At the start of 2022, Horizon Forbidden West left fans emotional, and it was hoped that God of War Ragnarok would do the same when it debuted in November. At the same time, many indie formats have also caught on. Stray has been making waves in both gaming and cat-loving circles.
Simple avatar control can create a strong bond between player and character. That’s why the response to high-stakes moments can be so overwhelming when a game gets things just right. There are many titles with compelling journeys, but only a few pull players in deep enough to bring tears to their eyes.
The Last Of Us Part II
In The Last of Us, players spent hours trying to survive in an apocalyptic America, alternating between Joel and Ellie, two wounded people who were afraid to form new bonds in order to lose someone. Despite themselves, they formed a deep bond, and in the game’s finale, Joel must commit heinous crimes to save Ellie.
The first game may have left the players exhausted, but hopeful for the duo. What follows is a long practice of mourning and revenge. Read also : Ubisoft has reportedly delayed the next Assassin’s Creed game until spring 2023. The somewhat controversial follow-up forced players into new and uncomfortable perspectives, but ultimately what makes it such an emotional game is how it emphasizes how grief and anger can damage someone and their ability to maintain relationships.
The Walking Dead
Telltale games were known for adapting existing well-told properties into equally immersive video games, as they did with Fables and The Wolf Among Us. See the article : Wizards of the Coast creates a video game studio led by the producer of Dragon Age. Their adaptation of The Walking Dead was successful for four seasons before the company had to close its doors.
Their Walking Dead titles feature some of the saddest deaths in gaming, incredibly engaging adventure narratives, and managed to pack an emotional punch, especially in moments where players had to make choices that had real weight along various narrative paths. In the first and arguably most emotional season, convict Lee tries to protect a young girl named Clementine in a hellish world of zombies and evil people. This unforgiving world forces players to make truly painful choices with dire consequences that follow them as they progress.
Undertale
When a human child falls through a gap in the wall into the underground, where monsters live in their own world, he must adventure through winding paths encountering all kinds of monsters. When the player encounters new enemies, they can choose to kill or spare the monsters in combat. See the article : 30 years of music at Half Shell – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News. These choices naturally affect the ending and events of each game, but some choices are so deeply felt that they affect future playthroughs as well.
There are emotional displays throughout the game, no matter how it is played. Furthermore, the characters are all so dimensional and specific that it’s easy to make connections that are challenged by later revelations. Ultimately, this is a story of choices and consequences, told with lovable quirks.
Red Dead Redemption 2
This story takes place before the events of the first game and focuses on Arthur Morgan and his trials as a member of the Van der Linde Gang in the fictional Old West. His interactions with his fellow gang members and their enemies and potential allies are filled with tension, doubt and difficult choices.
Depending on how honorably Arthur conducts his business, the ending will be affected in one of two meaningful ways, but ultimately his fate is sealed. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most popular open world games with its extensive map. For the many hours players can spend as Arthur, the attachments formed take an emotional and somewhat unexpected toll by the end.
Final Fantasy XV
Other entries in the Final Fantasy franchise, particularly FFVII, are more often considered tearjerkers, and for good reason. Final Fantasy VII has incredibly dark moments and tragic death, and some other entries put players under emotional strain.
Fans are hoping that FFXVI will improve upon Final Fantasy XV as it is not a perfect game. For all its gloom, it does a wonderful job of making players feel like they’re on one last journey with a group of compatriots before everything changes forever. It evokes the same kind of nostalgia that a movie like Stand By Me evokes, and by the end of the journey, players will definitely miss the good old days.
Death Stranding
Hotly anticipated and, to some, unfair, Death Stranding has a small but fervent fanbase that insists that the incredibly slow pace and mind-numbing repetitions add up to something powerful. Hideo Kojima’s first venture after leaving Konami was an attempt to reinvent an entirely new game genre.
Sam Bridges is actually a delivery man who has to protect a small growing baby in a tank as he makes his way through an apocalyptic USA. The game has a lot of terminology and plot twists, but at its heart is the story of protecting yourself from exploitation and rediscovering your humanity.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
With their father sick, two titular brothers Naia and Naiee must search for water from the tree of life to save him. At first glance, it looks like a typical adventure game that requires mythical creatures and puzzles to solve. The world is populated with sweet side quests.
Beneath all the fantasy trappings and adventures is a soulful story of how the people we love can shape us, guide us, and help us grow. The bond between the brothers, the memories of their missing mother and the hope to save their father make an already compelling game something more powerful.
Shadow Of The Colossus
It is sometimes cited as one of the best examples of how video games are an art form that deserves as much praise and prestige as any other. Shadow of the Colossus is all about sweeping vistas, titanic creatures, and a simple story: a boy wants to revive a girl and must complete a series of tasks to hopefully do so.
In this forgotten PlayStation 2 story-based classic, the emotional impact comes when protagonist Wander realizes the task he’s really been asked to do. The colossi he is accused of killing are peaceful creatures that he must kill if he is to find a way to bring back his lost love. Every victory feels like a terrible loss as Wander moves forward with his goal.
Gris
This game’s spell visuals and sound design are enough to put any player in an emotional state, but Gris’s story is one of self-doubt, struggle, and recovery. Combined with elements of the mother-daughter bond, the cumulative effect of Gris is majestic and memorable.
After a spectacular fall, players guide Gris back home, back to a world of color and music, and back to himself. This puzzle-filled platformer can be a quick and fun jaunt through a cute game, but there’s plenty of depth for those willing to read the symbolism and artistry.
That Dragon, Cancer
The title alone should show why this game will leave players crying. What the title doesn’t reveal is that the game is an autobiographical story about the creator’s son, Joel Green, who was diagnosed at just one year old. The game, however, is not just a walk through misery and loss, but embraces the inherent value of life.
Using elements of the point-and-click adventure game That Dragon, Cancer creates the horrific and beautiful complexity of a tragedy of this magnitude. There are happy moments and there are heartbreaking moments. You might hear it all play out, but in the end it’s a stunningly honest portrait of loss.
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Frances Hebert
(20 published articles)
