6 Games Where the Main Character Shockingly Dies

Over the past two decades, video games have evolved to resemble films more and more. This development has brought about a degree of emotional engagement with narratives and characters that rivals movies and TV shows. The tales have become intricate, the settings immersive, and so on. I found myself shedding tears several times while playing Death Stranding 2 because I felt so involved in its storyline. Yet, despite being compared to interactive movies due to their cinematic nature, games offer a distinct storytelling experience. By giving us control over the character, we forge a stronger bond and become directly involved in the character’s actions.

It can be quite impactful when a character you’ve been playing as for hours meets an untimely end. This character has been under your control, improved through upgrades, and nurtured with care. You’ve shared their victories, their defeats, and their struggles because their journey was also yours. Here are some games that feature main characters who meet a sudden demise.

This version aims to be more conversational and engaging while maintaining the original meaning.

As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I must warn you upfront: this piece is brimming with spoilers from various games. Unfortunately, revealing which games they’re from could also count as a spoiler. So, proceed with caution, and remember, you’ve been warned!

#6) The Last of Us Part 2

Kicking things off with an event that may not be unexpected, but it’s undeniably significant – the death of a main character in The Last of Us. Although your gameplay initially focuses on Joel riding a horse at the beginning, he was the central figure in the first game, and fans anticipated his involvement in the sequel. However, his death serves as a dramatic turning point in the story, ensuring that you won’t be controlling him anymore.

This incident struck a chord with players, leaving some so affected that they chose to stop playing the game altogether. While such a response might seem undesirable, it underscores the powerful emotional bond between players and Joel. Whether this daring move will be replicated in future games is uncertain, given that it continues to stir strong feelings among gamers even five years later.

#5) LA Noire

LA Noire is actually underestimated when it comes to Rockstar-produced games, offering players a role as an LAPD detective in the 1940s. After climbing up the police department ladder, Cole Phelps experiences disgrace due to an extramarital affair with a case source, leading to a public scandal. Assigned to the Arson desk, he uncovers significant details about a string of cases, ultimately confronting a suspect based on his findings.

In a sewer tunnel inundated by heavy rain, he pursues the villain and sacrifices himself so his comrades can flee safely. It’s a tragic conclusion for a police officer who never received public vindication. His death leaves him as a disgraced cop, despite his numerous noble acts. The storyline’s somber ending aligns with its dark, Chinatown-style narrative.

#4) Red Dead Redemption Series

In both Red Dead Redemption games, the protagonists meet tragic ends: John Marston in the first game is killed by the government on his farm following a brief reunion with his family, despite fulfilling his obligations. Despite being expendable as a loose end, he was ruthlessly gunned down after ensuring the safety of his wife and son.

In the game “Red Dead Redemption 2”, the character Arthur Morgan has several possible ways to meet his end. One of the most commonly recognized scenarios is that he ultimately succumbs to tuberculosis after a strenuous battle with Micah, during which he was trying to safeguard John from being apprehended or harmed. Yet, it’s also possible for Arthur to be fatally shot by Micah, depending on the player’s moral choices throughout the game. These heart-wrenching deaths significantly impact the events that unfold in both games’ epilogues.

#3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Series

In my opinion, each installment in the original Modern Warfare trilogy features a significant character meeting an extraordinary demise. For instance, in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Sgt. Paul Jackson meets his end in a heart-wrenching fashion. After a nuclear explosion obliterates everything around him and forces his helicopter down, he miraculously survives the crash, but is unable to escape the devastating aftermath of radiation poisoning. As he struggles to reach safety, one can’t help but feel a sense of sorrow for this silent hero who never uttered a word or revealed his face to us. This death leaves a lasting impression and stands out as one of the most poignant in the series.

In the game “Modern Warfare 2”, a character named Joseph Allen, who’s an undercover operative, gets involved in a violent airport attack along with a Russian ultranationalist called Makarov. However, it turns out that Makarov had already known Allen’s real identity and ended up murdering him to pin the blame on America, thereby igniting World War III. Later on in the game, Roach and Ghost meet unfortunate ends after being double-crossed by General Shepherd, creating one of the most shocking twists in the entire series.

In the game “Modern Warfare 3”, there’s a substantial number of casualties. The two primary characters you control are Soap and Yuri, who meet their brutal ends during the game. Soap meets his demise when a bomb explodes within a watchtower, initially leaving him alive, but he succumbs by the time you manage to get him to safety. Towards the end of the game, Yuri is killed in combat as they storm a hotel where Makarov is hiding. By the conclusion of the story, Captain Price seems to be the only one remaining alive.

#2) Resident Evil Village

In the course of two Resident Evil games, Ethan Winters faced some incredibly challenging situations. Following his successful rescue of his wife in Resident Evil 7, he found himself embroiled in even more extraordinary events when his child was abducted in Resident Evil Village. This forced him to fight against vampires, werewolves, and other horrors. Remarkably, Ethan, who met his apparent demise in the previous game, was brought back to life thanks to a peculiar mold that bestowed upon him regenerative abilities – an explanation for why he can easily lose and regrow his limbs.

Towards the conclusion of the game, explosives are set up to annihilate the Megamycete, a formidable fungal entity capable of causing chaos if unchecked. Despite Ethan’s family fleeing on a helicopter, he chooses to remain behind and trigger the charges himself, understanding that the mold sustaining his life would ultimately lead to his own demise. This surprising turn of events has led many to believe that we won’t be seeing more adventures with Ethan Winters, but the announcement of Resident Evil Requiem seems to indicate otherwise.

#1) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Speaking as a passionate gamer, the latest addition to my collection is “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”. In this captivating game, I found myself deeply connected with Charlie Cox’s character, Gustave. However, the bond was tragically cut short when Gustave, in an act of selfless heroism, sacrificed himself to protect his friends. This heart-wrenching scene marked a premature end for Gustave, leaving many of us who admire Cox’s acting prowess shocked and saddened.

Despite expectations that Cox would have a more significant role in the game, his character was sadly taken from us within just a few hours. This untimely demise resonated strongly with players, though not quite as profoundly as Joel’s fate in “The Last of Us Part 2.” Nonetheless, it serves as another poignant reminder of the emotional rollercoaster that video games can provide.

2025-06-27 21:40