History Main / PlayableEpilogue

** The ''Phantom Liberty'' [=DLC=] adds another base game ending ("The Tower"), culminating in the epilogue mission "Things Done Changed" which plays out similarly to the originals in terms of being told through simple dialogue choices and interactions. [[spoiler:V is able to surgically sever their connection to Johnny, but wakes from a two-year coma to learn that most of their allies and lovers had given them up for dead and moved on with their lives; a furthermore, their body is now incapable of hosting cyberware. In their playable return to Night City, you get to spend time with Vic and Misty again, but also experience first-hand the dangers of being an ordinary human in a world where nigh-superpowered citizens is the norm.]]

* While getting married in some ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' games will make the credits run, this is ''very'' rarely the end of the game (if you're playing ''Harvest Moon: Back To Nature For Girl'', it is). In fact, there's quite a bit more to do after getting married, aside from eventually getting a child, there's new events to see, sometimes new villagers to befriend, HundredPercentCompletion to achieve--some items and events are even cut off from you ''until'' you get married.
** It also ends at marriage when you play as Sara in the third UsefulNotes/GameBoy game, and get married.
** In ''Harvest Moon DS'', however, the game ends after marriage. Fortunately, it's only if you marry a Mineral Town girl. This was fixed in [[DistaffCounterpart Cute]], where marrying a Mineral Town boy doesn't end the game.
** Funny enough, this even gets subverted in ''Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life'' and ''[[DistaffCounterpart Another Wonderful Life]]''. In those games, if you don't get married by the end of the first year it's actually game over. ''Another Wonderful Life'' does also have an actual epilogue that the male version lacks, called "Heaven".
** The offshoot ''VideoGame/RuneFactory'' games also let you keep playing normally after the end of the main plot. In fact, ''VideoGame/RuneFactory3'' specifically included a BonusDungeon where you could put all of the powerful armor and weapons to use.

* All of the ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' games (except the first one) let you play after the credits roll, allowing you to continue participating in activities and diversions. However, ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', in addition to already allowing you to replay past missions, also has one last mission for the player to pursue after the credits: [[spoiler:unraveling the mystery of who tried to kill you in the yacht explosion from the end of the previous game.]]

* The ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' titles feature Premium Adventure mode, which can act as either this or NewGamePlus if you decide to use your complete save file or not. If you choose to do so, you are free to explore the game's open world and finish off any substory you haven't cleared yet as well as all progress on the Completion List. Some titles even let you choose to have [[TagAlongKid Haruka]] in tow to play minigames together with her.
* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemptionUndeadNightmare'', a WhatCouldHaveBeen [=DLC=], plays this trope; following the credits, [[spoiler: the non-[=DLC=] normal story ending comes about (wherein John is killed), only with the twist that Seth steals the treasure that caused the dead to rise before when taken, thus bringing the dead (including John) back to life, allowing the player to finish side quests and to free roam.]]

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' allows Marche and his party to continue to explore Ivalice after defeating the Final Boss, and some of the newly recruitable story characters will mention the absence of [[spoiler:Mewt]].

* While getting married in some ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' games will make the credits run, this is ''very'' rarely the end of the game (if you're playing ''Harvest Moon: Back To Nature For Girl'', it is). In fact, there's quite a bit more to do after getting married, aside from eventually getting a child, there's new events to see, sometimes new villagers to befriend, HundredPercentCompletion to achieve--some items and events are even cut off from you ''until'' you get married.
** It also ends at marriage when you play as Sara in the third UsefulNotes/GameBoy game, and get married.
** In ''Harvest Moon DS'', however, the game ends after marriage. Fortunately, it's only if you marry a Mineral Town girl. This was fixed in [[DistaffCounterpart Cute]], where marrying a Mineral Town boy doesn't end the game.
** Funny enough, this even gets subverted in ''Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life'' and [[DistaffCounterpart ''Another Wonderful Life'']]. In those games, if you don't get married by the end of the first year it's actually game over.
** The offshoot ''VideoGame/RuneFactory'' games also let you keep playing normally after the end of the main plot. In fact, ''VideoGame/RuneFactory3'' specifically included a BonusDungeon where you could put all of the powerful armor and weapons to use.
** The fourth installment ends with [[spoiler: your friend and guardian dragon Ventuswill sacrificing herself to defeat Ethelberd and save the town]], followed by a 15-minute ending cutscene and credit roll. Stick around for long enough after the ending and [[spoiler: the villagers eventually put together a plan to resurrect her]].
* "Heaven" in ''Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life''. The male version, ''A Wonderful Life'', sadly lacks this.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses''. If the player chooses the [[spoiler: Silver Snow]] route, after Chapter 20, there are apparently no more enemies, but the player can still explore the monastery and talk to people, give tutoring sessions, and go out to side battles. But when the player gets to the end of the month [[spoiler: or just says yes to Seteth,]] the mission suddenly changes to "The Final Battle." Why? [[spoiler: Rhea goes berserk, forcing the player into one last mission to MercyKill her.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'', you can explore the world in its entirety after beating the final boss. Many {{Non Player Character}}s in the game are given new and distinct dialogue, and for the first time since before Paula joined the party, you get to ride your bicycle after you take her home (even resulting in a completely new sound effect if you do so in a swamp).

* ''VideoGame/Mother3'' has a form of this. [[spoiler:The world is torn apart and you're left to control a "The end?" text as your avatar in a black screen while the characters thank you, wish you well and [[TakeOurWordForIt assure you that they're OK.]]]]
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** In several of the games, especially the first, third, and sixth generations, defeating the Elite Four only ends the ''story''. After the credits roll, a high-level challenge, like the Battle Tower[=/=]Frontier, opens up and gives you a chance to work on getting the Pokémon your Pokédex lacks.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' ''literally'' goes the distance with this, putting it on the border between [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle fake/nominal ending]] and ExpansionPack: It turns out there's an entire ''region'' left to explore, one that should be very familiar to players of the original games or ''[=FireRed=]'' and ''[=LeafGreen=]'' and you need to get another eight badges to face [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo the protagonist of the last game]] to get the real ending.
** In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen]]'' you visit three new islands south of Kanto after defeating Blaine. The thing is, their name, Sevii Islands, clearly references the number seven. The reason for this? After defeating the Elite Four you go back to the three islands you visited before to tie up some loose ends, after which the other four are opened up. Pokémon originally found in ''Gold'' and ''Silver'' can be found here, which puts the National Pokédex you received before to good use.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', as well as ''Platinum'', didn't have much in the way of new areas (mostly a small island with three small settlements), but there are several Pokémon to catch that weren't available previously, especially in the original duo of this generation.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'': After you beat [[spoiler:N and Ghetsis]] and the story has clearly ended, you still haven't even beaten the Elite Four and become Champion, which was your goal in the first place! Becoming Champion is your main goal to work for during the postgame sidequests. In addition, defeating the above allows you to explore the areas of Unova you probably noticed on your map but were blocked by literal {{Broken Bridge}}s.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', which take place two years after their predecessors, the plot is tied up after you become champion, but on the other hand you get to visit areas from these games' predecessors that were blocked off until then, including the previous games' protagonists' hometown. The reason they weren't visited before is because several post-game areas in the previous games are normal areas here, and vice versa.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', you are tasked to capture the Ultra Beasts by Anabel. Also, because you just became champion, there are 10 other trainers that want your title. In ''Videogame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', Team Rocket resurfaces as Team Rainbow Rocket and has become a full-fledged LegionOfDoom consisting of alternate universe versions of previous villains.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' has a rather long Epilogue quest. At this point, you still haven't captured Zacian nor Zamazenta. You have 2 new antagonists, Swordward and Shieldbert, causing trouble for you by causing Pokémon to Dynamax Rampage on gyms, in which you need to defeat them. Afterwards, you would then battle the antagonists. Then after, you would battle the mascot to try capturing.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' has comparatively little to do in the post game. You can undertake a short sidequest to rebattle the Gym Leaders, which unlocks the Academy Ace Tournament, which in turn is one of the requirements to unlock six-star Tera Raids. You can also return to TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon to catch [[spoiler:the second Raidon]].
* ''VideoGame/DarkCloud 2'' takes the Playable Epilogue to its logical extreme, combining it with the InfinityPlusOneSword for an entire extra chapter. And once that's completed you still have a Playable Epilogue. At the end you fight none other than [[spoiler: the Dark Genie, who was the final boss of the first game]]. The original ''Dark Cloud'' lets you do it, too; the one difference is that, as [[spoiler:you had restored the whole world to how it was before]], you no longer need the [[AppliedPhlebotinum magical blue stone]] on your glove. Plus there is still a BonusDungeon.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'' doesn't so much have a playable epilogue as a ''second half''. The credits roll before you get there, though.
* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' and ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' have these. The first ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'' has one too, but [[PointOfNoReturn only]] where it's a means to get you to the last cutscenes.
* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime'' has a playable epilogue, [[spoiler:though it is really just a disguised path to the unexpected PostFinalBoss.]]
* ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'' has a Playable Epilogue of sorts; after beating the FinalBoss, you're able to wander around the world freely (only without the ability to add anyone to your party). However, certain actions will still trigger one of the MultipleEndings, you can't add any more party members and you can't return to playing after that.
* ''VideoGame/LiveALive'': In the Distant Future chapter, after defeating OD-10, you can explore the ''Cogito Ergo Sum'' with Cube to get some secrets and gears before talking to Darthe to end the story.
* ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'' has a playable epilogue that is rather long and completes the game with a happy ending.
* The remake of ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'' also has a playable epilogue, though all you can really do is wander around Meribia and watch all the secondary characters wrap up their story arcs.
* The original four ''[[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games .hack]]'' games as well as the [[VideoGame/DotHackGU G.U. games]] have playable epilogues which let the player recruit bonus characters as well as play through a BonusDungeon for the epilogue. After you finish a volume you can keep playing even though the story won't proceed until you put in the next game. In fact it was recomended to grind items here when the games originally were coming out and there were months of this before the next Volume was released. However storywise once you loaded a previous save in the next game it would pick up right from where the story left off, even if you had a month of grinding, though you would keep all the items and levels.
* In the "canon" ending (and the ending when you [[spoiler:keep Crono dead]]) for ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', you visit [[WhereItAllBegan Leene Square]] one last time before the credits roll. The DevelopersRoom ending is also playable, but it doesn't really count. The ending in which [[spoiler:Frog marries Queen Leene and becomes the new ancestor of Marle]] is playable as well.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' games usually let you wander around and talk to people after beating the game, thus letting you see the aftereffects of your journey, much like in ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}''. There's not much to accomplish at this point, though.
* In ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' and ''VideoGame/OctopathTravelerII'', after beating the TrueFinalBoss, you can keep exploring the world and finish sidequests and do other stuffs as you like until you start the ending. Additionally, in ''2'', after the epilogue starts, you control the first traveler you chose (Or Pala if you chose Agnea since the latter is working at the theatre) to gather other travelers and head to the theatre, and you can talk to the various [=NPCs=] on your way too.
* ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave's'' playable epilogue pits the player against the main characters of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea|Hour of Darkness}}'', plus a little extra background on the world itself.
* Some of the ''Persona'' games do this.
** ''VideoGame/Persona3'' features one of these; although you're really doing little more than advancing the plot by this stage, you can still revisit the different parts of the city between the final battle and the actual end of the game. And in FES, you can talk to people you've established full relationships with to get an extra scene. The ''FES'' UpdatedRerelease, meanwhile, features The Answer, an entire mini-campaign and extension to the core game's epilogue, dealing with the fallout from the game's ending.
** In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', like in the FES version of the previous game, you can talk with every Social Link you've maxed out on the final day after you achieve the Normal ending. [[spoiler:If, however, you decide not to go home when prompted, instead heading back to Junes, you'll get to another dungeon, the real final boss, and the True Ending.]]
** ''VideoGame/Persona5'' also allows you to talk to any Confidants you have maxed out between the final boss and the ending. Confidants that you have maxed by the end of the game will give you an item that can be carried over to a NewGamePlus to unlock one of their Confidant abilities in a second run.

* The ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' games from SSI let you keep playing after completing the game. In the first game in particular you could revisit the villages who helped you in the final battle and they would all acknowledge your efforts.
* ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'':
** ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' and the expansion/upgrade ''The Lost Chapters'' lets you run around and finish up anything else you want once you beat [[spoiler:Jack of Blades]].
** ''VideoGame/FableII'' promises that there are quests available only after defeating the BigBad. These quests amount to very little: the only quest that's truly only available after finishing the story is exploring a castle to find a GenderBender potion, as well as the option to finish any quest you haven't already done.
** ''VideoGame/FableIII'' was better in this regard, several quests only becoming available after you've driven off the FinalBoss.
* ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland}}'' let you wander around after killing off the BigBad. Then again, the world was still saved but crawling with dangerous creatures.
* While getting married in some ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' games will make the credits run, this is ''very'' rarely the end of the game (if you're playing ''Harvest Moon: Back To Nature For Girl'', it is). In fact, there's quite a bit more to do after getting married, aside from eventually getting a child, there's new events to see, sometimes new villagers to befriend, HundredPercentCompletion to achieve--some items and events are even cut off from you ''until'' you get married.
** It also ends at marriage when you play as Sara in the third UsefulNotes/GameBoy game, and get married.
** In ''Harvest Moon DS'', however, the game ends after marriage. Fortunately, it's only if you marry a Mineral Town girl. This was fixed in [[DistaffCounterpart Cute]], where marrying a Mineral Town boy doesn't end the game.
** Funny enough, this even gets subverted in ''Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life'' and [[DistaffCounterpart ''Another Wonderful Life'']]. In those games, if you don't get married by the end of the first year it's actually game over.
** The offshoot ''VideoGame/RuneFactory'' games also let you keep playing normally after the end of the main plot. In fact, ''VideoGame/RuneFactory3'' specifically included a BonusDungeon where you could put all of the powerful armor and weapons to use.
** The fourth installment ends with [[spoiler: your friend and guardian dragon Ventuswill sacrificing herself to defeat Ethelberd and save the town]], followed by a 15-minute ending cutscene and credit roll. Stick around for long enough after the ending and [[spoiler: the villagers eventually put together a plan to resurrect her]].
* ''VideoGame/ChocobosDungeon'' for the Wii lets you wander around the city and access several bonus dungeons after the final boss is defeated.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' allow you to keep playing after you've beaten the main quest. In addition to completing [[SidequestSidestory Faction questlines]] and [[LoadsAndLoadsOfSidequests sidequests]], each game also typically offers some new quests and special items to acquire that are only available once you've beaten the game. Most [=NPCs=] also recognize your accomplishments and comment accordingly, though [[DudeWheresMyRespect don't expect much more than that from them]].
** The ''Oblivion'' total conversion mod ''[[Videogame/{{Nehrim}} Nehrim: At Fate's Edge]]'' does this with a lengthy quest chain that activates upon completion of the game's main quest. It serves to wrap up one loose end of the main story.

* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'' games since ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'' puts you at the epilogue after beating the final episode instead of booting you right into NewGamePlus, and they usually involve settling the score with previous bosses or guest characters showing up and acting weird. Being a series heavy on PostEndGameContent, you'll need to get serious on grinding to beat the dozens of levels and bosses left to do. This is true to a lesser extent for Disgaea's 1 and 2 where you can do all the optional sidequests and endless grinding before you finish the game, but there's little point.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/{{Terranigma}}'', Ark gets to go back to Crysta and relive the good old times with all his friends from there [[spoiler:for one day before all of them cease to exist]].
* "Heaven" in ''Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life''. The male version, ''A Wonderful Life'', sadly lacks this.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' allows Marche and his party to continue to explore Ivalice after defeating the Final Boss, and some of the newly recruitable story characters will mention the absence of [[spoiler:Mewt]].
* The ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' series has these, especially adding some new missions that tie up loose ends (Such as in ''Rescue Team'', explaining that [[spoiler:Gengar was the human who got Gardevoir cursed by accident, and you have to bring him to Gardevoir's resting place in the hopes of bringing her back, and you can later visit the meteor that threatened the world, which contains Deoxys as a {{Superboss}}]]), ''Explorers'' gives even more to the story, but darker and edgier. [[spoiler:You find out that it was DARKRAI who set up the EvilPlan to destroy Temporal Tower and plunge the world into darkness, and he's the reason you and Grovyle got separated and you got transformed in the first place.]] The sister game, ''Explorers of Sky'', adds Shaymin as a recruit should you finish the Sky's Peak. ''Gates to Infinity'' keeps it short but sweet, [[spoiler:showing a few days of the team's life (Hydreigon and Keldeo now a part of it) during the hero's absence before they ultimately discover a way to bring them back.]]
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has a brief moment after the final boss and subsequent cutscene where the Warden get to walk around and speak to the party members and related NPC folk about what happened, ask them what they're going to do, and generally sort of fill out the epilogue before the final FINAL cutscene of the game. That is, of course, assuming that [[spoiler:the Warden didn't die killing the Archdemon]], in which case it is a good ol' cutscene (with a lot of variations, depending on your earlier choices).
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' does a variation similar to ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': after the credits, you will find a "Post-Game Save" among your saved games, which contains the state of your party immediately after the FinalBattle. If you load it, you'll find that the regular locations from the game have become unavailable and you can only access the Hawke mansion and the DownloadableContent (which was probably the whole point of this).
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' lets you continue to explore the world after the main story; the biggest difference is that [[spoiler: Solas]] leaves no matter what. This is also what the Trespasser DownloadableContent is, depicting what happens two years after the main game, and you cannot continue playing in the open world after starting it.
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' lacked this, meaning that if you start the sequel immediately after beating it, you go ''directly'' from Saving the Entire Universe to [[spoiler: the destruction of the ''Normandy'' and your character's death by asphyxiation (with kersplat from high orbit thrown in gratis)]].
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' allows you to continue playing after you complete the final mission. You can talk to your surviving party members about your endgame decisions, continue to mine ore, complete any sidequests you have left over, or just explore for any anomalies you missed. Any DLC you did not complete is also still available, with the ability to complete sidequests and the DownloadableContent with ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' leading to the HilariousInHindsight moments where the Illusive Man helpfully points you toward these missions ''after'' you've quite possibly [[spoiler:destroyed the Collector Base he wanted, transferred the loyalty of the Cerberus crew of the ''Normandy 2'' from Cerberus to you, made two of his senior lieutenants quit Cerberus to also join you, have basically stolen the massive investment that was the ''Normandy 2'' (which EDI reveals makes up a rather significant chunk of Cerberus personnel and capacity), and probably told him to go fuck himself]]. The only DLC that doesn't fall into this is "Arrival," which has you working on behalf of [[BigGood Admiral Hackett]] instead. ''Mass Effect 2'' is a bit unique in that you can not only continue playing after beating the main game, but you can also start a NewGamePlus with bonuses and some things carrying over.
** ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'': After the credits roll, the player gets to keep on playing, starting with a celebration of kicking the BigBad's behind, followed by the ability to go out and finish up any quests they may have left unfinished (one or two of which will play out differently).

* In ''VideoGame/DragonballZTheLegacyOfGoku II'' and ''Buu's Fury'', once you defeat Cell/Kid Buu you can continue playing for as long as you like before speaking to Dende/going to Bulma's party to activate the final cutscenes. In fact, in the former game, it's only in the Playable Epilogue that you can unlock the {{Secret|Character}} JokeCharacter Hercule, which allows you to choose an alternate ending cutscene if you max out his level; in the latter, [[FusionDance Gogeta]] can be unlocked during the epilogue.
* ''VideoGame/GrandiaII'' had an epilogue where you took control of Roan who, some time after the FinalBattle, goes [[spoiler:KingIncognito again]] to visit his friends [[TheFellowshipHasEnded now living all across the land]].

* ''VideoGame/FossilFighters'' gives you access to a huge number of new things after beating the main game. Not only do you gain access to two new areas (which you will need to visit in order to [[GottaCatchEmAll find every viviosaur]]), nearly every storyline character you've fought throughout the entire game becomes a {{Superboss}}! Beating ''these'' lets you earn access to [[UnusableEnemyEquipment previously]] [[ATasteOfPower ungettable]] 'saurs, and you can even face the ''ultimate'' superboss, consisting of the three most powerful characters in the game.
* Every single game in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series bar the sixth game has these, usually revolving around fighting the extraordinarily powerful Navis that reside in the Undernet. You may get a few glimpses of them in the main storyline, particularly in ''Battle Network 3.''

* All three ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' games end with you in the last town in the game (Lalivero in the first, Prox in the second, and Belinsk in the third). Though you can't leave, the towns are all still fully explorable and most of the [=NPCs=] have new dialog reflecting on the events of the game. In the first game, it was actually possible to get stuck by saving here, [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable trapping the player in Lalivero and preventing them from completing any sidequests or locating Djinn they may have missed]]. The sequels fixed this by making it impossible to save the game after beating the FinalBoss.
* Used in the first ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos''; [[EldritchAbomination Malpercio]] has been vanquished, [[FloatingContinent The islands]] have descended upon [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield Earth(?)]][[spoiler: And you fight a PostFinalBoss in the form of TheEmperor]].
* The first 40 chapters of ''VideoGame/TheLastStory'' are the main campaign, while chapters 41 to 44 are the epilogue. And outside the chapters' stages, there's the possibility to play (most) previously completed dungeons, as well as some unique events like [[spoiler:a souped-up duel with Therius]] and the third and last battle royale in the Arena (which ends with a {{Superboss}}). It's also one of the few games to combine this with a NewGamePlus, because talking to a specific character proceeds straight to [[spoiler:a memorial for Dagran]] and Zael's knighting ceremony (after which the credits roll), eventually prompting you to restart the game wth your latest level and stats.
* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'''s post-game content are done in the form of maps. These maps are items that can be used on a Map Device to create a zone of various environments and bosses. Like most other items in the game, they can be [[DesignItYourselfEquipment crafted]] to add difficulty modifiers to improve item drops. The first post-game focused expansion, ''Atlas of Worlds'', added story to the post-game and introduced the titular Atlas as a way to navigate and discover interconnected maps, with the goal of reaching its core to face its mysterious keeper, the Shaper. ''War of the Atlas'' adds [[EldritchAbomination the Elder]], a wandering enemy that fights for influence over the Atlas against the Shaper and the source of his madness. ''Conquerors of the Atlas'' serves as the sequel, following the defeat of the Shaper and the Elder, and the exiles that slayed them becoming the new antagonists. ''Echos of the Atlas'' introduces the Maven, an otherworldly entity with a curiosity for conflict, who can create a BossBonanza for you to defeat and reward you for. ''Siege of the Atlas'' continues the storyline after the defeat of the Conquerors, replacing them with two new entities: the Searing Exarch and the Eater of Worlds.
* The "Reaper of Souls" expansion to ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' adds this in the form of Adventure Mode, to replace the original game's NewGamePlus.
* Once you beat the FinalBoss in ''[[VideoGame/DevilChildren DemiKids]]'', you're actually given ''three'' different options, letting you proceed with a Playable Epilogue, go back a little bit in time to an EndgamePlus, or starting all over again with all of your things intact in a NewGamePlus. The Playable Epilogue can be considered the "real" ending: In addition to [[spoiler: bringing all your deceased friends BackFromTheDead]], it lets you recruit a whole host of OlympusMons, including [[spoiler: Lucifer, the BigGood himself.]]
* The ending of ''VideoGame/{{Aveyond}} 2'' gives Ean the option of returning to his elven home, or remain in the world of humans to travel around with Rye. If he picks the latter, the game would continue on indefinitely.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has one after the [[spoiler: True Pacifist Final Boss,]] where the player is free to explore the areas of the game and see the new dialogue that every NPC has (and this is the one time the game really encourages you to TalkToEveryone). All random encounters are gone, but the clever [[BrickJoke loose ends that get tied]] and little changes are reward enough for many players. Once you're done, you initiate the end sequence, including the credits. You can reload to a save from right before initiating the credits if you wanted to see more, [[spoiler:though you'll also get a pleading request not to reset the game]].
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'' continues after Chapter 12 with the quote [[spoiler:"this story never truly ends"]]. Completing the game unlocks new missions, new skells, new equipment, and new enemies (including the optional superbosses) you were unable to fight before. By the time you complete the main game itself, you most likely completed less than 50% of it. Have fun spending the rest of your hours getting a 100% completion. On the good side, you can play online multiplayer with less worries. However, likely as a reminder of the aforementioned quote, some things are left unfinished: [[spoiler:You cannot get Lao back, but at least you know he's still alive. You cannot locate the unknown knight. You cannot find Ghosts in this game. You cannot eradicate the entire Ganglion race in Mira. And certain matters pertaining the supporting characters, such as those between Gwin and Irina, are left unresolved.]]
* In ''VideoGame/HolyUmbrella'', after defeating the FinalBoss, you get a chance to say goodbye to everyone in Thurgical before going back to your own world.
* While most routes in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' end immediately after the FinalBoss of the ending, the Neutral ending, where you fight both main Final Bosses, allows you to go anywhere you like after beating [[spoiler:Lucifer]], even areas that were previously locked off during the final arc. As long as you don't go to [[spoiler:Cafe Florida in Shinjuku]], where the ending proper will start, you can do anything, including quests in [[spoiler:the alternate Tokyos]] and [[{{Superboss}} the Fiend fights]].
* In many ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' games, defeating the FinalBoss in the single-player campaign will unlock extra quests consisting of powerful monsters (including, in rare cases, Elder Dragons). In the case of the online or local multiplayer campaign, your reward will be either the ability to indefinitely raise your Hunter Rank, or at least the highest rank available, allowing you in both cases to unlock and tackle [[BrutalBonusLevel the hardest quests]], some of which include unique {{Superboss}}es. Later games and expansions go further and add more unique postgame elements to keep the player hooked, such as the Guiding Lands exploration in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld Iceborne'' and the hunt of afflicted monsters (including Risen Elder Dragons) in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise Sunbreak''.
* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' has both the first type and the second! After beating the final bosses, you get to wander around town and reunite with all the friends you’ve made, before getting in the carriage that will take you home. Then, after the credits roll, you end up back in the Sphere with plenty of new post-game sidequests to do. If you’ve played your cards right, there are even two new, bonus endings to unlock!
* ''VideoGame/GodEater1'' initially only had some new base conversations after the FinalBoss, with gameplay limited to repeating the endgame quests to improve your equipment. The first UpdatedRerelease, ''Gods Eater Burst'', added a new story arc nearly as long as the main game itself, with new characters and new monsters to hunt helping tie up some of the game's unresolved plot threads. Then the second UpdatedRerelease, ''God Eater Resurrection'' (itself a free addition to ''VideoGame/GodEater2: [[UpdatedRerelease Rage Burst]]'') added another plot arc complete with TrueFinalBoss, connecting it more firmly with the sequel. In other words, the ''Resurrection'' version of the game has more playable epilogue than original plot.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheDrunkenPaladin'': Not only can the player continue playing after beating the FinalBoss of Hobotropolis, there are many optional quests that involve tying up loose ends from the boss's defeat.
* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' has six endings[[note]]five if you consider the suicide and the secret ending the same thing[[/note]], four of which see V survive and hence feature a playable epilogue where you control V ([[spoiler:or Johnny [[GrandTheftMe in V's body]]]]) through a simple series of optional dialogues and interactions on the way to the respective final cutscene and credits. Specifically, in "Where Is My Mind?" ("The Devil" ending), [[spoiler:V is separated from Johnny by the Arasaka techs, but is informed that their brain damage has progressed too far for them to live, and must decide on a sub-ending of either being digitized completely, or living out their final months on Earth]]; in "All Along the Watchtower" ("The Star"), [[spoiler:V helps Panam and the Aldecaldos smuggle their hovertank out of Night City, as all of them leave it for good]]; in "Path of Glory" ("The Sun"), [[spoiler:V gets to say goodbye to their [[RomanceSidequest love interest (if any)]] before departing for the heist of their lifetime]]; finally, in the "New Dawn Fades" ("Temperance"), [[spoiler:V lets Johnny have their body and disappears into cyberspace, while Johnny visits the NC Columbarium before leaving Night City for good]].

* In ''Videogame/{{Hades}}'', after [[spoiler:Persephone returns to the underworld]] Zagreus can continue to attempt to "escape" on the basis of helping Hades test out his security systems. As well as additional dialog and story events, there are also more unlockable items with other characters.

* Once you beat the FinalBoss in ''[[VideoGame/DevilChildren DemiKids]]'', you're actually given ''three' different options, letting you proceed with a Playable Epilogue, go back a little bit in time to an EndgamePlus, or starting all over again with all of your things intact in a NewGamePlus. The Playable Epilogue can be considered the "real" ending: In addition to [[spoiler: bringing all your deceased friends BackFromTheDead]], it lets you recruit a whole host of OlympusMons, including [[spoiler: Lucifer, the BigGood himself.]]

* Kameo Elements Of Power lets you run around as much as you want after you beat the Big Bad.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' has comparatively little to do in the post game. You can undertake a short sidequest to rebattle the Gym Leaders, which unlocks the Academy Ace tournament, which in turn is one of the requirements to unlock six-star Tera Raids. You can also return to TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon to catch [[spoiler:the second Raidon]].

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', you can explore the world in its entirety after beating the final boss. Many {{Non Player Character}}s in the game are given new and distinct dialogue, and for the first time since before Paula joined the party, you get to ride your bicycle after you take her home (even resulting in a completely new sound effect if you do so in a swamp).

* The ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' games usually let you wander around and talk to people after beating the game, thus letting you see the aftereffects of your journey, much like in ''VideoGame/EarthBound''. There's not much to accomplish at this point, though.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':

* In ''VideoGame/{{ADOM}}'', the game just doesn't end after you close the chaos gate (which is the standard victory condition), so you can go on roaming the Drakalor Chain and even die. Rather, it ends only after you leave the Chain -- which, if you do it earlier, is a NonstandardGameOver (as in, sure you can just give up and leave before you've beaten the game if you want).

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* In ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'', after defeating the FinalBoss, you can run around the Cardon Forest, Apple Market, and Downtown areas one last time talking to [=NPCs=], whose dialogues changes depending on what side quests you did. Talking to Roll will then continue the ending and [[IncrediblyLamePun roll]] the credits.

** ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'' couldn't set anything after the Battle of the Hoover Dam, as every one of the MultipleEndings would drastically change the game world. All of the expansions are set before the game's ending. Post-game content [[WhatCouldHaveBeen was planned at some point]], but abandoned because of how hard it would be to do properly. However, the areas added by three of its four story [[DownloadableContent DLCs]] could be revisited after their main quests wrapped up, with ''Lonesome Road'' having two potentially unlockable areas (depending on the player's actions) that could only be accessed after its [[FinalBoss Final]] BossBattle.

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