Games that move to tears

[TheFrighter]

 Videogames often provide us many emotions. Comedy games make us laugh, action games give us excitement, horror games can be scary, and so on...

But how many games can move to tears? Yes, usually we players people are tough guys without weakness (), but sometimes a game with a good story can break the ice on our heart...

I'm refferring to games as I have no mouth and I must scream (the charachter have to sacrifice to success), or Shadow of Colossus (when you realize what are you really doing when kill the giants it's hard to remain indifferent), or the chapters 1-2 of Syberia (some scenes are very poetic in their sadness).

And you?
Are you even moved to tears by any games?

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[Click'd]

Life Is Strange might have been one. Don't remember exactly. What I can say is that there, and in Mass Effect 1, it took me a while until I could make certain decisions.

[Cassiebsg]

Uhm... I either played too little games or I'm devoid of such feelings in games... can't remember of a single one.

[Radiant]

Planescape Torment.

[KyriakosCH]

Delphine's "Another World" was very important for me, when i was 13. Because i completely identified with the main character; i felt i was banished in another world. My parents divorced that year, and there were other issues too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqz5nfocLrA

[AnasAbdin]

Cross Stitch Casper invoked emotions in me

[SilverSpook]

A few people have said they have cried (one almost threw up, and another had to stop playing for a while, then come back later) while playing Neofeud. This reviewer highlights some of quite serious themes that bring up these emotions.

This game is difficult to talk about because it is difficult to play. Not in the traditional sense; it's a Sierra-esque point-and-click adventure with pretty solid controls and charming, hand-painted art. It's difficult to play because it forces you to think about the economic and social impact that negative race relations in the United States have on people.

It doesn't have anything to do with me, so why should I care? I do care, but Neofeud showed me that I should not only care, but act.

It gave me chills and made my stomach roll. This idea as robotics and cybernetic enhancements as metaphor for race is the bedrock of Neofeud's story. It made me uncomfortable to listen to and watch...but that is the entire point. I can't turn a blind eye in the game, and I certainly can't turn a blind eye in real life.

James Spanos def said he cries every time in Primordia when a particular character dies. (I talk to him about that, as well as why that character dies the way that he does this podcast)

[ManicMatt]

Is Crispin dying a spoiler or something that happens earlier on?

[Blondbraid]

I was also moved by the first to Syberia game (I also felt on the verge of tears when the third game ended. Not because it was a sad ending, but because they seriously had the gall to end the game on a terrible cliffhanger.)

Otherwise, I think Prince of Persia from 2008 almost made me cry because of what happened in the end

Spoiler

The prince has spent the whole game trying to imprison the evil god Ahriman together with the princess Elika after Elika's father had set him free.
But it is revealed that Elika had died long before, and her father only freed Ahriman in exchange for Elika being brought back to life.
So the moment Ahriman is re-imprisoned, Elika dies, and in his grief the prince chooses to release Ahriman once more, undoing everything for the sake of Elika.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU1t2SGx35g

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I also think Valiant Hearts is a deeply touching game, and a much more human take on war than many "realistic" war games out there.

[Haggis]

There are definitely games which have made me cry with rage... (Pro Evo online you bastard ).

I am quite a weeper when it comes to movies - the last one I remember bringing me to the tears was the Hunter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgfB9kebFNI (don't read the YouTube comments - rife with spoilers)

[Kumpel]

Brothers - Tale of Two Sons was amazing and brought me literally to tears
Brothers

Also there was this inuit game called "Never Alone" which also had some emotional impact on me.
Never Alone

And finally the playstation exclusives "Journey", "Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus" are emotional masterpieces in game history.
Journey
Ico
Shadow of the Colossus

If the new game of these developers "The Last Guardian" has the same effect on players, I cannot say as I haven't played that one yet.
The Last Guardian

[Blondbraid]

I was reminded that Spec Ops: the line is one of the most gut-wrenching games I've played,
that has some pretty intense portrayals of ptsd and the horrors of war.

Plus I saw it was currently free on Humble Bundle.
https://www.humblebundle.com/store/spec-ops-the-line
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=46420.400

[nihilyst]

And finally the playstation exclusives "Journey", "Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus" are emotional masterpieces in game history.
Journey
Ico
Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus had a PS4 remaster just a month ago, and oh boy, is it beautiful. They stuck very close to the original experience (even keeping lots of the flaws), but instead of just upscaling the old graphics and putting in some new textures like in the PS3 HD collection, they basically redid the entire thing. I've played Shadow of the Colossus on the PS2, the PS3 and now again on PS4, and yes, it is one of the most majestic and haunting games I know.

[Riaise]

Uhm... I either played too little games or I'm devoid of such feelings in games... can't remember of a single one.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[Danvzare]

Quite a few games have moved me to tears, but the one that instantly comes to mind is Goodbye Deponia. That ending... I think it will sit as my number one ending for a long time.

[Klatuu]

And don't forget "To the Moon"

[Yitcomics]

Can't remember if there's any adventure games that made me move to tears, but since I played a lot of jrpg.
Tales of Xillia 2 and Final Fantasy X, both of them made me cry like a baby

[Hobo]

For some reason I feel the urge to make a game about moving (to) tears...



It usually takes a fair amount of time to really connect to characers and feel for them, at least for me. For example, the Blackwell series lasted for 5 games over a decade, so I'd imagine that quite a few people were feeling rather emotional at the end. AnasAbdin mentioned Cross Stitch Casper, but are there any other shortish AGS games that manage to evoke strong feelings?

[KyriakosCH]

The game has to be the army marching over your bridge, and making it collapse due to the vibration.

[Mr Underhill]

A part near the end of Journey. First and - IIRC - only time in a video game, but oh boy. Shivers and goosebumps and tearing up. (

[Babar]

Bastion got me a knot in my throat near the end
Brothers near the ending was similar
The Walking Dead Season 1 as well

[Stupot]

I don't remember if a game has ever made me cry due to any sad storyline. I feel like it probably has happened but if it has I can't recall it at this time. Final Fantasy 7 definitely got me emotional just simply based on how mind-blowing and amazing it was but (and I still, to this day, have never finished it - sometimes I cry about that fact).

[Yitcomics]

I don't remember if a game has ever made me cry due to any sad storyline. I feel like it probably has happened but if it has I can't recall it at this time. Final Fantasy 7 definitely got me emotional just simply based on how mind-blowing and amazing it was but (and I still, to this day, have never finished it - sometimes I cry about that fact).

What! , Stupot you've got to finish it before the remake comes out, FF7 was so awesome it even changed Tim Schafer mind about RPG  .

[Mandle]

The ending of The Blackwell Series always chokes me up, especially if I play through the entire series first and reexperience the full character arcs.

The ending of Tales made me tear up. I do believe it is quite a touching ending but for me part of it could have also been the 3 years of working on the game and finally finding out what happens at the end.

A certain part of Rogue State made me cry, mainly because it was so unexpected in a strategy sim to find an emotional scene, and also the voice acting was so spot on.

All AGS games. I can't remember any others but I mostly missed the '90's for gaming and mostly played FPS during the Naughties.

("I Have No Mouth..." did provoke emotions for me but what I mostly remember is anger and shock moreso than sadness.)

[CherishKuddleMonster]

The first and second Walking Dead by TellTale, I cried when

Spoiler

little Clem had to kill Lee.

[close]

And the second one which ending depends. The third one not so much wasn't a fan at all. But will be playing the final one.

Also the game The Cat Lady, the ending made me tear up it was beautiful to see Susan come so far in the game from trying to take her own life to becoming strong.

Those are the only games I can think of.

[NickyNyce]

I still cry to this day, on the inside, because I no longer make games. The pain is real

[Danvzare]

Spoiler

The first and second Walking Dead by TellTale, I cried when little Clem had to kill Lee.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that one. Yeah, that made me cry too. Although I don't think that I made Clem kill Lee. I think I got her to just abandon him, because I didn't want her to have to live with having killed Lee.
It was so long ago though that I played that game, that I might be mis-remembering that. Was that an option?

[close]

[CherishKuddleMonster]

Spoiler

To kill Lee? Yes, I think you can ask Clem to shoot you, or you can tell her to leave.  There might be more endings though. That's just my playthrough

[close]

[Babar]

I realise that the title of this thread means people should be careful when entering, but still, there isn't a need to make the spoilers SO obvious!

[Click'd]

After a while you should expect everyone to have read/watched/played/listened (to) things. Otherwise, where would it stop? Spoilering The Empire Strikes Back after almost 40 years? Citizen Kane?

To clarify: Of course I'm against spilling secrets on purpose to ruin someone's experience. There just has to be a cutoff point.

[Snarky]

No, there's no cutoff point: it depends on context and on the cultural currency of the thing you're spoiling. We don't do away with spoiler warnings for The Empire Strikes Back because it's old â€" we do away with them because it's so famous that we can assume everyone knows it (or doesn't care).

But not a lot of works achieve that kind of fame. For adventure games, in these circles you probably don't have to worry about giving away the ending to Monkey Island 2 or the "twist" in QFG4, but you really cannot assume that everyone has played The Walking Dead or the Blackwell series.

We have spoiler tags on these forums. Use them.

[Radiant]

Soylent green is people!!!

[Stupot]

...you really cannot assume that everyone has played The Walking Dead...

I haven't yet got around to playing TWD yet but fully intend to (it's sitting on my desktop waiting for me to decide I have the time) so, yeah the above post was definitely a spoiler for me. That said, I'm pretty forgiving... I mean it's the zombie apocalypse. Sometimes nice people have to kill other nice people.

[Danvzare]

I realise that the title of this thread means people should be careful when entering, but still, there isn't a need to make the spoilers SO obvious!

Alright, I've put my whole comment in spoiler tags. But the game is six years old. If you haven't played it yet, intend to play it, and haven't heard about that ending, then you need to stop living under a rock and learn some time management. (No offence Stupot.)

I remember having that ending spoiled by Telltale Games themselves, when they stated why they didn't include Lee in Poker Night at the Inventory 2. And that was only a year after the game was made.

Also, I read somewhere that getting spoilers, can actually make you enjoy something more. I don't know if that's true, but I've certainly never had an experienced ruined by knowing an ending. Not even the twist ending of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which was spoiled for me years before I even knew it was a book.

[CherishKuddleMonster]

After a while you should expect everyone to have read/watched/played/listened (to) things. Otherwise, where would it stop? Spoilering The Empire Strikes Back after almost 40 years? Citizen Kane?

To clarify: Of course I'm against spilling secrets on purpose to ruin someone's experience. There just has to be a cutoff point.

I wasn't trying to upset anyone I was just talking..Sorry.

[CherishKuddleMonster]

...you really cannot assume that everyone has played The Walking Dead...

I haven't yet got around to playing TWD yet but fully intend to (it's sitting on my desktop waiting for me to decide I have the time) so, yeah the above post was definitely a spoiler for me. That said, I'm pretty forgiving... I mean it's the zombie apocalypse. Sometimes nice people have to kill other nice people.

Sorry....

[Click'd]

I wasn't trying to upset anyone I was just talking..Sorry.

My post was not directed towards you.

[Blondbraid]

I realise that the title of this thread means people should be careful when entering, but still, there isn't a need to make the spoilers SO obvious!

Alright, I've put my whole comment in spoiler tags. But the game is six years old. If you haven't played it yet, intend to play it, and haven't heard about that ending, then you need to stop living under a rock and learn some time management. (No offence Stupot.)

I remember having that ending spoiled by Telltale Games themselves, when they stated why they didn't include Lee in Poker Night at the Inventory 2. And that was only a year after the game was made.

Also, I read somewhere that getting spoilers, can actually make you enjoy something more. I don't know if that's true, but I've certainly never had an experienced ruined by knowing an ending. Not even the twist ending of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which was spoiled for me years before I even knew it was a book.

Sometimes I wonder if we are too hung up about spoilers in today's society, it certainly wasn't considered a problem a hunderd years ago, just look at this cover for Robinson Crusoe (spoilers for a 298 year old book):

Spoiler

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They practically spelled out the entire story on the cover, yet it didn't stop the book from becoming a bestseller.

From my experience, stories that rely entirely on an unforeseen and surprising plot twist tend not to be very good stories, and as they say, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey".
Truly great stories are entertaining even if you know how they will end.

[Mandle]

Truly great stories are entertaining even if you know how they will end.

Depends on the genre I would say. I wouldn't read a murder mystery if someone had already told me whodunnit.

(And I much better enjoyed reading Robinson Crusoe without knowing if he ever made it off the island or not until the end.)

[TheFrighter]

In "drama" games it is more probable that a charachter will die, as in a thriller someone will be killed. But you can't tell how the player react to the death. For example in Still Life I remained indifferent.
_

[cat]

Truly great stories are entertaining even if you know how they will end.

True, but the experience is different. There are stories you should play/read/watch again once you've completed it, to see it again with a different point of view. However, while can be rewarding to see it when knowing the end before seeing it the first time, you'd miss out on the opportunity to experience it with a free mind and be surprised by plot twists etc.
For example, we recently re-watched the first season of Dirk Gently and it was amazing to see the details they put in for people watching it again and how well-crafted the story is. However, first time watching, it is also great to experience the same confusion and not knowing what this is about as the main characters.

[milkanannan]

Delphine's "Another World" was very important for me, when i was 13. Because i completely identified with the main character; i felt i was banished in another world. My parents divorced that year, and there were other issues too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqz5nfocLrA

Wow, yeah good call - I would say the same. I had to use a walkthrough that I found on dialup, but even then it was a LONG and extremely hard game at times. The very end when he flies off with his friend to a safer unknown... I think I remember being choked up.

Another for for me a year or two earlier was Quest for Glory 2. There was something about the uniqueness of the Arab landscape, the desert, the quirky characters, the city of Shapeir, the RPG randomness (i.e. you don't have to quest every day; some days could be devoted to character development.) I finished the whole game without any hint and I remember feeling super accomplished but very sad when it was over, like it was a moment in my life I knew I would remember as iconic. The game ends with all characters paying tribute to you, and I know there was a bit of dust in my eye at that point.

[milkanannan]

And by the way, I had the boxed 'Out of the World', which is probably worth something now on account of it being recalled and retitled!

[DBoyWheeler]

When it comes to tearjerkers, you can't beat

Spoiler

Toby sacrificing his life for Tanya in Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness.

[close]

[ollj]

Games with "shandified meandering narrative" more likely are tearjerking, if only because they delay the conclusion of an obscured/fragmented tragedy.

"meandering narrative" initially seems to be multiple barely connected elements, of a first act that makes up 70% of the narrative, with more mystery than conflict, showing a lot of apparently disconnected events, where you just wonder about a least common causal chain, that seems to be there, but hidden.

It still follows a 3 act structure story circle, but it is likely temporally discontinuous, locally discontinuious, "meandering a very curved path" in rambling tangents, and apparently more abstract. Its easy to tell a story in reverse (frontloaded tragedy/death), meeting at the middle (the missing central connection), or moving out from the middle "mirror moment" (train-wreck in slow motion)
The 3rd act is often just the last 10% , but it sure avoids a nonsensical plot twist or lack of resolve (like the Lost-series)

To The Moon
Finding Paradise
Edna And Harvey The Breakout
Obra Dinn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvwlt4FqmS0

[milkanannan]

The end of Super Mario World on Gameboy, partially because the music is so incredible. When it breaks into that chillout tune as the spaceship flies off...I'm welling up now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VztCEY5wFW4

[CrashPL]

Definitely Mother 3 on GBA for me.

[TheFrighter]

Definitely Mother 3 on GBA for me.

Why, CrashPL?

_