Guinness World Records has compiled a list of the Top 50 Videogame Endings of All Time as voted for by 13,519 gamers.
"The list will cause heated debate among passionate gamers and provide further evidence of the growing sophistication and popularity of videogames," the Guinness organization said in the press release. In fact, most of the games listed don't have especially impactful endings and - to us - the list feels more like a list of favorite games.
Last year's best-selling videogame, Call of Duty: Black Ops, developed by Treyarch, tops the list.
The dramatic finale features a frantic shoot-out inside a submarine and provides the game's hero Mason the chance to take vengeance for a murdered friend. The closing sequence offers a new twist on the classic JFK conspiracy theory.
Second place in the list is 2010's Halo: Reach developed by Bungie. Another First-Person Shooter, Halo: Reach takes place in the year 2552, with humanity locked in a war with the alien Covenant. During the post credits sequence the player's character, Noble Six, makes a final stand against impossible odds. Although he is eventually overwhelmed, his sacrifice ensures that the 'Master Chief' survives.
Over 13 year's old, Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time takes third place in the list. One of the best loved games of all time ends in classic fashion with the hero Link defeating Ganondorf and rescuing Princess Zelda.
It is interesting to note that no classic adventure games such as Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Broken Sword and Sam and Max made it to the list. There are also a few games that should be in the list but are not. Off the top our heads we can remember Beyond Good and Evil, Indigo Prophecy and Unreal 2 in addition to the original Fallout and the original Half-Life.
The full list reads as follows:
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops
2. Halo: Reach
3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
5. God of War
6. Red Dead Redemption
7. Portal
8. Metal Gear Solid 4
9. Final Fantasy VII
10. Heavy Rain
11. Super Mario Bros.
12. Pokemon Black and White
13. Halo 3
14. Halo: Combat Evolved
15. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
16. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
17. Portal 2
18. Grand Theft Auto IV
19. Mass Effect 2
20. Super Mario Galaxy 2
21. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
22. Kingdom Hearts
23. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
24. Shadow of the Colossus
25. Assassin's Creed
26. Assassin's Creed II
27. Metal Gear Solid
28. Sonic the Hedgehog
29. Super Mario Galaxy
30. Mass Effect
31. Kingdom Hearts II
32. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
33. Sonic Adventure 2
34. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
35. BioShock
36. Gears of War 2
37. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
38. Fallout 3
39. inFamous
40. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
41. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
42. Super Metroid
43. Half-Life 2: Episode Two
44. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
45. Call of Duty: World at War
46. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
47. Crysis 2
48. Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
49. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
50. Resident Evil 4