Twists That Make Or Break A Game
Video games love a good twist, but some change the entire experience in the best way, making you grin at how clever the developers were. Others leave you scratching your head, asking why anyone thought that ending made sense. That’s part of the fun, as gaming constantly swings between brilliant storytelling and absolutely baffling choices. So, first, let's take a look at ten of the dumbest plot twists that made players roll their eyes—spoiler warning!
The Last of Us Part 2 Full Movie [4k 60fps] by MegsBoringLife
1. The Last Of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II follows Ellie’s relentless pursuit of revenge against Abby, who brutally kills Joel with a golf club early in the story—a scene that stunned fans. The conclusion proved divisive, as Ellie spares Abby after a vicious showdown, leaving players frustrated by the lack of closure.
The Last of Us Part 2 Full Movie [4k 60fps] by MegsBoringLife
2. Mass Effect 3
Built on the promise of player choice, Mass Effect 3 stumbled with a finale that offered only three nearly identical outcomes. The backlash was so strong that BioWare produced an “Extended Cut,” attempting to patch over the dissatisfaction and explain the ending further.
Mass Effect 3: Meeting and talking with Leviathan by animalruless
3. Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
Philosophical ambition defines Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, where fourth-dimensional beings are revealed to manipulate reality through a vast computer simulation. Plus, the twist reshaped the entire franchise, delivering one of the most daring and divisive narrative shifts in role-playing game history.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time - Launch Trailer | PS4 by PlayStation
4. Bionic Commando
The 2009 reboot of Bionic Commando is remembered less for gameplay and more for its infamous twist: the hero’s bionic arm was built using his wife’s remains. Delivered near the finale, the bizarre reveal baffled fans and spawned countless internet jokes and memes.
Bionic Commando Full Walkthrough Gameplay - No Commentary (PS3 Longplay) by Lacry
5. 12 Minutes
Backlash quickly followed 12 Minutes once players uncovered that the central couple were secretly half-siblings. Despite strong performances by Willem Dafoe, James McAvoy, and Daisy Ridley, the narrative choice left audiences unsettled and undermined appreciation for the game’s inventive time-loop design.
6. Heavy Rain
Critics frequently cite Heavy Rain as an example of ambition colliding with poor execution. While the game promised branching narratives and meaningful player agency, the twist identifying Scott Shelby as the Origami Killer clashed with earlier gameplay moments, undermining trust in the story’s carefully crafted design.
HEAVY RAIN Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
7. Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit)
Ambition defines Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit), a game that attempts to blend gritty investigation, ancient mysticism, and futuristic AI. What starts as a compelling crime drama transforms into a supernatural war for humanity, a leap that polarized audiences and left the narrative’s coherence in question.
Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy) | Full Game Walkthrough | PS4 HD | No Commentary by Full Playthroughs
8. Condemned 2: Bloodshot
As a follow-up to Condemned: Criminal Origins, Condemned 2: Bloodshot promised more of its signature melee-driven horror. Instead, it introduced Ethan’s powers as products of a sonic device, which was layered in a secret society plotline that replaced grounded fear with bizarre conspiracy.
Grimbeard - Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3) - Review by Grimbeard
9. Dead Rising 4: Frank Rising
In the Frank Rising DLC for Dead Rising 4, Frank West becomes the monster he once photographed, grappling with his fading humanity. This shift leads to the franchise’s first permanent death ending, a controversial choice that drew backlash for feeling rushed and unsatisfying.
Dead Rising 4: Frank Rising DLC on Hard - Best Ending (All Challenges) by NamelessDreadx37x
10. Diablo III
Critics often highlight Diablo III as an example of narrative failure. Leah’s shocking turn into Diablo’s host, followed by his emergence as the Prime Evil and the clumsy revelation of the player’s demonic lineage, left fans dismissing its plot as overblown and poorly executed.
Diablo 3 FULL Walkthrough Gameplay - No Commentary (Switch Longplay) by Lacry
Now, here are ten games with the coolest twists that actually nailed it.
1. BioShock Infinite
One baptism splinters reality, turning Booker DeWitt and Zachary Comstock into quantum opposites across infinite lighthouses. That’s how the Lutece “siblings” prove to be parallel-universe twins, and Elizabeth delivers the ultimate twist by drowning her father, erasing both the tyrant and his legacy from existence.
Bioshock Infinite Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 - Intro - Chapter 1 by theRadBrad
2. Portal
Born from the student project Narbacular Drop, Portal follows test subject Chell through the perilous chambers of Aperture Science, armed only with a portal gun. The promised slice of cake turns out to be a ruse, hiding GLaDOS’s sinister plan of endless, lethal experimentation.
PORTAL | Full Gameplay Walkthrough | No Commentary by giedmich
3. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
This groundbreaking adventure redefined morality in gaming with its unforgettable twist: the player’s hero is revealed to be the memory-wiped Sith Lord Darth Revan. What begins as simple light-or-dark choices becomes a profound meditation on identity, redemption, and the nature of power.
4. Silent Hill 2
Guilt saturates every moment of Silent Hill 2, with James Sunderland’s suppressed murder of his wife Mary resurfacing as nightmarish visions—most memorably the monstrous Pyramid Head. The theme of culpability drives every ending, culminating in shocking revelations, even an absurd twist crediting the ordeal to a dog’s control.
5. Spec Ops: The Line
Drawing profound inspiration from Heart of Darkness, Spec Ops: The Line subverts traditional military heroism through Captain Walker's harrowing descent into madness. As his trauma-induced hallucinations intensify, players discover their protagonist isn't preventing atrocities—he's perpetrating them.
Spec Ops: The Line 100% Walkthrough - Longplay [No Commentary] [4K] FUBAR+All Intel by Star Marshal
6. The Messenger
Beginning in the realm of 8-bit ninja platforming, The Messenger evolves beyond its retro foundations by introducing parallel 16-bit worlds with distinct mechanical rules. This technical progression ultimately reveals a time-traveling Metroidvania enriched with fourth-wall-breaking.
The Messenger - Full Game Longplay (No Commentary) by Indie James
7. Outer Wilds
Every 22-minute loop in this BAFTA-winning masterpiece pushes players closer to an inevitable cosmic finale. Exploring a meticulously simulated solar system and unearthing the remnants of an ancient civilization, they realize discovery itself becomes a meditation on impermanence.
Outer Wilds Gameplay Walkthrough - Full Game by IGN Guides
8. Braid
Created single-handedly by Jonathan Blow, Braid reshaped puzzle design with ingenious time-manipulation mechanics. Beneath its clever platforming lies an allegory of scientific responsibility, where the supposed quest to rescue a princess instead unravels into a chilling revelation of predator and prey.
Braid Solo Gameplay - Sin Comentarios #1 by vosdale
9. Infamous
Sucker Punch Productions’ leap from Sly Cooper to Infamous introduced player-driven morality that directly shaped Cole MacGrath’s powers. The story’s defining twist enhances this design: Cole’s nemesis, Kessler, is revealed as his future self, traveling back in time to harden him against an apocalyptic threat.
INFAMOUS Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME GOOD KARMA (HARD MODE) No Commentary by RowdyMZ
10. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
The game’s very structure becomes its commentary on digital deception. Solid Snake is replaced by Raiden, a deliberate act of narrative misdirection that mirrors the Patriots’ manufactured reality. This bold twist cements the story’s prescient warning about information control in a post-truth world.
