At the beginning of 2022 Horizon Forbidden West left fans emotional, and anticipation his high that God of War Ragnarok will do the same when it debuts in November. Meanwhile, many indie titles have been tugging at heartstrings as well. Stray has been making waves in both the gaming community and cat-lover circles.
The simple act of controlling an avatar can form a strong connection between player and character. That's why the response to high-stakes moments can be so overwhelming when a game gets things just right. There are many titles that have compelling journeys, but only a few pull players in deep enough to provoke tears.
The Last Of Us Part II
In The Last of Us, players spent hours surviving an apocalyptic America, alternately playing as Joel and Ellie, two wounded people afraid to make new connections lest they lose someone else. In spite of themselves, they formed a deep bond and in the finale of the game, Joel must commit terrible crimes to save Ellie.
The first game may have left players drained but hopeful for the duo. The sequel is a long practice in mourning and revenge. The somewhat controversial follow-up forced players into new and uncomfortable perspectives, but ultimately what makes it such an emotional game is the way it emphasizes how grief and anger damage someone and can collapse their abilities to maintain relationships.
The Walking Dead
Telltale games were known for adapting existing well-told properties into equally as engaging video games like they did with Fables and The Wolf Among Us. Their adaptation of The Walking Dead had a successful four seasons before the company had to close its doors.
Their Walking Dead titles has some of the saddest deaths in gaming, incredibly engrossing adventure narratives, and they also managed to pack an emotional punch, particularly in moments where players had to make choices that carried real weight in diverging narrative paths. The first, and debatably most emotional season, sees convict Lee trying to protect a young girl named Clementine in the hellish world of zombies and villainous humans. This ruthless world forces players into some truly painful choices, with severe consequences that will follow them as the move forward.
Undertale
When a human child falls through a gap in a wall into The Underground where monsters live in their own world, they must venture through winding roads meeting all kinds of monsters. As the player encounters new foes, they are able to choose whether to kill or spare monsters in fights. These choices of course effect the ending and events in any given playthrough, but some choices are felt so deeply they will effect future playthroughs as well.
There are emotional reveals throughout the game, regardless of how it is played. Beyond that though, the characters are all so dimensional and specific that it becomes easy to form bonds that are challenged by later revelations. Ultimately, it’s a tale of choice and consequence told with a cast of lovable oddballs.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Set before the events of the first game, this story centers on Arthur Morgan and his trials and tribulations as a member of the Van der Linde gang in a fictitious old west. His dealings with his fellow gang members as well as their enemies and potential allies are full of tension, suspicion, and difficult choices.
Depending on how honorably Arthur goes about his business effects the ending in one of two meaningful ways, but ultimately his fate is sealed. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most popular open world games, with its expansive map. The many hours players can spend as Arthur, the attachments formed mean emotional and somewhat unexpected tolls when the end arrives.
Final Fantasy XV
Other entries in the Final Fantasy franchise especially FFVII, are more often regarded as tearjerkers, and for good reason. Final Fantasy VII has some incredibly bleak moments and a tragic death, and a few other entries put players through emotional gauntlets.
Fans are hoping FFXVI will make improvements over Final Fantasy XV as it’s not a perfect game. With all that sad, it does a wonderful job leaving players with the feeling of having been on a final journey with a group of compatriots before everything changes forever. It calls to mind the same sort of nostalgia that a film like Stand By Me evokes, and by the end of the road trip, players will surely yearn for the good old days.
Death Stranding
Hotly anticipated and underwhelming to some, Death Stranding has a small but fervent fan base who insist the incredibly slow pace and mind-numbing repetition all build to something powerful. Hideo Kojima’s first venture after leaving Konami was an attempt at once again developing a whole new genre of game.
Sam Bridges is effectively a delivery man who must protect a small growing baby in a tank as he traverses an apocalyptic United States. There’s a lot of terminology and plot twists in the game, but at it’s heart it is a story of protecting oneself from exploitation and rediscovering ones own humanity.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
With an ailing father, the titular two brothers Naia and Naiee must go in search for water from the Tree of Life to save him. At first glance it appears to be a typical quest adventure game with mythical creatures and puzzles to solve. The world is populated with sweet side quests.
Underneath all of the fantasy trappings and adventuring is a soulful tale of the ways the people we love can shape us, guide us, and help us grow. The connection between the brothers, the memories of their lost mother, and their hope to save their father makes an already compelling game something more powerful.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Sometimes cited as one of the prime examples of how video games are an art form deserving of just as much praise and prestige as any other. Shadow of the Colossus has sweeping vistas, titanic creatures, and a simple story: boy wants to revive girl and must complete a series of tasks to hopefully do so.
In this forgotten PlayStation 2 story-driven classic, the emotional impact comes when the protagonist, Wander, realizes what task he as actually been asked to do. The colossi he has been charged with killing are peaceful beings he must slaughter if he wants to find a way to bring his lost love back. Every victory feels like a terrible loss as Wander moves forward with his goal.
Gris
The spellcasting imagery and sonic design of this game are enough to put any player in an emotional state, but the story of Gris is one of self-doubt, struggle, and recovery. Coupled with elements of mother-daughter connection, the cumulative effect of Gris is majestic and evocative.
After a great fall, players guide Gris back home, back to a world of color and music, and back to herself. This puzzle-filled platformer can be a quick and fun jaunt through a lovely game, but there’s a lot of depth to be found for those willing to read into the symbols and artistry.
That Dragon, Cancer
The title alone should indicate why this game leaves players weeping. What the title doesn't reveal is that the game is the autobiographical story of Joel Green, the son of the creator, who was diagnosed at just one year old. The game is not just a walk through misery and loss though, as it embraces the preciousness inherent in life.
Using the elements of a point-and-click adventure game, That Dragon, Cancer recreates all of the terrible beautiful complexity of a tragedy of this magnitude. There are joyful moments and there are heartrending moments. It can be heard to make it through this whole game, but in the end it’s a stunning honest portrait of loss.