15 Saddest Gaming Moments

Saddest Gaming Moments

Video games can be emotional affairs. Most of the time they make us angry, then after everyone is dead by our hands, they make us happy. But they can also make us sad. Oh so very sad. Here we take a look at these moments that appeal to our softer sides, that might even bring a tear to our manly, manly eyes.

Since most of these moments take place quite some time into the respective games, be warned that there will be spoilers! A lot of spoilers! All the spoilers! So don’t complain that we didn’t warn you. Though at this point everyone should know that Aerith dies, right?

15. Final Fantasy VII

Aerith (or Aeris) dies. The first time many a gamer shed a tear in his life, at least in my generation. Sephiroth swoops in, and that’s it. No phoenix down can bring her back. Her pearl necklace falls to the ground, that iconic music starts playing, and boys and girls in their late teens start to weep uncontrollably. 

Aerith’s death has achieved cult status at this point. It’s the ultimate non-spoiler spoiler. I have never played Final Fantasy VII (so I never learned to cry, the only emotion known to me is pure hatred!), but still I know everything surrounding this event. It defined a generation of gamers. To this day it’s heralded as one of the most emotionally impacting moments a lot of gamers have experienced. Whether that is warranted or not doesn’t matter, its impact has been long lasting, making it the saddest event in video games.