Video games have the special power to create deep emotions, taking you into worlds of joy, sadness and just about everything in between. And these interactive stories — many times, they really stick with players, they connect to players on a very personal level. Whether it’s tragedy or triumph, the following games have impressed people with the ability to tell their stories in some way that stays with you long after the credits roll. Here, we will take a look at some of the most emotional game stories ever.
1. The Last of Us
The Last of Us is one of the most critically and emotionally impactful stories in the history of gaming.
Heartbreaking Journey: The emotional beating of the game is between Joel and Ellie. Joel’s journey from a hardened survivor to that of the father who is looking after Ellie, breaks your heart.
Tragic Loss: The game is about loss and trauma, the story about Joel’s backstory and what happened to his daughter. Heartbreak makes the emotional stakes feel real because these are the moments that are so heartbreakingly real.
Themes of Sacrifice and Redemption: So beautifully it builds themes of loss, sacrifice, and redemption that will leave you feeling as though you had no choice but to make the right one in an unforgiving world.
2. Journey
Journey is a simple, beautiful and thought provoking adventure that will make you feel all the emotion you want.
Silent Storytelling: Journey is a tale told without dialogue within the typical storytelling process and as such, it utilizes an exploration style, beautiful landscapes and subtle interaction to tell the story.
Isolation and Connection: This game examines the concept of loneliness and the shorter, but telling, connections that people make with other people throughout their journey.
Emotional Payoff: And then the moment to complete your journey is deeply emotional moment that stays with players as they celebrate human connection and beauty.
3. Undertale
It’s a fun breakout of narrative broken expectations that plays like Black and White with heart.
Character Depth: The characters within the game are both charming and tragic yet many of them have elaborate backstories that will conjure up real empathy.
Moral Choices: In Undertale players are met with choices that affect the story, and the emotional pay off that comes with their impact.
Endings That Matter: So there will be a variety of outcomes for each characters journey through undertake, many of which provide extremely powerful emotional moments.
4. Life is Strange
Life is Strange is known for its emotional story, and heartbreakingly relatable people.
Emotional Consequences: All these themes are guaranteed to hit Jack hit on these issues in the game, and will draw players into a very personal, emotional journey; not a cakewalk by any means.
Choice and Impact: Life is Strange does a fantastic job of making every decision feel emotionally charged because it’s telling you that the smallest choice you make has a ripple effect, and what would happen if that choice had been absolutely opposite?
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
Everything about Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sprawling western epic of emotional depth.
Tragic Characters: Like life in the Old West, Arthur Morgan’s journey to redemption and self discovery is a harrowing one; he suffers from illness, betrayal and his surroundings all are unforgiving.
Themes of Loss and Redemption: It’s a game that looks at loss; brotherhood; change—and paints a heart-warming, sorrowful picture of Arthur’s life.
Immersive Storytelling: And it has a powerful narrative, threads of quiet reflection dabbed at with an emotional hook to the decline of the outlaw era.
Conclusion
Universal human experiences, such as loss, love, sacrifice, and hope are drawn on the most in the most emotionally moving game stories, and that is translated into something that moves players. Whether through the harrowing post apocalyptic worlds like The Last of Us, or through the introspective journey of Journey, they all bring up feelings that don’t go away after we put down the controller. But these titles have shown that video games can stoop no further than a means of entertainment, as video games can be a powerful, emotional and connecting way of sharing ideas and stories.