Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contains three endings in World of Light, the game's story mode. While there's a particular route that leads to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's best ending, there are still options for players to play through the other two finales, in case they're feeling bold.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's World of Light mode is filled with secrets and references to many of the franchises that are present within Super Smash Bros., and it all comes together with an ending that will leave players with a number of feelings depending on which version they get.

Related: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fixes An Old Franchise Problem

Even though some of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's endings are happier than others, players may want to choose which fate the heroes and villains of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate meet when all is said and done, so we've opted to put together an overview on how to get each ending and what they mean. They aren't all cheery, so buckle up and bring along some tissues.

Defeating Galeem, Darkness Prevails – Dharkon Bad Ending

ThisSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate ending is triggered when players take on and defeat Galeem in the final stretch of the game. This being of light can put up one heck of a fight, utilizing everything from fireballs and lasers to bombs and beams of light. It's a tough battle that will require players to stay on their toes as they do battle with the being of light. Defeating the creature results in Dharkon capturing Galeem and placing it in chains. As this happens, darkness spreads across the universe and the cast of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are presumably corrupted by Dharkon. Players watch on as Mario collapses face-first onto the ground – presumably dying as darkness consumes everything. It's Dharkon's bad ending inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Defeating Dharkon, Light Prevails – Galeem Bad Ending

ThisSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate ending kicks off for anyone brave enough to take on the intimidating Dharkon in a do-or-die battle. This particular boss fight can be challenging, with its final arsenal of attacks mirroring Galeem in premise but changing up the delivery ever so slightly. Portals with flailing tentacles, bombs, and beams of darkness are the name of the game here, soSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate players will need to remain on their toes as they fight Dharkon.

Upon Dharkon's defeat, Galeem will obliterate Dharkon and its forces, sending the creature sinking into the ocean. Before choosing this path, it may have appeared to be a safer option. Galeem is less villainous than Dharkon on the surface, after all. Still, don't forget which being wiped out all life in the universe to begin with. This option will see Galeem sending an unavoidable beam of light across the universe once more, obliterating every living thing. The moral of the story here is that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fans shouldn't judge a deity by its shade.

Dharkon and Galeem Are Defeated – True Ending

As the only arguably "good" ending in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this one takes a little bit of finagling in order to pull off. It's not necessarily a great ending either, but at least it will leave players with a much better feeling than the other two options. To begin, players will have to ensure that they have balanced the board of the final area as they battle top-tier Spirits in the build up to both Dharkon and Galeem. Each of these Spirits will be either white or black in hue, indicating which side they fall on in the ongoing battle. For example, taking out too many light Spirits will allow Dharkon's army to grow more powerful, and darkness will spread across the battlefield, which means players will have to balance the order they deal with these opponents in.

After ultimately battling both clones of Master Hand and Crazy Hand in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the real versions of these iconic bosses will appear on the board. Taking them out individually will free them from the control of Galeem and Dharkon, respectively, and they'll move to the top of the map to begin punching a hole in the fabric of reality. Once that's been finished,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players will need to head up to the newly-formed rift and interact with it – sending Master Hand plunging into the area to begin duking it out with light and dark copies of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's playable cast.

The best part about this sequence is that players will take control of Master Hand for the first time in the series' history! Once this bit as wrapped up, users will the be tasked with selecting three fighter to scale a series of platforms in order to battle Dharkon and Galeem at the exact same time. A number of light and shadow copies of the fighters will emerge in order to prevent players from reaching the top, but once there a very particular strategy will need to be implemented in order to ensure success.

Attacking Galeem and Dharkon equally will occasionally stun them, setting the opposing counterpart to then focus its attention onto the downed foe to deliver some serious damage. Be sure to avoid the area that the all-knowing orbs try to regain their wits, as both Dharkon and Galeem will execute devastating attacks on the other during this phase. Avoid an onslaught of attacks in between these segments, deliver damage when it's safe to do so, and the fight will be over in no time. After defeating them both, the beings will fall from the sky and their lifeless husks will plunge into the ocean. As this occurs, all of the Spirits that had been harvested by the two will fly into space – finally free to move on to the afterlife. Based on this ending, none of the Spirits regain their physical forms, as only the 74 playable fighters appear to have done so in their victory.

-

Talk about a grab bag of emotions, asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate's true ending isn't all that much better than the other bad endings. At leastSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate's World of Light mode has been finished off though, and that's something to be very proud of since the game can take upwards of 20 hours to complete. Still, here's hoping that Nintendo decides to explain more of the narrative and lore in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's finale in the future.

More: The Complete Super Smash Bros. Timeline and Lore Explained