Summary
- Ambiguity in horror game endings allows for player interpretation.
- Endings like those of P.T. And The Last of Us Part 1 provide no definitive resolution.
- Games like Limbo and Inside explore deeper themes and leave players pondering.
Movie enthusiasts, readers, and gamers alike will be familiar with the typical narrative structure, comprising a beginning, a climax, and an end, and there are usually some obstacles thrown in along the way. Usually, the ending resolves the events of the story, be it happy or unsatisfying. But, while some players might go into a game expecting answers, it's not always a guarantee that that's how it will play out.
Many horror titles, particularly psychological ones, like to leave players guessing as to what the ending means. The ambiguity might be in a cliffhanger or a confusing sequence that leaves what it means up for interpretation. For fans of climaxes like this, here are some of the best horror games with ambiguous endings out there.
Spoiler Warning: Some of the entries on this list contain spoilers for their respective games.
10 P.T.
Sparked Theories That Are Still Discussed Today
P.T.
- Released
- August 12, 2014
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Platform(s)
- PS4
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
P.T. Is one of the most ambiguous gaming titles out there, made even more so by the cancelation of Silent Hills, the game P.T. Was intended to be a teaser for. Who the protagonist is, whose house they're in, and what is going on are all questions that players likely won't get definitive answers to.
It's not only the overarching plot that left players theorizing, but the ending did so, too. Was the experience actually related to Silent Hills? Who left the ominous message, and who was it for? Despite this, because of its elusiveness, P.T. Remains an incredibly interesting horror game.
P.T. Is no longer available on the PlayStation store and can't be reinstalled.
9 BioShock Infinite
Dares To Explore The Multiverse Theory
BioShock Infinite
- Released
- March 26, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Exploring complex concepts like time travel and the multiverse in a story is difficult to pull off without plot holes, as the ideas are inherently complicated. This didn't deter the developers of BioShock Infinite, though.
Players who notice the intricacies of BioShock's universe may understand the actual events of the game, but the post-credits scene leaves a lot open to interpretation. Whether Elizabeth's actions really had an impact, whether Booker survives in one of infinite possibilities, or whether the scene is a figment of his imagination is neither confirmed nor denied.
8 Limbo
What Is The True Fate Of The Siblings?
Limbo
- Released
- July 21, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Limbo follows a boy who is searching for his sister. This is a journey that takes the player through a dark forest to a shadowy, decaying urban landscape, and there is plenty of danger in between. For a 2D side-scroller, Limbo is an incredibly atmospheric game that is both eerie and poignant.
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The title of the game is a big hint as to the game's story; it is safe to assume that the player is navigating limbo, though the ending is not so clear-cut. Some believe both the boy and his sister are dead, and others question whether the protagonist passes on to heaven or is doomed to repeat the events. Regardless of which is canon, they are all heartbreaking ways to end a game.
7 Visage
A More Sinister Link To The House's Tragic Past
Visage
- Released
- October 30, 2020
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- SadSquare Studio
Visage is one of many P.T.- inspired games, with the player roaming an ever-changing house as events from the past reemerge to haunt the protagonist, Dwayne. While the plot seems more straightforward, in true psychological horror fashion, there is a lot to question upon closer inspection.
As events unfold, it becomes apparent that Dwayne might have more to do with the tragedies than it first appears. With an unreliable substance-abusing protagonist and two different endings, it's not certain whether the enemies are real or figments of Dwayne's troubled psyche.
6 The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter
Not Even The Developers Can Confirm The Truth
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
- Released
- September 26, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a horror/mystery walking simulator, following Detective Prospero as he investigates the disappearance of Ethan and the strange fate of the rest of the town. Players can commune with the dead using supernatural abilities, which reveal more tragic secrets.
An ambiguous ending is something that the developers strove for in order to make the whole experience more personal to the player. Who or what Paul Prospero represents and the extent to which the events of the game are real have been the topics of much debate among fans.
5 The Evil Within 2
The Nightmare Might Not Really Be Over
The Evil Within 2
- Released
- October 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
After the mind-bending turmoil that Sebastian Castellanos went through in the first game, it's no surprise that he's hesitant to return to STEM in The Evil Within 2. However, his fatherly instincts prevail, and he embarks on a quest to find and rescue his daughter, Lily.
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This time around, players might be a bit more hesitant to believe everything that they see is real, though just when they think that the journey is over, and the characters get a happy ending, the game pulls the rug. The post-credits scene reveals that STEM has endured, though how or why is not confirmed.
4 The Last Of Us Part 1
A Forever Changed Father-Daughter Relationship
The Last of Us Part I
- Released
- September 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake of The Last of Us, with overhauled assets and gameplay. The game, particularly its narrative, was so well-received that it made its way to the screen as an HBO TV series. The title's ambiguity lies in Joel and Ellie's relationship at the end, and where they go from there.
Does Ellie know what was at stake and the gravity of the decision that Joel made? Does she really believe him, and if not, will she forgive him? Of course, this is something that was adeptly further expanded on in Part 2, though this sequel was not anticipated, which makes the ending of the first game all the more impactful.
3 Silent Hill 2
Decipher James's Own Personal Hell
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- September 25, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Silent
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Silent Hill 2 is widely regarded as one of the pillars of psychological horror games. This is largely thanks to its heavy subject matter, its ominous soundtrack, and its claustrophobic foggy environments. There are six possible endings to the original game, each of which affects James', Mary's, and Maria's fate.
The "Maria" and "Rebirth" endings stand out as particularly inconclusive. In the former, James leaves Silent Hill with a coughing Maria; in the latter, James plans to resurrect Mary. Regardless of what is implied, exactly how the two play out is never revealed, leaving players to guess how things end up.
2 Dead Space (2023)
More Than A Case Of Cabin Fever
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Body horror, aliens, and claustrophobia all come together to make Dead Space a horrifying game. The remake once again follows Isaac Clark, an engineer, investigating a loss of communication with the "planet-cracker" ship, Ishimura.
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Over the course of the game, the alien obelisk's influence becomes more apparent, and the line between reality and fantasy is blurred, leaving players wondering how much of Isaac's experience is real at all. Nicole's appearance at the end of the game implies that things aren't really over, leaving Isaac's future (and psychological state) uncertain.
The remake also has an alternative ending, in which it is much more explicit that Isaac has completely lost it.
1 Inside
Explores Big Themes In Subtle Ways
Inside
- Released
- June 29, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Inside is not a horror game in the traditional sense of ghosts and jump scares, but its dark and unsettling dystopian world and story lean into the genre enough to truly unnerve players. The game follows a boy as he tries to avoid surveillance while exploring the strange facility. Players must solve platform-based puzzles to progress.
The main ending sees the protagonist being absorbed into a mass of bodies before escaping. Whether it's this "Huddle," the scientists, or neither controlling the boy is never confirmed, nor is the intent or consequence of the mass's escape. On a larger scale, Inside also opens up more philosophical questions about free will, consciousness, and control, making it an all-around thought-provoking title.
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