Summary
In a lot ofRPGs, there’s not a lot to do once you get around to beating the final boss and saving the world. Most of the time, when you load the save again, you’re put right back to just before you beat the final boss, so you can’t see the results of all your efforts.
It can be disheartening to see the world plunged back into darkness, especially when you went to so much trouble to save it. That’s why it’s always special when an RPG lets you actually see the world you saved recover and in some cases, let you explore it again without any looming threats. These are the best examples of RPGs that let you do just that.
Rather than sticking you back at the final boss, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door lets you explore the world again once you load your save after the credits. Numerous NPCs will have different dialogue now that the main story is finished; you can even ask Professor Frankly what’s inside the treasure chest from the palace.
you’re able to also findan Easter egg referencing the first game, Paper Mario, if you go back to Poshley Heights - Lady Bow (a party member from the first game) will be hanging out outside with her butler.
After defeating the titular final boss of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, you’re able to load up your save and your goal will now be “Enjoy everything this world has to offer!” You can finish up any Errands you might have missed, as well as complete new ones that only appear after you finish the main story.
A new questline also opens up. If you go to the Forest Glade, you’ll meet the Conductor, an anthropomorphic rabbit, who gives you Bounty Hunts to complete. Finishing them all allows you to take on the Guardian of the Worlds, and if you’re successful, you can learn the true identity of the mysterious conductor.
While the main Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy focuses heavily on the narrative and has linear exploration, Xenoblade Chronicles X is almost completely open world,rather than having open zones. As such, it isn’t as restricted when it comes to exploration.
Once you beat the final boss of the game, you’re free to continue exploring Mira, finding indigens and exploring any nook and cranny you might have missed previously. New Affinity Quests also open up after you finish the main story, allowing you to learn more about the characters on the planet and in New LA.
Though Persona 5 Royal does have a definitive end, it allows you to spend some more time in the game’s world once everything is wrapped up story-wise before you roll the final credits.
You can revisit all the places you likely spent hundreds of hours in, saying your final goodbyes to the NPCs you’ve bonded with over the course of the story. It’s a sweet way to end the game and ties up the long, long adventure in a neat little bow.
Defeating the Dragon in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen and completing the base story completely changes the game’s world, with there being lots more for you to do after the fact. More story quests open up, and the landscape of the world also changes.
Whole areas are destroyed, flattening the landscape. Stronger monsters populate the world, providing an additional challenge. Among all the changes, NPCs also relocate to find safety. It’s well worth exploring the world again in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, as there’s a lot of differences to see and explore.
While you technically reach the credits of Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age after Act 2, when you’ve defeated Mordegon, you can continue the story into Act 3. This involves traveling back in time before a certain event in the middle of the game, giving the Luminary a chance at a do-over.
You get to travel the world again and do things ‘properly’ this time around. You learn more about Mordegon’s backstory and defeat the ‘true’ final boss of Dragon Quest 11, Calasmos. It’s an interesting alternate ending to the story and is a great additional act if you couldn’t get enough of the world and its characters in the main story.
Pokemon
Every mainline Pokemon game lets you continue exploring the region after you’ve defeated the evil team, quelled the wrath ofa legendary Pokemon, and become the Champion. Certain NPCs will also acknowledge you becoming the Champion as well.
The best example, though, is Pokemon Gold, Silver, & Crystal, and the remakes HeartGold & SoulSilver, which not only let you revisit the Johto region, but also start an entirely new adventure in the Kanto region. You can challenge all eight Kanto Gym Leaders and Red at the top of Mount Silver.
After the emotional final fight where the Chosen Four defeat Giygas, EarthBound gives you the opportunity to walk around the entire world again before you roll credits. There are no more enemies, and pretty much every NPC has new dialogue now that the world is saved.
You can also complete things you might have missed during the main story, like buying the house in Onett. Once you’re fully satisfied with exploring the world again now that it’s safe, you can view the photo album with Ness’ mom to trigger the end credits.
