Video games have matured as a storytelling medium, and that inevitably means that the well-developed playable protagonists face death, loss, and heartbreak along their journey. The most heartbreaking death scenes in video games combine graphics, music, dialogue, storyline and character personality in order to heighten the emotional impact on players.
Certain genres do lend themselves more to a gut-wrenching death scene than others. Shooters are, of course, a genre where death abounds, and the rich storytelling of RPGs allow players to develop an emotional connection to the characters. Whether it’s a character that’s been known for the entire game or one that is only playable for a brief period, the connection forged through the stories makes their deaths hard-hitting and difficult to accept.
10 Soap MacTavish (Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3)
When Modern Warfare protagonist Captain Price first meets Soap, he calls him a “muppet” and asks him how he managed to pass training. But over the course of three games, Soap becomes Price’s most trusted friend. When he heartbreakingly dies in Modern Warfare 3, there is a brief moment where Price screams in agony at the loss of his brother in arms, the scene held up by brilliant voice acting. This is open warfare, however, and the game leaves little time to dwell on Soap’s death before getting on with things.
9 Starkiller (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, light side ending)
Starkiller is Darth Vader’s apprentice and the main protagonist of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. If the player chooses to spare Darth Vader in the game’s climax, Starkiller will sacrifice himself to save the rebels, becoming a martyr for the group that he once led. As Darth Vader stands over Starkiller’s corpse and announces his death, he tries to sound as impassive as possible, however, there is an undeniable hint of despair in Vader’s voice, knowing that he has lost the only person powerful enough to help him defeat Palpatine. In a poignant touch, Starkiller’s family crest becomes the Rebellion’s insignia.
8 Ghost and Roach (Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
In a scene that could also be considered one of the greatest video game betrayals, these two brave soldiers are murdered by their own commander in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Lieutenant-General Shepherd is motivated by the idea of becoming a national hero and is ruthless in achieving his goal. The emotional impact of the scene is enhanced by the masterful combination of various elements: the too-little-too-late despair of Ghost when Roach is shot, the look of sheer contempt in the eyes of Shepherd, and the outreached arm of Roach proving he didn’t die from the gunshot wound, but from being doused in gasoline and burned along with Ghost.
7 Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy 15)
The Final Fantasy series had already dabbled with the idea of a heroine who willingly leads herself to sacrifice for the greater good in the tenth mainline game in the series. However, while FF10’s story takes a turn, Prince Noctis has no such luck. There is a strong sense of ancient Greek-style Fate in Noctis’ death. Noctis must give his life to ascend as king and bring peace to his people, a destiny which he stoically accepts, urging his friends to continue walking tall without him. However, the true anguish is that of King Regis, who has the unenviable task of delivering the killing blow to his own son.
6 Mordin Solus (Mass Effect 3)
Mordin is one of Mass Effect’s wise and hard-working, although sometimes amoral, Salarian scientists. He takes the agonizing decision to sacrifice himself in order for his life’s work – a cure for the Krogan genophage – to be fulfilled. Mordin wants to correct his errors, but laments the circumstances: “Couldn’t let anyone else do it… Had to be me. Would have liked to see how it ends.” What makes the scene particularly heartbreaking is that William Salyers delivers a brilliant performance with a flawless combination of fear, acceptance, and resolve through his impeccable voice acting.
5 Ethan Winters (Resident Evil Village)
Resident Evil Village is a fine example of how great voice acting and modern graphics can elevate a video game’s storytelling. Hearing the protagonist Ethan choke up at the end of the game as he says farewell to his baby daughter, whom he has fought so hard to save, is enough to leave a lump in any gamer’s throat. The emotional blows don’t stop there, though, as Chris struggles to assimilate the loss and can’t find the words to explain to Mia why her husband isn’t coming back. Thanks to RE8’s superior graphics, the facial expressions combined with the top-notch voice acting really sell the sense of despair and loss in this scene between Chris and Mia.
4 Joel Miller (The Last Of Us 2)
While Joel’s death was necessary for TLOU2, there was still a feeling of senselessness behind it. The post-apocalyptic world of The Last Of Us is one where chaos reigns and any sense of morality is at a premium. Abby knows that Joel killed her father, setting her on a revenge mission that would take his life in recompense and trigger the events of The Last of Us 2. Troy Baker does a brilliant job as Joel, transmitting the agony of his brutal beating, but it’s the anguished screams of Ellie, voiced by Ashley Johnson, and the connection of the players to both characters that makes this one of the most heartbreaking deaths in any video game.
3 Dom Santiago (Gears Of War 3)
Most heartbreaking video game deaths usually fall into one of two groups: murders or self-sacrifices to save others. Dom Santiago’s death in Gears Of War 3 is probably the most poignant example of the latter. Dom is a brave soldier who has already suffered the pain of losing his family, even having to euthanize his own wife, and it is her he thinks of as he makes his last stand, choking up as he says, “Never thought it would end like this, huh? Huh, Maria?” The true tearjerker, however, is the music: an instrumental version of Mad World as Dom goes up in flames in slow motion.
2 Sarah Miller (The Last Of Us)
Sarah stretches the definition of a playable character, as she is only usable for the first 10 minutes of the game, but her death is a shocking and devastating moment that sets the emotional tone for The Last Of Us. After briefly endearing herself to players, Sarah is senselessly murdered by a soldier reluctantly following orders from above. There is resignation in the soldier’s voice as he sighs into his radio, “Sir, there’s a little girl. But… Yes, sir.” There is probably no greater pain than that of a parent who outlives their offspring, and Joel has barely a few seconds to assimilate the situation before facing his new reality.
1 Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy 7)
Final Fantasy 7 doesn’t boast detailed graphics or voice acting as storytelling aids. What it does have is one of the most stunning game soundtracks ever. From an ominous number hinting at the player’s inexorable march towards tragedy, to Aerith’s slow and somber theme, which plays through the cutscene and the following boss fight, Nobuo Uematsu’s score is a huge part of what makes this death, and FF7 overall, so hard-hitting. Combined with Aerith’s charming personality, which helped bring out a more empathetic side of Cloud, and the fact that she was the planet’s last true hope of defeating Sephiroth, makes this gaming’s most iconic and heartbreaking playable character death.
