The ending to INSIDE was massively disappointing.

[Draglorr]

You have this amazing, wild journey as a boy through a terrifying, interesting, unique and bleak post-apocalyptic world. The game is going really well! Then it throws it all away, as you are abruptly absorbed and become a horrifying abomination that seems it's always in miserable pain merely just by existing after all that time of being that one little boy against the world, to meet such a fate. "You" bust onto a beach, barely moving, then that's the the end?!?! THATS IT?!? REALLY?! Great game with really fun mechanics and such a cool atmosphere, but the ending left me feeling hollow and empty with no sense of accomplishment. What was the point?

Yes I know there are fan-theories out there, but none of them are good or are just depressing and/or unsatisfying. Like the blob controlling the kid from the start kinda feels it invalidates the game experience. Also, the "secret ending" is more of an Easter egg than anything.

You can't sympathize or feel happy for a BLOB that all it really does is suffer and have no quality of life. I don't even need answers on the strange world around me, just if it could've coughed up the boy onto that beach at the end or SOMETHING! not just caused chaos, landed on a beach and died, THE END!

Overall great game, but I probably will not replay or recommend because of the abrupt, poor ending, left me without any feeling of closure or accomplishment. I do realize that some people will yell at me saying "That's not the point" or something but it still left me feeling hollow and unaccomplished, like I had wasted my time which is a true shame because the game was SO GOOD and immersive beforehand.

[Joker]

I love the ending for this type of game. The Little Nightmares games also do this. Just when you think you have escaped the hell you realize you are still stuck. I love the dark and depressing theme. You even start off saying you love the bleak theme and then complain about it. Go play a COD campaign where the good guys always win. It would be a predictable and lame thing if the good guy always wins. I guess these type of games aren't for you. lol

[Sois Anatha]

Yeah the ending was horrible... I didnt read any reviews about it, because I didnt want to "spoil" the ending,and after I finished it I wished I had spoilers for that so I wouldnt even bother. OK a very nice game with physics and mechanics, interesting story and the environment kept me there the whole time but as an old time gamer, I wanted an ending that would give a meaning to that kid's efforts... I mean, come on he tried so hard and thats all that he gets?
In many occasions it brought up memories of the unforgettable "Another World" of the 90s . But the end ruined everthing.
Seems like they fired the story writer before the game was finished so he didnt give them the end of the story and they decided to end it there...

[GRRRRRRRR]

Pretty sure the ending is intentionally left like that to be the breakpoint for where Limbo starts off.

Having escaped through a town of mind control devices, heavy machinery and even anti-gravity. The boy is turned by the monster girl, now his only friend, eventually leading to an even more absurd end as a shambling mass of people.

Limbo could be the dying dream of the boy inside the shambling mass, reliving his ride through Inside. Trying to find his only friend while said ride gets ever more psychedelic until he eventually gives in to death.

The two games share a lot of themes and Limbo is fairly on the nose with its title at least.
Or maybe Playdead just likes those themes and very loosely aligned the games like that.

[kRIEG_elf]

Well, maybe it's because I don't play games to feel like I've achieved anything, but the ending has left me "in tears" for the boy. He's done so much for *this*? Not an ending I expect, but certainly not disappointing. Rather than him crawling out of the blob, I expected a nuclear detonation or something of the sort.

[V I D A L]

The ending is a perfect fit for the game and honestly, the part when you merge with that abomination of bodies is the climax of the game. That is when my jaw dropped to the floor and stayed like that all the way.. running through those offices and breaking walls and glass as everyone is terrified running away is the most memorable moment for me... The ending was exactly what it was supposed to be... I didn't expect walk into the sunset and be live happily ever after... If you did, then misplaced your expectations. This is the type of game you join for the ride and accept for what it is. The game is shocking and disturbing in every corner... by the time you reach the ending, you should be used to the pain.

[Riddley Walker]

I think the ending is terrible not only because of the plot, but it's just wrong for this type of gameplay- you spend hours running and jumping, in an intense effort to escape something, with all this momentum building, hoping to get to some safe haven, and in the end you don't really get there. Not only did you not escape, but you ENTERED a different prison - the blob.

Add to that the common expectation that the kid will crawl out of the blob to freedom, which again, doesn't happen.

AND- the blob is a particularly hideous object, one that you especially hope the boy could escape.

AND- you have particular empathy towards him, because he's a just child, not even an adult.

I think they made a really wrong ending. I get that the game is called INSIDE, but that doesn't help.

[Undead Sappho]

I think that the whole point of the story is that the main character is always inside something that oppresses him. For the bulk of the story that is the dystopia. Whoever the men are at the beginning are presumably a part of the same government or system that every other human we see is. The only paths he sees of escape are to go inside other physical buildings. The factory, underwater, the labs, etc, which he can't easily escape from without involving himself with the government.

He never actually has a moment of rest outside of the influence of this government.

Then, in the last act, he gets absorbed into the Cronenberg, then the Cronenberg kills the one man, presumably the cause of all of this. Then, as it escapes, it dies with the main character still in it.

The main character was always Inside something that harmed him, and could not escape, no matter what he did.

It's a tragedy plain and simple. It's heartbreaking, but that's the point. While I do agree the ending was a little unclear, after having thought about it a bit, I don't think it was bad.

[hxlf]

i agree with a lot of people in the thread - i think the point is that the ending is anti-climactic and open to speculation. the expectation that all games need to wrap up in hopeful, satisfying conclusions that make sense is this game (and limbo's) whole point. they're meant to be redundant and philosophical, probing into deeper questions - i'm personally excited that gaming is being open to more meta-artistic themes

[Windmillgram]

I think the ending is beautiful. I'm not really bothered by endings which are open-ended or feel abrupt or unsatisfying, so that might be why I like it. I was genuinely in awe when it ended. This incredibly discomforting, dystopic ride ending with an almost serene view at the coast. It's hauntingly beautiful. I love it when I'm left with questions, when I'm confused, but at the same time I feel like it meant something, even though I'm not entirely sure what it is exactly. It's the same feeling I get when I listen to an incredible piece of music, or watch a 'difficult' movie. It's not necessarily about the story logic, and more about the feelings.

For some of you this might sound a bit pedantic or artsy, and I understand that, but i think some of you are missing out on the experience by having the need to be satisfied. Just my 2 cents.

[☆xTragicx☆]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Windmillgram:

I think the ending is beautiful. I'm not really bothered by endings which are open-ended or feel abrupt or unsatisfying, so that might be why I like it. I was genuinely in awe when it ended. This incredibly discomforting, dystopic ride ending with an almost serene view at the coast. It's hauntingly beautiful. I love it when I'm left with questions, when I'm confused, but at the same time I feel like it meant something, even though I'm not entirely sure what it is exactly. It's the same feeling I get when I listen to an incredible piece of music, or watch a 'difficult' movie. It's not necessarily about the story logic, and more about the feelings.

For some of you this might sound a bit pedantic or artsy, and I understand that, but i think some of you are missing out on the experience by having the need to be satisfied. Just my 2 cents.

Well said dude ^.^

[Cusifai]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από V I D A L:

The ending is a perfect fit for the game and honestly, the part when you merge with that abomination of bodies is the climax of the game. That is when my jaw dropped to the floor and stayed like that all the way.. running through those offices and breaking walls and glass as everyone is terrified running away is the most memorable moment for me... The ending was exactly what it was supposed to be... I didn't expect walk into the sunset and be live happily ever after... If you did, then misplaced your expectations. This is the type of game you join for the ride and accept for what it is. The game is shocking and disturbing in every corner... by the time you reach the ending, you should be used to the pain.

Couldn´t agree more. Mesmerizing game. Enjoyed it all the way. It´s about the journey, guys.

[Wolfenrath]

The ending and the alternate ending together is perfect. It is beautifully meta without being perspicuous or loud at its attempt to convey video game existentialism and question the desensitization of gamers. It's very David Cronenberg-esque.

[ironmanmk42]

I think the drugs kicked in at that point for the developers ;) Lol. Just kidding but yeah, the ending was very bizarre and disappointing. It just makes no sense.

[Lifepath [CdE]]

I think Inside is a political and philosophical essay in the form of a video game. The boy is not a boy, he doesn't even have a face. The boy is the innocent aspect of humanity. He is our freedom, our natural will to live and be free. He is trapped Inside an all technology, completely inhumane world, one we are marching towards right as i write. He tries to escape but the transhumanist are too strong and transform nature into monstrosity (the end blob, genetically modified organism we are toying with) And the end result is bad in all aspects : All life can do in reaction to beeing transformed into monster is go on a rampage (think of the giant Boars in Princess Mononoke frome Miyasaki)

I strongly disagree with the idea the ending is meaningless. I think it is good if we don't "enjoy" it. It's here to help us think what we want our future and our kids' future to be like. The ending is a warning.

It's also here to remind us humanity is still nothing in regard to life. We can destroy many beautiful things, but if we destroy ourselves, glorious mornings and sunrises on the sea shore will keep happening and life will come back in other forms.

Sorry if some sentences are off (i'm french)
Would be a pleasure reading your thoughts on this ending !

[Lifepath [CdE]]

I also really enjoyed playing the giant at the end. Turning the tables all the way, after spending hours running away from threats able to oblitarate you in an instant, you become the great omnipotent divine beeing, remnicent of the Hecatoncheires from the greek mythology. You still can't make things right but you can at least destroy those who made it all wrong, even if it doesn't really make a difference at the end of the day.