RPG game with unexpected endings

Mass Effect, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Baldur's Gate 3 are all impressive and massive RPGs with tons of dialogue choices. With so many story choices, players know they have the option to write the story however they want, possibly leading to different endings.

When games, especially RPGs, have dialogue choices, then it's obvious that they will lead to multiple endings or at least branching stories in some respect. It may be surprising to hear that the following RPG games also have multiple endings, and they may come at the last minute. Some of these may be more surprising than others. There's no need to spoil anything bigger than the fact that there are multiple endings to these games.

Final Fantasy 6

An end for all

Let's start with a classic turn-based example, Final Fantasy 6which lack meaningful choices throughout the game. There are different orders of events that players can choose to do, but that's about it. The grand final split will depend on how many party members players rescue and recruit during the second half of the game.

If players acquire all of them, they will get to see small epilogues for their party members. If they are missing any party members, they will not be included in the final montage, which is quite long if the players find them all. There aren't many Final Fantasy game with branch end, do Final Fantasy 6 special.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Fact or fiction?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a more modern turn-based example that offers some in-game choices, such as who players want to romance, limited to a select pool. This will not affect the story in any way, so the big decision will come right after the final battle.

Two party members will be pitted against each other, and players must choose who to side with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Which end is the canon you have the division of the fanbase, which is good, because it can create a positive discourse. If the next game is a direct sequel, Sandfall Interactive has to make the choice for the players.

Parasite Eve

To the Chrysler Building!

Parasite Evea turn-based and action hybrid, has an ending that is literally explosive, ending with detective Aya Brea appearing to solve the crisis in New York City. Players can then restart the game and keep gear, along with gaining a key to the Chrysler Building, which is now an optional dungeon.

There are 77 floors, most of which are randomized between layouts and monsters, making for one hell of a climb without many opportunities to rest. On the top floor, players can fight a boss, which will lead to a new ending with a very story-heavy character that opens up the plot in wild ways.

Nier: Automata

The ABC of the ending

Nier: Automataan action RPG, has 26 endings, AZ, with the AE endings being the main ones that feed into each other. Along the way, players can stumble into funnier or more tragic endings depending on choices made, usually related to game actions. For example, there are certain points in the story where if players die, they won't just get a Game Over screen.

Instead, they can have an ending that will force players to start all over again. Another example could be killing certain NPCs when they shouldn't. Nier: Automata is already a long game, but if players really want to see everything, these endings should keep them busy.

Chrono Trigger

When to defeat Lavos

Chrono Trigger is a turn-based RPG involving time travel, where the main villain is a giant alien named Lavos. Although the possibility of time travel exists, it may not occur to players that they can disrupt the flow of time to end it early. After players beat the game the first time, and they get to take over most of the progress, this should become clearer.

Different portals will become available and players can challenge Lavos at different points, which will change the ending in a big way. Some paths will be more difficult than others, depending on which characters players can bring into battle, including one where Crono must face Lavos alone.

Undertale

Passive, killer or in the middle

Undertale is another turn-based and action hybrid, involving choices through the combat system. To get two of the best endings, players must commit to either sparing every monster they encounter or killing every monster they encounter.

The pacifist path is considered the main ending, but if players decide to be a little more uneven in their decisions, sparing some monsters over others, they can get neutral endings, which aren't as narratively satisfying, but they can be fun. As Silent Hill series, Undertale for example, has a dog ending.

Shin Megami Tensei 4

Make your own way in the apocalypse

Shin Megami Tensei 4a turn-based RPG, is an example where players will actually make in-game dialogue choices, which will fall under the Neutral, Law, and Chaotic categories. That said, these choices won't give players any clues that they might lead players to alternate endings, though some actions may be more obvious than others.

What players say will be added together, along with nearby choices, to lead players into Neutral, Law, and Chaotic ending paths. This will determine which players will stand between the angels, demons or humans, with the neutral ending being one of the most challenging to achieve.

Forbidden

Should I stay or should I go now?

Forbidden is an action RPG about a woman, Frey, who is sucked into a mysterious world similar to an Isekai anime that Inuyasha or The devil is a part-time employee.

This is another game where there aren't a lot of choices beyond deciding whether to help people and take on missions. In the end, the players must decide if they want to stay in this fantasy land or go home. The choice isn't as cut and dry as that, but players will know what they're signing up for based on context clues.

Final Fantasy 10-2

From all angles

Final Fantasy 10-2a turn-based RPG, is another Final Fantasy game with different endings, and it is a direct sequel to the previous game. There is an ending, or at least one that sets out to answer whether or not Tidus is still alive, which is what the central plot is all about.

In the game, players will decide to side with one of three factions: Youth League, New Yevon Party, and Machine Faction. There is a completion percentage meter, and to reach 100%, players must complete side activities and replay the game to max everything out, which can be long, but the job system at least keeps things interesting.