Sometimes when playing a horror game, the player has to tell themselves "it's just a game." While this is usually said in order so they can remind themselves that what's on the screen can't hurt them in real life, sometimes it's because the game has provoked a profound emotional reaction from them.
Just as fear is a subjective topic, it's often difficult to gauge what people find to be universally sad, which may explain why emotional horror games are a rarity. That said, they do exist, and they are waiting to utterly decimate any player who wants to play them.
Limbo (2010)
Calling Limbo a horror game could be seen as a bit of a stretch, it is technically a non-horror game, but the scenario the player is put in is rather horrifying. The plot of Limbo revolves around a silent boy who is searching through the edge of hell to find his missing sister, all the while encountering strange and horrifying things that desperately want to end his journey.
How is this sad? Well, as the game goes on, the player begins to put themselves in the boy's shoes, becoming more emotionally provoked by the monstrous creatures that bar his way. The game ends with the player finding a little girl, who seems horrified by what the boy has become.
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream (1995)
Based on the story by Harlan Ellison, it's strange that outside of this game, the classic horror story has never been adapted. I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream focuses on an AI called AM who gives the last five people left on Earth the ultimate challenge, to confront the demons of their pasts.
Ellison, who assisted in the development of the game, often told stories that focused on uncomfortable topics, with his work often showing off the author's grim view of humanity. I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is no exception, with each decision the player makes potentially bringing them closer to a haunting conclusion.
American McGee's Alice (2000)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland can be described as many things, but saddening doesn't number among them. That isn't the case with American McGee's Alice, with the auteur game designer crafting a horrifying yet tragic sequel to the Lewis Carroll classic.
After her parents die in a fire, Alice becomes practically catatonic before being brought back into a more sinister Wonderland. Alice's struggles, the desperation of Wonderland's inhabitants, the eerie yet sorrowful music, and a gut-punch of a twist all make American McGee's Alice a game as sad as it is mad.
Echo Night: Beyond (2004-2005)
A criminally underrated game by FromSoftware, Echo Night: Beyond is the third entry in the Echo Night franchise, taking a familiar story and expanding it far beyond the stars. Set in the not too distant future, the game follows newlywed Richard Osmond making his way through a haunted research base on The Moon to reunite with his spouse.
Much like the other Echo Night games, the ghosts that Osmond encounters all have a personal story, with the things left unsaid or undone often being at the core of the characters' motives. Echo Night: Beyond is likely to make players cry long before they reach one of the multiple endings on offer, with all of them being either touching or heartbreaking.
Rule Of Rose (2006)
A game that's not for the faint of heart, Rule of Rose is a very disturbing experience, not to mention a sad one. A game heavily inspired by fairy tales, Rule of Rose follows a young woman named Jennifer who finds herself battling for her life in a world ruled by little girls.
What makes the story sad is the tragic relationship between Jennifer and The Red Crayon Aristocrat Club's leader Wendy. A sad love story that, in another world, would have had a happy ending, but that isn't the world Rule of Rose takes place in.
The Last Of Us (2013)
Not many games feature one of their saddest moments in the opening, but The Last of Us is an exception. The story of survivors Joel and Ellie making their way across a post-apocalyptic Boston, The Last of Us forces the surrogate father-daughter pair to deal with horrifying zombies and even more horrifying humans.
The game has many sad moments, some of which might've gone too far, but nonetheless, they all hit a little harder than normal, mostly due to how human the characters feel. Whether it be the shocking opening or the equally shocking climax, The Last of Us is a game that is an assault on the player's empathy.
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series (2012)
With games from Telltale being far more story-centric, it makes sense that one of their games would take advantage of this format in order to devastate the player. Given that The Walking Dead is a franchise that's no stranger to making fans cry, it makes sense that when the franchise crossed paths with Telltale, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series would be a truly emotional game.
Following a small band of survivors, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series mostly focuses on Lee and Clementine as they deal with the horrors and heartbreak of the zombie apocalypse. What makes a so gutting is just how horrifying the experience is, along with how morally good Lee and Clementine are...well, depending on the actions of the player of course.
Silent Hill 2 (2001)
James Sunderland's return to the city of Silent Hill to discover the meaning of a letter from his dead wife has been haunting horror game fans for years and for good reason. Silent Hill has always been more emotionally driven than the likes of Resident Evil. With Silent Hill 2 being the series' masterpiece, it shouldn't be a surprise that it's the most moving of the lot.
A game that changed video games forever, Silent Hill 2's story is front and center at a time when the story was still second to the gameplay. Covering topics such as loss, abuse, repression, and more, Silent Hill 2 will dig beneath the skin of those who play it, plucking at their heartstrings in the process.