My brain instantly goes to Sonic Adventure 2. 8 year old me was not ready for such a fun ending. Live and Learn coming on during the Sonic movie unlocked something in me, so cool
My brain instantly goes to Sonic Adventure 2. 8 year old me was not ready for such a fun ending. Live and Learn coming on during the Sonic movie unlocked something in me, so cool
System Shock 2
"The cybernetic implants I gave you were merely toys. If I just desired, I could improve you, transform you into something more efficient. Join me human and we can rule together."
"Nah."
Gunfire
Prey (2017)
I worked this one out before it happened so it probably didn't hit me as hard as it would've if it had been a complete surprise but I do love how they interrogate you over the choices you made during the game.
Slave Knight Gael from DS3's DLC
This fight is such a beautiful, emotional climax to Dark Souls as a series, even bringing Dark Souls bosses back in Elden Ring: Nightreign can't spoil it.
Homeworld Cataclysm/Emergence
I know it's stock hero's journey stuff, but Kith Somtaw coming to the rescue and being hailed as "the beast killers" after the game starts with them not even being acknowledged when they help fight off some pirates.
BOI Repentance DLC
I actually burst into tears the first time I defeated The Beast and it sets up another bleak ending, only for Isaac's dad to interrupt it and help him change it.
"You're the one writing it, it doesn't have to end this way."
These ones'll probably be mentioned in other comments:
Disco Elysium
Ending E of Nier Automata
The showdown with Dagoth Ur at the end of Morrowind's main questline.
Bonus - game ending that's memorable but not necessarily good:
Silent Hill Homecoming - first time I played this game, I stumbled into the UFO ending (which is way easier to get than in other Silent Hills). The PC port was a janky mess and I almost didn't make it to the end due softlocks here and there lead me to losing a lot of progress only for the game to end with an out of nowhere UFO abduction completely destroyed all the pathos of the story.
Homeworld: Cataclysm mentioned.
Probably my favorite out of all the Homeworld games. Also the soundtrack is great