In the days of the early days of gaming, the idea of any kind of narrative was unthinkable. Technological limitations pretty much prohibited anything more elaborate than a simple text screen before the game. With the rise of personal computers, more complex yarns could be woven with story-heavy graphic adventure titles and role-playing games. Instead of just going on until players ran out of quarters, games began having actual conclusions.RELATED: 10 Novelists Who Worked On A Video GameVideo game writing has come a long way from "All your base are belong to us," and the medium has had some unforgettable tales. A story's ending is often the most important part, as it cements how audiences will think about it for years to come.

Lots of spoilers ahead

10 Jack Embraces The Outlaw Lifestyle In Red Dead Redemption

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Once John Marston completes his part of the deal with the FBI and brings his former outlaw friends to justice at the end of the first Red Dead Redemption, he's reunited with his family to pursue the peaceful farm life he always wanted. However, like Dutch predicted, the agency eventually sets its sights on John and ambushes him at his farm. He dies in a valiant attempt to rescue his wife and child. Years later, Jack eventually tracks down the man responsible for his father's demise and kills him in a dual - embracing the outlaw lifestyle that John tried desperately tried to steer him from.

9 The Vault Dweller Is Rewarded With Exile In Fallout

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Once the master and the mutant base are destroyed in the original Fallout, the player is shown the consequences of their actions in the wasteland via stills and narration by Ron Perlman. But what fate befalls the catalyst of these outcomes? Expecting a hero's welcome, the vault dweller returns to his home only to be told that his presence will compel others to venture out into the wasteland. Regretfully, the overseer orders the vault dweller to leave the only home he ever knew with the last shot of the game showing the hero walking forlornly through the nuclear-ravaged world.

8 Clementine Parts With Lee In Telltale's The Walking Dead

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Throughout The Walking Dead, convicted murderer Lee Everett has served as a father surrogate to the recently orphaned Clementine in a zombie-ravaged world. Unfortunately, Clem goes missing and Lee gets bitten by some random walker while searching for her. Once the two reunite, players take control of a weakened Lee who finally succumbs to his ailment - forcing them to part ways forever. Though the game has one fixed ending, the choices the player makes as Lee help shape what kind of person Clementine will be in a world where she has to look out for herself.

7 Wander Loses His Humanity In Shadow Of The Colossus

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Wander returns from vanquishing the final colossus to discover that Dormin has actually been using him as a means to return to the corporeal realm. Though his betrothed is brought back to life, he's banished by Lord Emon and his holy warriors. During Shadow of the Collossus's credits, players are shown the bodies of the creatures they had slain - forcing them to reflect on whether their cause was as just as they had previously thought. The ending even sets up the events that will lead to ICO as Mono discovers a baby with horns.

6 Manny Is Redeemed In Grim Fandango

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While the final puzzle of Grim Fandango shows signs of a rushed production, the conclusion that follows is a suitably heartfelt sendoff to Tim Schafer's time at LucasArts. The ending sees Manny redeemed for his past sins and giving a tearful goodbye to Glottis - the demon who stuck with him through thick and thin. As the souls board the train to their final destination, Meche asks Manny if he thinks they'll be together in the next world. Manny responds that since nobody knows what's going to happen in the end, you might as well enjoy the trip.

5 The Prince Saves Farah In Prince Of Persia The Sands Of Time

An image of Farah speaking with the Prince during the game, Prince of Persia

Throughout Prince of Persia, the prince narrates the events to an unseen listener who's eventually revealed to be Princess Farah. It turns out that when she died in an attempt to stop the sands, the prince went back in time to prevent the events that led to her demise.

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However, while the prince manages to prevent the wicked vizier's plot, he also undoes the relationship that was blossoming between him and Farah. In a vain attempt to rekindle some memories or feelings within her, he kisses her and is promptly chastised. He rewinds time to a few seconds and tells her a secret she once shared with him before departing.

4 Life Will Go On In Final Fantasy VI

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In contrast to several JRPGs where the heroes kill the bad guy and live happily ever after, Final Fantasy VI's ending, while still triumphant, is much more bittersweet. While Kefka is no more, the damage he caused to the world isn't going to be remedied overnight and his demise won't bring back the lives that he shed. Still, as the heroes return to the village that Terra was looking after, one of them is in the process of giving birth -a reminder that even though things won't be as they once were, life will still carry on. As the credits roll, players are reminded of all the friends they made throughout the adventure.

3 James Chooses How To Deal With What He Has Done In Silent Hill 2

Mary embraces James during the ending of Silent Hill 2.

In contrast to the first Silent Hill game where the protagonist was a deliberately blank slate that the player could project themselves onto, James Sunderland's trauma was front and center in Silent Hill 2. In what would become a series tradition, many of the creatures represent his inner desires - such as the infamous Pyramid Head. The end of James' trek through Silent Hill culminates in the ultimate reveal of what he has done. After he confronts the fact that he actually killed his own wife, the choices the player makes throughout the game determine how he deals with this revelation.

2 GLaDOS Is Still Alive In Portal

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Portal ends with Chell successfully destroying the cores of the malevolent machine that had been conducting sick tests on her. However, before players have a chance to celebrate, they're met with a surprise. Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" is the perfect cap to Valve's darkly comedic puzzler with its saccharine melody expertly juxtaposing GLaDOS' taunts to Chell that she's still kicking and intends to perform more experiments. The song has been lauded by critics as one of the greatest in gaming history and led to follow-up musical numbers in the sequel and Lego Dimensions.

1 Pacifists Get Their Happy Ending In Undertale

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Toby Fox's 2015 RPG really showed what the medium was capable of with a title that expertly blended its mechanics with a narrative that's as side-splitting as it is heart-wrenching. Depending on how players confront hostiles, many outcomes are possible, but the true pacifist route provides the most emotionally resonant and fulfilling conclusion. By clinging to the virtues of mercy and forgiveness, players are able to redeem the game's big bad. In a story that attempts to bring real weight to the choices made by the player, it's fitting that the game outright pleads with them to not undo the characters' happy end by resetting everything.