History Main / UnendingEndCard

* Clearing ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'' on Easy informs the player that [[EasyModeMockery they're not getting any cool secrets for this]] and instructs them to hit Reset and try on a harder difficulty. The localized version, ''Tetris Attack'', removed this trope (you can hit A instead to go back to the title) but left in the text referring to it.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': While clearing a neutral run sends you back to the title screen after watching an epilogue and a talk with Flowey, completing the Pacifist Run treats you to big the end words and sweet music after its credits until the game is closed manually. If you cleared a Genocide run, these words will be blood red and the sweet music will be replaced with ominous music. Closing and reopening the game will have Flowey talk to you and ask you not to reset from the beginning.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' leaves you hanging after the final cutscene with a still image of young Link warning Princess Zelda about Ganon. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with the 3DS remake which continues onto the remake's separate credits after the aforementioned cutscene, and goes back to the title screen after the '''THE END''' screen (and informs the player that the Master Quest mode has been unlocked if it has not been already).

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' takes this trope UpToEleven. After completely clearing the game, you are placed on a screen with a letter from Monika, or the game maker if you got the GoldenEnding. However, closing and reopening the game will not let you play the game again; to play again, you have to uninstall and reinstall the game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'':
** ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Given how this game tells you to shut down the game console when you choose to save and quit rather than return to the title screen like most other games with that option, that makes it an indicator that this trope will come into play for when you reach the end. It does so on a black screen with "THE END...?"
** ''VideoGame/Mother3'' hangs at the end screen with a wooden ''Mother'' logo.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' leaves you hanging after the final cutscene with a still image of young Link warning Princess Zelda about Ganon.

* VideoGame/{{Hellcab}} ends with a shot of the cab from the back, and at the license plate is a QUIT button.

* ''VideoGame/PonyIsland'': The regular ending doesn't qualify (Although the [=H0peles$0uL=] tells you to uninstall the game and closes the game on you, you can reopen it at any time and continue). The [[GoldenEnding ending]] you get via HundredPercentCompletion qualifies. After beating [=H0peles$0uL=] in a boss fight, he tells you there is nothing left to the game and leaves you to continue running an endless void.

* ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' will stick you on a picture of the island the the entire game took place on with the heroes to the side. This trope also comes into play in the bad ending. Averted in ''[[TwoAndAHalfD Cave Story 3D]]''.

* VideoGame/{{Hellcab}} ends with a shot of the cab from the back, and a the license plate is a QUIT button.

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan4'', and ''VideoGame/MegaMan5'' all do this, leaving the player on the "Presented by Capcom" screen. While understandable for ''3'' due to its [[TroubledProduction rushed production]], it appears to have been an intentional choice in ''4'' and ''5''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': While clearing a neutral run sends you back to the title screen after watching an epilogue and a talk with Flowey, completing the Pacifist Run treats you to big the end words and sweet music after its epilogue. If you cleared a genocide run, these words will be blood red and the sweet music will be replaced with ominous music. Closing and reopening the game will have Flowey talk to you and ask you not to reset from the beginning.

''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':

[[AC:Shooter]]
* In the original ''{{VideoGame/Star Fox|1}}'', beating the "Out of This Dimension" level serves as a GainaxEnding to the game. After beating a giant slot machine boss, the player can fly through the credits until "THE END" appears. The player can shoot at the letters in "THE END", but the game will otherwise not progress any further. {{Downplayed|Trope}} as there is a way out aside from resetting the system, which is letting the enemies that still appear kill you until you get a game over.

* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'': At the end of the credits, Mario and Peach watches the fireworks from his house and the caption "The End" appears. With that, the screen is stuck on the scene until the game is reset.

* ''Earthbound'':

** ''VideoGame/Mother3'' hangs at the end screen with a wooden Mother logo.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': You defeated Ganon, harmony is restored to the world, the credits roll, and you're stuck looking at The End in the corner. The UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance remake provides a second example if you play and clear the palace of the Four Sword.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'': after the credits and an EnemyRollCall, the game sticks to a screen with Mario, Luigi, and Peach under the words, "THE END".

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Given how this game tells you to shut down the game console when you choose to save and quit rather than return to the title screen like most other games with that option, that makes it an indicator that this trope will come into play for when you reach the end. It does so on a black screen with "THE END...?"

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'' does this in both its original version and its GBA remake. The remake even has an additional clear screen it will stick you on when you manage to [[HundredPercentCompletion get 100 points on every level]].

* In the original ''{{VideoGame/Star Fox|1}}'', beating the "Out of This Dimension" level serves as a GainaxEnding to the game. After being a giant slot machine boss, the player can fly through the credits until "THE END" appears. The player can shoot at the letters in "THE END," but the game will otherwise not progress any further. {{Downplayed|Trope}} as there is a way out aside from resetting the system, which is letting the enemies that still appear kill you until you get a game over.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' just shows a never-ending field of stars after the credits finish up.

* In the original ''{{VideoGame/Star Fox|1}}'', beating the "Out of This Dimension" level serves as a GainaxEnding to the game. After being a giant slot machine boss, the player can fly through the credits until "THE END" appears. The player can shoot at the letters in "THE END," but the game will otherwise not progress any further.

[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tetris_attack_u_001.png]]

So you beat the game. Congratulations. Enjoy that beautiful clear screen. Of course, you likely feel there is more you can do in the game that you haven't done and want to continue playing. However, no matter what button you press on your controller, you can't get out of the clear screen and return to the title screen. The only way to get back is to either reset the system or close the game. This is very common in older games, but some modern games have also been known to do this.

In most cases, this is likely done deliberately. Maybe the developers assumed that the player would just shut the system off upon beating the game anyway, so they don't bother to program a way out of these screens. You won't need to worry about losing your progress if said game has an {{Autosave}} feature, as it will recognize that you have beaten the final boss. For games without it, you better make sure to save if you decide you want to play that file again, especially if you have't saved in hours since reaching the end. Otherwise, you may find yourself resetting back to more than the near end.

[[AC:Role Playing Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts|I}}'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' provide a different clear screen depending on the difficulty you play. Averted in the ''Final Mix'' versions which give you options to save and return to the start screen.
* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': While clearing a neutral run sends you back to the title screen after watching an epilogue and a talk with Flowey, completing the Pacifist Run treats you to big the end words and sweet music after its epilogue. If you cleared a genocide run, these words will be blood red and the sweet music will be replaced with ominous music. Closing and reopening the game will have Flowey talk to you and ask you not to reset from the beginning.
* ''VideoGame/PaperMario'': At the end of the credits, Mario and Peach watches the fireworks from his house and the caption "The End" appears. With that, the screen is stuck on the scene until the game is reset.
* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Given how this game tells you to shut down the game console when you choose to save and quit rather than return to the title screen like most other games with that option, that makes it an indicator that this trope will come into play for when you reach the end. It does so on a black screen with "THE END...?"
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' just shows a never-ending field of stars after the credits finish up.

* ''VideoGame/YoshisStory'' does this for all the ending sequences as it leaves you hanging on the final results screen waiting for you to hit the reset button on the console to try another route.

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': Given how this game tells you to shut down the game console when you choose to save and quit rather than return to the title screen like most other games with that option, that makes it an indicator that this trope will come into play for when you reach the end. It does so on a black screen with "THE END...?".

Not to be confused with KillScreen, which results in games that weren't even programmed to have an end.

So you beat the game. Congratulations. Enjoy that beautiful clear screen. Of course, you likely feel there is more you can do in the game that you haven't done and want to continue playing. However, no matter what button you press on your controller, you can't get out of the clear screen and return to the title screen. The only way to get back is to either reset the system or close the game. This is heavily common in older games, but some modern games have also been known to do this.

In most cases, this is likely done deliberately. Maybe programmers assumed players would just shut the system off upon beating the game anyway, so they don't bother to code a way out of these screens. You won't need to worry about losing progress if said game has {{Autosave}} as it will recognize that you have beaten the final boss. For games without, you better make sure to save if you decide you want to play that file again, especially if you have't saved in hours since reaching the end. Otherwise, you may find yourself resetting back to more than the near end.

Not to be confused with KillScreen which results in games that weren't even programmed to have an end.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': You defeated Ganon, harmony is restored to the world, the credits roll, and you're stuck looking at The End in the corner. The Gba remake provides a second example if you play and clear the palace of the Four Sword.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' provide a different clear screen depending on the difficulty you play. Averted in the final mix versions which give you options to save and return to the start screen.

* In the original ''VideoGame/StarFox1'', beating the "Out of This Dimension" level serves as a GainaxEnding to the game. After being a giant slot machine boss, the player can fly through the credits until "THE END" appears. The player can shoot at the letters in "THE END," but the game will otherwise not progress any further.

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' takes this trope UpToEleven. After completely clearing the game, you are placed on a screen with a letter from Monika (The game maker if you got the GoldenEnding). However, closing and reopening the game will not let you play the game again like the other examples. To play again, you have to completely uninstall the game.