10. Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption is one of the finest open-world Western series with an excellent narrative. But Arthur Morgan’s death is pretty heartbreaking. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur remains the hardened criminal, even after suffering TB. It eats away at him during the third act, making him think his existence is meaningless. Arthur sacrifices himself to rescue John but lacks the strength to defeat Micah and Dutch, resulting in his tragic end.
9. Dom in Gears of War 3
Gears of War, developed by legendary Epic Games, immerses players in a terrifying narrative of hope, survival, and fraternity that concludes the current Gears of War story arc. With the final human metropolis destroyed and the last survivors stranded, Marcus and his allies have only a limited time to rescue the human species from extinction. Dom sacrifices himself in Gears of War 3 by ramming a truck into a gasoline tanker to kill all of the Locust and Lambent, therefore sparing his buddies and COG allies. Marcus’ response and overall powerlessness are awful to see.
8. Noble Team in Halo: Reach
Halo: Reach, developer Bungie’s last game, showcased some of the team’s best efforts in gameplay and worldbuilding. Though a forerunner to the Fall of Reach, Halo: Reach shockingly shows the horrific conclusion of the protagonist’s Noble Six squad. The player understands it can only end in one manner, yet making Noble Six’s demise a hopeless gaming quest is a clever, dramatic trick. It is the mark of an outstanding prequel narrative when an anticipated conclusion is unexpectedly quite stunning.
7. The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, developed by Konami, is widely regarded as the series’ greatest game, transporting players to the Cold War period of the 1960s. The narrative lets players take on the role of Naked Snake as he tries to stop a superweapon project and murder his renegade superior, “The Boss.” But it exposes that the latter was a fake carried out at the direction of his former boss and the government he serves. The Boss seemed to follow government instructions when she defected to the Soviet Union and sacrificed herself, transforming Naked Snake into a hero.
6. Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 3
BioWare’s Mass Effect trilogy is one of the most popular action RPGs of the PS3 and Xbox 360 generations. A well-known salarian crewmates, Mordin Solus, made a great sacrifice. One of the fundamental traits of Mass Effect 3 is that the player’s choices decide who survives. However, the salarian’s death was a strong and heroic conclusion to his two-game character arc. Wracked with remorse for contributing to the virus that mass-sterilized the krogan species years before, he sacrifices himself in an explosion to provide the cure.
5. Aunt May’s Death in Spider-Man 3
Peter Parker has had to deal with the losses of several friends and family members throughout the Spider-Man franchise. However, Aunt May’s death in Marvel’s Spider-Man is the most traumatic. Parker must make the usual option between rescuing one person or many. He has one antiserum that may heal Aunt May. However, the antiserum is key in creating a larger treatment that will end the Devil’s Breath disease. Aunt May, who is near death in a hospital bed, orders Spider-Man to remove his mask. She had known his identity for quite some time.
4. Joel in The Last Of Us Part II
The Last of Us investigates human existence via terrifying events and moral quandaries. Sarah’s and Tess’ deaths are also terrible, but Joel’s death in The Last of Us Part II is undoubtedly the most devastating. Through The Last of Us, players became close to Joel, laughing and crying with him and Ellie. In the sequel, Joel and Ellie fall out, and Joel begins showing his age. Thus, players empathize with Joel until his devastating death. The passion surrounding Joel’s death will always overshadow the game’s cinematic and emotional expertise.
3. Tidus in Final Fantasy X
Tidus, Yuna, and the rest of the crew are successful in their lengthy journey to prevent the beast Sin from destroying the world. It comes at the expense of Tidus, who does not die in the traditional sense. The youthful hero is a corporeal incarnation of Fayth’s dream, which includes the memories of the land’s survivors from a prior conflict. With Sin’s fall, the Fayth gets released, and Tidus fades with them. Despite being a “death” merely in formal terms, it strikes all of the emotional beats of an actual death.
2. Aerith from Final Fantasy VII
Aerith’s death in the original Final Fantasy VII will be remembered by fans for a long time, mainly because she was such a kind and strong-willed heroine. When Sephiroth surprised the world by outright murdering her, players were more motivated to halt the villain’s intentions. However, the 2020 Final Fantasy VII Remake made some major changes to the original storyline. Nonetheless, melancholy contrasts Aerith’s lovely disposition every time she emerges, prompting players and fans to fear the worst for her again.
1. Everett’s death in The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead has by far one of the saddest deaths in history following its nature to ma. It is even more relevant to Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead, in which players follow Lee Everett as he discovers and cares for a little girl, Clementine. Finally, Lee is infected, leaving Clementine with the tough choice of how he passes away. For those who had intended to bring about a close bond between the two, this choice and death are tragic as Clementine is once again left alone.
So, what’s your take on our picks for the 10 saddest deaths in gaming? Let us know your thoughts here on our socials or down in the comments.
