Life is Strange is an episodic adventure game about friendship, identity, and consequences. You follow the story of Max Caulfield, a high school student who discovers she has the ability to rewind time. At the center of the mystery is Rachel Amber, a popular student whose disappearance sets the stage for a compelling narrative.
After spending hours and hours doing everything possible to find out what happened to Rachel, it would be sad enough to find her body in a junkyard. But finding out what really happened to her is a sobering reminder of the dark undercurrents lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly idyllic town, and leaves you shaken.
© Dontnod Entertainment
Halo Reach serves as a prequel to the iconic Halo series, chronicling the Noble Team's heroic last stand against the Covenant's invasion of the planet Reach. The team includes Jorge, a Spartan soldier whose unwavering loyalty and selflessness will leave a lasting impression on you.
Jorge's sacrifice to destroy a Covenant supercarrier and ensure the safety of his team is a poignant moment of heroism and loss. He dies by manually detonating a slipspace bomb on the supercarrier, knowing that it will cost him his life but save many others. It underscores the sacrifices made in the face of overwhelming odds.
© Microsoft Game Studios
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a cinematic powerhouse set at the height of the Cold War. You take on the role of Naked Snake, a legendary soldier tasked with stopping a nuclear threat.
At the center of the story is The Boss, Snake's mentor and mother figure, whose tragic death at his hands forces him to confront the complexities of loyalty and betrayal. In a climactic and emotional battle, you must kill The Boss to complete your mission. The sacrifice of The Boss is a heart-wrenching moment that will leave no eye dry.© Konami
Assassin's Creed 3 takes you back to the tumultuous era of the American Revolution. You play as Connor, a Native American assassin seeking justice in the face of oppression.
The tragic death of Connor's mother, Kaniehti, during a brutal attack on her village by British forces is a turning point in the game's narrative, leaving young Connor all alone. Highlighting the personal toll of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the fight for justice, her loss sets Connor on a path of vengeance and resilience.
© Ubisoft
Shadow of the Colossus is a masterpiece known for its minimalist storytelling and emotional resonance. You take on the role of Wander, a young man on a quest to revive a girl named Mono by defeating sixteen towering colossuses. Throughout his journey, Wander is accompanied by Agro, his loyal horse companion.
Agro's fall from a collapsing bridge is a heartbreaking moment - especially when you consider the loyalty of the horse, which carries Wander safely to the other side at the cost of its own life.
© Sony
The most iconic of the Assassin's Creed titles takes you back to the Italy of the Renaissance, where you will follow the young Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who is just learning what it means to be a man in his family.
Ezio's quest for justice is ignited by the tragic execution of Ezio's male family members, including his little brother, who were framed for a treason they did not commit. Their deaths serve as the catalyst for Ezio's transformation into an Assassin. Their deaths leave Ezio speechless and fuel his desire to see justice served and the culprits brought to justice.© Ubisoft
Half-Life 2: Episode Two follows Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance as they attempt to deliver critical data to the Resistance while battling Combine forces and uncovering new threats. As they successfully retrieve critical data, they are ambushed by Combine advisors.
In a harrowing and sudden attack, one of the Advisors impales Eli with a trunk, killing him instantly in front of Alyx and Gordon. The moment is a devastating blow that underscores the brutal reality of their struggle. Eli's death serves as a catalyst for Alyx's growth and determination to fight tyranny, strengthening her will to break the Combine's control. This pivotal event shapes the narrative and emotional arc of the game, highlighting the personal cost of the larger struggle for liberation and setting the stage for Alyx's own journey in Half-Life: Alyx.
© Valve
Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2 serves as a prequel to the original game, taking place in the final days of the dying Wild West through the eyes of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. Arthur's battle to redeem himself, as he struggles with his loyalty to the gang and his own moral compass, culminates in a gripping finale.
To be honest, his death broke my heart. Whether he falls victim to his illness or meets his fate in a final confrontation, Arthur's death is a heartbreaking end to his journey and just seems unfair. The people he would have given his life for, who were his family, were the ones who ended up stabbing him in the back and making him pay for his loyalty. His death is a painful reminder of the unpredictability of change and the harsh realities of living in a lawless world. He deserved better.
© Rockstar
The death of a child in a video game is never an easy thing to do. But Sarah's death in The Last of Us was extremely difficult to watch, even though we only meet her in the first few minutes of the game.
Sarah's death, in Joel's arms amidst the chaos of the outbreak, is a real shock. The chaotic situation, Joel trying to protect his daughter, thinking they are finally safe, Sarah's silent whimper... This devastating loss shapes Joel's hardened attitude and his reluctant guardianship of Ellie, making their evolving relationship one of the most compelling and moving aspects of the game.
© Naughty Dog
Yup, Rockstar gifted us not only one, but two traumatic deaths. Red Dead Redemption takes place in the fading days of the American Wild West, where John Marston, a former outlaw, strives to leave his violent past behind. Marston's quest for redemption takes a tragic turn when the government forces him to hunt down his former gang members.
His final demise at the hands of the very authorities he once worked for is a heartbreaking end to his quest for a peaceful life with his family, leaving you deeply moved. In a final heroic stand at his ranch, John is gunned down in a brutal attack, sacrificing himself to save his family. The slow fall, heavy breathing, and sheer indifference of his killers make John's death almost unbearable.
© Rockstar
Death is a constant presence in video games. I mean, a lot of the time it goes on your head and is kind of part of the goal of the game. But sometimes it just hurts differently. Especially when we have spent hours bonding with a beloved character only to see them die. Here are 10 of the saddest deaths in video games.
