Top 10 Games That Make You Cry

Few narrative-driven experiences are as poignant as What Remains of Edith Finch. The game explores the story of the Finch family, each member told through unique vignettes that blend gameplay with storytelling. Players step into the shoes of Edith as she revisits her family home and uncovers the tragic history of her relatives.

Each story segment is distinct, ranging from whimsical to devastating, yet all contribute to the theme of mortality and legacy. The brilliance lies in how gameplay mechanics change to reflect each family member’s perspective, immersing players fully in their experiences. The storytelling is deeply personal, intimate, and hauntingly beautiful.

By the conclusion, players are left reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of memory. The game does not aim to shock but to move, weaving tragedy with beauty in a way few titles achieve. Among narrative exploration games that make you cry, What Remains of Edith Finch stands as one of the most emotionally profound experiences ever created.

The Final Fantasy series is known for epic storytelling, but Final Fantasy X holds a special place for its emotional depth. Following Tidus and Yuna on their pilgrimage to defeat the monstrous Sin, the game weaves themes of love, sacrifice, and destiny. The journey is filled with lighthearted moments, but beneath the surface lies a heartbreaking inevitability.

The romance between Tidus and Yuna is one of the most memorable in gaming. Their bond grows gradually, making the ultimate revelation all the more devastating. The final scenes, where Tidus fades away in Yuna’s arms, have left countless players in tears. The combination of Nobuo Uematsu’s haunting soundtrack and Square’s cinematic storytelling delivers an experience that feels timeless.

Even decades after its release, Final Fantasy X remains a benchmark for emotional gaming. Its mix of strategic gameplay, character development, and narrative depth ensures it continues to resonate across generations. For fans seeking classic RPGs that make you cry, Final Fantasy X is one of the most iconic examples.

Created by filmmaker Josef Fares, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons tells a heart-wrenching story of two siblings on a journey to save their dying father. The gameplay is unique, requiring players to control both brothers simultaneously with separate analog sticks, creating an immediate bond between player and characters.

As the journey unfolds, the brothers face challenges that test their cooperation and trust. The game conveys emotion not through dialogue but through gameplay mechanics and subtle gestures. By the final act, players experience one of the most gut-punching twists in gaming, one that forces them to continue with only half of the control scheme they had relied upon throughout the adventure.

The simplicity of the story makes it universally relatable, and the emotional payoff is unforgettable. Brothers highlights the potential of interactive mechanics to drive emotional storytelling in ways unique to gaming. For those looking for narrative-driven games that make you cry, this is a title that demonstrates the full emotional power of the medium.

On the surface, Shadow of the Colossus appears to be a game about defeating massive creatures. Yet beneath its epic scale lies a story filled with sorrow, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of obsession. Players control Wander, a young warrior who makes a desperate pact to save a loved one by slaying sixteen colossal beings.

Each encounter is breathtaking, requiring strategy and persistence to overcome. Yet with every victory, a sense of unease grows. The colossi are not villains but majestic beings, and their deaths feel tragic rather than triumphant. By the final confrontation, the player realizes the true cost of Wander’s actions, leaving a lingering sense of guilt and sadness.

The minimalist storytelling and haunting atmosphere amplify the emotional weight. Shadow of the Colossus demonstrates how gameplay itself can become a vehicle for emotion, forcing players to grapple with the consequences of their own actions. It is not just a game of battles but one of sacrifice, making it one of the most unforgettable tragic games that make you cry.

To the Moon is a simple-looking indie game created with retro-style graphics, but its story delivers one of the most powerful emotional punches in gaming history. It follows two doctors who enter the memories of a dying man to fulfill his final wish. What seems like a straightforward mission soon unravels into a heartbreaking exploration of love, regret, and human memory.

The narrative structure alternates between present-day interactions and reconstructed past events. As the doctors uncover fragments of the man’s life, players piece together a story of lost dreams and enduring devotion. The writing is deeply moving, and the soundtrack, particularly the piano-driven theme, enhances the emotional resonance.

By the climax, most players find themselves in tears because of how intimately the game captures themes of mortality and unfulfilled desire. Despite its simplicity, To the Moon proves that games do not need advanced graphics to leave a profound emotional impact. It is one of the most iconic indie games that make you cry, beloved by fans worldwide for its heartfelt storytelling.

Visually stunning and emotionally devastating, Gris tells its story entirely through color, music, and symbolism. The game follows a young woman navigating a world of grief, with each stage representing a different phase of her emotional journey. From muted tones of sorrow to vibrant bursts of hope, the environment itself becomes a metaphor for healing.

What makes Gris so touching is how it resonates with anyone who has experienced loss or depression. The gameplay is simple platforming, but every movement feels infused with emotional weight. The haunting soundtrack by Berlinist amplifies the sense of fragility, while the gradual return of color mirrors the character’s growth.

Gris does not rely on dialogue or explicit storytelling, yet it achieves emotional impact through universal themes of recovery and resilience. Players often find themselves tearing up not because of what is said, but because of what is felt. For those seeking artistic emotional games that make you cry, Gris is a breathtaking journey into the heart of grief and renewal.

Sometimes, a game does not need dialogue or complex mechanics to break your heart. Journey is a minimalist masterpiece that guides players through a vast desert toward a glowing mountain on the horizon. What makes Journey extraordinary is how it builds emotional depth through music, art design, and anonymous co-op play.

Throughout the game, you may encounter other travelers—real players who appear as silent companions. There is no chat system, only musical chimes and body language, yet these interactions often feel more profound than traditional multiplayer experiences. By relying on subtle connection rather than words, Journey reminds us of the quiet beauty of human companionship.

The final ascent toward the summit is both breathtaking and heartbreaking, with the orchestral score swelling as the player struggles against overwhelming odds. Even without a traditional narrative, Journey evokes themes of perseverance, mortality, and transcendence. It is proof that games that make you cry can do so without words, relying instead on the universal language of shared experience.

Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only one of the most detailed open-world games ever created but also one of the most emotional. The story of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw torn between loyalty to his gang and his own moral compass, delivers a narrative that feels epic in scale yet deeply personal.

As Arthur’s journey unfolds, players witness the decline of the Van der Linde gang and the erosion of ideals that once held them together. Arthur’s slow transformation from hardened outlaw to a man seeking redemption is where the tears begin to fall. The quiet, reflective moments—like helping strangers, sketching in his journal, or caring for his horse—make him feel incredibly human.

The ending is especially devastating because it forces players to confront mortality, loyalty, and the inevitability of change. Depending on choices made, Arthur’s fate carries different tones, but each is poignant and unforgettable. The emotional weight lingers long after finishing the game, making Red Dead Redemption 2 one of the saddest games that make you cry and a landmark in immersive storytelling.

The episodic format of Life Is Strange allows players to live through the emotional ups and downs of a teenage girl named Max Caulfield. With the power to rewind time, Max faces choices that influence relationships, alter outcomes, and reveal hidden truths in the small town of Arcadia Bay. While the supernatural twist adds intrigue, the real heart of the story lies in Max’s friendship with Chloe.

Life Is Strange is deeply emotional because it tackles realistic struggles like bullying, depression, and the complexity of identity. Each episode gives players the freedom to make choices, but those choices often come with heartbreaking consequences. By the final episode, you are forced into a decision that is almost impossible to make without shedding tears.

What makes this game resonate so strongly is how personal the narrative feels. Players are not just observers; they are active participants in shaping Max’s story. The music, photography themes, and quiet moments of reflection enhance the intimacy of the journey. For anyone seeking emotional narrative-driven games that make you cry, Life Is Strange is a masterpiece of heartfelt storytelling.

Few titles have captured the emotional essence of survival and humanity like The Last of Us. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by infection, the story follows Joel and Ellie as they navigate dangers both from the environment and from other survivors. What makes this game unforgettable is not just its brutal gameplay but its deeply personal narrative about grief, trust, and love.

The opening sequence is one of the most infamous in gaming history, delivering a gut-wrenching loss that sets the tone for everything that follows. As players journey with Joel and Ellie, the relationship evolves from reluctant partnership to a profound father-daughter bond. The dialogue, voice acting, and nuanced animation make their connection feel authentic.

By the end, the emotional impact is overwhelming because every decision carries moral weight. The game challenges players to question the nature of sacrifice and whether survival justifies deception. Its conclusion has sparked debates for years precisely because it resonates on such a human level. Among all video games that make you cry, The Last of Us stands as one of the most powerful examples of how interactive storytelling can reach the core of human emotion.