Top 10 Depressing Video Games of All Time
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Warning - only play these games if you wanna bawl your eyes out. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today, we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Depressing Video Games.
For this list, we’re looking at the most depressing games that either made us down in the dumps or hysterically emotional. If you have yet to play any of these games, here’s a Spoiler Warning for ya!
#10: “Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)
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It’s not easy to tell an emotional story with very little dialogue, yet “Shadow of the Colossus” succeeded in doing just that. What makes the game such a downer is how everything is shrouded in mystery. How exactly does your character know the girl he’s saving? What good does killing these monsters bring if this is a forbidden region? What exactly happened leading up to these tragic events? On top of that, the ending is incredibly bleak. Your character may save the deceased woman, but in doing so, he makes the ultimate sacrifice, leaving the player to think long and hard about the ramifications of their actions.
#9: “To the Moon” (2011)
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We are all human, and sometimes, being human can be hard. Hell, when it comes to relationships, things can just...suck. “To the Moon” is one of those games that keeps things real… maybe a little too real. The game’s story explores themes of relationships and some of the most complex problems that can occur between two people. You’ll frequently feel like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, only to be proven wrong time and time again. “To the Moon” boasts an excellent story, and if you’re wanting a game that feels down-to-earth, it’s worth playing.
#8: “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)
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It’s been called the darkest “Zelda” game in the franchise, and it certainly deserves a spot on a list like this. If we could describe “Majora’s Mask” in three words, we’d say “morbid”, “disturbing”, and “miserable”. The minute you begin exploring Termina, there’s a constant feeling of dread. As you progress, you’ll encounter a colorful cast of creepy characters, each dealing with their own traumatic events. Things don’t get any brighter once you read the fan theories about Termina and the Five Stages of Grief…
#7: “Valiant Hearts: The Great War” (2014)
While most modern military shooters opt for first-person or third-person gameplay, “Valiant Hearts” takes the military theme in a different direction. Instead of explosions and action, the game is a puzzle adventure that tells a heartbreaking story about a German soldier trying to find his love. Taking place during World War I, “Valiant Hearts” does not shy away from the tragic effects war has on people. It manages to do all of this while keeping a charming and beautiful art style, too, which may or may not add to its lowest moments.
#6: “Metro: Last Light” (2013)
While post-apocalyptic settings aren’t anything new, “Metro” manages to set itself apart from a certain Bethesda franchise in just how bleak its world is. However, if we had to choose one title in particular, it’d be “Metro: Last Light”. On top of dismal landscapes and gloomy atmosphere, “Last Light” tells a story filled with uncertainty, doubt, and two somber endings. The hard difficulty will certainly show how much of a feral beast the world has become. While the canonical ending leaves us on a brighter side, we can’t help but feel the world of “Metro” will get much worse.
#5: “Spec Ops: The Line” (2012)
When compared to the explosive, unrealistic nature of titles like “Call of Duty,” “Spec Ops: The Line” is perhaps the most grounded military shooter you can play. Captain Martin Walker and his troop are deployed for a recon mission in Dubai, which has seen better days. In between gameplay, you'll find a story that is both compelling and emotional, as it shows some of the darker sides of war and the mental toll it causes on veterans. “Spec Ops” also features four different endings, but as you might expect from a game with serious subject matter, none of them are happy.
#4: “The Last of Us” (2013)
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It may not be the brightest of smiles, but there's many reasons why we still talk about this game. “The Last of Us” has been famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for its emotional rollercoaster of a story. There are many serious moments in the story that will cause you to get teary-eyed. There are some light-hearted moments in the story however it won't be long before you find yourself getting down again, thanks to it's dark and depressing material. It especially doesn't help that the game ends with one character lying.
#3: “This War of Mine” (2014)
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You know how most video games tell you that your choices matter? Well, that’s what “This War of Mine” builds off of, except you’ll never feel good about your choices. You’ll constantly have to make decisions that will put characters in some kind of risk. On top of that, it exposes players to the depressing reality of living life during war. It’s not an easy experience, and with every little decision making such a massive impact, it’s impossible to not have something go wrong later down the road.
#2: “The Walking Dead” (2012)
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This is the game that put Telltale on the map. The company’s take on “The Walking Dead” has gone down as one of the most tear-jerking experiences in video game history. The game will force you to make many difficult decisions, with some having fatal consequences. Some of the worst of these moments come from talking to little Clementine, who you'll have to explain some of the grim situations to. Hey, this is the zombie apocalypse! It ain't all rainbows and kittens, kids. And if the ending to the first season didn't get to you, what kind of heartless monster are you?
Before we get to our most depressing top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions…
“We Happy Few” (2018)
“Half-Life 2” (2004)
“Depression Quest” (2013)
#1: “That Dragon, Cancer” (2016)
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We’re putting this at the top not because “it’s just depressing.” “That Dragon, Cancer” is more than that. This is a game that tells the story of a husband and wife as they care for their sick child. However, this isn’t a fictionalized story. “That Dragon, Cancer” is based off the real events of designer Ryan Green and his wife, writer Amy Green. As you progress through the story, it gets incredibly hard not to cry. Obviously, there is no happy ending to this, but it’s a game everyone should play at least once.
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