5 most emotional NPC deaths in video games

sportskeeda.com:

As an interactive medium, games provide players with unparalleled immersion, resulting in emotional attachment. It is therefore natural to feel a sense of loss when some relatable non-playable characters (NPCs) are met with unexpected demise in games. Creating emotional responses is a hallmark of effective storytelling.

Many games are infamous for killing off the protagonist with whom the players are heavily imbued throughout the story. While it hurts to part ways with a favorite hero, it is even more tragic to witness the death of the protagonist's well-wisher. All the deaths in this list of games are sure to cause some players to shed some tears.

Disclaimer: This listicle is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions. This article also contains major spoilers.

The Last of Us plays with the heartstrings from the earliest section when the players are just getting introduced to Joel and his daughter Sarah. Joel gets a gift from her on his birthday and the two share some adorable moments before the chaos begins. Joel along with Sarah and his brother Tommy rushes out to escape Texas and reach a safe zone as people around them start becoming wild and attempt to kill each other.

Players become more sensitive to the tone of the game over the entire car trip as Joel tells Tommy to keep driving and disregard the screams for aid from onlookers. After surviving an accident, the trio has to make their way on foot but is obstructed by a soldier who demands Joel drop Sarah on the ground.

The soldier fires a round and it hits Sarah and she bleeds out in Joel’s arms. Despite only knowing Sarah for a brief time, players get emotionally engaged in her relationship, and seeing it end is a devastating blow.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt