The most shocking deaths in video games often occur unexpectedly, transforming routine gameplay into powerful narrative moments. Characters built through relationships, trusted companions, and even player characters sometimes die suddenly, producing emotional responses. Such deaths can serve as major plot twists and create new motivations like revenge. Specific examples include Lenny's unavoidable death in Red Dead Redemption 2, which surprised many players and felt irredeemable regardless of player attempts. Spoilers are inevitable when discussing these moments, so players unfamiliar with the games may prefer to experience the narratives firsthand. Similar emotionally affecting titles include Life Is Strange and other story-driven games.
The most shocking deaths in video games often come right out of nowhere. We've all played strategy games where units are faceless entities cursed to fall like flies without ceremony, or roguelikes where dying is no big thing, but this list looks at those deaths that got us properly choked up. Games where characters we built relationships with, characters we trusted, sometimes even the player character themselves are the victim of a surprise death.
Many of these are deaths that not only caught us off guard, but ended up being some of the biggest plot twists in video games. The loss of a companion, a beloved side character, or an unsuspecting innocent can sometimes provide a new avenue for the narrative to explore: revenge. Obviously there will be a fair few heavy spoilers in this list, so if you've not played any of these games already, it might be time to get stuck in.
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