Top 10 saddest video games moments that can turn your gaming experience upside down in an instant.
Whenever someone thinks of video games, we immediately think of excitement and passion they ignite within us. The joy of winning a Battlefield match, the thrill of getting a Pentakill in League of Legends, and the sense of accomplishment after completing No Chaos playthrough in Dishonored 2.
But what about the emotional journeys that games are capable of taking you on? For instance, sadness and sorrow. These emotions are not something which is often associated with the medium, but video games can often turn your gaming experience upside down with unexpected moments full of sadness, disappointment, and sorrow.
As you might have expected, the article contains potential spoilers. Please check the list below before proceeding ahead to see if you have yet to play one of the said games.
- Halo 4
- The Last of Us
- Life is Strange
- Gears of War 2
- Final Fantasy VII
- The Walking Dead
- Assassin’s Creed II
- Red Dead Redemption
- Brothers: A Tale of Tow Sons
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Assassin’s Creed II – The Death of Auditore’s Family
To me, the moment where Ezio’s family was wrongfully executed in front of his eyes was one of the saddest and darkest moment of his life. This single moment sets the trilogy’s main events into motion.
From the onset of these events, Ezio sets out on a journey to free Italy from the Templar control and corrupt nobles.
Life is Strange – Chloe’s Death
During episode #4 of Life is Strange, Chloe asks Max to kill her by providing her with an overdose of morphine. During the course of the game, you get attached to a whole lot of characters including Victoria and co.
However, forcing you to kill your childhood friend with whom you have a lifelong of memories is just… right in the feels.
Gears of War 2 – Maria’s Death
If you are a fan of Gears of War 2, I doubt you can forget this moment. In the events of Operation: Hollow Storm, Dom convinces Marcus to go on a detour in search for his long lost wife Maria. Dom eventually finds Maria behind a closed door. Hoping to see her wife beautiful of full of life once again, Maria found behind the door is emaciated, tortured, and broken in every possible way.
The scene concludes with Dom forcing to shot his beloved wife in the head so as to ease her suffering, asking her forgiveness for failing her.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Soap’s Death
Despite fans bashing the franchise for using the same formula over and over again, Call of Duty has had some amazing moments, especially when we talk about Modern Warfare trilogy and Soap’s death is arguably one of them.
What makes Soap’s death even more tragic is the fact that he dies trying to save a man who had then-unknown acquaintance with the enemy.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons – Older Brother’s Demise
It goes without saying that the game is all about death and coping with it. It begins with the brothers’ dead mother and their journey to save their dying father. Throughout the course of the game, you come across hanging dead bodies and it culminates into older brother’s tragic demise.
Despite the sadness that the ending brings forth, the moment where you channel your dead brother’s strength is incredible – to say the least. It shows that life moves on and you can always find strength in others even if they are not around.
The Walking Dead – Lee’s Death
There is no doubt that the entire first season of The Walking Dead is hard to Clementine, but nothing tops her facing Lee in his final moments. The game offers players the freedom of doing anything they want, but without Lee watching over them.
If you decide to pull the trigger yourself, Clementine’s trembling hands say it all!
Halo 4 – Cortana Signs Off
In what can probably be considered as one of the greatest acts of friendship between a man and his AI buddy, Cortana manages to save Master Chief from a devastating explosion, but at the cost of her own life.
This is one of those rare moments where Master Chief actually felt at a loss, along with us.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – Ending
Metal Gear Solid games have a history of what you might call… hitting players right in the feels, no one does it better than Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The game concludes with Big Boss saluting and shedding tears at the grave of his mother figure and mentor, Boss.
The franchise’s director Hideo Kojima is known for touching multiple subjects like loyalty, nationality, death, etc. in his games, but boss’s demise surely felt like an emotional wreck.
Red Dead Redemption – Ending
From the very onset of the game, I knew Marston would not end well. But then Rockstar Games led me into believing the otherwise… happy endings. However, the moment feds show up outside your door, you realize life is not that easy after all. With all the Eagle Eye time at your hands, you are outmanned and outgunned.
To top it off, John’s son picks up the guns in the end, goes out on a revenge rampage, and the game ends in a bloodbath. If you think it could not get any sadder, try listening to the credits music.
The Last of Us – Joel’s Daughter Dies
At the very start of the game, Joel tries to take his daughter Sarah to a security checkpoint, only to get shot at. During the proceedings, a friends comes in to help Joel, but he arrives a little too late. Sarah takes a bullet and leaves her father in an emotional breakdown.
There is no denying that the entire sequence is an emotional rollercoaster, especially with Sarah’s reactions. No wonder Joel is bitter as ****.
Final Fantasy VII – Aerith’s Unexpected Demise
If you still question Aerith’s death at the hands of Sephiroth, we are in the same boat. Final Fantasy is a franchise which has provided its fans with numerous impactful moments, but there have not been a single one which is as impactful as Aerith’s death.
Following her demise at the end of Final Fantasy VII, Aerith has yet to make an appearance in a Final Fantasy game, not including Advent of Children.
These are our Top 10 Saddest Video Games Moments. Do not forget to share your own with us in the comments section below!
