As video games have evolved over the course of time, so too has the need for great writing in story-heavy games that capture a player's attention and keep them invested for the long run. As a result, several games feature memorable characters who have gone on to become legendary in their own right, with fans loving their unique personalities and scintillating dialogue.
These characters end up being memorable for a whole host of reasons, with their importance in the story sometimes culminating in a heartbreaking death that stems from either a noble sacrifice, a mission gone wrong, or anything else along the same lines. However, there are times when these deaths end up being completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things, which is a shame.
6 Lunafreya Nox Fleuret (Final Fantasy 15)
Final Fantasy 15 is a game that faced a ton of issues during development. While Hajime Tabata did manage to form something cohesive with the mess he had to deal with, there's no denying that parts of the game still feel odd. Noctis' relationship with Lunafreya suffers a lot in this regard, making her death feel completely hollow after the events of Altissia.
To make things worse, Noctis acts like a brat instead of checking up on his friend, Ignis, who lost his eyesight, causing him to seem way more unlikable than he should've been. If Luna had been given the time in the spotlight she deserved, maybe her death could've had more meaning.
5 John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
Fans are glad to finally get their hands on Red Dead Redemption for modern systems after being left out of the loop, courtesy of this game's exclusivity on seventh-generation consoles for the longest time. The story of John Marston as he's forced to hunt down the members of his former gang to secure his family's safety makes for a riveting adventure.
This is precisely why the ending of Red Dead Redemption hurts so much. After doing everything that the Pinkertons and Edgar Ross wanted from him, players are treated to an ending where John Marston is gunned down like an animal as the Pinkertons cut out the final loose thread. It's a horrid death that gives Marston an extremely unceremonious sendoff, which is precisely what the game wanted to convey. Sometimes, there's nothing a person can do to make up for their past crimes.
4 Booker DeWitt (BioShock Infinite)
BioShock Infinite is a game that took the world by storm when it first launched. The game was a blast to play through, featuring some great combat along with an excellent and well-delivered story that touched upon some really cool and unique concepts. However, now that players have had more time to analyze the events of this game, many have turned on BioShock Infinite and its plothole-filled narrative.
Even if Booker was killed at the point where he rejected or accepted his baptism, that single action alone couldn't stop the creation of an alternate timeline where Booker could either go down his own path or become Prophet Comstock. The sheer number of times that this act would need to be done was incredible, and it was impossible to just kill one version of Booker and hope that things could be over and done with.
3 Doug Or Carley (Telltale's The Walking Dead)
Telltale is a studio that has been through some tough times, but there was a time when this company was on top of the world following the success of The Walking Dead. The story of Lee and Clementine makes for a great time as players go through their fair share of trials and tribulations in this amazing adventure game.
However, many people argue that Telltale's adventures don't really branch out in a meaningful manner, and the choice made at the end of the first episode is proof of that. Saving Doug or Carley doesn't really make a huge difference, especially since both characters are bound to be dead by the third episode anyway.
2 Nanako Dojima (Persona 4)
Nanako is one of the cutest characters in video game history, and players will definitely want her to survive after the events of her abduction at the hands of Taro Namatame in Persona 4. Staying in the TV World for too long causes her health to decline, leading to her being hospitalized. At this point, players need to make some tough decisions in a confrontation that decides whether players get a good or bad ending.
If players force Namatame into the TV World and spell his doom, then the mystery of the game is never revealed, and Nanako dies. Not only is this death extremely emotional, but it's also completely pointless since players should definitely seek out the good ending if they want to experience the story in its entirety.
1 Tidus (Final Fantasy 10)
Final Fantasy 10 is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, featuring a mind-blowing story that shows the series at its very best. Tidus may not be everyone's favorite protagonist, but his zeal to help his comrades, even after knowing he was destined to fade away, makes for a great time, and his farewell to Yuna is one of the most emotional moments in the entire game.
So, the fact that this emotional moment is completely wasted by the ending of Final Fantasy 10-2 makes for one of the worst moments in gaming history. Yuna can straight-up revive him to enjoy a fairytale ending, which completely destroys the emotions behind this sacrifice and shows why players have mixed feelings toward the direct sequels of almost every Final Fantasy game.