It's Okay To Cry: The 13 Most Tragic Deaths In Video Games

Summary

• Character deaths in video games can be emotionally impactful and leave a lasting mark on players' gaming history.
• Sacrifices, tragedies, and unexpected endings add depth and complexity to storytelling in modern video games.
• From early RPGs to recent classics, the heartbreaking deaths of beloved characters create a profound impact on players.

Back in the 1980s, video games were simple and somewhat short. They featured blocky graphics, simple controls, and straightforward goals. Even as games gained complexity, they didn't offer much in terms of story. We knew that Mario was on his way to find Princess Peach (and that she was always in another castle), but we didn't have a ton of specifics. Fast-forward to the modern age and, suddenly,gaming is chock-full of elaborate storylines and impressive character development.

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Every great story needs action, adventure, drama, and, in some unfortunate instances, tragedy. There have been many games over the years that have tapped into tear ducts and sent us into crying fits. Whether it's a character we know and love, an innocent casualty, or even a villain, some character deaths are so devastating that they leave their depressive mark on gaming history.

Updated May 24, 2024, by Harry Fritsch: Video games continue to find ways to eat into our tissue budget. These are the virtual characters that made us cry very real tears with their tragic deaths – from retro RPGs to recent classics.

13 Nei - Phantasy Star 2

An Early Tragic Death In Gaming’s History

Almost a decade before Aerith established JRPGs as the go-to genre for tragic deaths, the loveable Nei broke the hearts of a generation of Sega Genesis players. This sister-like companion to the main protagonist of Phantasy Star 2 starts the game as an outcast due to her half-human/half-monster background.

She later discovers her 'twin' Neifirst, who, despite sharing the same unique biological qualities, is Nei’s polar opposite in almost every other way. Where Nei is hopeful and kind despite her status, Neifirst is jaded and vengeful.

In a tragic battle between the two, Nei is mortally wounded by Neifirst and dies believing her entire existence to be a mistake. Her death is not only sad, but surprisingly existential for such an early 16-bit RPG. Sadly, Nei would hardly be the last victim in this genre, or even the Phantasy Star series for that matter.

12 Bobby - Paper Mario: The Origami King

Blasting Off Into The Sunset

There’s nothing quite like a noble sacrifice in a video game. What you may not expect is to find one in a Paper Mario game of all places.

Bobby is a Bob-omb who accompanies Mario and Olivia on their journey to stop the Origami King, and he quickly becomes a valuable companion both for his optimism and usefulness in battles. However, when Olivia gets trapped underneath a boulder, Bobby is forced to confront his true purpose.

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Given his explosive qualities, Bobby chooses to blow himself up to shatter the boulder and save Olivia. It’s a surprisingly grim – and rather violent – ending to a character in what is otherwise a jovial and family-friendly video game.

11 Joel Miller - The Last Of Us: Part 2

Victim Of His Own Past

Joel was the gruff and emotionally-broken protagonist of The Last of Us who endeared himself to players thanks to the journey his character goes on alongside Ellie. That journey culminates in a now infamous ending sequence that would have drastic — and fatal — ramifications for Joel in the following game.

Early into The Last Of Us: Part 2, Joel crosses paths with Abby who, although unknown to both him and the player at the time, holds a deep hatred for him. Surprising him, Abby brutally ends Joel’s life with a golf club of all things, right in front of his brother Tommy and adopted daughter Ellie.

It’s a shocking end to one of the most iconic video game characters of the last decade, but it highlights the extreme moral gray areas that much of The Last of Us’ storytelling operates in.

10 John Marston - Red Dead Redemption

The End Of A Cowboy

John Marston, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption, was a bit of a villain himself.The Wild West gunslinger was notorious for kidnapping, raiding, murdering, and committing robbery during his early days. It's noted that John lost his father when he was only eight years old and was forced to live in an orphanage as a result. Hating the lifestyle, John Marston eventually escaped the shelter and found himself in the middle of a rowdy gang.

A series of events slowly transform Marston from cold outlaw to loving father.We spend much of the Red Dead Redemption journey trying to create a life and legacy at Breecher's Hope. It's for this reason that the loss of John Marston was so heartbreaking.

The manner in which John dies is especially haunting.The gunslinger finds himself backed into a corner, on his own land, in his own barn. His murderous lifestyle had finally caught up to him and, in order to save what is left of his family, John Marston goes out in a blaze of bullets.

9 Lee Everett - The Walking Dead

Clementine's Choice

We were first introduced to Lee Everett in the beginning of Telltale Game's The Walking Dead.The former history professor finds himself convicted of murdering a state senator whom he found sleeping with his wife.The sudden cataclysm of the apocalypse allows Lee his freedom and, soon after, he crosses paths with Clementine, a young girl scared and on her own.

It's up to the player to decide what kind of person Lee becomes, through choices and dialogue options. Regardless of his attitude towards others, Lee remains a steadfast protector to Clementine and essentially promises to protect the girl with his life. This is perhaps the main reason that Lee's untimely death is so unsettling.

After suffering an unfortunate bite, Lee finds himself careening towards death. Clementine is forced to handcuff her beloved protector, to ensure that he does not cause her harm when he reanimates as part of the living dead. In this moment, it's up to the player to decide if Clementine shoots Lee to spare him such a fate or spare herself the psychological burden of a mercy killing. Either choice is heartbreaking, for both Clementine and the player.

8 Mordin Solus - Mass Effect 3

A Hard One To Say Goodbye To

Let us start by saying thatit is entirely possible to save Mordin Solus in Mass Effect 3. However, the series of events which prelude and the cost at which you save him is probably not worth the struggle. For these reasons, Mordin was most likely to perish on Tuchanka during a traditional Mass Effect 3 playthrough.

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Whether Paragon or Renegade, Mordin's death is exceptionally saddening. The Salarian scientist spent much of the Mass Effect 3 storyline working on a cure for the horrible Krogan genophage.A moment arrives during this mission that forces Mordin to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to properly disperse his cure. A quick elevator ride to the top of a rapidly crumbling tower is the only way to put an end to the plague once and for all.

Your choices decide where and how Mordin will perish, but his final goodbye is what makes his death so saddening.Our Salarian friend was always known for his punctuality and hard work. It is those qualities that we hear in his haunting departure. "Had to be me," he says. "Someone else might have gotten it wrong."

7 Roman Bellic/Kate McReary - Grand Theft Auto 4

One Of Them Has To Go

There are two names for this particular spot on the list due to the choices you'll make during the endgame of Grand Theft Auto 4.

Roman Bellic is the bowling-obsessed cousin of protagonist Niko, while Kate McReary presents a possible future love interest (as well as an in-game dateable NPC).

You spend much of the GTA 4 storyline becoming close to both of these NPCs, although it is important to note that the entire game can be played without taking Kate out on a single date. Regardless of how well the player knows these characters, the final sequence of events proves to be a heartbreaking affair for Niko.

If you choose to take a proposed deal at the end of the game, you'll be forced to agonize over the death of Roman. If you decide not to take the deal, Kate will find her way at death's door. This forces Niko into making the ultimate decision. Does our protagonist value the life of his cousin over a possible future life with a new loved one? Regardless of the choice, this outcome is always bittersweet.

6 Tidus - Final Fantasy 10

Bye Bye To The Blitzball Boy

Final Fantasy 10 featuresa truly elaborate and engrossing story that follows the adventure of Tidus,a young Blitzball star from the beautiful city of Zanarkand. This spunky young go-getter aspires to be the best Blitzball star ever, much like his father was. Unfortunately, a horrid monstrosity named Sin derails the hopeful star and Tidus finds himself in a mysterious land called Spira.

Tidus may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but there is no denying that his heart is pure. There are many instances in which this sports star puts his own neck on the line to save his friends.

Regardless of how you feel about Tidus as a character, we can all agree that his death was depressing. This hero spent his time in Spira working towards the elimination of Sin, only to discover that he was created specifically for that purpose.Once the creature was defeated, Tidus found himself fading out of existence. It's not all bad though, as he was reunited with some very special people in the farplane.

5 Noble Team & Noble 6 - Halo: Reach

A Noble End For Noble Team

The Halo series has seen its fair share of heartbreaking death sequences, but Halo: Reach is in a category all its own. The campaign is touted as one of the best single-player experiences in the series and with good reason. You play as Noble 6, a Noble Team member tasked with defending Planet Reach from The Covenant. The mission was of vital importance as seizure by Covenant forces would spell certain doom for Earth.

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You won't have to face the bulk of your mission alone, and you'll find yourself accompanied by four other Spartan soldiers. Throughout your journey, you'll come to love and respect Kat, Emile, Carter, and Jorge. This makes their inevitable and devastating loss even harder to bear.

To make matters worse, you'll find yourself outnumbered and alone during the title's finale. Noble 6 takes his final breath on Planet Reach, eventually suffering the same fate as his comrades. The ending is bittersweet, touting Noble 6 for his heroic efforts in stopping the Covenant, while also remarking on how agonizingly close he was to surviving the affair.

4 Wander - Shadow Of The Colossus

Would Never See The Fruits Of His Labour

Shadow of the Colossus is a beautifully crafted game. You take control of Wander, a heroic young man on a quest to save a young girl named Mono.A mysterious voice gives Wander an epic quest, telling him that Mono will be resurrected if he is capable of slaying 16 powerful colossi that prowl the surrounding lands.

A faithful steed named Agro accompanies Wander on this quest, allowing him to cover the expansive world faster and slay some of the faster colossi. Along the way, Wander loses his companion, which is heartbreaking enough on its own. The last boss fight is a bittersweet struggle through tough mechanics and timing, with fresh wounds of probable loss tapping against the mind.

What happens next is a shock and, quite frankly, one of the most painful losses in gaming history. The ending sees Wander perish, right after the conclusion of his quest. He leaves the world without seeing Mono resurrected, which is a punch to the gut to any player who finishes his arduous task.