The 20 Greatest Video Game Cutscenes of All Time
Mile High Club
“Bayonetta 2” (2014) Just in case you needed a reminder that this gunslinging witch just so happened to be absurdly strong – here’s a full demonstration. When a jet plane comes soaring towards her, Bayonetta does the logical thing…and kicks it back into the sky. While wearing heels. What follows is your typical barrage of sexiness and gunplay, but there’s no getting over the initial WTF moment where Bayonetta showed that she doesn’t skip leg day. You’d think we’d be used to her antics by now, but apparently not.
The End of Big Boss
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“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” (2008) Leave it to Kojima to wrap up every single Metal Gear Solid story beat in a twenty minute cutscene…that also happens to be beautifully acted and delivers a bittersweet conclusion for Snake that hits so much harder than it should. Following the reveal that his clone daddy Big Boss is alive, father and son discuss the nature of the Patriots, Foxdie, their fallen comrades, and practically everything else. However, it’s Big Boss’ actions that truly cement this scene as phenomenal. Not only does he get to salute the Boss’ grave again, but makes peace with Snake, enjoying one final smoke before passing on. Even imparting some fatherly wisdom along the way.
The Greatest Responsibility
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“Spider-Man” (2018) Peter Parker is no stranger to grief, but this was something else. In order to save the citizens of New York from the Devil’s Breath virus, he has to hand over the antidote, but in doing so dooms an ailing Aunt May to her death. It's in these final moments May reveals she’s known that Peter has been Spider-Man all along, expressing her pride and love for him as she fades away. Even though he’s beyond tempted to save someone so precious to him, Peter instead makes the hardest choice, the responsible one, even though the cost is monumental.
Enter Armstrong
“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” (2013) On paper, this shouldn’t work. A random senator is revealed to be the big bad of Raiden’s solo outing, only to suddenly bulk out, beat the cyborg swordsman senseless, all the while talking about how he played football back in college. It shouldn’t work, and yet it does. And it’s all thanks to Armstrong’s endless capacity for entertainment. Every speech, every out of the box action, every punch delivered – it’s so insane it loops all the way around to be incredible. He’s got our vote. Also, nanomachines.
Vader Strikes Back
“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” (2019) Whatever misgivings modern gamers might have had towards the Dark Lord of Sith was instantly snuffed out in this chilling reveal. Upon besting the Second Sister, Kal and Cere do their best to try and bring the vengeful former Padawan back to the light…only for a familiar sound to creep into earshot. Trilla’s petrified state paired with Vader’s iconic breathing ratchets up the tension tenfold, culminating when the Sith Lord cuts her down for her failure. This lone cutscene did the impossible – it made Vader terrifying again.
Brother vs Brother
“Devil May Cry 5” (2019) Reunited and it feels so good…well, for the fans anyway. For Dante and Vergil, it’s another chance to bust out their Devil Triggers and get to brawling. The cutscene right before the smoking, sexy and stylish showdown against Vergil is a brilliant depiction of the Sons of Sparda and their violently complex relationship. Dante’s devil may care attitude, Vergil’s unwillingness to abandon his path to power, the silent acknowledgement that fighting to the death is only brotherly bond the two have left. It’s just fantastic.
The Killing Joke
The Greatest Video Game Weapon of All Time
“Batman: Arkham City” (2011) The endless game of life and death between Batman and the Joker is a staple and constant among comics and video games, so you can imagine everyone’s shock when they killed off the Clown Prince of Crime at the end of Arkham City. Unable to resist a chance to pull a fast and painful gag on Batman, the Joker lashes out with a knife…but in doing so causes the one vial of antidote that could cure his deathly affliction to fall to the ground and break. Seeing the funny side, Joker succumbs as you would expect, by sharing a final laugh with his mortal enemy right up until he perishes.
A True Patriot
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“Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” (2004) This might just be Kojima’s masterpiece – a plot twist that contextualizes everything we thought we knew, all the while saturating it in sorrow. After killing his mentor, Snake aka Big Boss is informed that she never actually betrayed the United States, that she willingly orchestrated her own demise as a means to complete her final mission, disgracing herself in the eyes of everyone that would never know her sacrifice. Everyone, except for Snake. With tearful narration and the now immortalized image of Snake saluting at the Boss’ grave, we’re given the mother of all somber conclusions.
Astarion Breaks the Cycle
“Baldur’s Gate 3” (2023) As you might expect, how Astarion’s personal arc closes is down to the actions and choices of the player. Does he sacrifice his brethren and become the Vampire Ascendant? Or should he push away the prospect of power for good and face his trauma? While both have their merits, there’s so much to love about witnessing the Pale Elf choose the latter. Neil Newborn’s towering performance as he weeps over the dead body of the sadistic master who caused him so much misery – it's breathtaking on every level. The whole encounter may be a painful ordeal, but seeing Astarion take the first step towards bettering himself is the hopeful cherry on top.
Elena Discovers the Truth
“Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End” (2016) He escaped a crumbling tower, outran and outgunned a truck deadset on ending his life, and yet, for all of that, the most painful ordeal that Nathan Drake experiences in his swan song of an adventure…is walking into his hotel room to find his wife waiting for him. And she is not happy. This is where the bubble bursts for Nate. In his desperation to reclaim the glory days, he was willing to lie to the person who loves him the most, even disregarding the real danger of him losing his life in pursuit of treasure. It’s a hard reality check for all parties involved, including us, and that;s what’s so brilliant about it.
The Power of Friendship (and Eikons)
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“Final Fantasy XVI” (2023) The final bout against Ultima was going to have to be something pretty spectacular in order to reach the heights of previous boss battles. It did not disappoint. Following the harrowing death of his brother, Clive resolves to finally lay waste to the monster responsible. What follows is unfiltered hype as the channels each of the Eikons, which in turn echo the voices of his loved ones, supporting him as he continues to thrash Ultima every step of the way. This is what happens when you let Yoshi-P cook.
Isshin Awakened
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019) Should you somehow make it through the absolute gauntlet that is this game, your final challenge awaits you with sword in hand…and he is not going down easily. Due to the power of the Black Mortal Blade, Genichiro’s dream of protecting the Ashina Clan is made manifest…by summoning his deceased grandfather to defeat Wolf once and for all. The Isshin that emerges from his grandfather’s fallen body is that of the Sword Saint in his prime. Even when compared to literal monsters such as the Demon of Hatred and the Divine Dragon, Isshin’s aura is one of absolute authority. And just like that, every player knew they were about to get demolished.
The Definition of Insanity
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“Far Cry 3” (2012) Just goes to show that even with minimal screen time, a great character with great dialogue backed by a great performance can eclipse all others. Case and point – Vaas. Unhinged yet wholly captivating, what was meant to only be a throwaway henchman swiftly rose up to become one of the faces of modern video game villainy, and nowhere was he more terrifying than when giving this monologue. It perfectly summarizes everything that we love and fear about Vaas – his sadistic tendencies, his twisted charisma, how he’s a victim of the same madness he’s preaching against. He says so much with so little, and entranced an entire generation with this violent soliloquy.
Herald of Darkness
“Alan Wake 2” (2023) Sam Lake is an absolute mad lad. Not only did he put a musical in the middle of his game, he made it integral to the narrative, intrinsically wove it into the gameplay, choreographed the whole thing in live-action, and created a banger of a metal track in one fell swoop. Trapped inside an endless loop which just so happens to take the form of a late night chat show, Alan Wake is forced to take part in one hell of a performance – singing about the tragedies of his past while busting a move. It’s a hundred shades of bizarre, beautiful and brilliant, whilst making a great argument that the Old Gods of Asgard should be in everything.
Welcome to Rapture
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“BioShock” (2007) A world of progress. The city of tomorrow. The reveal of the undersea metropolis of Rapture is as mesmerizing as it is harrowing. Meant to serve as a beacon for pioneers seeking to escape the confines of morality and government, Andrew Ryan’s dream is laid bare for us to witness as we slowly glide towards it. Paired with Ryan’s hypnotic narration, we’re almost compelled to believe in his promises…only to be greeted to a waking nightmare forged from the worst of what humanity has to offer.
The Death of Arthur Morgan
The Greatest Video Game Villain of All Time
“Red Dead Redemption 2” (2018) There’s no happy ending for outlaws at the turn of the century, even for a magnificent bastard like Arthur. After exposing Micah for the rat he is, the Van Der Linde gang fractures and erupts, leading to Arthur trying to bring down the traitor himself. Sadly, Arthur’s tuberculosis proves to be too much for him to overcome. While Micah and Dutch slinks away into the shadows, Arthur is greeted by the morning sun as life slips away from him. It’s a heart wrenching yet tranquil ending, fittingly bestowed to someone with such a violent past, but who also bore a noble soul. Pair that with the music, and you video game storytelling at its most devastatingly poignant.
The Final Colossus
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“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005) Every encounter with these larger-than-life sentinel had been epic in scope, but this is something else entirely. Even if you ignore all the foreboding and uncertainty surrounding Wander’s quest to slay these beings so a duplicitous deity could “maybe” bring back his beloved, Malus’ introduction is all kinds of intimidating. The storm weather, the Colossus’ sheer scale, how the light and shadow and rain all help to create the image of a creature you really, really, really do not want to be messing with. We’d even go as far to say that the presentation surrounding the sixteenth Colossi is borderline majestic…if not for the unholy fireballs it summons a moment later to snipe us from across the plateau.
O Captain, My Captain
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“Mass Effect 3” (2012) He may not have been part of the crew, but Anderson was a vital figure in Shepard’s life. As a captain, a mentor and a father figure, he remained the moral compass all throughout the trilogy. So, as you can imagine, to witness both he and Shepard struggles their wounds take their toll, makes for a difficult watch. Before finally succumbing, Anderson says that he’s proud of Shepard and all they’ve accomplished. Keith David is incredible here, making Anderson’s final words ones of strength, compassion and familial love. And damn if it doesn’t hurt each and every time we watch it.
Kratos Tells a Story
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“God of War Ragnarok” (2022) While we were tempted to choose Kratos reclaiming the Blades of Chaos, and trust us, everything about that scene is incredible, we went with something a little more…subdued, where we get to see Kratos doing something we never expected – telling his son a bedtime story. On the eve of battle, Kratos tries to comfort Atreus by telling him the tale of the old man who cut wood for his village, and how the eventual strain led him to beg for death. Christopher Judge is extraordinary here, showing us a vulnerability the likes of which we have never seen from Kratos. Fear and fatherhood, all rolled together, giving us a true glimpse into how much of a changed man the former God of War has truly become.
Loss
Tragic Loss of Metal Gear Solid
“The Last of Us” (2013) A single conversation, that’s all this is, and yet it encompasses everything that makes The Last of Us such an exceptional piece of art. After finally finding a moment’s peace, Ellie confronts Joel over the fate of his daughter Sarah, leading to a bitter back and forth between the two. The exchange is raw, hostile and layered with all manner of grief on both sides. It’s a turning point in Joel and Ellie’s relationship, one that would pave the way for an inseparable bond. But here? It’s a visceral war of words that showcases both at their lowest points. Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson pour their heart and soul into this, and it really shows, providing a snapshot on how, even amidst a post-apocalypse filled with fungus people, it’s the human elements that hit the hardest. Which cutscene do you think showcased the best the medium has to offer? Let us know in the comments!
