alan to open his eyes.
After being locked in a dark room with nothing but a typewriter, Alan utters this single cryptic line that has sparked countless online theories ever since it was first said. Many suspect Alan is speaking about the Dark Place and how it is much bigger than he ever could have realized. Whatever the true meaning is behind this quote, it's certainly a fitting end to such a wild and otherwordly story.
2 "Gott Im Himmel. You Have Become The Host" - (Outlast)
Miles Goes On An Unexpected Killing Spree In One Final Twist
Outlast
- Released
- November 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Nudity, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
When Miles Upshur, the protagonist of Outlast, steps into Mount Massive Asylum hoping to get the latest scoop, little did he know it was still occupied by a batch of bloodthirsty killers. Near the end of the game, Miles manages to escape the asylum, only to find himself in a strange underground facility that is being infested by a mysterious and dangerous entity known as the Walrider.
Just as it seems like Miles is about to make it out with his life and the footage that he captured, a group of soldiers intercepts, shooting him where he stands. In a shocking twist, the Walrider assumes Miles' body, with this being the final line said before a bunch of screams and mauls can be hard. It's a terrifying note to end on, subverting everyone's expectations of a hopeful ending.
1 "James...You Made Me Happy" - (Silent Hill 2)
A Real Emotional Gut-Punch To End Off James' Personal Nightmare
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- September 25, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
For most of Silent Hill 2's endings, players are treated to a full readthrough of the letter written by James' late wife, Mary, read out loud by the woman herself, and it's fair to say it's quite an emotional passage. By this point, players are aware that James killed his own bedridden wife in order to continue on with his life, so hearing Mary's thoughts before that tragic day makes for a truly heartbreaking ending.
It soon becomes clear that Mary regretted being so rude and dismissive to James, showcasing just how messed up and complex the whole ordeal truly was for the two of them, which is why the last line is so impactful. It feels as though Mary is speaking from the heavens with this final line, where she reassures James that she was happy during the moments they spent together before the sickness took over, becoming a final quote that no fan of the series or even the genre as a whole can ever forget.
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