Highlights
- Fable 2 gives players the unique option to sacrifice their main character for the greater good.
- Halo Reach ends with Noble Six sacrificing himself in a tragic scene, teaching players that heroes don't always win.
- Gears of War 3 features the heartbreaking sacrifice of a beloved character, adding depth to the dark realities of war.
5 Post-Apocalyptic Games With Strong Female Protagonists
As the post apocalyptic survival genre continues to enjoy popularity, gamers are finally seeing strong, independent women in leading roles.
Xbox titles are known for their immersive storytelling, and they do not shy away from exploring such dark and harrowing themes. From heartbreaking sacrifices to tragic endings, the following games offer players a unique and emotionally resonant experience which will stick with them long after they have seen the game's credits.
Spoilers Ahead for all the games listed!
5 Fable 2
Optional Main Character Death
Fable 2 is an action role-playing game in which players shape the main character's destiny through a series of moral choices and actions. They can even make the main character a villain, which results in gradual physical changes to the main character. Interestingly, players of this game can choose whether to let the main character die or not.
If they choose "The Needs of the Many" at the end of the game's main storyline, the hero will sacrifice himself for the greater good, saving the world's inhabitants from a malevolent force known as the Spire. It's one of the few games that has ever given players the option to sacrifice their own main character.
4 Halo Reach
Noble Six's Sacrifice
Halo Reach
- Platform(s)
- PC , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 14, 2010
- Developer(s)
- Bungie
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Released back in 2010, Halo Reach serves as a prequel to the acclaimed Halo series. The player assumes the role of Noble Six, a member of an elite team of soldiers: the Noble Team. Set against the dramatic background of humanity's desperate struggle against the menacing Covenant aliens, Halo Reach follows the Noble Team's perilous journey and last stand on the planet Reach.
Throughout the game, the player witnesses Noble Team's valiant efforts to defend Reach at all costs. However, tragically, the team is ultimately unable to conquer the Covenant forces, resulting in the planet falling victim to the enemy. The saddest part of the game is at the very end, where the player controls Noble Six in his futile attempt to hold off the attackers once all other members of the team have died. Eventually, Six sacrifices himself in a poignant and emotionally charged scene. The finale of Halo Reach teaches players that heroes don't always win, as they come to the somber realization that Noble Team's mission ends in tragedy despite their noble efforts to save their planet. Gamers all over the world, whether Halo fans or not, agree that Noble Six's death is one of the most tragic moments in gaming.
3 Gears Of War 3
The Death Of A Beloved Character
Gears of War 3
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
- Released
- September 20, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Epic Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Another shooter, this one in third person, Gears of War 3 is the conclusion to the acclaimed Gears of War trilogy. On the surface, the game appears to be a typical action shooter. Yet, the game has a lot more heart than expected. The characters are not one-dimensional heroes; they are likable and have great depth to them, unlike most others in the genre. Gears of War 3 also teaches players the dark realities of war, as it does not shy away from killing off a huge number of characters.
The Darkest Moments in the Gears of War Series
Tragedy is commonplace in the Gears of War universe, with most citizens of Sera losing at least one loved one before breakfast.
A playable character in co-op, Dom Santiago is one of the main characters in Gears of War 3, as well as one of the most beloved. The childhood friend of the series' protagonist, Marcus Fenix, Dom plays a crucial role in the plot. After his wife Maria's tragic death in the previous game, Dom is not the same as he once was, cracking fewer jokes in the third game. Despite his depression and grief, Dom admirably continues to fight with the Coalition of Ordered Governments Army. While in Mercy, Dom and his friends find themselves surrounded by hostile Lambent troops with seemingly no escape.
However, Dom comes up with a plan, which involves driving a truck into some fuel tanks and causing a huge explosion. He goes through with this plan, sacrificing himself but saving his teammates. Ultimately, Dom is one of gaming's most tragic characters, having lost his whole family, including his wife and children, and finally losing his own life.
2 Metro 2033
A Post-Apocalyptic Nightmare
Originally an Xbox exclusive and based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel of the same name, Metro 2033 takes place after a nuclear war, where survivors have taken refuge in the Metro tunnels of Moscow. In this post-apocalyptic shooter, the main character, Artyom, faces a number of challenges that come with a nuclear apocalypse, including mutated creatures and hostile factions. As Artyom, players must navigate these obstacles while traveling through the dark metro tunnels in search of a solution to the threat of the mysterious enemy known as the 'Dark Ones'.
7 Open-World Games Where The Main Character Dies
Death comes for the protagonists of these open-world games, creating a harsh realization of mortality for their favorite characters.
While Artyom manages to survive this grueling world by the skin of his teeth, other major characters in the game die in the main storyline, including Bourbon, who is stabbed by a bandit leader. Overall, Metro 2033 emphasizes stealth; avoiding death through strategic gameplay is crucial for survival, especially when bullets are the game's only currency.
1 Operation Darkness
Potential Major Character Deaths
- Platforms: Xbox 360
- Release Date: June 24, 2008
- Developer: Success
- Genre: Tactical RPG
This rather obscure tactical role-playing game follows a squad of SAS soldiers fighting Nazis across Europe in World War 2. The storyline covers some real history, while simultaneously adding fantasy elements like undead Nazi soldiers and some main characters' abilities to transform into werewolves. Other fantasy aspects include supernatural enemies such as magic spells and even vampires.
In Operation Darkness, several main characters have the potential to die, depending on the player's choices throughout the RPG. One such character is Edward Kyle, the protagonist and player character. His death results in a game over, as his presence is essential to continuing the storyline. Other important characters include Cordelia Blake and Jude Lancelot, friends of Kyle whose deaths can potentially lead to mission failures or bad outcomes. The player's decisions during Operation Darkness consistently influence the survival of the major characters.
Demon Slayer: 11 Saddest Deaths In The Series, Ranked
As Demon Slayer's narrative continues, a lot more characters meet a tragic end. But, which deaths hit the hardest by the end of this story?
