9 Video Games Featuring Dead Characters Throughout the Entire Gameplay

The twist wherein a story’s protagonist has been dead all along is a well-trodden path in fiction. This revelation not only reframes the narrative but also prompts intriguing questions. How did the character interact with others? What do their experiences symbolize? Is the tale supernatural in nature or simply a reflection of a dying person’s final thoughts? These considerations add layers to storytelling, inviting deeper analysis.

Successfully incorporating such a twist into an interactive medium like video games can be complex. While players can ‘die’ in many games, a few titles creatively navigate this narrative device, achieving impressive results.

Some games adhere to more traditional methods, featuring protagonists who are ghosts or hover near death. Others take a more inventive route, presenting heroes in comatose states, as avatars of deceased individuals, or even as figments of imagination. For those comfortable with abstract storytelling, the following titles embody this trope in unique ways.

Important: Spoilers ahead for most of the games discussed.

9 Final Fantasy X

A Ghost By Any Other Name

In Final Fantasy X, Tidus’s claim of being from Zanarkand invites skeptical looks, as this city was annihilated in a war against Bevelle a millennium ago. The twist reveals that both Tidus and his Zanarkand are mere illusions conjured by the Fayth, specifically a creation called “Dream Zanarkand, ”which exists as a sanctuary for the city’s residents, controlled by the power of Yu Yevon.

This façade allows characters like Jecht and Tidus to manifest tangible forms. However, their existence is fleeting; upon Yu Yevon’s defeat, Tidus along with Dream Zanarkand ceases to exist. Additionally, considering the character Shuyin’s existence in Final Fantasy X-2, it suggests that Tidus might never have existed in the original Zanarkand, but instead, is simply an illusory memory distorted by the Fayth.

8 Killer7

Me, Myself, And I

In Killer7, players switch between the seven personalities of the Smith Syndicate: Dan, Coyote, Con, KAEDE, Kevin, Mask, and Garcian, while occasionally engaging as Harman. Given the game’s surreal nature, the constant persona shifts seem normal and are accepted as part of the narrative flow.

However, a shocking truth emerges in the final act. After the syndicate faces annihilation at the hands of the Black Smiles, Garcian comes to grips with his identity, realizing that he was the assassin, Emir Parkreiner. As he uncovers weapons belonging to the deceased members of the syndicate, it dawns on him that “Killer7″was merely a façade—all personas were just extensions of Garcian under Harman’s influence, with the others having perished long ago.

7 Prototype

Are You Who You Think You Are?

At the outset of Prototype, Alex Mercer awakens with no recollection of his past and discovers he has frightening new abilities. Amid his quest for answers, he learns shocking truths: he is the creator of the Blacklight virus and, crucially, he is dead.

Mercer’s death occurs after he attempts to escape from those silencing the Blacklight project. Shot dead, his biomass merges with the unleashed virus, creating a new entity in his likeness. Thus, the Alex players control isn’t a living person but rather an avatar of the Blacklight virus, a revelation that foreshadows his transformation into the antagonist in the sequel.

6 Resident Evil Village

Mold Yourself Into Shape

The narrative of Resident Evil Village builds from the jarring events of its predecessor. After enduring severe trials, Ethan Winters reattaches his severed hand, a strange occurrence for any human. This anomaly is explained further in Village, where it becomes evident that Ethan’s resilience stems from the fact that he had already died.

Following a violent encounter with Jack Baker in Resident Evil 7, Ethan’s death leads to his reinvention as a mock human body due to the influence of Evelyn’s Mold. Consequently, he navigates both games as someone effectively deceased yet somehow still engaging in life.

5 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

You’re Dead, But Who Are “You?”

In Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the protagonist wakes to the startling truth of his death. Initially thinking he is Sissel, he later discovers that his corpse isn’t actually his; it belongs to Yomiel, an immortal man. This revelation opens a multifaceted narrative, as Sissel realizes he isn’t human but rather Yomiel’s pet cat, killed before the story unfolds.

This unique twist gives rise to an intricate mystery about identity and perception, effectively making Sissel’s death an enigma with no clear origin, which adds complexity to the overall theme.

4.Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga

A Ghost In The System

The Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, Digital Devil Saga, presents a bleak environment known as Junkyard, where its inhabitants lead emotionless lives. Yet, when the demon virus strikes, characters, including the Embryon faction, begin to experience emotions and desires. Meticulously exploring their identities reveals a critical fact: Junkyard is a simulation constructed by a character named Sera.

Protagonist Serph is revealed to be a digital copy of Serph Sheffield, long deceased. Thus, all characters within the narrative are replicas of individuals who have already passed, existing as echoes of their former selves, incorporating elements of Sera’s flawed perceptions.

3 Spirit Dangers

Work Through The End

In Spiritfarer, players follow Stella, who awakens on a raft alongside Charon, the ferryman of souls. Tasked with guiding spirits through their final journeys, the vibrant, enchanting setting belies the stark reality: Stella is on the brink of death herself.

The narrative culminates as Hades reveals her true predicament, suggesting that the adventures may be a metaphorical exploration of her emotional burdens and regrets prior to her passing. This layered storytelling sparks ambiguity about the narrative’s nature, blurring the lines between life and death.

2 The 7th Guest

Hostage Or Lost Soul?

In The 7th Guest, players embody an unspecified protagonist who awakens in the haunted Stauf Mansion, grappling with identity loss and memories of ghostly guests. Through puzzle-solving, the protagonist uncovers a dark pact made by the mansion’s owner, Henry Stauf, involving a young boy named Tad.

The twist reveals that the protagonist is actually Tad himself, having died at the hands of Stauf. Empowered by this realization, Tad gains the strength to break the curse and find peace, concluding a twisted story arc.

1 Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

Not All There

In the early stages of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Takumi/Ami Aiba faces an Eater attack, which typically results in EDEN Syndrome—a comatose state caused by data corruption. Although Aiba returns to reality, they are effectively a semi-formed consciousness made of data.

As the plot unfolds, it becomes evident that Aiba’s data form is destined for deletion, leaving their physical body in a permanent coma. In a climactic moment, Aiba exhausts their strength but is ultimately reconstructed by Alphamon, allowing them to escape oblivion. This nuanced portrayal of identity captures the intermingling of life and death in the digital realm.

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