Entertainment
TV Actors Who Were BORN to Play Their Roles
15. Isaac from The Binding Of Isaac
Isaac’s tale in The Binding of Isaac is disturbing and tragic from the start. Inspired by the biblical story, he’s a frightened child whose mother tries to sacrifice him after hearing God’s command. No matter which ending players see, Isaac’s journey through the monster-filled basement is soaked in despair, with many outcomes hinting at his death or damnation. | © Edmund McMillen
14. Ashen One from Dark Souls 3
The Ashen One in Dark Souls 3 lives a cycle of endless struggle and sacrifice. Brought back from death only to fight again and again, their purpose is to gather strength for a fate they already know will end in torment. Linking the First Flame means eternal agony, turning their victory into one of the most tragic destinies in gaming. | © FromSoftware
13. Meteion from Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Meteion’s tragedy in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker lies in how her mission to find life’s meaning twists into despair. Gifted with empathy, she and her sisters absorb the pain and hopelessness of countless worlds, leaving her consumed by suffering not her own. Believing the only escape is to end all life, she becomes both victim and destroyer, embodying sorrow on a cosmic scale. | © Square Enix
12. Asgore from Undertale
Asgore Dreemur in Undertale is framed as the final villain, but his story reveals a deeply tragic figure. He’s a grieving father who lost both children and was abandoned by his wife after vowing vengeance on humanity. Though he takes human lives, it’s clear he carries regret, making his confrontation with the player one filled with sorrow rather than malice. | © Toby Fox
11. John Marston from Red Dead Redemption
John Marston’s story in Red Dead Redemption is defined by his desperate attempt to leave behind a life of crime. Forced into hunting down his old gang for the government, he fights to secure peace for his family. That dream ends in betrayal and sacrifice, turning his quest for redemption into one of gaming’s most tragic finales. | © Rockstar Games
10. Clementine from The Walking Dead
Clementine’s journey in The Walking Dead series is heartbreaking from the very start. Orphaned as a child, she survives the apocalypse but loses nearly everyone she grows close to, either to death or betrayal. Growing up in such a brutal world forces her to carry unimaginable burdens, making her resilience as tragic as it is inspiring. | © Square Enix
9. Aerith Gainsborough from Final Fantasy 7
Aerith Gainsborough’s story in Final Fantasy VII is one of the most unforgettable tragedies in gaming. As a healer and ally to Cloud, she brings warmth and hope to a dark world, only to have her life cut short at the hands of Sephiroth. Her death leaves behind an aching sense of loss and countless “what-ifs,” making her absence as impactful as her presence. | © Square Enix
8. Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan’s tale in Red Dead Redemption 2 is as tragic as it is powerful. Watching his gang fall apart and facing his own mortality, he struggles to reconcile a violent past with a longing for redemption. His sacrifices and final choices carry a bittersweet weight, leaving players with one of gaming’s most moving portrayals of a doomed hero. | © Rockstar Games
7. Edith from What Remains Of Edith Finch
Edith’s story in What Remains of Edith Finch is defined by loss and the weight of family history. As the last surviving Finch, she walks through her home piecing together the lives and deaths of her relatives, each tale more tragic than the last. Whether the so-called family curse is real or not, Edith grows up surrounded by death, and her search for meaning only deepens the sadness of her fate. | © Giant Sparrow
6. Booker DeWitt from BioShock Infinite
Booker DeWitt’s journey in BioShock Infinite begins as a rescue mission but unravels into a confrontation with his own past. The shocking truth about his identity and choices ties him directly to the horrors of Columbia. His story ends in sacrifice and regret, making him one of gaming’s most tragic figures of redemption and loss. | © Irrational Games
5. Joel from The Last of Us
Joel’s story in The Last of Us is steeped in grief and hard choices. Losing his daughter shatters him, and though he finds new purpose in protecting Ellie, that bond leads him to a devastating decision that robs humanity of a cure. His love gives him strength, but it also seals his fate, leaving behind a legacy defined as much by tragedy as by survival. | © Naughty Dog
4. The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is both mentor and martyr, shaping the game’s story with her sacrifice. She accepts betrayal and death not out of weakness, but to protect her country and preserve a fragile peace. Her tragic fate forces players to confront the weight of loyalty and the cost of ideals in a world built on conflict. | © Konami
3. Zelda from Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Zelda’s role in Breath of the Wild is one of duty and heartbreak. Unable to awaken her sealing power in time, she blames herself for Ganon’s rise and the destruction of Hyrule. Trapped in the castle for a hundred years holding him back, her life becomes defined by sacrifice and the crushing weight of a destiny she could never escape. | © Nintendo
2. Xion from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Xion’s story in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is one of the series’ most heartbreaking arcs. Created to siphon Sora’s powers and memories, she never gets the chance to form a true identity of her own. Realizing her existence stops Sora from ever waking, she makes the devastating choice to erase herself, along with every memory of her, from the hearts of those she loved. | © Square Enix
1. Ellie from The Last of Us
Ellie’s immunity in The Last of Us sets her apart, but it also isolates her. She survives when others don’t, losing friends and family while carrying the burden of being humanity’s best hope for a cure – only to have that hope stolen from her. By the end of her journey, revenge fails to bring peace, leaving her with loss upon loss and no sense of closure. | © Naughty Dog
