Scripted deaths in video games can be painful because they take advantage of the bond players create with characters over many hours, making the loss feel personal. This feeling of helplessness is similar to real grief and is heightened by the player’s involvement in the story.
This technique can be used to tell powerful stories. Some games do this much better than others, and there are plenty of characters whose deaths we still think about today.
Massive spoilers ahead for some big-name games. We’re talking “the protagonist dies and you didn’t see it coming” stuff.
Seriously, you have been warned.
10
Joel in The Last of Us Part II
Joel’s death in The Last of Us Part II is particularly devastating due to the established relationship with Ellie from the first game. Having acted as her protector and father figure, Joel’s sudden demise shatters the illusion of safety and stability they had managed to create. His death, at the hands of Abby, is brutal and catalyzes Ellie’s descent into vengeance.
The way he died is also a source of grief for players. Instead of a heroic sacrifice or a noble end, Joel is beaten to death with a golf club. The brutality of the act and the lack of a dignified farewell make his loss all the more painful. It makes you want to seek revenge, and it plays well with the story.
The death of The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a deeply sad moment that stays with you long after the game ends. This series is action-packed but tests your puzzle-solving skills. At first, The Boss acts as Naked Snake’s teacher and guide, so when she suddenly betrays him by joining the Soviet Union, it is shocking.
The final confrontation revealed that The Boss’ betrayal was fake, approved by the U.S. government as part of a mission to recover the Philosopher’s Legacy. However, The Boss must still die by Snake’s hand. She knowingly gives up her honor and reputation for her country, fully aware that history will label her a traitor.
Related
10 Story-Driven Games That I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About After Playing
If you need proof that games can tell meaningful stories, look no further.
8
Noble Six in Halo Reach
Noble Six’s death in Halo: Reach is especially emotional because you’ve spent the entire game just trying to survive. Since Noble Six’s background and identity are intentionally vague, players can immerse themselves in his role. You watch all your team die and can see safety, but you know the right choice is to stay behind and give Master Chief time.
Although faced with impossible odds, Noble Six stays behind on the doomed planet Reach after delivering Cortana to the Pillar of Autumn. After hours of intense fighting and suffering injuries from plasma fire, they finally fall in a final stand as a group of Sangheili warriors close in. Noble Six used every ounce of their strength to save others by fighting until the end.
7
Vesemir in The Witcher 3
Besides almost being a dating sim, the death of Vesemir in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most memorable parts of the game. He serves as a father figure not just to Geralt but also to Ciri, which makes his death even more painful. Throughout the game, players know him as the oldest and most experienced witcher, a wise teacher, and someone who offers sharp humor and reassuring guidance.
While some character deaths in the game can be avoided, Vesemir’s is inevitable. During the Battle of Kaer Morhen, he is confronted by Imlerith, the general of the Wild Hunt. Vesemir manages to hold his own for a short time, but in the end, Imlerith snaps Vesemir’s neck, killing the old witcher right in front of Ciri.
6
Ghost & Roach in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The deaths of Ghost and Roach in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are a shocking act of betrayal that firmly established General Shepherd as one of the most memorable villains in video games. Ghost and Roach successfully carry out the mission to break into Makarov’s safehouse and believe they are heading home safely.
However, when they reach the extraction point, Shepherd does not congratulate them. Instead, he shoots Roach in the chest, followed by Ghost in the head. The betrayal is sudden and merciless, killing two fan-favorite characters without warning. To make things even worse, Shepherd heartlessly sets their bodies on fire, denying them any dignity in death.
5
Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 3
Mordin Solus’s death in Mass Effect 3 is one of the most powerful and emotional moments in the entire Mass Effect series. He is the one who made changes to a biological weapon designed to control the Krogan population. However, his detached attitude starts to fade, showing a character struggling with the ethical consequences of what he has done.
Mordin gets to undo his past actions by curing the Genophage, offering him a path to redemption. To do this, Mordin must give his life to spread the cure across Tuchanka before an explosion kills him. This final choice completes his journey from a morally uncertain scientist to a genuine hero willing to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost.
4
Lee Everett in The Walking Dead
Lee Everett’s death in The Walking Dead is often considered one of the most emotionally powerful moments in gaming history. Lee’s death happens in the final episode of the first season. After being bitten by a walker, Lee grows weaker, with little time left to save Clementine. Knowing he will soon become a walker, Lee helps Clementine (a little girl) prepare for a future without him.
It’s a tragic ending for Lee, especially since he had finally begun to make amends for his past. The final choice is to have Clementine shoot Lee before he turns or leave him to become a walker. What makes this moment so devastating is the relationship built with Clementine and how she responds based on how well you’ve taught her throughout the game, and it left me with tears.
3
John Marston in Red Dead Redemption
John Marston’s death in Red Dead Redemption is widely regarded as one of the saddest moments in video game history because Marston tries to make amends during the game. The Bureau of Investigation blackmails him into tracking down his former gang members, promising his family’s safety in return. After earning his freedom, the Bureau and the U.S. Army turn against him, launching an attack on his home.
In a heartbreaking effort to save his family, Marston sends them to safety and stays behind to confront the soldiers alone. The player then guides Marston through his final moments as he steps out into the open, fully aware he will not survive. The soldiers gun him down, and his final moments feel very unfair but believable.
2
Aerith Gainsborough in Final Fantasy VII
Aerith Gainsborough’s death in Final Fantasy VII is widely regarded as one of the most memorable and emotionally devastating moments in video game history. While she is praying in the Forgotten City, and just as Cloud reaches her, Sephiroth appears and stabs her with his Masamune sword.
This harsh and unexpected death goes against the usual storytelling convention where a hero dies in a meaningful sacrifice, and shows death in a more realistic and startling way. The scene becomes even more heartbreaking when Cloud carries Aerith’s body to a lake and gently lets her sink into the water, returning her to the planet.
1
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan’s death in Red Dead Redemption 2 is by far the most emotionally powerful moment in video games. No matter which path is taken, Arthur dies realizing he has failed his found family, the Van Der Linde gang, as it falls apart around him. However, Arthur gives up his own life to give John and his family a shot at freedom.
These deaths stay with you for at least the rest of the day, and I even had a frog in my throat while writing these. This is just a selection of some of the most impactful moments in video game history, demonstrating the power that the medium can have over your emotions.
