The last few months of 2022 were great for God of War fans, with the release of God of War Ragnarök and the announcement of a new television series based on the franchise. The game series is at a peak, with the most recent two installments telling more passionate and emotional stories than ever before.

Few would have guessed the gritty and edgy original God of War trilogy would evolve into such a narrative-driven and even tear-jerking game. That said, there are many similar titles that have surprised players throughout the years by putting them emotional roller coasters despite the belief that the games wouldn't go anywhere near that route.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt of Rivia drawing his sword in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt promo art.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt managed to excel in almost every regard, and it's not just an iconic fantasy RPG, it's also one of the best video games in general. Even without having played the previous games or having any familiarity with the books or show the players will quickly understand and grow attached to the main characters.

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The story is far from easygoing and has some heartbreaking deaths and touching emotional successes. There are so many different outcomes that can happen in the story and with the fate of a character that comes from the choices Geralt makes in the game. This can make multiple playthroughs of the game an emotional rollercoaster.

Gris

GRIS gameplay.

Gris is far less of a literal story-telling game and much of the emotion conveyed in the game is through the visualized designs of the game. This game has incredible visual storytelling so impressive that it will make most gamers cry.

There are so many emotions the protagonist, Gris, goes through such as depression, anxiety, and self-discovery. The game is relatable for many players and all of this is complimented by its wonderful artistic gameplay.

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne

Arthas Menethil, the Lich King artwork for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.

While most gamers are familiar with the downfall of Arthas Menethil as the Lich King, experiencing it firsthand in one of the best games from Blizzard Entertainment, Warcraft III, is quite jarring. Arthas doesn't just simply give himself over to evil; he takes steps as one of the most horrifying villains ever and eradicates his homeland.

He is previously one of the most favored heroes to have in the human campaign and the Frozen Throne brings him forward as one of the most terrifying opponents they have to face. This would be nothing if it wasn't for the fact that Arthas is such a passionate character with strong attachments to so many other beloved characters. His downfall is well-written, but it's also heartbreaking to see.

Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus remake key art featuring one of the titular Colossi.

Shadow of the Colossus doesn't seem like an emotional game at all at first. However, the realization of what Wander is doing is terrifyingly dark and makes the player feel guilty while playing. He wishes to resurrect his deceased lover, but the only way to do that is to slaughter an entire race of innocent colossi.

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There's a lot of obscurity to the story of the game and a great deal of speculation about the actual ending. Many gamers loved the jaw-dropping surprise of what they had done while others felt twisted and that Wander should be punished in some way.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor / Shadow of War

Talion and his bonded Elf Wraith fighting against Orcs with their army.

It doesn't take long for the emotion to strike in Shadow of Mordor, one of the best Middle-Earth games in the franchise, as Talion sees his family murdered before his eyes. Both games are passionate stories of revenge where Talion will stop at nothing to see his family avenged.

The conflict with Celebrimbor is brilliantly conveyed in the games and the build-up to a specific plot twist in the second game will leave gamers' with their mouths open in shock. Players who want the full emotional experience should also play the Blade of Galadriel DLC to get a perfect conclusion to the story.

The Walking DeadTelltale The Walking Dead Season 3 Clementine and AJ Cover

Telltale's The Walking Dead games are some of the best horror zombie survival games of all time and have long been beloved among fans, even those who aren't as in love with the TV series or the comic books.

The Walking Dead games surprised fans by giving more compelling characters and stories than most of what's seen in the source material. Not only this, but it's surprisingly emotional with heartbreaking scenes that have left so many gamers simply broken.

Fire Emblem: Three HousesEdelgard battle worn - Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Fire Emblem usually manages to have fantastic stories with a great cast. However, with Three Houses, Intelligent Systems really outdid themselves. They managed to make an incredibly interesting cast with extremely well-written characters that players quickly grew attached to and then, they made some of the most emotional gut-punching scenes in gaming that are truly heartbreaking.

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It's impossible to not see at least one character the player desperately cared about die and playing more routes is bound to break the players' hearts more and more. A Fire Emblem game hasn't been so tragic since Genealogy of the Holy War in 1996 and fans are hoping they'll get a break with Fire Emblem Engage in 2023.

Final Fantasy XFinal Fantasy X Tidus

Final Fantasy is perhaps a bit more well-known for its heart-wrenching moments. However, Final Fantasy X stands as one of the most surprising in this regard. The game is introduced to a bright and vibrant world that Tidus is exploring for the first time.

However, the more he learns about the journey they're on, the worse things seem. The conclusion to the story is one of the biggest emotional gut-punches in Final Fantasy and the build-up to this point is just full of so many other tear-jerking scenes.

Hellblade: Senua's SacrificeSenua wearing her war paint in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice promo art.

Hellblade remains a bit of a hidden gem despite it being so fantastic. It's a dark fantasy video game that utilizes Norse and Celtic mythology. The game's psychological horror elements make it a terrifying game to play but the state of mind of Senua and the story that follows her is truly one of the most emotional gamers can expect.

In many ways, it's the most comparable game to God of War Ragnarök due to its similar touch on mythology and its emotional story. It's also quite a bit like the Dark Souls games but is far more narrative-driven.

The Last of Us / The Last of Us Part II

Ellie looks on in concern from The Last of Us

The Last of Us video games have long been known to be some of the best narrative-driven games yet and is another PlayStation exclusive like God of War Ragnarök. No one really knew what to expect from the Last of Us when it was first released with many players expecting just another generic zombie game.

However, it ended up being an incredibly compelling and interesting story with players tied to the emotion the game had to offer even at the early stages of the game. Many players still haven't gotten over the journey of Joe and Ellie, and the incredible yet saddening conclusion to the series.

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