Line #26 Main/EndgamePlus


1	->''"Congratulations! You have reached the ending of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. When you load this file, you will be in Tonfon, at the point just before your final battle at the Apollo Lens. You can now sail the eclipsed world, searching for the remaining secrets."''
2	-->-- ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn''
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4	Bonus content in a VideoGame (and {{RPG}}s in particular) that is available during the final chapter, but is not unlocked until you have defeated the FinalBoss and watched the credits roll. These games will often prompt the player to update their save file after the end credits, often displaying a special icon with the file to indicate the game has been cleared.
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6	This differs from a PlayableEpilogue in that the Playable Epilogue is set ''after'' the final chapter has concluded, and acknowledges that you've saved the world; an Endgame Plus [[TimeyWimeyBall returns the player]] to the world as it looked ''during'' the final chapter, with the BigBad still waiting for his [[TakeOverTheWorld ultimate]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt plan]] to come to its final fruition, and the player standing just before the PointOfNoReturn or outside TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon to throw that critical SpannerInTheWorks and SaveTheWorld. Which makes it odd that you're going off and exploring postgame content [[TakeYourTime at the climax of the big bad's plan]].
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8	This is distinct from games that unlock bonus content via an "Extras" option on its frontend menu; here, the bonus content is something accessible ''in-universe'', like a bonus shop, minigame, or dungeon...or [[AndYourRewardIsClothes even just clothes]]. The exact bonuses [[GuideDangIt may or may not be immediately obvious]] when the player reloads their completed save file -- but hey, TakeYourTime....
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10	Note that games featuring a level select screen cannot exemplify this easily, because they allow the player to re-play any segment of the game at any time.
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12	A form of ExtendedGameplay. See also NewGamePlus, where reloading the completed save file restarts the ''entire game'' over with added bonus features. Both of them are subtropes of PostEndGameContent.
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14	--------
15
16	!!Examples
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:Action Games]]
20	* A ''very'' early attempt at this was Platform/{{Intellivision}}'s ''Film/{{Tron}}: Solar Sailer''. Once you defeated the datastream puzzle, you could either cash out and win or go double or nothing at [[HarderThanHard level "insanity"]] for bragging rights.
21	* ''VideoGame/{{Chantelise}}'': After beating the game, if you load a save made after the epilogue cutscene, you start at the point where the final level has been unlocked.
22	[[/folder]]
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24	[[folder:Action Adventure Games]]
25	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
26	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'': Defeating the final boss and then reloading your file is the only way for the Fierce Deity's Mask to carry over into future cycles. Unusually, you don't keep it with you if you just play the Song of Time after receiving it.
27	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'': Clearing the game [[GuideDangIt reveals no obvious bonuses]], but nonetheless unlocks a few collectible figurines for purchase, including those of the FinalBoss. It also enables the player to acquire the Mirror Shield.
28	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': Reloading the autosave after defeating the final boss will drop Link back outside the boss room, keeping the photos that might have been taken for the Compendium and marking the save file with a star icon. It also adds a counter to all three quest menus, showing how many in the world are left. The world map also gains a percentage completed counter showcasing how much of everything you found in the game.
29	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'' takes the same approach as ''Breath of the Wild'', reloading right outside the final boss chamber, marking the save file with a star, adding a counter to the quest menus, etc. It also adds a character profile for Ganondorf.
30	* In ''VideoGame/InFamous2'', after completing the game, the timeline rewinds to just before the final mission so that you can continue playing in the sandbox and mopping up side missions and Blast Shards. After all, in one ending [[spoiler:Cole is dead along with all the other Conduits]] and in the other [[spoiler:Cole joins the Beast and destroys New Marais to activate all of the Conduits]].
31	* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'': Obtaining any ending boots the player back to the closest save point, with the Hunter's Journal entry for the relevant final boss(es) added to show completion. These are not required for maximum percent (112%) or the sidequest of "completing" the Hunter's Journal. The reason why there is no postgame is because [[spoiler:every ending has the cause of the Infection either sealed or destroyed, which would eliminate most of the enemies in the game, while the player character themselves is either sealed or killed.]]
32	[[/folder]]
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34	[[folder:Action [=RPGs=]]]
35	* ''VideoGame/MuramasaTheDemonBlade'': Once you beat the last boss and see an ending, you'll be taken to before the boss fight the next time you load, but additional features and weapons will unlock depending on which ending you viewed.
36	* Downplayed in ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'': If you reach the ending credits while connected to Website/{{GOG\|DotCom}}, the game instructs you to reload your last save before the PointOfNoReturn in order to claim a special reward for beating the game. Because said reward is tied to your GOG account, however, the saves themselves aren't modified and playing offline doesn't award you with anything. Aside from that you carry over all of the unique gear that you got from the endgame, including an access card lootable from the FinalBoss that allows you to get into an otherwise inaccessible supply cache.
37	[[/folder]]
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39	[[folder:Eastern RPG]]
40	* After the credits roll in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' the game creates a "Clear Game" file, which resumes your saved game with an added bonus shop (with rare items) run by two characters from ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII''. The FinalBoss is still waiting for you to challenge him (and any items stolen off him during the final battle are yours to keep).
41	* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' ([[UpdatedRerelease the DS version]]) allows you to access the [[BonusDungeon dimensional vortexes]]. Beating all three of these gives you access to the TrueFinalBoss, which is an [[ItMakesSenseInContext "immature"]] form of the final boss in ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''.
42	* A staple of the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series is to unlock a BonusDungeon or two upon beating the final boss; beating it is necessary to get the GoldenEnding in the games that have one.
43	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''
44	** The Platform/GameBoyAdvance versions of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' all have dungeons that open up after you beat the final boss. Within each dungeon is, among other things, the most powerful creatures in the game and the ultimate weapons for the characters. All three games allow you to defeat the final boss again with whatever new equipment and levels you gain from these as well.
45	*** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' opens up a bonus dungeon found on the surface of the moon, which features ramped-up versions of Rydia's monster summons, who you have to defeat to use, and an even ''more powerful'' version of the final boss, which also leads to the credits if you beat it.
46	*** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' has a bonus dungeon that contains four brand new job classes never featured in previous versions to use and master. The classes themselves are quite powerful, and the abilities you earn from mastering them can be mix and matched with other job combinations, leading to some truly devastating combos against the final boss. For example, the Gladiator class has an ability that can result in 1 of three possibilities. You have a 1 in 3 chance of missing the target, 1 in 3 chance of dealing 3333 damage, and a 1 in 3 chance of hitting for [[{{Cap}} 9999]] damage regardless of the enemy's defenses.
47	*** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'''s Advance version unlocks the Dragon's Den upon completion, which features [[InfinityPlusOneSword ultimate weapons]] for all the characters, and the Czar Dragon, the most powerful enemy in the game. You have to split into 3 parties and switch between them to cover the various traps and puzzles. This is also a minor case of GuideDangIt, as the dragons inside can be weak or strong against very specific abilities that only certain characters can have, so you need to strategize and choose your parties carefully.
48	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' has End ''Chapter'' Plus - each of the nine character chapters is self-contained (in the Mobile and Wii versions, they even have their own credit rolls), but beating each one gives access to a Challenge Dungeon that gives you more things to level grind against and extra equipment. Since the final chapters pull data from the character chapters, this can be a huge boon. Each Challenge Dungeon can be entered at some point before the end of the respective chapter, plot-wise (''significantly'' before in Yang's case), but you still must complete the chapter in order to access it.
49	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' unlocks the last layer of the Crystarium for beating the final boss, but the story still rewinds to the point before your confrontation with him. You can then backtrace your steps to the beginning of the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon and from there, to the locations you visited in chapters 11 and 12. This was probably done because [[spoiler:Vanille and Fang are permanently crystallized at the end of the game, while the rest of the party are presumably de-powered, as they are no longer l'Cie]].
50	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' allows you to "Lock" eras and replay the story from there (Required for OneHundredPercentCompletion in some instances). Plus, you unlock an era after the final boss (although the era in question is only really for fun).
51	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' gives you Chapter 15, which unlocks many new extra dungeons, a few sidequests, and the Regalia Type-F, the [[CoolAirship airship]] of the game.
52	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'', beating the game unlocked certain missions and made is possible to unlock the last stage of [[BonusDungeon Brightmoon Tor.]]
53	* ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'' has Crossbone Isle accessible once you beat the final boss. It contains rare items, powerful monsters, and the ultimate {{Superboss}}, Dullahan.
54	* ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'' allows you to go back to before the PointOfNoReturn after defeating the FinalBoss. Interestingly, it also gives you the option to go a bit further back, before the final personality-altering decision, allowing you to make a different choice. You get access to some PostEndGameContent, too.
55	* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' team likes this.
56	** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsCoded Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' gives you access to a number of things, including new shop items, the last chunk of your stat matrix, and the various [[BonusDungeon new System Sectors]]. You can replay everything anyway, but the game does count you as being at the end of the last world.
57	** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainofMemories Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories]]'' has a complex version of this, where after you finish Sora's story you unlock Riku's, and after finishing Riku's you can get two new cards: one for invincibility and one to reload premium cards.
58	** Clearing both stories in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Kingdom Hearts 3D]]'' gives you access to rematches with every boss in the game, (all outfitted with enough HP to make [[spoiler:Young Xehanort]]'s [[GreenEyedMonster eyes turn green]]), as well as providing access to Ultima Weapon and a battle with [[spoiler: drumrrrrrroll: [[{{Superboss}} Julius!]] Yes, ''[[WesternAnimation/RunawayBrain that]]'' Julius!]] The series' non-numbered titles have an unfortunate habit of keeping [[InfinityPlusOneSword Ultima Weapon]] unavailable until ''[[BraggingRightsReward after the Final Boss]]''.
59	** Clearing the [[UpdatedRerelease Final Mix]] edition of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' grants Sora his final Drive level upgrade and unlocks End Game Plus if the player saves a Clear file. End Game Plus allows the player full access to battle all members of Organization XIII at the Cavern of Remembrance, save those whose Absent Silhouette they haven't defeated yet. The remaining Mushrooms are unlocked, as is an OptionalBoss from a portal in Disney Castle. In this version of the game, this is also when the full Jiminy Journal is unlocked, with question marks for those entries you haven't completed yet. In ''HD II.5 Remix'', it also unlocks Theatre Mode.
60	* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
61	** The ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series does this in every game, following the trope description almost exactly, with the single exception of ''4'', which instead has NewGamePlus and post game content on the 3rd playthrough. It also carried over to its pseudo-sequel series, ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce''. One annoying thing about ''4'' and ''6'' in particular is that even after beating the game, the crisis music (which plays in the regular areas all the time during the last part of each game) doesn't stop. (Additionally, in ''3'', the entire internet is still drained of its color.)
62	** ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'' lets you replay the final chapter over and over again, which allows you to power level your characters and save any items you find each time. You can also revisit any level in the game as well as fully explore your headquarters; in fact, completing the game at least once is a requirement for facing [[{{Superboss}} Ninetails]].
63	* Beating the final boss in ''VideoGame/MSSagaANewDawn'' unlocks the BonusDungeon. The game even provides a small LampshadeHanging as TheHero complains that he's about five seconds away from the [[FinalBoss ultimate battle]] to save the world when MissionControl phones in and orders him to go conquer an irrelevant bonus instead.
64	* Beating the FinalBoss in ''Videogame/NiNoKuni: Wrath of the White Witch'' allows you to restart from the point just before you began the fight. New quests are unlocked that allow you to earn all the stamp card bonuses, gold versions of the regular enemies spawn in certain locations, and they carry rare items that can be used in the most powerful ItemCrafting recipes. The final round of tournaments in the coliseum is unlocked, with the reward of the [[BraggingRightsReward most powerful]] {{mon\|s}} [[BraggingRightsReward in the game]] if you complete it, and a selection of {{Superboss}}es are available that will grant a BraggingRightsReward if beaten.
65	* ''VideoGame/NocturneRebirth'': After defeating the FinalBoss, the save file used for that battle will be updated so that the player's item glossary will track any items gained during that battle. If the player obtained the Brave Clear reward, they can visit the DevelopersRoom to fight several optional minibosses and the Cross of the World Team.
66	* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' games starting with ''Sticker Star'' employ this, compared to the PlayableEpilogue of the previous games except the first one, allowing access to some last collectibles needed for OneHundredPercentCompletion and the ability to rewatch the credits without having to beat the FinalBoss.
67	* In ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', you can save your file after you beat the FinalBoss. Selecting that file after gives you the choice of starting a NewGamePlus (where you can also switch from the Gekkoukan side to the Yasogami side, or vice versa), or you can select that file again and you have access to an OptionalBoss and an extra sidequest.
68	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
69	** While the mainstream ''Pokémon'' games generally utilize a PlayableEpilogue, in the original ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' titles, the rewards for becoming the Pokemon League Champion were limited to a "Hall of Fame" option on the PC and access to one BonusDungeon near Cerulean City; no one else even acknowledged the fact that the player beat the Elite Four and TheRival.
70	** The non-mainstream ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'' both use this trope: Defeating the final boss unlocks new areas, new sidequests, and other bonuses you'd expect in a postgame, but the [=NPCs=] refuse to acknowledge that you saved the world (You can refight the final bosses, with their stolen Shadow Pokémon mysteriously replaced). One must wonder why Eagun is excited to tell us about this [[SidetrackedByTheGoldenSaucer Orre Colosseum]] right when we're supposed to be stopping the BigBad...
71	* Defeating the FinalBoss in ''VideoGame/RogueGalaxy'' adds the game's BonusDungeon to the [[PointAndClickMap Galaxy Map]]; everything else (including the [[NowWhereWasIGoingAgain recap]]) is still as it was before defeating the FinalBoss. An NPC within said dungeon even comments that [[BreakingTheFourthWall the player has already beaten the game]].
72	* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei DemiKids]]'' gave you three options after fighting the final boss, letting you do this, go to a PlayableEpilogue, or a NewGamePlus. The Endgame Plus option puts you directly before fighting the final boss, with a few extra bonuses. However, those bonuses are mostly there to help you kill time before choosing one of the other options, letting you restart the game or go to the true ending.
73	* ''VideoGame/SomaUnion'': Unlike the predecessor which had NewGamePlus, this game drops you back at just before the final boss and unlocks several extra bosses. However, beating the final boss on a clear save will simply send the player back to the title screen, since there is nothing to be gained from winning again.
74	* Once you complete ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'', a bunny will appear near the final save point, congratulating you for clearing the game and let you know the Bonus Dungeons are now accessible, and offer you to warp you back to Elicoor.
75	* The 2023 remake of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' features one where you can rematch some bosses, including [[spoiler: Culex, who now becomes 3D after his wishes get granted]]. The game justifies this by portraying the first fight against [[BigBad Smithy]] as AllJustADream once a completed save file is loaded.
76	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' unlocks the BonusDungeon of the game for loading a completed savefile, the ability to take on the Advanced rank of the battle arena and adds new requests to unlock, which includes the Cameo appearances. Said BonusDungeon also includes giving access to items required to craft the [[InfinityPlusOneSword best weapons]], unlocks the Cameo battle that includes a GainaxEnding to obtain for beating it and gives the player easier access to gaining money to pay off Ludger's debt and gain a GainaxEnding for ''that'', too. Similar to the ''Final Fantasy'' example above, the point of return is necessary as [[spoiler:the game ends with either protagonist Ludger or Elle dying]]. The game can be saved at any point and used for NewGamePlus, at the same time.
77	* In the remake of ''Videogame/TrialsOfMana'', upon beating the final boss going back to the save drops you right before the final boss, only this time you're given a new quest to unlock the final Class upgrades and tackle a brand new final boss who overrides the original one.
78	* Defeating the final boss in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' allows you to create a Cleared Save file after the credits. Reloading it gives you access to new quests, including [[spoiler:those that allow you to recruit the Queens of Keves and Agnus, respectively]].
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81	[[folder:Platform Games]]
82	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' lets you [[RecurringBoss finally put an end]] to [[TheDragon Lord Vorselon's]] tyranny, after collecting the rest of the [[GottaCatchEmAll Zoni]], of course. At least when you defeat him you get to explore the [[DeveloperRoom Insomniac Museum]].
83	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'' has an aversion that is often played straight by way of the player: the ultimate Infernox armour is unlocked by visiting Mylon at the very end of the game... but the player is never told this and they'll often find out by continuing the save and returning to the Phoenix, or by entering Challenge Mode and finding it there.
84	* ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''
85	** The first game ([[EasyModeMockery in normal or hard mode]]) allows you to get an extra Biometal after defeating the {{Superboss}}. Though you could also fight four bosses from Mega Man Zero 3 and 4 if you had spare copies of those games, and get the armor that way.
86	** ''Advent'' instead allows you to unlock a new room in the crashed Raider airship in the Oil Fields that ([[HolidayMode on certain months]] which can be cheesed by messing with the DS time settings), you can obtain unique equippable chips from.
87	* ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'' has this to a tee, allowing you to save your game post-credits and then replay any stage with the bosses appearing again. You get to keep all of your upgrades you've purchased over the course of the game, and even unlock a pair of items [[spoiler: that separately give you infinite Double Gear usage and infinite Subweapon usage, allowing you to completely destroy all game balance on that save from then on as a bit of a BraggingRightsReward for being a completionist.]]
88	* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' unlocks Purple Comet missions in each main galaxy after defeating Bowser in the final level.
89	* After beating ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'', you can re-enter the Dimension Mirror to fight [[FinalBoss Dark Mind]] again, and [[InfinityPlusOneSword Meta Knight's sword Galaxia]] is placed in the HubLevel. It can get past all obstacles, encouraging you to [[HundredPercentCompletion get any collectibles you missed]].
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92	[[folder:Puzzle Games]]
93	* ''VideoGame/DeadlyRoomsOfDeath'': Secret rooms can be beaten during normal play, or by "restoring" after completing a hold (level set). Anything behind a Master Wall can ''only'' be accessed by restoring after completion.
94	* ''VideoGame/LaytonsMysteryJourneyKatrielleAndTheMillionairesConspiracy'': Every case (including the last one) has its own Endgame Plus. You can go back to the detective agency and return to solved cases at any time to look for puzzles, Hint Coins, or collectibles you missed (each screen even gains a counter showing how many puzzles or Hint Coins are still remaining to find). The story sets itself to just before you solved the case, so you can watch the case's ending again if you want.
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98	[[folder:Simulation Games]]
99	* ''VideoGame/TheBurnableGarbageDay'': In order to obtain the GoldenEnding, you need to have obtained one of the two endings. After the game reloads, you'll be at the point before [[spoiler:CR-999 decides to reactivate Pandora]]. However, this time around, there'll be an NPC at your base who can help you build [[spoiler:a part for Pandora that will allow her to overcome her [[AIIsACrapshoot flawed recognition systems]]]].
100	* VideoGame/HarvestMoon ''A[[DistaffCounterpart (nother)]] Wonderful Life [[VideoGameRemake (Special Edition)]]'' has a chapter after the game ends titled ''Heaven''. The game sets things back the way they were in chapter 5 and the chapter doesn't end, unless you decide to start a new game.
101	[[/folder]]
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103	[[folder:Strategy Games]]
104	* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' both utilize this. After beating the final chapters, your save file will be marked as complete, but you'll be able to leave the level and return to the world map/hub castle, free to continue level grinding or grabbing any support conversations you may have missed before.
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Context Main / EndgamePlus