Most emotionally impactful game(s) you've played

[inpurpleshadows]

In recent years video games have become increasingly complex in narrative. Both indie and triple-A developers have created games that tell stories that are on par, if not, even greater than those in film. These kinds of games aim to get players engaged in the narrative by branching the storyline into multiple outcomes, tackling complex issues and presenting emotional themes. I'm sure every gamer has played at least one of these games that hit close to home. I wanted to know what games had a huge impact on you on both an emotional and personal level. It doesn't just have to be story-heavy games. You can mention any game from any genre that connected with you, or you connected with. I'll start.

The Last of Us: This game is a downright masterpiece. The story, characters and world felt so real and yet so depressing. I only did one playthrough (cuz it was depressing) of this game at the age of 14 and it's the first piece of media I ever cried at. I decided to play TLOU after I got tired of bland FPS and COD clones, so to play a game that was on the same cinematic level as movies was incredible. Even years after my first and only playthrough I still remember every vowel of dialogue from Joel and Ellie at the end of the game. Easily one of the best games I've ever played.

Telltale's The Walking Dead: I played The Walking Dead for the first time last summer... and it was absolutely amazing. TWD is a game that is near flawless from start to finish. The story is very well-written, the characters are down-to-earth and your choices have a genuine impact on the narrative. I especially found the relationship between Lee and Clementine to be believable and realistic. I won't spoil it for those who haven't played it, but damn that ending hit right in the feels. One of my favorite games of all time.

Life is Strange: This game takes a page from Telltale's book and innovates on it in an interesting way. Life is Strange is a coming-of-age story with elements of time travel, or at least that what it seems. This game, the last two episodes especially was devestating. Despite the incorporation of sci-fi, LiS still felt like a realistic game as the characters, particularly Max and Chloe are interesting and go through a lot of development. It's not perfect by any means as the dialogue is terrible and some aspects of the writing are kinda mid. Despite its flaws, Life is Strange had a huge personal impact on me and I'd consider it one of my favorite games.

[👾]

How can you sit through something like LiS while admitting that the dialogue is terrible? And even saying it is a favorite? I don't get it.

[Volfogg]

What do you mean by "emotional and personal level"? Those are just video games. Am I suddenly supposed to emote when playing a game? (Well in other way than expressing annoyance and frustration at inability to progress at certain pace or being screwed by RNG... again...)

[inpurpleshadows]

Originally posted by lankaras:

How can you sit through something like LiS while admitting that the dialogue is terrible? And even saying it is a favorite? I don't get it.

I think I should further explain my stance on Life is Strange's dialogue. When I criticized the dialogue in that game, I was mainly referring to its use of slang that feels very outdated. It's not like that for the entire game, but when slang was present it was just cringeworthy. I still consider LiS one of my favorite games due to what it does right, those being the story, characters and incorporation of time-travel mechanics. What I'm trying to say is that no game is truly perfect. Even some of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time have their issues. It's important to acknowledge flaws in games we enjoy because we can give feedback to developers to help them improve on future projects. You understand?

[👾]

Originally posted by inpurpleshadows:

Originally posted by lankaras:

How can you sit through something like LiS while admitting that the dialogue is terrible? And even saying it is a favorite? I don't get it.

I think I should further explain my stance on Life is Strange's dialogue. When I criticized the dialogue in that game, I was mainly referring to its use of slang that feels very outdated. It's not like that for the entire game, but when slang was present it was just cringeworthy. I still consider LiS one of my favorite games due to what it does right, those being the story, characters and incorporation of time-travel mechanics. What I'm trying to say is that no game is truly perfect. Even some of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time have their issues. It's important to acknowledge flaws in games we enjoy because we can give feedback to developers to help them improve on future projects. You understand?

Well, yes. But it is a story-driven game... I could maybe deal with bad dialogue in a platformer but not in this. And even regardless of genre, cringe usually makes me drop the game altogether.

[Lithurge]

Originally posted by Volfogg:

What do you mean by "emotional and personal level"? Those are just video games. Am I suddenly supposed to emote when playing a game? (Well in other way than expressing annoyance and frustration at inability to progress at certain pace or being screwed by RNG... again...)

In the same way books and films can move people. Just because they're games doesn't mean they can't have engaging characters and stories to tell.

To answer the OP's question The Last of Us, the journey of Joel and Ellie to the decision he took at the end. Also Horizon Zero Dawn, especially the last month's of the people of the old world told through the texts and audio logs you find.

[Patito]

Just to name the first one that comes to mind: Mafia. I played the original a long time ago, but the remake is also good.

[Phaeris]

There's some games that really impact us in a unique way, characters, world building... Even the graphics can show us more about the world we are into. These you named are really good ones, and Life is Strange is on my favorite games ever played too!!

I have some games in mind when i see a question like that. The first one is, for sure, Chrono Trigger. I know that there's no cinematic, voiceacting or anything else we usually have on the last games released, but the way you can end this game in 14 different ways, each one with its intense development of character, an astonishing original soundtrack and a impactful way to show you how your choices can affect all the timelines, past, present and future, and all the characters you know.

Another one that gave me goosembumps when i first played and even today i didn't forget the emotional damage it gave me, was Half-Life 2 Episode 2... Jeez, the way all the story goes from the HL2 and the episodes after are so incredible... Just to have a heartbreaking final, with any hope of success being lost. I can't forget the words and the way they was said by Alyx even today, almost 10 years i first concluded it... :(

I can name some others, but i think this list will be really big. But, just to mention them: Fran Bow and To The Moon let me in tears. Mother 2 (Earthbound) did the same to me. The wolf among us is other that gave me a lot of goosebumps.

[miamew3]

Red Dead Redemption 2 is truly a masterpiece. Great story line, great character's, great soundtrack. Really hooks you in and plays with your emotions. I cried at least 4 times during it and by the end i was sobbing like a baby.

[Walach]

Originally posted by PantsuCollector:

Just to name the first one that comes to mind: Mafia. I played the original a long time ago, but the remake is also good.

Same, it was such a huge game in my mind at the time. Everything felt so alive. I even thought you could enter every building in the game.

It's probably not nearly as good anymore. But I will never play it again as to keep my memories as they are now! :P

[enm4]

thanks you.

[inpurpleshadows]

Originally posted by miamew3:

Red Dead Redemption 2 is truly a masterpiece. Great story line, great character's, great soundtrack. Really hooks you in and plays with your emotions. I cried at least 4 times during it and by the end i was sobbing like a baby.

I never played RDR2, but I did play the first one around 2-3 years ago. Not only is it fun to play, but the story line is also great. I never expected the ending to that game to be so grim. Interestingly enough, I'm not a huge fan of open-world games but I really liked RDR1 which goes to show how great it is. I am planning to buy RDR2 during the next Steam sale, I'm very excited for it.

[wawawiwa]

Telltale The Walking Dead S1, Seeing your character getting arrested for killing a guy who rail his wife, then met this little girl he bonded with throught the journey and ended up getting infected then force her to make choice, either, leave you behind or shot you in the head, put tears to my eyes

[Xautos]

No game has ever managed to really get me going on an emotional level, although one music track has constant given me goose bumps/chills when i listen to it, mass effect andromeda's "A trail of hope" from 0:00 to 1:22.

[Mountain Months]

the only emotion I ever feel when playing games is frustration at poor design or lack of respect for my time

[Torque]

Dragons dogma
Divinity original sin 2