99% of the time, games are fun and thrilling. But that 1%… favourite titles shatter our hearts into a million tiny pieces. Let’s dive into those iconic moments that made even the toughest gamers shed a tear or two into their pillow.
Spoiler alert!
6. Sarah – Last of Us
Just 15 minutes into The Last of Us, and you’re already emotionally wrecked. Joel and his daughter Sarah are fleeing the infected city, only to run into soldiers. One of them gets the order to shoot, and Sarah dies in her father’s arms. This is the tragedy that sets the tone for the entire game: we understand why Joel became the man he is, and why his bond with Ellie means everything.
Emotional damage: 7/10 – “Sorry, I am not ready to talk about it yet…”
5. Joe – Mafia II
«Joe wasn’t part of the deal» — one of the most painful lines in video game history. Vito Scaletta finally makes it through… but his best friend Joe gets left out. As he’s driven off to what feels like certain death, we’re powerless to stop it. The open ending gives fans a sliver of hope, but deep down, we all know — he is doomed.
Emotional damage: 8/10 – “But we went through it all together…”
4. Vesemir – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
“You lived a good life, old man.” When the veteran witcher Vesemir dies in The Wild Hunt, it hits harder than Gwynbleidd’s strike against the beast. He was more than a mentor or a friend — he was a true father figure to Geralt and Yennefer. His death marked the end of an era. The scene where Ciri cries over his body brought even the toughest players to join her.
Emotional damage: 8/10 – “No witcher has ever died in their bed, but that doesn’t make it any easier.”
3. Lee Everett – The Walking Dead
The finale of The Walking Dead Season One is pure emotional torture. Lee — our beloved mentor and Clementine’s protector — is infected, and there’s no way out. All that’s left is to accept the inevitable and either ask Clem to end it… or let him die slowly. And if you can’t decide, she will choose herself based on everything you’ve taught her. No doubts, it’s one of the most gut-wrenching moments in gaming history.
Emotional damage: 10/10 – “How are we supposed to make a choice like that?!”
2. Commander Shepard – Mass Effect 3
I am Kira Chesalina, and this is the saddest goodbye in Citadel. A legend who saved the galaxy, but at what cost? Shepard fights through endless battles, faces countless losses and moral dilemmas, only to make a heroic sacrifice in the end. It’s that moment when you realize your hero isn’t coming back, as the music swells, the final scenes roll, and the weight of it all hits you. We stood by him through three games, made hundreds of tough choices, but the ending is always the same — Shepard is gone, and we’re left behind with a haunting sense of emptiness.
Emotional damage: 10/10 – “You were a real hero, Shepard.”
1. Arthur Morgan – Red Dead Redemption 2
What’s a Western without a bit of heartbreak? Rockstar gave us one of the most compelling, well-written characters in gaming history — Arthur Morgan. We watch this outlaw with a heart of gold walk the long road to redemption, only to meet his end watching the sunrise… if you choose the honorable path. Play as a ruthless scoundrel, and the ending gets even darker. Either way, Arthur’s last words, said with the “That’s the Way It Is” playing in the background, have wrecked thousands of players.
Emotional damage: 11/10 – Prepare for the tears!
Death in video games isn’t just another in-game mechanic — it’s a powerful storytelling tool that leaves a mark on the player’s soul. Some sacrifice themselves for family, others meet their end due to betrayal, but all these moments stay with us, fellow gamers, forever.
