The Saddest Video Game Storylines

Key Takeaways

• Games with emotional narratives like Persona 3 & The Witcher 3 leave players in tears, creating poignant and unforgettable experiences.
• Stories in games like Final Fantasy 15 & BioShock Infinite evoke sadness, with heartbreaking endings and impactful character arcs.
• Games like Life Is Strange & Red Dead Redemption 2 offer emotional rollercoasters, compelling narratives, and tearjerker moments.

The idea that a video game can make players grow emotionally attached to the characters involved in its story is incredible on its own. They have an uncanny ability to punch fans in the gut with a story so overwhelmingly depressing and meaningful that gamers can’t help but wipe a tear from their eye. Still, they enjoy the journey every step of the way. While some games have their share of depressing aspects, others genuinely get more and more upsetting the longer one thinks about them.

Given how many games include a wealth of stories for players to get lost in, it takes something truly special in terms of narrative design to get players hooked on a story to the point where tears are freely flowing down their cheeks. These games are emotional rollercoasters and make for poignant, melancholic experiences that fans will remember long after finishing these amazing titles.

Updated on November 20, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: It’s not easy to tell stories that could leave long-lasting impacts on the audience, but many video games have managed to accomplish that in the past, regardless of how big or small the budget or the development team has been.

There are multiple genres for storytelling, but it is usually the sad endings that make a story more memorable for the players, which is probably why games like Red Dead Redemption or The Walking Dead are never forgotten.

35 Persona 3 Reload

A Story That Deals With Themes Of Loss And Acceptance Ends On A Melancholic Note

Persona 3 Reload is a game that fans loved to get their hands on, allowing a lot of people to finally check out the game that cemented the modern Persona formula fans love. The fact that Persona 3’s story was already established before Atlus improved the formula means that the pacing in this game is all over the place, but defeating the major Shadows helps the plot move forward in new and interesting directions.

Persona 3 Reload deals with the concepts of death and moving on, with these themes personified in the game’s heartbreaking ending. After pushing himself to the limit and sealing Nyx’s destructive power with his own life force, the protagonist stays on borrowed time as he strives to fulfill the promise he made and meet his friends one last time before passing away.

34 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Depending On The Ending Players Get, Geralt And Ciri’s Story Can Have A Rather Sad Ending

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest RPGs ever made, featuring strong writing across the board in both the main questline and the various sidequests that players would love to mess around with. When players reunite with Ciri, the game barrels through several narrative threads before moving to the ending.

Based on what players do, Ciri can either become a Witcher, assume the role of an Empress, or succumb to the White Frost. The first one is the only “happy” ending and feels too good to be true. The Empress ending is a sobering conclusion that hammers in just how important Ciri’s role as a member of the royal family really is. However, the saddest ending is the one where Ciri dies, with Geralt taking care of loose ends by killing the surviving Crone before seemingly losing his life to the monsters closing in.

33 Crisis Core -Final Fantasy 7- Reunion

Zack Fair’s Story Is As Tragic As They Come

Most people are both saddened and relieved to hear that Crisis Core is not canon for the retelling of Final Fantasy 7. The member of SOLDIER inherited the Buster Sword from Angeal and sacrificed his life in the end to ensure that Cloud survived at all costs. It’s an emotional ending that will make many people cry after spending a lot of time with this boisterous personality.

Watching Cloud beg Zack to stay alive is heartbreaking and makes it easy to believe why his mind was fractured at this point. Instead of accepting Zack’s death, Cloud deludes himself into thinking that he’d taken Zack’s place all along, removing this man from his memory altogether and refusing to accept that a good friend sacrificed his life to save him.

32 Valiant Hearts

A Heartfelt Story About War, Family, Dedication, And Revenge

When it was released back in 2014, Valiant Hearts was a small game published by Ubisoft without a big marketing campaign, but the game truly delivered one of the most impactful stories about World War 1 by depicting strong relationships between multiple characters.

Emile, the main protagonist of Valiant Hearts, still remains one of the most beloved characters in video games, and his unfortunate fate in the game after he went through will not be forgotten so easily.

Valiant Hearts depicts a story within the chaotic moments of World War 1 from characters that accidentally run into each other but make strong relationships and help each other at any cost to stop the war machine and reunite with their families again.

31 Life Is Strange

An Interactive Drama That Forces Players To Make Some Tough Choices

Don’t Nod has made a name for itself in the video game industry with a bevy of engaging titles, but it’s Life is Strange that has become one of their most popular IPs to date. The game’s emotional narrative and endearing characters were a huge hit with players who resonated with the game’s compelling story.

The story of Max as she uses her time-travelling powers to save her hometown from being obliterated by a mysterious disaster is a riveting one. The game’s episodic narrative ends in an emotional climax where players must either make the ultimate sacrifice and let Chloe die or let this natural disaster destroy the town of Arcadia.

30 Final Fantasy 15

A Heartbreaking Narrative With Numerous Emotional Moments

Final Fantasy 15 is a game that many fans are fans of despite its troubled development cycle. The game’s story may be fragmented, but players who were invested in the multimedia storytelling of this game were more than invested in a story that was rife with sad moments every step of the way.

The ending of this game is bound to make people shed a tear, with players forming an unbreakable bond with Noctis’ comrades along the way. Despite its problems, Final Fantasy 15‘s emotional narrative is bound to hit a note with players who were glad to see the series make a triumphant return after staying dormant for the longest time.

29 Before Your Eyes

A Story About Valuing Life No Matter How Short It May Be

Before Your Eyes is one of those stories that will surely make its players think about it over and over after finishing the story. It’s a game about afterlife, where the protagonist is questioned about what they did with their life, which was an opportuinity for them.

The game uses an innovative gameplay mechanic to move forward in the story, but in the end, players shouldn’t expect challenges or difficulties when playing the game, as the gameplay is just at the service of the story to make it even more impactful.

28 BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea

A Story-Heavy DLC With Shocking Moments And A Morose Ending

The original BioShock Infinite could’ve been a contender for one of the saddest video games around as well. However, its post-credits scene provides a glimmer of hope for players who might be feeling melancholic after this epic adventure. However, BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea pulls no punches when it comes to evoking a sense of sadness and hopelessness in the player.

After Booker’s death, the player takes control of Elizabeth as she roams the haunting halls of Rapture. Unfortunately, all her efforts are for naught as she’s beaten to death near the end of the DLC, right before Jack makes his fated appearance in the city. It’s a sad way to end a DLC that boasted some excellent narrative chops.

27 Bloodborne

In Typical FromSoftware Fashion, The World Is Dark, Depressing, And Doesn’t Feature A Single Objectively Good Ending

Hidetaka Miyazaki is an expert when it comes to crafting a bleak setting where players need to fight against overwhelming odds to grasp a sliver of hope. However, in the case of Bloodborne, all three endings end up saddening the player no matter what… which is par on the course with a FromSoftware game.

Submitting to Gerhman means that the player will be released from the night of the Hunt, but this is easily the most unsatisfying ending of the lot. The other two endings involve the player either taking Gerhman’s spot in the Hunter’s Dream or becoming an Old One. Regardless of the outcome, the lore and journey that players undertake through the world are going to be so morose that both these endings just feel like one of the many emotional punches in the gut that Bloodborne is especially fond of giving.

26 Heavy Rain

The Emotionally-Packed Journey Of A Man Trying His Hardest To Save His Son

Regardless of one’s personal opinions when it comes to David Cage and his writing, one can’t deny that Heavy Rain was still a masterful narrative-rich gaming experience. It perfectly showed the plight of a father who would do anything to save his son. Some gamers might argue that this struggle was a bit too realistic, with some of the scenes being a tad too painful to watch at times.

Players who end up getting the bad ending even after all these struggles are bound to kick themselves for bearing all these saddening scenes without any proper end product. It’s heartbreaking to see a worn-down Ethan lose all his love for life after his beloved Shaun ends up dying at the hands of the twisted Origami Killer.

25 Sally Face

A Dark, Depressing Story With Many Spooky Moments

• Developer: Portable Moose
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC
• Release Date: December 14, 2016

Sally Face brings to life a rich world with deep characters. This is by far the most dark-themed game on this list, and it does leave its players depressed, especially after all the events happening in the episode 4 of the game.

The game follows the story of Sal Fisher, a teenager who meets new friends after moving on to a new apartment, but also realizes the presence of an eerie cult around the apartment that corrupts the residents one after another. Sal and his friends try to stop the cult, but as they get involved deeper in the investiagtion, they face more punishing consequences.

For those who are a fan of Stranger Things, Sally Face is an ideal choice.

24 Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons

A Unique Puzzle-Focused Video Game With A Shocking Twist At The End

The unique gameplay of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons makes it a must-play for any fan of puzzle games. However, keep in mind that there’s an extremely heart-wrenching moment near the end of the game that makes for a massive downer. For the sake of spoilers, no mention of this moment will be made here.

However, the impact of this scene is so prominent that the entire game becomes a melancholic state of affairs near the end, turning Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons into one of the saddest video games around. It’s easy to see why Josef Fares became such a prominent figure in the gaming industry, with this unique title being a joy to play through the first time around.

23 Red Dead Redemption 2

One Of The Best Rockstar Narratives With Great Emotion And Character

Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily one of the greatest open-world games of all time. However, the ending of Arthur’s tale is so dismal that most players won’t be faulted for crying their hearts out. Again, for the sake of spoilers, no details will be divulged about said ending. That being said, players who’ve gone through the entirety of Red Dead Redemption 2 understand why it’s being classified as a sad video game.

While playing as John Marston in the epilogue does make for a great treat, even his story has a tragic ending that fans of the original game are familiar with. Thankfully, fans who missed out on this title can finally enjoy it on modern platforms with Rockstar’s release of Red Dead Redemption, even if the lack of any upgrades does rub some players the wrong way.

22 Spiritfarer

A Cozy Simulation Game That Deals With Some Heavy Themes Tastefully

What at first seems like a chill art game turns out to be an emotional rollercoaster about coping with loss. The most notable feature is the gorgeous art style and visuals that make Spiritfarer feel like playing a painting at times. However, the stories found are enough to bring many to tears, although in the best way possible: cathartic rainfalls from relieved eyes.

One takes the role of a ferryman who collects and looks after lost souls so that they may pass on to the afterlife properly. Players can upgrade their boat in a numerous variety of ways as well as fish, craft, and mine to their heart’s content while they care for these lost souls, which makes for diverse and interesting gameplay. Each lost soul must pass on, however, so be sure to let them know that they matter while they’re around.

21 Fallout 4

The Story Of A Parent Seeking Out His Child Has Some Emotional Highs

Most Fallout games start with some sort of catalyzing event, though Fallout 4 does so with a tragic one. Immediately after creating their character, the player witnesses the atomic devastation that turns the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the death of their spouse, and the abduction of their child.

The player’s life isn’t the only one to change for the worst, however, as the decline of the United States due to immense radiation poisoning of the land has left nothing unscathed. In quests across The Commonwealth, the Sole Survivor will encounter those who fall prey to bandits, organized faiths, and even nature itself.

20 Dark Souls 3

Exploring A Dying Realm With Tragic Characters Makes For A Melancholic End To The Dark Souls Trilogy

Steeped in an ominous tone laden with themes of death, despair, and darkness, the climactic conclusion to the Dark Souls trilogy leaves a lasting impression like a mental burn from many embers upon the minds of players. The Ashen One must go forth and return the Lords of Cinder to their thrones, one way or another.

The decline of the world can be found through the tremendous amount of tombstones and mostly empty cities. This realm is dying, which will become apparent when Dark Souls 3 players reach the Kiln of the First Flame or visit certain desolate, ash-drowned landscapes in The Ringed City DLC.

19 Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

The Game Starts With The Heartless Murder Of Talion And His Family

A game featuring a nearly slain ranger and an elf-become-wraith would inevitably be full of doom-laced tones. Talion, the player’s human stand-in, witnesses the forces of Sauron butchering his family before his eyes. Celebrimbor, the player’s other half in the form of an elf-wraith, faced a similar demise at the hands of the dark lord, though he also lost his life.

Throughout Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, the player enacts brutal vengeance upon Sauron’s forces, aiming to cripple his army in any and every way possible. From guerilla tactics to open warfare, Talion and Celebrimbor together bring a wave of despair to the orcs, trolls, and other foul fiends of the eastern burning wastes.

18 Cyberpunk 2077

V Loses Everything In A Quest To Try And Regain Control Of His Body After A Heist Gone Wrong

Cyberpunk 2077 endured a pretty rocky launch before a string of updates and renewed interest in the title salvaged its reputation quite a bit. The story of V as he tries to regain control over his own body while dealing with the invasive personality of Johnny Silverhand makes for a riveting tale that is rife with tragedy.

V and the people around him have to deal with the many atrocities that take place in Night City. After all of V’s struggles, all the ending paths in the game are pretty saddening and will leave players with a heavy heart as they finish this title.

17 Shadow Of The Colossus

The Tragic Nature Of Each Colossi’s Death Weighs Heavily On The Player

When an open world is void of NPCs, common foes, and quests, it feels more like an empty-world game. Although, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Shadow of the Colossus puts a simple swordsman and his faithful steed up against colossal beasts of earth and stone. To slay each colossus, the player must climb them and find their weak points in which to stab for huge damage.

This is an oddly intimate and brutal way to slay a giant: getting to know their body before ending their life, usually with a stab to the head, back, or chest. All this to bring back the protagonist’s dead lover using forbidden magic and making a pact with a supernatural force with ill intent.

16 Lisa: The Painful

A Dark Tale Where A Man’s Tale To Redeem Himself Leads To The People Around Him Suffering

Lisa: The Painful is a hilarious indie RPG that loves to mess around with players while forcing them to make many tough decisions along the way. It may seem like a game rife with dark comedy, but Lisa: The Painful cranks up the seriousness for its sadder moments.

Players will experience a range of emotions while playing this title, with the ending being an especially hard gut punch. There aren’t many games like Lisa: The Painful out there, so fans of unique RPGs should check it out.