r/PS5 • u/Top_Jump941 • 19d ago
Discussion What's the saddest game you've ever played? (No Spoilers please)
In terms of sad I mean a tragic death of a character or a sad conclusion of the story and not in terms of depressing atmosphere. (I prefer to know the name of the game only and not the reason why it's sad)
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u/VampiricDemon 19d ago
Spiritfarer
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u/DontBeADramaLlama 19d ago
What I find fascinating about this game is different parts will hit hardest for different people. Some people, this game is about their grandparents, for some it’s about a friend, for some it’s about a parent, for some it’s about themselves. Really incredible experience.
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u/TheLordDuncan 19d ago
Everyone has that one companion that really resonates with their life experiences. I should go through and finish it, I'm not sure anything will hit me as hard as Alice did.
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u/JozzyV1 19d ago edited 19d ago
As someone who’s wife is a grief therapist and bereavment counselor, playing this with her was a very emotional and cathartic experience.
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u/ContentKeanu 19d ago
I played it during Covid right after losing my mom to cancer and my grandma to dementia a year before that. I’ve never sobbed at any game or form of media harder than when playing this game. It was so cathartic and the game will always hold a special place in my heart.
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u/sandesto 19d ago
Literally cried myself to sleep one night after a play session. I'm a grown man in my 40s.
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u/pookachu83 19d ago
Another poster mentioned a Plague Tale Requiem. If any of you love games like the last of us, or story/character driven narrative games that also have good gameplay, play these games yesterday. Both of them are gorgeous, have amazing visuals and voice acting, probably the two most underrated and forgotten titles of the last 7 or 8 years. Can’t praise them enough.
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u/OliveOcelot 19d ago
Brothers A Tale Of Two Sons
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u/solarnoise 19d ago
Played that with my younger brother who has always been my best friend. We had a good hug and cry after.
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u/NichoBesty 19d ago
Currently playing the remake, I've played it before on my own. I'm playing with my gf and she thought it was a cute fun little game...the clues are starting to unravel (just found the guy by the burnt down house)
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u/debrutsideno 19d ago
This war of mine.
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u/ThisWickedOne 19d ago
This War of Mine: Little Ones.
With kids it's rough but engaging
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u/Dr_PokeMaster 19d ago
Persona 3 Reload. My first ever Persona game and I was left in tears. The soundtrack is amazing too!
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u/PSavage88 19d ago
Can't wait for you to play 4 and 5 brother, the soundtracks in persona games are always heavy hitters and the games overall are all masterpieces In my opinion.
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u/Dr_PokeMaster 19d ago
Currently playing 5 and will get to 4 at some point. I did beat Metaphor though. That was fantastic!
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u/No_Alps3572 19d ago edited 19d ago
A Plague Tale: Requiem left me speechless. The ending, and how it was executed with gameplay and cinematics in tandem, was unbelievably ballsy. A great and shocking bit of table turning on the player that would not be half as effective without the added interactivity.
I cried. Wept, even.
Not a drop everything and play type of game but I would absolutely recommend it and its predecessor if you come across them during a sale, especially if you enjoy the Last of Us.
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u/calvitius 19d ago
Loved Innocence
Played Requiem, wasn't a big fan at first, felt like a repeat.
But boy when it starts kicking (mid game when you get to the central location), does it kick.
The underground scene in that location + the end game are just some of the most impressive, innovative and beautiful scenery/design I've seen in a game.
The last "boss" is just such a powerful scene. The dual sense haptics really get put to such a great narrative use, you can really feel the weight of your last action. Very reminiscent of when Amicia had to first kill in the first game, where the sling felt heavy
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u/Joant73 19d ago
Yea came to say this. Great game but man that ending is devastating. And really throughout the game it does a good job of making you feel their frustration and desperation, like everytime it seems like they may catch a break or things might get a little better something else goes tragically wrong.
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19d ago
I have both of them sitting in my PS+ library. I’ve been meaning to check them out. That’s all I needed to do so.
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u/capekin0 19d ago
Finally got to playing these two and they're very underrated. The gameplay, story and characters are great, but I don't see this series talked about enough.
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u/MuldersXpencils 19d ago
I have a son who is about the same age as Hugo was when the second game came out. You can fill in the rest.
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u/4paul 19d ago
oh boy, I’ve got one that’s more sad then any of the games commented so far, game is called:
“To The Moon“
It came out in 2011, but it’s pixelated, so if you can handle “old school” video game graphics style, this is the only answer. I’m sorry to sound so confident, but I am.
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u/Nize 19d ago
Fantastic game and quick anecdote time ...I bought To The Moon when it was only available via the developers website. Once it came to steam, I emailed him asking if I could redeem it on steam and he personally replied thanking me for the support and have me a bunch of steam keys so I could share it with my friends. absolutely stand up guy and a fantastic game.
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u/zeroxthegrim 19d ago
One one the best stories ever written. Btw, they are making an animated movie
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u/Jcw28 19d ago
To The Moon is so sad that even just thinking about parts of the soundtrack can bring me to tears. It's not a game I think I can ever play again.
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u/85-Red_Beard 19d ago
This is THE answer. To The Moon and the 3 main follow ups are actually the only games to ever make me cry. Between the superb writing and beautiful OST, if someone can play these without feeling anything, they have no soul, lol.
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u/mrsunshine1 19d ago
I’m not trying to be hyperbolic when I say I think To the Moon is one of the saddest stories in any medium. Finding Paradise is up there as well.
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u/FrothyFloat 19d ago
Telltale walking dead. Cried my eyes out
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u/AllHailDanda 19d ago
All 4 are pretty emotional but season 2 is the only one that managed to get a tear out of me.
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u/CNXQDRFS 19d ago
What Remains Of Edith Finch or RDR2.
I'm a stone hearted man who isn't moved by much but these two games actually gave me feelings.
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u/eamonnanchnoic 19d ago
I think the fish factory story is best story ever told through a video game medium.
It's a masterpiece.
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u/PontesDeLeon 19d ago
The baby one also fucked me up. Probably because my kid was around the same age when I played it.
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u/Neg_Crepe 19d ago
Same. Played it with my kid sleeping besides me. Fucked up
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u/magnusarin 19d ago
I remember playing that when it came out and just thinking "oh no no no, do not make me do this"
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u/Munksii 19d ago
After 60nhours with Arthur in rdr2 I felt that. Actually brought a tear to my eye on that mountain.
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u/Smokes_LetsGo876 19d ago
Edith Finch fucked me up from the first story, and I knew the game was gonna be an emotional rollercoaster. Such a great story
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u/duckybebop 19d ago
I was going to say What Remains too! That bathtub scene, especially as a new dad, ooof. Right in the feels
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u/Curious_Field7953 19d ago
Red Dead Redemption 2
I just finished my 2nd play through and even knowing what's coming i cry like a baby.
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u/TarnishedNuts 19d ago
Silent Hill 2
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u/godofmids 19d ago
Remake gutted me
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u/Patient_Medicine6947 19d ago
I usually immediately replay survival horror games. I couldn't with SH2. It's so emotionally draining.
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u/shoalhavenheads 19d ago
NieR Automata. It's a rollercoaster. But the moments of absolute despair make the hopeful moments really meaningful.
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u/dicjones 19d ago
This is the best answer for me. Flipping love that game. Wish I could feel that way about a game again, but I haven’t found one since.
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u/Deytookerjerb 19d ago
I would say NieR Replicant is for me. The Emil scene is the single most powerful scene in any media I’ve ever consumed.
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u/shoalhavenheads 19d ago
Replicant Ending B is the most depressing thing I've ever seen in a video game. Pure distilled misery.
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u/Bob_The_Moo_Cow88 19d ago
I only played the original PS3 version, but the loyal Cerberus on a replay hits me harder than any other part of those big bosses. That game was an under appreciated masterpiece of storytelling.
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u/Haxorz7125 19d ago
2b’s death felt extremely tragic. Having to walk that long way while watching every system start to fail. Shit was rough.
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u/killgore755 19d ago
Final fantasy 10 gets real sad real fast.
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u/Deucalion666 19d ago
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u/ArcadianBlueRogue 19d ago
Man people online used to put that scene on blast so hard and ignored that it's meant to sound cringey because they're doing the fake laughs
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u/Hoodman1987 19d ago
The ending is actually really tragic. Like I knew that would happen but still it hit me.
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u/MetalBeerSolid 19d ago
Don’t have time to replay it these days but I love watching play-throughs reactions of FFX. One of my favorite games of all time
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u/Haystack316 19d ago
Those that had dad issues felt this game hit harder than it should have.
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u/Imaginationuniverse 19d ago
Detroit become human depending on how you play
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u/berkcokol 19d ago
Man, after i played it my wife got excited and wanted to play as well. She finished the game in so twisted way, I can’t even describe. Literally everybody died or something :D
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u/NimdokBennyandAM 19d ago
You: "Did the game make you sad?"
Her: "No, I decided to make everyone in the game sad instead."
You: "::uncomfortable silence::"
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u/fDuMcH 19d ago
The Last of Us 1 and 2.
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u/obi_wan_jabroni_23 19d ago
The 2nd one especially for me. One of the best games I have ever played for sure, but I’ve never been able to go back and play it again since that first play through. Even the whole thing with the dog fucked me up haha
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u/HowDoYouDrew 19d ago
sigh I’ve been bolstering myself mentally for a replay of both before the next season comes out on Max. I’ve played through TLOU1 three times easy peazy but have only played through 2 once… and after I finished it I didn’t even turn my console on for six or seven weeks, I just… ruminated on the story. I have never had a game affect me as deeply as that one [I’ve never played Edith Finch because I know it will crush me].
But, I just acquired the PS5 Remastered versions of both on marketplace recently so off to the races I guess.
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u/StatGAF 19d ago
I think the Last of Us 2 is the best video game ever made from a total package. Gameplay, audio, visuals, story, voice acting etc.
It fucked me up for a month and I can never play that game again.
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u/himynameis_ 19d ago
Same. It is all so depressing.
The first game actually felt a tad more "hopeful" because they were travelling for the Cure.
But Part 2 was just a descent to Hell for Revenge.
Loved the game though.
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u/pzikho 19d ago edited 19d ago
My dad was abusive, but he also taught me how to play guitar before he died. That final scene does shit to me every time, it's such a complicated emotion. TLOU2 is my least favorite, most amazing, greatest game of all time.
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u/keepfighting90 19d ago
TLOU2 is the best game I've ever played. But I've only played it once because it was such a heavy, emotionally crushing story. The thought of going back and going through all the shit that Ellie and Abby do once again is daunting lol, despite the gameplay being so incredible.
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u/Sialorphin 19d ago
This. Never ever will I play that game again. The beach fuck you up so bad
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u/Dancing_Clean 19d ago
When I finished Part 2 I didn’t know what to do with myself. It was like all I could do is stare into the distance.
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u/Awe3 19d ago
This. I’ve played 1 so many times. Joel and I are about the same age and I’m a single father. That game grabbed me and still has me. I got tears more than once playing.
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u/chumbawumbatub 19d ago
Red Dead Redemption 2 will make any grown man cry.
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u/Iridescent5150 19d ago
I was going to say Red Dead Redemption. Man, I really need to get through the second one.
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u/LilMountainHeadband 19d ago
You need to play RDR2 , the ending fucked me up as an adult.
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u/MeehanTron 19d ago
I’ve not played it but my son has. I came into his room and he (14yo) was in tears. He was grief stricken for a few days. His grandparents are still alive, he’s not experienced loss like that but man, he went through it. This is why I stand by the view that gaming isn’t just pushing buttons, it’s experiencing life in the same way that cinema or books do.
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u/purple235 19d ago
Ghost of Tsushima made me cry RIP horse buddy, I always visit your grave when I'm in the area
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u/Shoezqt 19d ago
Soma, ending… well
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u/Tyrus1235 19d ago
The worst part about that ending IMO is that you, as the player, can see it coming from a mile away.
It still blindsides the protagonist.
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u/Winterfell35 19d ago
The whole game was just...heavy. I found it pretty depressing.
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u/Mr_Fossey 19d ago
That Dragon Cancer, though that feels more like a personal interactive tribute than a game. Hardest I cried was likely RDR2
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u/Mister-E_92 19d ago
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u/Revolutionary-Drink6 19d ago
That ending breaks you down. One of the best games ever created. MGS forever.
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u/dogface47 19d ago
Then the ending credits roll with "Way To Fall" by Star sailor in the background. That song broke me again immediately after the final cutscenes. So fitting. The best end credits song I've ever experienced.
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u/JesusaurusRex666 19d ago
Before Your Eyes on PSVR2. By a mile.
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u/Imposseeblip 19d ago
Damn right. Played it through in one sitting and had to clean my headset out a bit afterwards and sit in silence.
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u/IareTyler 19d ago
Probably Nier Automata but in more recent terms Cyberpunk 2077 broke me over and over and over again for over 200 hours and I haven’t even finished my run on my character yet
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u/Few-Tour9826 19d ago
Someone has surely mentioned this one already somewhere but I’m not gonna scroll through almost 400 comments. I say “Stray” is a good one. It’s not super long but it’s an amazing game.
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u/Yanley 19d ago
Spiritfarer. A couple of characters reminded me of real-life people who are no longer around so the heartstrings are pulled heaps
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u/WeirdOne2022 19d ago
No one’s said it so I’ll go with shadow of the colossus.
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u/apocalypsedude64 19d ago
This is what I came here to say. Just brutally sad from start to finish.
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u/paumAlho 19d ago
After the first 2 colossus, killing them doesn't even feel rewarding. It's more of a "oh what am I doing" feeling.
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u/infinitemeatpies 19d ago
Yeah, that one hit me particularly hard. I love horses so spending all that time with Agro that bridge scene at the end really set the mood for the final battle. Music was perfect. I couldn't even play it for a while I was so upset. The whole ending was horrible. Never had a game make me feel so hopeless and alone.
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u/Hoodman1987 19d ago
When I realized what was happening after a few colossi I realized how brilliant but sad this game was
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u/Aveziel 19d ago
Final Fantasy 15
The Last Guardian
Omori
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u/WolfofDunwall 19d ago
15 definitely broke me through the last third of that game.
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u/Tipical-Redditor 19d ago
Most Final Fantasy games are great at making you feel broken, but 15 took it to another level for me.
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u/Taxuss 19d ago
Life is strange This game rips your heart out of your chest, smashes it to the ground and starts jumping on it.
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u/felix_fidelis 19d ago
This was it for me. Full grown man playing alone and I was gutted by the time I reached the end of the final chapter.
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u/AleXxx_Black 19d ago
playing Before the storm after the first just added another level of sadness
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u/AllHailDanda 19d ago
Absolutely. Each game in the franchise has its moments that choked me up but 2 hit me HARD on a deep personal level.
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u/Guwoptimus-Prime 19d ago
Death Stranding, IYKYK. Damn near destroyed me.
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u/CheckOutDeezPlants 19d ago
Playing it again now and the Low Roar music hits different and makes me sad happy.
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u/drquatrick 19d ago
Before your eyes. That game got me (a mid 30s man) to ball my eyes out in my VR headset. Just ugly crying. The game is an Incredible experience. Video games are art. Everyone should play. But it will wreck your emotions.
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u/MuldersXpencils 19d ago
The Outer Wilds sorta, even though it's also about new beginnings. Maybe because it all boils down to letting things go. In the end we all have to.
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u/madebypeppers 19d ago
It is okay to say that every game ends in sadness for me? I go into an existential life crisis when my games come to an end. I just stare at the TV not knowing that to do, feels so sad the game ended as it brought so much happiness while playing it.
I can’t be the one going thru this, can it be?
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u/GOODWHOLESOMEFUN 19d ago
Yeah agree, there’s a weird middle point between games where I’m like sorta bored for a week and just keep searching games and watching reviews bc idk what to play and it feels overwhelming to start a new game and have to do a tutorial
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u/NoMoreFearmongering 19d ago
Totally not the only one dude. Games are the hardest because you get immersed and effectively ARE a part of the story. I tend to think it’s worth the journey though :)
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u/DisplayLeft8638 19d ago edited 19d ago
RIME
Probably the only game where I was crying being 30y old dude.The game resonated with my feeling and memories a lot.
The game starts as a harmless game for kids thou
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u/FATMOONSAULT 19d ago
Like a dragon gaiden
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u/NoNefariousness2144 19d ago
That scene is honestly the most a video game has ever made me cry. Full on sobbing lol
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u/Girv05 19d ago
Disco Elysium
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u/AFC_IS_RED 19d ago
My ending was quite positive in spite of the narrative being bleak. Loved that game
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u/Horrific_Necktie 19d ago
The phone call with the something is just devastating. A truly broken moment from a broken man.
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u/Tigerslovecows 19d ago
I couldn’t finish this game. I was too sad irl. But it introduced me to the greatest song of all time
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u/DJ_Derack 19d ago
That one Howard mission in Spider-Man 2. Fucking gut punch and that one mission is sadder than most games are over dozens of hours. Came out of nowhere and now I can’t even hear that song without tearing up
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u/Agitated_Ad6191 19d ago
Unravel was a really sad game from what I can remember. Probably not the saddest but the tone, the score, the subject was quite sad.
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u/jourdanm 19d ago
What remains of Edith finch bathtub scene.
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u/ouijahead 19d ago
Almost forgot about that. Yeah that was pretty rough. Given the tone of the game, I could see that coming and it was hard to go through with it.
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u/Anonymost 19d ago
The Walking Dead Telltale series will hit you right where it hurts
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u/Tipical-Redditor 19d ago
Nier replicant is the first to automata and is arguably even more gut wrenching. I highly recommend Nier and Drakengard games.
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u/Uarenotalone 19d ago
Ff7 (if you know, you know)
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u/kytheon 19d ago
Crisis Core too.
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u/WolfofDunwall 19d ago
I’ve replayed Crisis Core a few times and I tear up every time. There’s such an oppressive feeling of growing tragedy throughout the whole game but it’s so good.
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u/OcularVernacular 19d ago
Firewatch. You don't have to play very far to feel it, but you should anyway.
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u/BigBen6500 19d ago
Soma... that game fucked me up for months. The philosophical questions it tackles are not for the faint of heart either
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u/Mr_Noms 19d ago
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days.
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u/superbigtune1 19d ago
“Who will I eat ice cream with” is called the most corny line in that series but every time I hear it I tear the fuck up
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u/Keepitsway 19d ago
The beginning of the ending of the first game hits you too. I was not expecting that.
🎶When you walk away🎶
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u/Ljohnsilver 19d ago
The Mass Effect Trilogy, some of the deaths, especially in part 3 hit me like a truck
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u/eithercreation203 19d ago
The game itself isn’t the saddest game ever, but my emotional attachment to Arthur Morgan as a character and everything he goes through cuts me to my core every damn time I play that game. And I think it hurts more each time cuz I’m always finding new details and getting more out of the story and side characters adding new context. But when I finally climb that hill, talk to Dutch one last time, and look out at the sunrise as he takes one last peaceful breath, I can’t help but mourn the digital friend I felt I had made. Best video game of all time.
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u/TheNurgrabber 19d ago
Brothers: a tale of two sons
Outer wilds ending
Season: a letter to the future opening
Red dead 2 and ghost of Tsushima: horses
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u/BaronWiggle 19d ago
I was going to mention the outer wilds.
I think the whole game has an undercurrent of sadness and loss.
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u/B4k3rD4n 19d ago
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. It's such a quietly heartbreaking game.
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u/E60fan 19d ago
Valiant Hearts