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.

[Cksalzy]

İlk olarak inpurpleshadows tarafından gönderildi:

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.

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Its the first video game i ever played, all the way back on the xbox 360. I played it until the red ring of death took my xbox away from me and now 3 years ago i found the disk of the game in my garage and put it in a different xbox 360 i had and got to relieve my childhood playing on the old, and dusty, black xbox 360. Now about a couple months ago i bought the game on my pc and im loving it. It was so impactful for me because of my experience with the game and how its always been there my entire life.

[BOBTOMAS]

İlk olarak inpurpleshadows tarafından gönderildi:

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.

The Last of Us:
-forcibly violent history
-A story about a virus based on non-science
-history that denigrates all mankind as violent and sadistic
-Too much senseless violence
-Too much ignorance
-too individualistic
-Revenge is not a good way to solve problems
Diplomacy between peaceful factions does not exist.


Telltale's The Walking...:
-forcibly violent history
-history that denigrates all mankind as violent and sadistic
-Too much senseless violence

Life is Strange:
-A decidedly forced story depending on the decisions taken.
-the narrative is well blended
-Great characters
- rational behaviors of the main characters
-refers too much in certain situations to Twin Peaks

[Vann]

For me it's Torment: Tides of Numenera - and Disco Elysium. While the first one is more of a niche title, I really loved the story.

I ended loving Disco Elisum so much I wrote my Bachelor's Dissertation about it. The metaphors within the game are crazy, and Harry's downfall just outright so depressing.

[chu²]

I loved the emotions in these 4.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113000/Persona_4_Golden/
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/7054/STEINSGATE__STEINSGATE_0/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/324160/CLANNAD/

[Paratech2008]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/613830/CHRONO_TRIGGER/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/637670/Secret_of_Mana/
Played on Super NES

https://store.steampowered.com/app/440540/Ara_Fell_Enhanced_Edition/

[Hammer Of Evil]

would have to be the 90's era of rpgs from snes and playstation.

they were able to draw you into the story and get you involved before you knew what was happening you found yourself rooting for the characters and seeing the game world react to the changes you were making.

these days idk, nothing comes to mind immediately. i'll try to think of something.

[RamiroRa]

Beyond Good and Evil was great and made me feel different.
Recently I finished Shenmue, last game I beat before new year and it was something else being with Ryo during his journey and learning with him.

[TheHogfather]

Dark souls games
hotline Miami 1 & 2
Inscryption
Mother 3
Undertale
Deus ex
Fear and hunger 1 & 2

[Balatro Balatrez]

Undertale also Hollow Knight

[osricen]

I deny letting this discussion die as I'm getting a lot of titles to explore. Love it!
Video games are art and the most complex form of entertainment there is, thus the emotions they can make you feel, can be way more impactful than other forms of media.
That said, I know there's people who still consider them toys and don't let themselves be moved even by life itself.

These are the games that made me feel things and I can say changed my way of thinking a little:

Metal Gear Solid (1, 2, 3, 4, and Peace Walker)
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
Resident Evil Village is the most recent one and I was definitely not expecting it!
Dark Souls III
NieR:Automata
Persona 3, 4, and 5
Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 (story mode got me and it's my favorite fighting game of all time)
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (lore and endings)
Hi-Fi Rush
Signalis
Final Fantasy XV and VII Remake
Ori and the Blind Forest

Please, if you can, continue to recommend!

[beagle]

Fallout 4. Still the very best in my book.

[Worldzworstgamer]

OP liked Life is Strange eh?

I heard how good it was and had to put it down after playing it less than an hour. It was beyond terrible. Sorry but to heck with try hard emo garbage.

[Crystal Sharrd]

Kingdom Hearts Union x. I still sometimes cry over its depressing ending.

[Latvian Gypsy]

İlk olarak Xautos tarafından gönderildi:

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.

I had to look up that Andromeda song when you mentioned it; I had never heard it before. Thank you for sharing.
Have you ever listened to any of the Battlefield soundtracks?
It's the only soundtrack I've kept on repeat for years. It's so immersive and stirs emotions every time.
The song you shared was reminiscent of that.

@1:40
https://youtu.be/4hL3gmCKAVM?si=HfyYhUHRGBUQEPWh

[ShelLuser]

Cyberpunk 2077, it hit both me and my gf on way too many personal levels.

Yes, it's "only" an action game but the lore is immense, and if you keep your eyes open for all the back stories and issues that are going on.. then it can get really dark, really quick.

Some example... (no spoilers!) ... the NCPD (Night City Police Department) all look like a bunch of tough guys who shoot first and ask questions later. And honestly? They usually have to. And then you encounter your downstairs neighbor.. an ex-cop, suffering from depression. And all of a sudden you get to realize that cops are ordinary people too.

Speaking of which... a female cop discovered a certain cooperate coup (like I said: no spoilers). So... they drugged her, evaluated her as mentally unstable and locked her up in a psych ward while making sure she gets plenty of medical treatment in order to keep her quiet. And the only way her husband managed to get her out of there? No, not the legal system: paying enough to a "Fixer" who basically put a mercenary on it to get the woman out "one way or the other".

Now... these are merely my impressions and opinions. And that's fair enough.

So I'd like to share this Reddit story of mine (warning: long read). The game runs much deeper than you or I realize. In short... when this game deals with difficult subjects it often does so in a way which people who actually went through all that ♥♥♥♥ can recognize and relate with. My story here talks about such an event.


Last but not least... I can't help but mention Lizzie Wizzie's concert during the Phantom Liberty DLC. Easy to overlook and miss, but once it gets you... you're most likely hooked ;)

Sorry for the long read.