Sony has made it their mission to produce high quality, high production value, and emotionally-charged games. Indeed, the PlayStation 5, 18 months on from its release, is filled to the brim with games that will get players out of their seats, make them laugh, and, of course, bring a tear to the player's eyes.
Outside of Sony’s exclusive lineup, the next-gen console is loaded with games that use the medium to its fullest to produce distinctly emotional experiences, using cinematics, visuals, and gameplay to pull on those heart strings. So, if players are looking to shed a singular tear, or full on ugly cry, these are the best PlayStation 5 games for just that occasion.
8 The Last Of Us Part 2
This game had to feature on the list. With an opening act that can only be described as a gut-punch, this Naughty Dog masterpiece hits players with moment after moment of heartbreak. Each of the game’s characters are put through the wringer, being faced with some of the most challenging decisions ever seen in gaming.
These dark moments are enough to make even the strongest-willed player cry, but that is not all there is. Indeed, some of the most tear-inducing moments in The Last of Us Part 2 are the times when its characters show beautiful glimpses of humanity and kindness, rejecting violence and vengeance in favor of found family and the ones they love. Ultimately, The Last of Us Part 2 is one of the most heartbreaking games on PlayStation 5, but often it is not for the reasons one would expect.
7 Red Dead Redemption 2
Similarly to the previous entry, Red Dead Redemption 2 deals with loss, revenge, and found family. Players follow Arthur Morgan as he and his friends cling onto the dying embers of the American Wild West, desperate to continue their way of life in the face of a world that wants them gone. Rockstar created a truly moving portrait of a conflicted and confused man in Arthur Morgan, and between all the cowboy antics, the story on show here is enough to reduce anyone to tears.
While Red Dead Redemption 2 can often be silly, its commitment to allowing players to live their cowboy fantasy is often a stark juxtaposition with the wonderfully written story. When the narrative hits, it hits hard. If players can commit to the almost 100 hour-long story of this open-world odyssey, it really is a tear-jerker.
6 Shadow Of The Colossus
There is something about the moment players defeat their first colossus that is hard to put into words. This is supposed to be a moment of triumph — the player has taken on a god and won. But instead of jubilation, there is a distinct and penetrating sense of melancholy.
This quiet sense of sadness remains throughout the entirety of Shadow of the Colossus and makes this a game that can make anyone cry. Be it the guilt one feels after each of the game’s many battles, or the games sense of solitude, this is on for the criers out there.
5 Telltale’s The Walking Dead
At this point, Telltale's famed take on The Walking Dead has made even the most stone-hearted of players weep into their shiny new PS5 controllers. Now available as a full package, this post-apocalyptic narrative adventure forces players to make heartbreaking decisions at every turn, as they see characters they love, turn into zombie food.
As the emotional heart of this franchise, Clementine is truly one of the most endearing characters in gaming. Her story is one that has the ability to melt the hearts of the most stoic of players.
4 Bloodborne
The conversation surrounding Bloodborne, and much of Fromsoftware’s catalog, often focuses on the game’s difficulty. And yes, Bloodborne may make players cry out of frustration, but that is not the reason this Lovecraftian RPG features here. Rather, Bloodborne features a cast of characters, a set of bosses, and an intricately crafted world that features some of the saddest details in gaming.
Be it a warrior who truly believed in her cause before seeing the horrors her compatriots committed, or an old man trapped in a dream, the story of Yharnam and its hunters is enough to make anyone well up.
3 It Takes Two
There is something extremely real about It Takes Two. This two-player adventure game follows the struggles of a failing marriage, and the lengths to which a child will go to to keep their parents together.
Despite its fantastical imagery and often hilarious moments, It Takes Two takes something that so many people have experienced, and uses the mechanic of co-op to make the story hit extremely hard. The main cast is so fully realized here that it is hard not to get attached, and in the end, this really is a game for those who want a good old cry.
2 Gone Home
In Gone Home, players return to an empty house, bereft of the family that makes it so familiar, and have to discover what happened in this house and to these characters. As players explore this often spooky house, the story that unfolds is often beautiful, but just as regularly heartbreaking.
As players learn more about the game’s lead, Kaitlin, and her family, the strife that occurred in this household becomes clear. Ultimately, the subtle storytelling and wonderful atmosphere of Gone Home make it an ideal experience for those want to spend the evening sobbing in front of their lovely next gen console.
1 God Of War
Few would have thought while playing the original God of War trilogy that it would eventually transform into a deeply emotional father-son journey across the world of Norse mythology. But that is where this timeline has gone, and without a doubt, 2018’s God of War and provides a truly cry-worthy story.
Ultimately, it is watching the father-son bond grow here that will make players weep, as Kratos learns what it means to care for his Boy and accepts his duties as a father first, and a god second.