The Power of the Unresolved: Why Indie Games Embrace Unsatisfying Endings
The screen fades to black. A solitary tear rolls down the player’s cheek, not from sadness, but from a profound sense of…what? Disappointment? Confusion? Or perhaps, something far more powerful: lasting resonance.
We’ve been conditioned to expect neatly tied narratives, heroic triumphs, and ultimate resolutions. But what if the greatest stories are the ones that linger, unfinished, in the back of our minds? Indie games have a unique ability to present these endings.
The Case for the Unresolved
Indie games, unburdened by the expectations of blockbuster sales and mass appeal, possess a unique freedom. This liberty is their most potent weapon, a chance to truly explore the boundaries of interactive storytelling. AAA titles are often a predictable rollercoaster.
Indie games, however, can be a labyrinthine dream, a winding path through the human condition. This difference in freedom is important.
Imagine a film concluding mid-sentence, a painting with deliberate blank spaces, a symphony that abruptly stops before the final chord. Frustrating? Perhaps. But also, undeniably, unforgettable. It is a chance to be truly authentic.
The prevailing trend in game design, dictated by market forces and a desire for universal palatability, leans toward satisfying conclusions. Players are rewarded for their efforts with a sense of closure, a feeling that their time and energy have been well-spent.
But this pursuit of satisfaction often comes at a cost: sacrificing depth, complexity, and the opportunity for genuine emotional impact. Many titles suffer from this “happy ending” syndrome. It’s like a song with too many choruses.
What if, instead, we embraced the power of the unresolved? What if we dared to leave players grappling with unanswered questions, ambiguous motivations, and a lingering sense of unease? The power that indie games possess is truly beautiful.
The Art of the Lingering Question
Consider the game Kentucky Route Zero. This episodic adventure eschews traditional gameplay mechanics in favor of a surreal, atmospheric narrative that unfolds at its own deliberate pace. There are no clear-cut objectives or definitive answers.
Instead, players are invited to wander through a dreamlike landscape, encountering a cast of eccentric characters and piecing together fragments of a story that never fully coalesces. The game’s ending, far from providing closure, leaves a profound sense of melancholy and ambiguity.
Players are left with more questions than answers, but it is precisely this ambiguity that makes Kentucky Route Zero so deeply affecting. The story clings to the player. This is not a story that is easily forgotten.
Think of it as planting a seed in the player’s mind. The game’s conclusion serves as a catalyst for reflection, prompting players to revisit the narrative in their own minds, to construct their own interpretations, and to engage with the game on a deeper, more personal level.
This approach is a gamble, of course. Not every player will appreciate being left in the dark. Some may feel cheated or unsatisfied by the lack of resolution.
But for those willing to embrace the ambiguity, the rewards can be immense. An unsatisfying ending can lead to greater player engagement.
Beyond the Binary: Nuance and Interpretation
The problem with many traditional narratives is their reliance on a binary: good versus evil, success versus failure, happiness versus sadness. This rigid structure leaves little room for nuance or interpretation. It gives the player no room to breathe.
Unsatisfying endings, on the other hand, shatter this binary, forcing players to confront the complexities of the human experience. Real life isn’t about tidy resolutions. We live in the grey.
They challenge us to grapple with the messy, contradictory nature of reality. They are a reminder that life is rarely black and white.
Games like Disco Elysium showcase the beautiful ability to showcase moral ambiguity. The main character is flawed. The world is cruel.
There are no easy answers, and the game’s ending reflects this uncertainty. Players are left to grapple with the consequences of their choices. This uncertainty is where the true power of indie games lie.
Another example is Outer Wilds. It presents a universe that ends repeatedly. No matter what the player does, the sun will explode.
The point isn’t to stop the cycle, but to understand it. That understanding is what provides a somber, yet satisfying ending.
The Challenge for Indie Developers
Embracing unsatisfying endings is not a license to be lazy or incoherent. It requires a deliberate and thoughtful approach to storytelling.
The goal isn’t to frustrate players for the sake of frustration, but to create a narrative that resonates on a deeper, more emotional level. Indie games can be an experience unlike any other.
Here are some challenges and how to approach them:
Challenge: Player Frustration. Players expect closure. An unsatisfying ending risks alienating players who feel their time was wasted.
Solution: Foreshadowing and Thematic Consistency. Ensure the lack of resolution aligns with the game’s themes. Hint at the ambiguity early on.
Challenge: Narrative Incoherence. An unsatisfying ending can feel like a cop-out if the story lacks internal consistency. The game needs to still make sense.
Solution: Strong World-Building and Character Development. Even without a clear resolution, the world and characters should feel believable and engaging. The experience must remain compelling.
Challenge: Lack of Player Agency. If the ending feels arbitrary or predetermined, players may feel their choices didn’t matter.
Solution: Meaningful Choices and Consequences. Even if the overall narrative remains unresolved, player choices should have tangible, albeit perhaps subtle, effects on the world and characters.
These steps can allow the story to resonate with players. This deeper resonance can be the key to the game’s success.
Case Study: Subsurface Circular and the Power of Ambiguity
Subsurface Circular, a text-based adventure game, presents a compelling example of how an unsatisfying ending can enhance the player experience. The game takes place on a futuristic subway system where a detective robot investigates a series of disappearances.
The game’s core strength lies in its dialogue system, which allows players to engage in branching conversations with a diverse cast of robotic characters. Each conversation reveals new clues and sheds light on the central mystery.
However, the game’s ending is deliberately ambiguous. While the player uncovers the truth behind the disappearances, the ultimate resolution is left open to interpretation. The fate of the missing robots, as well as the implications of the detective’s discoveries, remain uncertain.
This lack of closure might seem frustrating at first glance. But it is precisely this ambiguity that elevates Subsurface Circular beyond a simple detective story. The ending forces players to confront the ethical dilemmas raised by the narrative.
It challenges them to consider the implications of artificial intelligence, corporate power, and the nature of consciousness. The questions raised by the game linger long after the credits roll.
This ambiguity is a source of strength. It is what makes the game compelling.
Practical Steps: Crafting the Unresolved
So, how can indie developers effectively craft unsatisfying endings that resonate with players? It comes down to a few simple steps.
Establish a Clear Theme: The lack of resolution should serve a purpose, reinforcing the game’s central themes. If the game explores themes of uncertainty, futility, or the inherent chaos of life, an unsatisfying ending can be a powerful way to drive those themes home.
Focus on Character Development: Even if the plot remains unresolved, players should feel a connection to the characters. By focusing on their emotional journeys, their motivations, and their relationships, you can create an ending that is emotionally satisfying, even if it lacks narrative closure.
Use Foreshadowing and Symbolism: Subtle hints and symbolic imagery can prepare players for the lack of resolution. By subtly suggesting that things may not wrap up neatly, you can manage expectations and prevent frustration.
Provide a Sense of Closure (of a Different Kind): While the main plot may remain unresolved, consider offering a sense of closure in other areas. This could involve resolving a minor character arc, providing a glimpse into the future, or simply offering a moment of quiet reflection.
Embrace Player Interpretation: Encourage players to interpret the ending in their own way. This can be achieved through subtle cues, ambiguous dialogue, or simply by leaving certain details open to speculation. Allow players to fill in the blanks.
Testing is Key: Test your game with diverse audiences. Be open to feedback. Gauge how the ending is received. Iterate based on the responses you receive.
By following these steps, indie developers can create truly memorable experiences. This will result in deeper player engagement.
The Power of the “What If?”
Unsatisfying endings are not about denying players closure. They’re about sparking a conversation. They are about planting a seed of doubt.
They are about prompting players to ask, “What if?” What if things had gone differently? What if there was more to the story? What if the ending wasn’t really the end? This is where the true magic happens.
This “what if?” is where players truly begin to invest in the world. This can greatly improve a game’s staying power.
The Pitfalls to Avoid
While the potential rewards of unsatisfying endings are significant, it’s important to be aware of the potential pitfalls. These are the mistakes that developers should avoid.
Arbitrary Ambiguity: The lack of resolution should be intentional and meaningful, not a result of laziness or poor planning. Don’t leave plot holes or unresolved threads simply because you couldn’t be bothered to tie them up.
Frustration for Frustration’s Sake: The goal isn’t to annoy players, but to provoke thought and emotion. Make sure the lack of resolution serves a purpose beyond simply frustrating the player.
Ignoring Player Expectations: While it’s important to challenge player expectations, it’s also important to be respectful of their time and investment. Provide enough context and information to make the ending feel earned, even if it’s not what they expected.
Lack of Thematic Consistency: The unsatisfying ending should align with the game’s overall themes and tone. If the game is lighthearted and comedic, a bleak and unresolved ending may feel jarring and out of place.
Avoiding these pitfalls is essential for creating a positive player experience. Players should leave satisfied, if not necessarily content.
Case Study: The Beginner’s Guide and Meta-Narrative
The Beginner’s Guide by Davey Wreden, the creator of The Stanley Parable, offers a compelling example of an unsatisfying ending rooted in meta-narrative. The game presents itself as a curated collection of unfinished games by a developer named Coda.
As the player progresses, the narrator, Davey Wreden himself, guides them through Coda’s works, offering his interpretations and insights. However, as the game unfolds, the narrative becomes increasingly complex and unsettling.
Wreden’s initial admiration for Coda’s work gives way to a sense of frustration and concern. He criticizes Coda’s design choices, questioning his motivations and expressing a desire to “fix” his games.
The ending of The Beginner’s Guide is deliberately ambiguous and unsatisfying. The player is left to question the narrator’s reliability and the true nature of his relationship with Coda. Was Wreden genuinely trying to help Coda, or was he simply projecting his own insecurities onto his work?
The game never provides a definitive answer. The lack of resolution is precisely what makes The Beginner’s Guide so thought-provoking. It forces players to confront their own assumptions about authorship, interpretation, and the relationship between creators and their audience. The player is left questioning the nature of the game itself.
The meta-narrative nature of the game and its ending greatly amplify the impact of its themes. This makes for a truly unique experience.
Practical Exercises: Designing Unresolved Endings
Here are some practical exercises that indie developers can use to experiment with designing unresolved endings:
The “Missing Piece” Exercise: Start with a traditional narrative structure, but deliberately remove a key element from the ending. This could be the resolution of a central conflict, the fate of a major character, or the explanation of a mysterious event.
The “Multiple Interpretations” Exercise: Create an ending that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Use ambiguous language, symbolic imagery, and subtle cues to suggest different possibilities. Encourage players to discuss their interpretations and debate the meaning of the ending.
The “Unanswered Question” Exercise: Introduce a compelling question or mystery early in the game, but never provide a definitive answer. Leave players to speculate and form their own theories about what happened.
The “False Ending” Exercise: Present players with a seemingly conclusive ending, but then reveal that it was a deception or a misdirection. Introduce new information or events that cast doubt on the validity of the initial ending. This provides a twist.
The “Abrupt Cutoff” Exercise: End the game abruptly, without any warning or explanation. Leave players feeling disoriented and confused, forcing them to piece together the missing pieces of the story. This can be very effective if done right.
These exercises can provide a good starting point for indie game developers. Experimentation is key to mastering this style of storytelling.
The Role of Player Choice
Player choice plays a critical role in how an unsatisfying ending is received. If a player feels that their decisions throughout the game have been meaningful and impactful, they are more likely to accept an ambiguous or unresolved ending.
Conversely, if a player feels that their choices have been irrelevant or inconsequential, they may feel cheated or frustrated by an ending that offers no closure. It is therefore crucial to ensure that player choices have tangible consequences, even if they don’t lead to a neatly wrapped-up resolution.
Even small choices can have a large impact on player satisfaction. Make sure to put the player first.
The Power of Community Discussion
Unsatisfying endings often spark intense discussion and debate among players. This can be a powerful way to extend the life of a game and foster a sense of community. Encourage players to share their interpretations, theories, and fan fiction.
Create forums or social media groups where players can discuss the game and its ending. This can help players feel more connected to the game and to each other, even if they don’t agree on the meaning of the ending. Community can also help with post-launch bug fixes.
The Future of Indie Storytelling
The indie game scene is a hotbed of innovation, a space where developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
By embracing unsatisfying endings, indie developers can unlock new avenues for storytelling. Indie game developers can create experiences that are more thought-provoking, more emotionally resonant, and more enduring than anything we’ve seen before.
This is an opportunity to move beyond the formulaic narratives that dominate the mainstream and to craft games that truly stay with us long after we’ve put down the controller. It is a time of revolution for the indie game.
It’s time to challenge the status quo. It’s time to embrace the power of the unresolved. It’s time to create games that leave us not with a sense of closure, but with a lingering sense of wonder and a desire to keep searching for answers. Let’s make games that truly matter. Let’s leave the player changed.
The future of indie storytelling is bright, full of possibility. With the power of unsatisfying endings, indie games can reach new heights. The possibilities are endless.