RPG Grind Time – The Bittersweet RPG Finale

It's strange. Every time I play an RPG, I'm racing to the finish line, so I can move on to the next one as soon as possible (my backlog is always growing!). Yet when I finally get there, I stall in the last moments, putting off the ending as much as I can. I've always been that way. It's hard to leave a world that I've become comfortable in – with characters I've come to know and battle systems I've come to master. I'm not saying this attachment is exclusive to RPGs, but there's something about the amount of time we spend in these worlds and how the story and characters complement them that makes it harder for me to let go and watch the credits roll than any other genre I've played.

At the start of many RPGs, you have so much in front of you that it can seem daunting and never-ending. You're still seeing where things are going, learning all the intricate systems, and, mostly, deciding if you're going to like your party members. In the beginning, there are a lot of "what if's," to say the least. You have this period where you need to warm up to experience and discover if it's for you.

If you stick around, there's usually a reason – something pulls you in. For me, it's often the characters. I love games that let you get to know them, which is why I appreciate how BioWare always adds side quests that allow you to deeply understand the characters, or how the Tales' series has special skits that show the characters interacting and bonding with one another. I start to just enjoy being around these personalities and getting lost in the world and all its lore – so much so I'll often find myself defending my favorite characters to friends at the drop of hat. Garrus is my bro after all. I'd shoot bottles with him off the Citadel anytime, so if you insult him, it's like you're dissing someone who's supported me through three games of hardships and sacrifice.

Stuff like this makes it all the harder when you know you're reaching the end, because as much as you're completing the storyline, it also feels like you're losing something in the process, whether it's just being in the world, interacting with the characters, or leaving behind the thrill of improving your skills. It's difficult to just walk away from something you've devoted so much time into. Even in games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which seemed overwhelmingly vast, I longed to have a reason to go back into that harsh world and be in Geralt's shoes for a few moments longer. Thankfully, two expansions gave me reason to return, which is why I always think it's cool when developers create extra content to keep your adventures going (as long as it's well done and adds something new).

Plenty of RPGs acknowledge the hardship of saying goodbye by providing defining moments to remember the game by. Mass Effect 3 might have felt like one long sendoff, but it made sense. These are characters that you've spent so much time getting to know. I won't soon forget seeing Jack show genuine emotion in her loyalty mission, Mordin sing his final song to me, or even a hilarious drunken Tali blowing off some steam. Often, visiting characters before the last mission in various RPGs reveals some meaningful parting words, whether it's simply a "thank you" or revelation that makes you see them in a new light. In a way, this is a smart payoff for players who invest their time in experience, and some of my favorite RPGs acknowledge that. I remember being blown away by Persona 3's finale for how it used the social links I'd leveled up in an interesting way. Even the upcoming Trails of Cold Steel II is having save data carry over so characters can reference your relationship and the time you've spent together. These are important little touches.

No matter how much the game has wrapped up any lingering arcs, I still find myself pausing as the game prepares me for that final mission. Have I done everything I've wanted to do? Am I ready to leave this all behind? What if I never find a game that captivates me like this one? I've been spending months just to see this finale – what if it's utterly disappointing and tarnishes the experience for me? Did I rush through and not take in the little moments like I should have? It makes sense to hesitate; I'm usually giving anywhere from 25-70 hours to an RPG. Even if it's only slightly, a sense of loss hits me during the credits. Yes, this provides the opportunity to play something new and that's exciting, but I'm also leaving behind – and will soon start to forget – an experience that I was once so saturated in, that mattered so much that I invested hours upon hours of my life into it.

Have you had a hard time letting go of a game or moving on from an experience? Let us know in the comments below.

For past RPG Grind Time posts, check out our dedicated hub.