10 Video Game Openings That BROKE Our Hearts
Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)
Its hard not to love a big maternal fluff ball like Naru. After Ori, celestial cinnamon roll that he is, descends from the Spirit Tree, Naru takes it upon herself to raise and protect him like her own. And while they do share some good memories together, their time is cut tragically short when the forest is destroyed, and while Naru is able to sustain Ori in the aftermath, the toll proves to be too much for her as she succumbs to starvation. Remember kids, always tell your parents you love them!
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013)
Yeah, dearly departed family members are very much a running theme when it comes to video games breaking hearts right out of the gate. In the same vein as Ori, this silent introduction sees the youngest of the titular two brothers mourning the loss of his mother at her grave, flashbacks to how she drowned constantly intercutting. Its a heavy swing right from the start, perfectly establishing the games main themes of love, guilt, determination and, above all else, sacrifice.
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (2017)
BJ Blazkowiczs crusade to bring down the Nazi regime that has enslaved the world was always going to be filled with pain and loss, but even by those standards, watching Engel and her horde gleefully torture and execute his allies made for a woeful watch. While a last second save courtesy of her sympathiser daughter ensured Blazkowiczs survival, were still forced to endure watching the sadistic Engel decapitate Caroline with an axe and parade her head around. Its a vicious way to showcase just how unrelenting and unhinged the enemy really is, and what will become of everyone unless theyre permanently removed from power.
God of War (2018)
Reworking Kratos from a butcher of gods into a father ashamed of his past was one hell of a narrative tall order, but its thanks to scenes such as this that we were able to see that the Spartan still has a well of humanity left inside him. Following the death of his wife Faye, Kratos and Atreus set about preparing her funeral, pyre included. His parting words, the phenomenal OST, it all paints a picture of immense loss, and while we barely know anything about Faye by this point, its clear she was able to bring the best out of the former God of War.
The Walking Dead: Season Two (2013)
Nothing will ever eclipse the misery of losing Lee at the end of Season One, but this intro to the sequel season is still pretty damn bleak. Fleeing with Omid and Crista, a momentary rest proves deadly as Clementine encounters another survivor a far more desperate one. Itchy trigger fingers and a case of bad timing leads to guns going off, with Omid getting caught in the crossfire. This only proves to be the start of Clems terrible luck going forward, forced to survive in a world where innocence is now extinct.
Stray (2022)
Who doesnt love cats? Everyone loves cats. Only the sickest of minds would want to see cats get hurt. Unfortunately, the opening segment of modern gamings ultimate cat simulator sees a whole bunch of them in peril. While exploring an abandoned facility, some loose footing leads to the players kitty avatar scrambling before eventually falling over the edge. Given the gorgeous visuals, watching a highly detailed rendering of an adorable feline fall into an abyss gave us some major heart palpitations!
Firewatch (2016)
The stakes may be lower, but dont think for a second this game is any less impactful. In fact, the emotional blows just dont stop with this one. Interspersed between the scenic journey of Henry as he makes his way towards his new post as a fire lookout, we learn about his past with his wife Julia. The snippets of texts are small and seemingly inconsequential, but as things go on we learn that Julia has developed dementia at a frightfully early age, leading to their relationship rapidly deteriorating. It then becomes clear that this little excursion isnt so much a pleasant reacquaintance with nature, as it is Henry running from a cripplingly depressing situation, and now were along for the ride.
Life is Strange 2 (2018)
The Diaz brothers might just have the worst luck in gaming. What starts with Sean trying to protect his younger sibling Daniel from being harassed turns nuclear when a lone police officer gets involved. Tensions run high, mistakes are made, and the boys father ends up being killed as a result. Can it get worse? Of course it can, since the incident leads to Daniels latent telekinetic abilities going out of control and destroying everything in sight, turning the two boys into fugitives in a single stroke. Talk about escalation.
The Last of Us (2013)
Its one of the most iconic openings of any game ever released, setting the tone of hopelessness to follow. Caught in the beginning stages of the apocalypse as the cordyceps start to infect everyone in sight, Joel desperately struggles to save his daughter as the world goes to hell around them. Unfortunately, its not only the infected they have to worry about. Cornered by a soldier, both Joel and Sarah are fired upon. While Joel manages to survive by the skin of his teeth, his daughter isnt so lucky. The sight of a broken man cradling his child as civilization crumbles remains one of the mediums most haunting sights.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025)
Because why stop at redefining turn-based RPGs when you can also obliterate hearts while youre at it? Over the course of a brief prologue, were introduced to a city in the stranglehold of the Paintress an entity whose wicked magics disintegrate any person when they reach a certain age, and every year, the number gets lower. Through Gustave and Sophies eyes, were witness to the Gommage in full effect, as countless souls are reduced to petals. Gustavs grief, Sophies fear, the astounding visuals, the god-tier music the sequence is masterful in its portrayal of sorrow, letting players know what theyre fighting for, and what they stand to lose
Which games intro destroyed you? Let us know in the comments!