Gaming
The Surprising Spiritual Predecessor to Rayman 2
15. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead ends with Lee dying from a walker bite, too weak to go on after everything he’s done to protect Clementine. You’re left to decide if she should shoot him or let him turn, either way, it’s a brutal goodbye that sticks with you. | © Square Enix
14. Sifu
Sifu turns death into a mechanic, so each time you fall, you age, becoming stronger but more fragile, until death finally sticks. Whether you seek revenge or choose mercy, the journey ends with the protagonist’s death, but what that death means depends entirely on how you lived. | © H2 Interactive
13. Rogue Legacy 2
Rogue Legacy 2 turns death into progress; every time a hero falls, their descendant picks up the mantle and carries the quest forward. In the true ending, even the final protagonist must die to restore balance, proving that legacy, not survival, is what truly saves the world. | © Cellar Door Games
12. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is unforgettable not just because Arthur Morgan dies, but because you watch him come to terms with who he is before the end. Whether he goes out seeking redemption or clinging to the gang’s lies, his death feels like the only possible outcome. | © Rockstar Games
11. Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross builds its story around the fact that in one timeline, the protagonist Serge is already dead drowned as a child. Even in the world where he survives, Serge loses his body and identity, making his death feel more like a haunting erasure than a single moment. | © Square Enix
10. The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II opens with the brutal death of Joel, the first game’s protagonist, beaten to death in front of Ellie. It’s a shocking shift that fuels the game’s dark themes of revenge, consequence, and how far grief can push someone. | © Naughty Dog
9. Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 wastes no time, so Commander Shepard dies in the opening minutes, sacrificing themselves to save their crew. What follows is a stunning sci-fi comeback story, as you're brought back from the dead to lead the galaxy’s most dangerous suicide mission. | © BioWare
8. NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata hits hard when 2B, the android you’ve fought as for hours, collapses from a virus and is mercy-killed by another protagonist. Her death feels raw and personal, a tragic turning point that shatters 9S and sets the rest of the story spiraling into chaos. | © PlatinumGames
7. Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger delivers a gut punch when Crono sacrifices himself to stop Lavos, leaving the party to carry on without their silent leader. His death isn't just for shock, it challenges players to reckon with loss and decide whether to rewrite fate itself. | © Square Enix
6. What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch turns a family tree into a collection of haunting, deeply personal stories, each ending in tragedy, myth, or mystery. By the end, Edith herself dies giving birth, making her the final entry in a legacy shaped by love, loss, and the need to make sense of it all. | © Giant Sparrow
5. Halo: Reach
Halo: Reach is a brutal war story where every member of Noble Team meets a poetic, ironic end, and you, as Noble Six, are the last to fall. Surrounded and outnumbered, your final stand is hopeless, but unforgettable. | © Bungie
4. Persona 3
Persona 3 ends on a quiet, emotional note as the protagonist uses their life force to save the world, then peacefully fades away on graduation day. It's not a flashy death, just a slow, inevitable goodbye that turns the entire journey into something deeply human. | © Atlus
3. Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII broke hearts when Sephiroth suddenly descended from above and killed Aerith mid-prayer, cutting her life short without warning. The game never brings her back, and that finality is exactly what makes her death one of the most unforgettable in gaming. | © Square Enix
2. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus lures you in with quiet beauty and grand battles, only to reveal you’ve been the villain all along. In the end, Wander is consumed by the dark force he served, punished for the destruction he caused in his desperate quest to bring a loved one back. | © Sony Interactive Entertainment
1. Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption follows former outlaw John Marston as he tries to leave his past behind and secure a future for his family. But just when he’s done everything asked of him, the government turns on him, and he dies in a hail of bullets. | © Rockstar Games
