30 Most Emotional Gaming Moments That Make You Cry Every Time
All of the following emotional moments are spoilers to their respective games. If you’d rather not accidentally stumble upon a spoiler, we advise you turn back now. These are the top moments that made us all feel the feels.
He’d fought his way through countless numbers of Locusts, helped defeat General Raam, and taken the fight to the Locust stronghold underground, and he still couldn’t save his beloved Maria. As Dom apologized profusely to Maria, it’s difficult to hold it together.
We only knew her for all of about 20 minutes, but that was enough for us to see the relationship that Joel and his daughter had in The Last of Us. Watching her die in Joel’s arms was too much to watch, and a heck of a shock to start the game off on.
Lee’s final moments with Clementine were touching. Having essentially adopted her at the very beginning of your adventure, and Lee saving her in the final episode, it just felt wrong for the game to go the way it did. As Lee guided Clementine through her escape from the room, past the zombie, we held back the tears, knowing Clem was going on her own.
Spec Ops: The Line put you in the shoes of a US soldier, and gave you a very real look at war. In doing so, it put you in some particularly uncomfortable positions, white phosphorus being one of them. Walking through the destruction and pain that you just caused was pretty messed up, and you’d walk away feeling way too much guilt and remorse for the actions you just took.
Dom was our brother in Gears of War. He’d been with us through thick and thin, searching for his beloved Maria along the way. When push comes to shove in Gears of War 3, Dom saves the day in the most heroic way possible. All the while, Mad World plays in the background. Farewell brother.
Rachel Amber was an elusive character in Life is Strange. We never saw her, but the way Chloe talked about her obviously showed how much she cared about her. So, when you do find her, and it’s not good news, it’s understandable that everyone involved, including yourself, is going to be bawling with tears.
Actual Sunlight was a tough metaphorical pill to swallow. At every corner it put up some depressing resistance to our attempts to turn this situation around. It was only toward the end that we realized our resistance was futile, and there was only one way this was gonna go.
Having watched John Marston complete task after task just to settle down with his family, only to be put to an untimely end, was grueling. Particularly the scene in which he is found by his family.
Vesemir had been a teacher to Geralt for many years and had seen him become the epic Witcher he was from his beginnings as a small child. Essentially a father figure, Vesemir’s death in The Witcher 3 was a true turning point in Geralt’s fight against the Wild Hunt.
Recommended Videos
Spoiler Warning
All of the following emotional moments are spoilers to their respective games. If you'd rather not accidentally stumble upon a spoiler, we advise you turn back now.
Dom Finds Maria - Gears of War 2
He'd fought his way through countless numbers of Locusts, helped defeat General Raam, and taken the fight to the Locust stronghold underground, and he still couldn't save his beloved Maria. As Dom apologized profusely to Maria, it's difficult to hold it together.
Joel's Daughter - The Last of Us
We only knew her for all of about 20 minutes, but that was enough for us to see the relationship that Joel and his daughter had in The Last of Us. Watching her die in Joel's arms was too much to watch, and a heck of a shock to start the game off on.
Lee's Final Moments with Clementine - The Walking Dead
Lee's final moments with Clementine were touching. Having essentially adopted her at the very beginning of your adventure, and Lee saving her in the final episode, it just felt wrong for the game to go the way it did. As Lee guided Clementine through her escape from the room, past the zombie, we held back the tears, knowing Clem was going on her own.
White Phosphorus - Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line put you in the shoes of a US soldier, and gave you a very real look at war. In doing so, it put you in some particularly uncomfortable positions, white phosphorus being one of them. Walking through the destruction and pain that you just caused was pretty messed up, and you'd walk away feeling way too much guilt and remorse for the actions you just took.
Dom's Farewell - Gears of War 3
Dom was our brother in Gears of War. He'd been with us through thick and thin, searching for his beloved Maria along the way. When push comes to shove in Gears of War 3, Dom saves the day in the most heroic way possible. All the while, Mad World plays in the background. Farewell brother.
Finding Rachel - Life is Strange
Rachel Amber was an elusive character in Life is Strange. We never saw her, but the way Chloe talked about her obviously showed how much she cared about her. So, when you do find her, and it's not good news, it's understandable that everyone involved, including yourself, is going to be bawling with tears.
The Inevitability - Actual Sunlight
Actual Sunlight was a tough metaphorical pill to swallow. At every corner it put up some depressing resistance to our attempts to turn this situation around. It was only toward the end that we realized our resistance was futile, and there was only one way this was gonna go.
John Marston's End - Red Dead Redemption
Having watched John Marston complete task after task just to settle down with his family, only to be put to an untimely end, was grueling. Particularly the scene in which he is found by his family.
The Canon Ending - Life is Strange
We'd rewound time, changed the decisions we made, and sought out every possible solution and yet we still came to the very same decision to make at the end. Many people call the sacrifice of Chloe as the canon ending as the cutscenes that follow seem a lot more thought out, and hot damn did they hit us right in the feels.
Aeris' Death - Final Fantasy VII
Aeris' death in Final Fantasy VII still to this date resonates. Having spent hours getting to know her and fighting with her, watching Sephiroth shove a massive blade through her was just too tough to watch.
Vesemir's Death - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Vesemir had been a teacher to Geralt for many years and had seen him become the epic Witcher he was from his beginnings as a small child. Essentially a father figure, Vesemir's death in The Witcher 3 was a true turning point in Geralt's fight against the Wild Hunt.
Saying Goodbye to Your Friends - Persona 4 Golden
Having spent so much time with your friends in Person 4 Golden, it's tough to bid them farewell. You may not be together anymore, but at least you'll always have the memories.
Tidus and Yuna's Farewell - Final Fantasy X
Having followed both Tidus and Yuna on their beautiful journey as they fell in love with each other, only to realize they were destined to never be together was crushing. As their goodbye came to an end, it just felt wrong that they were no longer together.
The Opening 10 Minutes - Firewatch
The opening to Firewatch sets the scene for the rest of the game, and goes a long way in explaining why you're out in the wilderness. However, its heart-wrenching tale of your wife's dwindling health is what really makes these opening scenes ones you won't forget.
The Limping Horse - Shadow of the Colossus
As Wander and Agro near the dwelling place of Malus, the last colossus, they come to an ancient bridge in a deep valley. As they begin to cross it, the bridge starts crumbling underneath them and, sensing the danger, Agro sacrifices himself in order to allow Wander to continue. A true companion.
The Opening - Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forest's opening few scenes tell the story of Ori being found and cared for by Narus, as the forest starts to wither and die around you. It's a very sombre beginning to a beautifully told story.
Kenny and Clem's Ending - The Walking Dead Season 2
Kenny's sacrifice at the end of The Walking Dead Season 2 and his parting with Clementine was just as emotional as the ending of the first game. Heck, he even gave up his hat for the baby!
Pancake Party - That Dragon, Cancer
Picking one moment from the emotional roller coaster ride that was That Dragon, Cancer is a challenge, but not getting choked up watching its ending is another challenge in itself.
Fetch's Brother - inFamous First Light
As Brent Walker died in the arms of Fetch, the whole reason for her being the way she was became perfectly clear, and made us pitty the pink-haired superhero.
Mordin's Death - Mass Effect 3
As Mordin died, at peace with his work on the genophage modification project, we shed a solitary tear. Whether he died on Tuchanka or during the suicide mission, it still hurt all the same. Goodnight, sweet prince!
Cortana's End - Halo 4
Having watched Chief and Cortana go on many adventures together, it felt all too abrupt for the partnership to be broken at the end of Halo 4. Knowing that Cortana had sacrificed herself to save Chief, though, made it all the worse.
Murdering the Goat Mom - Undetale
The goat mom of Undertale was only trying to keep us safe. But she forced us to attack her and, no matter what we did, we murdered her. We'll never forgive ourselves and the feels will forever run deep.
The Platypus Story - To the Moon
Hearing the story of the stuffed Platypus, makes this sad story about memory-loss all the more painful. Having won it at a mini-game many years ago when he was a child, Johnny had given it to River, who grew very fond of it. A little short and soppy story, perhaps, but one that makes the heartbreak all the worse? Definitely.
Bloodwing - Borderlands
The bond between Mordecai and Bloodwing was one stronger than many others out there. So when Bloodwing goes, leaving Mordecai without his soul companion, your emotions are sure to take a beating.
Letting Go - Dead Space 2
Watching Isaac have to let go of his love, Nicole, was tough to watch. The game had repeatedly touched on what could've been with Nicole in one messed up way or another. So to watch Isaac accept that he needed to let go of her to be himself again was a deep moment. Especially considering he often seemed to consider her the only thing keeping him together.
Jenny's Death - The Darkness
Jenny's death in The Darkness alone wasn't emotional, but the quiet moment you shared with her prior to this is what makes this scene all the more powerful. Having seen how Jackie and Jenny were together made the fact that Jackie watched her head blown off all the worse.
Atlus the Puppet Master - Bioshock
While not like a lot of the other entries on our list, Atlus' betrayal stuck with us. Not because he killed anyone we loved, but the only person we could trust, and essentially call our friend in the messed up city of Rapture turned out to be the bad guy all along. He'd been using us for his own gain, and that, that really made us feel crappy.
The Lie - The Last of Us
The Last of Us ended on a pretty poignant note, with Joel telling a lie to Ellie and swearing he was telling the truth just so that he could keep her around and not lose her to the Fireflies. It's a powerful scene and one which brings up a ton of questions over the morals of Joel, but it still caught us off guard.
The Single Balloon - Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain starts off by telling the unfortunate end of Jason Mars. Despite the countless 'Press circle for Jason' memes, the sight of the balloon slowly drifting upwards among the cars was particularly impactful, turning what should be something associated with happiness to one of sorrow.
But Our Princess Is In Another Castle - Mario
You cry every time.
About the author
Chris Jecks
Chris is the Managing Editor of Twinfinite. Chris has been with the site and covering the games media industry for eight years. He typically covers new releases, FIFA, Fortnite and any good shooters for the site, and loves nothing more than a good Pro Clubs session with the lads. Chris has a History degree from the University of Central Lancashire. He spends his days eagerly awaiting the release of BioShock 4.
