I’ll admit I may be talking out of my ass here, being one of those people who haven’t played the game, but I can’t help but feel like at least some of the hatred for TLoU2’s ending could’ve at least been somewhat mitigated (though not outright eliminated) had the decision to spare Abby, or not, been left in the hands of the player. If the player had a choice in whether to end the cycle of retaliation on their own terms, or to continue it while accepting the consequences of doing so.
That sort of thing might’ve been out of place in that game, but by taking that choice out of the player’s hands, it deprives some from gaining some sense of closure.