Top 10 Video Game Characters That Didn't Deserve To Die

Of all the people that lost their lives to the T-Virus and all its future strains, none was more saddening and needless than Steven. Targeted by the Umbrella Corporation due to his father, a former Umbrella employee, selling their secrets, this young man found himself in a whole heap of trouble simply through guilt by association. Things seem to be going pretty well for Steve and his circumstantial partner Claire Redfield… until they were recaptured and Steve was injected with the t-Veronica virus, turning him into a monster with one hell of a swing. He was eventually put down by the villainous Alexia, but not before declaring his love for Claire. Guess love can bloom even in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

There were a lot of reasons for Trish to hate on our electrifying protagonist. He was apparently responsible for the blast that killed several innocents including her sister, not to mention being an ex-boyfriend in the first place. However, should players take the hero route, she eventually beings to believe in Cole’s innocence as well as renewed faith in their relationship. This comes to a grinding halt when she’s kidnapped by Kessler, who forces Cole to either save her or six doctors. Playing hero seems to reap little reward however, as he just manages to return to her in time to share their final goodbyes. As if stuff wasn’t hard enough for Cole already. Give him a break game!

Both of these are so equally shocking that we couldn’t decide between them, plus they go hand in hand depending which route players chose to take. Should Niko make a deal with Dimitri Rascalov, it results in him sending an assassin on the day of Roman’s wedding, and in the ensuing gunfight leaves Niko’s beloved cousin killed by a ricochet bullet. If Niko cut all ties and steps away from his criminal life, his newfound love interest Kate is gunned down by a less than pleased Jimmy Pegorino. Either choice leads to the death of two innocent characters, and will have you and Niko gearing for one hell of a revenge spree.

While she may not have been an official love interest, Kelly was a still a spunky and intelligent part of the Normandy’s crew. If you flirt with her enough she’ll even give a private dance, assuming she makes it that far. Like the rest, she’s kidnapped when the Normandy is overrun by the Collectors. Should Shepard hesitate in his plan to go and save his people, players will be treated to the less than pleasant cutscene of Kelly getting liquidised until she’s nothing but fuel to power the Human Reaper. So much for that lapdance.

When your whole reason for living is to become the vessel for the manifestation of pure evil, then that’s just unlucky beyond belief. Born from a Diablo possessed Aidan and the witch Adria, Leah grew up in utter misery. Mistreated from birth, she was eventually taken away by Deckard and over time joined a new set of heroes in their quest to battle evil. Of course, Leah wasn’t able to escape her destiny forever, as her mother showed her true colours by unleashing Diablo through her. His eventual defeat however, also meant her own death. To say her whole life has been one big tragedy would be an understatement.

The much more courageous twin of protagonist Lucas, Claus serves as the starting point for all the heartbreaks this game gives out when he’s found dead at the end of the game’s first chapter. Not sad enough for you? Well as it turns out the Leader of the Pigmask Army and overall douche Porky Minch brought him back to life as the Masked Man, a soulless weapon of war under his command. Still think it can’t get any sadder? Well at the game’s conclusion, Claus regains some control of himself, and to stop himself from hurting his brother, he purposes launches an attack that he knows will be reflected, and essentially commits suicide. Did we mention this game is depressing?

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#4: Bloody Baron
“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” (2015)

Also in:

Top 10 Bloody Video Games

The world that Geralt of Rivia inhabits is one of complex and broken characters, where everyone has both sympatric yet monstrous qualities to them. Case and point; Phillip Strenger, known to most as the Bloody Baron. After encountering the White Wolf, he’s desperate for a chance to reunite with his wife and daughter, despite the terrible things he did to drive them away. Depending on Geralt’s choices, one outcome involves the Baron’s wife passing away. Driven by the grief of his loss, the Bloody Baron tragically hangs himself. Despite having a past littered with mistakes and terrible actions, the Barron was one of the most sympathetic and well rounded characters in the game – making his unceremonious end all the more heartbreaking.

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#3: John Marston
“Red Dead Redemption” (2010)

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The Origin Story of John Marston + RDR1 Recap

He endured the heat of Mexico, the grip of governmental control, and a hell of a lot of bullets, so by the time former bandit John Marston got to settle down with his family, we all felt an overwhelming sense of relief that he would finally get his happy ending. At least that’s what we hoped. Betrayed by the very man who had been holding him on a bureaucratic leash, we could only watch in horror as our favourite outlaw was gunned down. To come to so far to lose everything at the last second certainly makes for a gripping ending, but that didn’t stop us wishing it didn’t happen.

If this game taught us anything, is that people can be real assholes during the zombie apocalypse. With the ever thinning group, the only two people that remained constant pillars of support for Lee was the daughter figure found in Clementine, as well as the sharp and quick-witted Carly. A former reporter, she became something of a potential romance for Lee as well a fan-favourite. Which is why her sudden death at the hands of Lily came as such a brutal shock. Players had already made the choice to spare her over Doug, so to see her snuffed out just like that felt so out of left field. Much like Lee, we were all left grieving.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are few honoruble mentions.

Aribeth de Tylmarande
“Neverwinter Nights” (2002)

Shinatama
“Oni” (2001)

Cole Phelps
“L.A Noire” (2011)

Poseidon’s Princess
“God of War 3” (2010)

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#1: Aerith Gainsborough
“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)

Also in:

Saddest Video Game Death of All Time - Aerith

Her death is as famous as it is heart-breaking. Once a simple flower seller, she eventually becomes involved with Cloud and Avalanche and a crucial part of the team. Sweet in nature and big on healing, she was a very much welcome addition, especially when we found about her identity as a Cetra. Of course, everything comes undone when Sephiroth dive-bombs them and impale Aerith with his blade, skewering her before everyone’s eyes. This is all leads to a sombre goodbye as Cloud returns her body to the lifestream where she becomes one with the planet. It’s a beautiful end to a character we’d come to adore.

Do you agree with our list? What character in video games did you not want to die? With new top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe toWatchMojo.com.