Yeah, I once walked into a Gamestop and saw how expensive new games have gotten…
Joking aside:
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Journey
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To the Moon
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Spiritfarer
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps
All good games, I can’t recommend them enough.
God … Spiritfarer. What an amazing experience. I didn’t cry but quite a few times I had to put down the controller and just stare out the window. It’s not sad but it is so sad. It’s so wistful and god just loved that game.
Ooh can you tell me a bit more about spiritfarer? I bought it excitedly a few months ago but stuff happened and I didn’t play it for a long time. And now I find it kinda hard to get back to it. Also I seen to be stuck with some basic early missions
Not the previous poster, but I’ll share what I can. And I’m assuming you already know the premise from the store page, but to provide context to others:
Spiritfarer is a chill meditation on the nature of death. Due to random circumstances, the main character (and her cat) take over for the mythological figure of Charon and are now tasked with ferrying the dead. So over the course of the game, you encounter a number of notable spirits, who each have their own stories to learn. But you don’t need to bring them to their final destination until they’re ready to go, so in the meantime they just kinda join your crew and hang out.
Mechanically, Spiritfarer is a resource management game. You upgrade your boat with buildings that serve a particular purpose, like gardens, a kitchen, a blacksmith, etc. and use resources grown on the ship or found at various islands to craft materials needed for upgrades and some quest turn-ins. Some key upgrades for the boat are needed to progress to other parts of the map, where more things become accessible over time.
In terms of what makes the game appealing, it’s almost entirely vibes-based. None of the resource management mechanics feel rushed or stressful, so it’s easy for people to proceed at their own pace. It also supports 2P multiplayer, where player 2 plays as the cat and can do everything P1 can. The spirits your encounter provide mechanical benefits to your boat, but also have their own stories to learn that reveals more about who they were in life—often more tragic than one would initially assume. But I think the main emotional gut punch of the game is knowing that the spirits need to move on eventually. You’re just trying to help them find closure first. And often, they’re ready to go when you’re not ready to say goodbye yet.
So I recommend it as a game to play in small spurts, but I wouldn’t go too long in between sessions. For me, it made for some good unwind time after some long days of work. And if you have someone else to do couch co-op with, I think it’s a good game for couples. But if you put it down and don’t come back for a while, it can be easy to forget what things you were working on. It’s not a hard game, so probably not too much effort to figure out your way back on track, but it might be worth restarting if you’re still at the beginning.
Ooh, thank you very very much for the detailed reply. I think I should just restart the campaign. I do really being awed by the visuals of the game, with all the handdeawm graphics.
I think the part where I was stuck was that I needed to find something on the map marked by a snake, but I never found the marker and the resource management seemed a bit grind-y. But anyway, I think I’ll give it a shot again. In general I’m a bit new to gaming and getting used to some of the repetitive(?) mechanics
If you’re ever feeling stuck, it never hurts to look up a guide! I’m not a fan of Fandom, but their Spiritfarer wiki does appear to include walkthroughs for most of the quests if you’re not sure what to do or where to go next.
Stovetop gives a great explanation of the mechanics so I’ll just add about the vibes. Spiritfarer is sweet and kind at its heart. The main interface of the game is giving hugs and cooking the favourite foods of your passengers. You explore both physically in your boat and in the lives of your friends, and hopefully you come to understand a little bit about life and death. And patience too, sometimes you’re not really stuck you’re just not ready yet.
hopefully you come to understand a little bit about life and death
This is precious what made me buy it. This and the beautiful visuals. I will for sure give it another shot!
It’s not sad but it is so sad
After
spoiler
Atul ::: I literally had to put the game down for weeks because I couldn’t stop crying whenever I tried. I think it certain parts just hit different depending on your experiences with grief.
Yeah Atul …
Atul
Sometimes you don’t get to say goodbye and that sucks. One day they’re just gone. But with Atul I kept it together because the reason he just disappeared was that he didn’t need us. He could go to the door on his own and yeah he should have said goodbye at least but … well it sucks but I like to remember the happy frog at the party.
For me it was Stanley and Alice
Alice
God it was heartbreaking watching her mind slowly dissolve and get lost. That’s where it hit me how important Stella’s job was. How important having someone with her at the end, helping and not even saying anything just being there is. I couldn’t do it but I’m grateful for the people who can.
Stanley
Fuck as a parent that got me. Fuck you god! I know that life isn’t fair but that really wasn’t fair. And watching his mom fall apart from his eyes … Her ‘Fakenegs’ … her fear in watching his fear … I’ve never been tested like that and I hope I could do better but man I understand her failing.
To the moon is like a kick right in the feels. Had me and my wife in bits at the ending.
What touched you about Journey? I finished the games about 3 times and honestly can’t recall that much about it but the art/graphic design being top notch.
Regarding OP’s question I also don’t recall a game that has made me cry yet, but I wouldn’t say I am a senseless being lol, some anime scenes get me from time to time… Is just that with games it feels different.
There were a few things, I think. Stylistically I thought it was gorgeous and made well, coupled with the absolutely beautiful soundtrack by Austin Wintory. But I also got lucky my first time though, and ended up sticking with the same partner pretty much from the very beginning all the way through the end.
The argument that games are art is something that was pretty widely discussed around the release of Journey, but what I think made that game in particular so impactful is the way that it took a basic mechanic like multiplayer support and wove it so perfectly in with the narrative it was trying to tell. Walking into the light with the same person who was with me from so early on, after everything we went through, and then saying our goodbyes before that beautiful OST played through the credits, it was pretty moving.
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Outer Wilds. Endings of both the main game and the DLC can still get me to tear up a bit. I saw a post somewhere, don’t remember, that said something along the lines of “Listening to the Outer Wilds OST is the only way I feel my feelings any more.” It’s about like that.
Yes! I have to try the DLC, I’ve been afraid of it not living up to the main game’s whole thing
Oh, it lives up to it, all right. It’s pretty mind bending in its own way.
Agreed on this. There are at least four separate moments of incredible reveals, and so many little details work towards creating a powerful atmosphere. It’s amazing
Spoiler of a specific thing I liked a lot
I distinctly remember looking around the seemingly abandoned ring station, after recovering from how cool it was to see the whole thing arcing up above me, and realising how all of the furniture was way too big for me. It’s such a trivial thing but it did a lot to make me feel like I really, really did not belong here
The DLC is good, but it’s different. Quite different.
And without spoiling anything, let me say that during the beginning and middle it feels even more different than it ends up being, which is a bit jarring to some fans of the original.
I like it, I’m glad I played through it, but I understand people that are grumpy with it or don’t gel with it.
I think the flaw it has, by nature of being DLC, is that it has a bit less surface area than the main game. In the main game if you get stuck there are a hundred other areas to explore and learn stuff that may help get through the stuck parts, or even just give you a break so you can prevent frustration. But in EotE if you get stuck in, like, 3 places it sorta locks you up, because those are the only 3 threads you have available to you at that time. So it’s not bad, but is more prone to frustration and feeling stuck than the original.
But if you relax, and push through, and in some cases have “faith” that the designers have way through in mind, I think it’s good and scratches a similar but different itch.
I won’t overhype it, as others are saying it changes up a lot and there’s a particular section near the end that a few people I know bounced off of. It will be a very different experience, built on the same bones, but trying to accomplish something different.
But holy shit, to me it’s an improvement on an already phenomenal game, and builds on its narrative and mechanics in ways I thought were really clever. It feels like the other side of the coin from the main game and bolsters its themes from another perspective. Can’t recommend it enough.
My partner is chronically ill and Karlach’s ending in BG3 made me sob because I was romancing her and it hit very close to home
Absolutely same here, although I’m the chronically I’ll one
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The Walking Dead. Clementine, my girl, she needs a hug.
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Journey. I will cry every time.
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Lethal Company. Laughter and fear crying.
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Neon White had a moment or two I think
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BioShock Infinite
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Celeste
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Assassin’s Creed Black Flag
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A Short Hike
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Spiritfarer
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probably more…
Black Flag hit far harder than a Ubisoft game had any right to. The entire fucking credits scene… And you just know they are absolutely going to butcher a remaster and bolt on a bunch of always online micro transaction slop.
Oh god… I forgot about the walking dead. Lee talking with Clementine at the end. I cried hard on that one
Black Flag hit far harder than a Ubisoft game had any right to.
A Short Hike was such a cute and wholesome game, was taken by surprise and reduced to tears at the ending 😭😭😭
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Stray had some moments
The end of Stray killed me
Beginning of Stray: “Oh, this cat game is so cute!”
End of Stray: [Hey, come see this big, grown-ass adult guy start ugly-crying!]
Last of us part 2.
To the moon.
I may have teared up at the end of Half-Life 2.
I was full on ugly crying at the end of To The Moon.
Lol, I tear up just hearing River’s song, it’s such an amazing story. We also played Laura Shigihara’s cover of “Everything’s alright” for my wife walking down the isle. It’s a special game.
That rules
“It had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong”.
Oof that hurts
That Dragon Cancer made me fucking weep.
Clair Obscur, God of War 2018, What Remains of Edith Finch, The Last of Us, Bastion, Halo: Reach, Firewatch, Celeste, Telltale’s The Walking Dead, FFXV, Baldur’s Gate 3, Shadow of the Colossus, and more, all made me tear up.
Can you tell I’m quite emotional about video games?
Man that’s a lot of crying during video games. “Honey are you alright? I heard you crying again?”
“This game fucking rocks!!!”
Movies don’t hit me as hard, but the medium that is video games really sells the rough moments for me. Maybe it’s something about being responsible for moving the narrative that makes me connect with video game characters.
It’s the control. You ARE the Character to a lesser extent. That’s why it’s so hard to make a video game movie.
Finally someone mentions Bastion! I just love that game. The ending where you pick him up… was like chills and crying and more chills.
I bought That Dragon Cancer ages ago because it seemed like an amazing and innovative idea for a game, and I’ve never had the guts to start it up.
Bring a blanket and a box of tissues. There is no “I’m too tough to cry” in this game, at least I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.
Oh God, that part with all of the get well cards. Right in the feels.
Ohh yeahh, I forgot FFXV was like that. It hits you with a bunch of shit after that one point of no return.
It is an embodiment of “it’s all downhill from here,” aside from the fact that evil is vanquished.
- The last of Us 1 and 2
- Signalis
- Outer Wilds
- Nier: Automata
I love TLOU 1.
I am curious what part made you cry? Parts made me anxious and parts made me very relieved. None made me cry.
As a middle aged guy with a young daughter at the time, I cried at the opening and had to take a break before actually playing the game.
I played through it originally years ago and remember it being sad but it kind of fell out of my head. I played it again few years ago after acquiring a bonus kid and having a baby, both the intro and the ending were gut punches.
This is the correct answer and what I was going to say. First played as an engaged young man. While an amazing story, didn’t hit until I had my daughter and replayed 10 years later. The impact of his decisions and my struggle with how I would’ve handled it, wrecked me. Neil is a genius and I think an incredible story teller.
The boss fight in the dinner. This was traumatic to me. The violence in this scene feels much to real to be in a video game, I was not prepared.
Boss fight in the dinner?
Do yo mean the boss fight in the burning restaurant where you play Ellie and fight David?
Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve played it.
Sam.
SIGNALIS fucked me up for like 6 months
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Literally yesterday I started playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and just the prologue hit me.
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The end of Karlach’s story in Baldurs Gate 3
Expedition 33 had multiple moments for me, still enjoyed it a lot
I knew i was in for a wild ride after the gromage!
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Final Fantasy VII, the original one. Stopped playing it for a couple months.
Videogame’s “Rosebud” moment. 🥺
I feel old that I was to look this far to find it.
To the Moon
I convinced my partner to play to the moon. The sound of crying was how I knew she’d reached the end.
The music still gets me a little bit sometimes.
I gotta get around to the other games in the series sometime, To The Moon was incredible. It’s been so long and I don’t remember many specifics, but I do recall it being one of a few games that encouraged me to come to terms with mortality.
this needs to be higher up. to the moon is a gem
Outer Wilds, both at the end and when I found the DLC spoiler character. Good tears, though. It’s beautiful
Celeste is so. fucking. good.
absolutely amazing game in every way
I wanna finish it but I’m stuck finding all the secret strawberries
I second this. Didn’t cry while playing it but did tear up listening to the Farewell soundtrack on full blast in my car.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
An absolute emotional rollercoaster start to end.
33/33 would recommend
The only game I have sat still as the credits rolled absolutely dumbfounded for at least 30 minutes
Just finished the main quest last night. My head is still spinning. Best story driven game I’ve played in some time if not all time for me. They really did a great job everywhere.
