If you’re looking for an emotional journey that can make you sad and even cry, these open-world games will hit the spot. Open-world gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds, offering not just vast landscapes and freedom but also heartfelt storytelling. In these games, investing in a good writing team and allowing players to experience stellar narratives results in moments so emotional that they might make you shed tears. Games with sad or poignant endings – like Far Cry 5 or Final Fantasy 15 – prove that even big-budget open-world titles can tug at your heartstrings and leave you deeply moved. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 similarly deliver gut-punch story moments that stay with you long after the final mission. So grab some tissues and get ready: here are some of the best open-world games that will make you cry, each with their own unique way of breaking your heart.
1. Final Fantasy 15
Noctis and his loyal friends facing their fate under the stars in Final Fantasy 15. This action-JRPG’s road-trip adventure isn’t all sunshine and monster hunts – it’s a tale of brotherhood, destiny, and sacrifice. You play as Prince Noctis, journeying with his three best friends across the kingdom of Lucis. Their banter and camaraderie feel genuine, which makes the story’s tragic turns hit extra hard. As the game unfolds, Noctis must accept a heartbreaking destiny to save his world. Several emotional moments – from a comrade’s personal sacrifice to a final campfire chat among friends – will likely leave players misty-eyed. The ending is a beautiful gut-punch that ties together themes of love, duty, and friendship. It’s the kind of finale that leaves you staring at the credits in bittersweet silence, cherishing the journey and feeling the loss of beloved characters.
Final Fantasy 15 stands out for how it builds your attachment to its heroes over dozens of hours. You’ll laugh at their antics (Ignis “found a new recipe!”, anyone?), share in their triumphs, and eventually mourn their losses. The combination of Yoko Shimomura’s gorgeous musical score and the weight of Noctis’s final decision packs an emotional wallop. By the end, you might find yourself with tears in your eyes as the game delivers a send-off that’s equal parts sorrowful and satisfying. (Pro tip: have the song “Stand By Me” handy – the game’s themes of brotherhood resonate even more with that tune!)
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Peter Parker (left) and Miles Morales (right) share a contemplative moment high above the city in Marvel’s Spider-Man. Superhero games aren’t usually known for making players cry, but Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) manages to weave a deeply emotional story alongside its web-swinging action. As Peter Parker, you’ll experience a narrative full of heart – especially in Peter’s relationships with mentor figures and loved ones. The game’s final act is famously heart-wrenching. After battling familiar villains and saving New York, Peter faces a devastating personal choice: to save his beloved Aunt May or use the only cure to stop a citywide epidemic. In the end, he chooses the greater good, leading to a hospital scene that had many players openly sobbing as Aunt May speaks her last words to Peter. It’s a powerful moment that underscores the classic Spider-Man theme of sacrifice and responsibility.
What makes Marvel’s Spider-Man especially effective is how it builds up to that emotional climax. Throughout the game, we see Peter struggle with balancing hero duties and personal life. He helps out at Aunt May’s FEAST shelter, mentors a young Miles Morales, and reconnects with Mary Jane. By the time the final choice arrives, we’re fully invested in these characters. The voice acting and animation in that final goodbye scene are superb – Peter’s trembling voice, May’s gentle reassurance that she knew he was Spider-Man all along – it’s a real tearjerker. Few open-world games deliver an emotional punch like this one, proving a comic-book adventure can indeed make you cry.
3. NieR: Automata
YoRHa android 2B plays a lonely violin in a ruined world in NieR: Automata. Widely praised for its thought-provoking story, NieR: Automata is an open-world-ish action RPG that doesn’t pull any emotional punches. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where androids fight to reclaim Earth from machines, the game forces you to confront heavy themes of existentialism, identity, and the meaning of life. As you play through multiple perspectives (2B, 9S, and A2), you uncover the tragic truths of this world. Beloved characters experience despair, sacrifice, and bittersweet reunions. One side quest has you helping a little machine family, only to witness a heartbreaking end; another subplot explores two android sisters in a way that will leave you choked up. And the main story’s multiple endings? They range from melancholy to outright devastating.
NieR: Automata is infamous for making players cry in its final route. In the true ending, the game breaks the fourth wall in an unprecedented way – offering you, the player, a poignant choice of sacrifice to help strangers. It’s an emotional crescendo that underscores the game’s hopeful message about humanity and cooperation. The combination of Keiichi Okabe’s haunting soundtrack (the song “Weight of the World” will forever give fans goosebumps) and the fates of beloved characters like 2B and 9S create an atmosphere heavy with emotion. By the end, you might find yourself pondering life’s meaning – and wiping away tears you didn’t even realize were falling.
4. Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Ichiban Kasuga steels himself during a graveyard confrontation in Yakuza: Like A Dragon. The Yakuza franchise is known for balancing zany humor with heartfelt drama, and Like A Dragon (Yakuza 7) delivers one of the series’ most emotional stories yet. New protagonist Ichiban Kasuga is a goofy, big-hearted ex-yakuza who sees the world like a RPG hero – but his journey is filled with real hardship and loyalty tests that will hit you right in the feels. Ichiban starts the game by willingly taking the fall for a crime to protect his patriarch (a father figure to him). Fast-forward 18 years: he’s betrayed, left homeless, and searching for the truth behind his “family” – a quest that leads to tearful revelations and farewells. One standout scene involves Ichiban finally confronting the man he saw as a father, only to face a tragic outcome that leaves him openly weeping and players likely joining him.
What makes Yakuza: Like A Dragon a real tear-jerker is how much you grow to love Ichiban and his party of misfit friends. From caring for a dying elder to standing up for a friend’s honor, Ichiban’s compassion shines through, making his setbacks and triumphs profoundly affecting. The game’s final chapters bring a rollercoaster of emotions: shocking twists about Ichiban’s lineage, a devastating loss, and ultimately an ending that feels both hopeful and heavy with grief. Fans often cite Ichiban’s breakdown at a grave (after an intense boss fight in that very cemetery) as one of the most gut-wrenching moments in any Yakuza game. Don’t be surprised if you’re reaching for tissues as this lovable underdog faces his demons and still keeps his heart of gold.
5. Cyberpunk 2077
The desolate oil fields outside Night City set the stage for a heartfelt farewell in Cyberpunk 2077. Beneath the neon-soaked mayhem and cybernetic flash, Cyberpunk 2077 hides a soul-stirring narrative about mortality, identity, and human connection. As V – a mercenary fighting to save their own life – you’ll forge deep bonds with characters whose arcs often end in tragedy. One of the earliest emotional gut-punches is the death of Jackie Welles, V’s best friend, during a heist-gone-wrong. Jackie’s final moments (and his heart-wrenching goodbye message if you send him to his family) set a somber tone that resonates through the rest of the game. Later, V’s relationship with the digital ghost of Johnny Silverhand evolves from hostile to genuinely moving – culminating in an optional final conversation at a quiet oil field where Johnny and V come to understand and respect each other. It’s a surprisingly tender scene amid all the chaos.
Cyberpunk 2077’s multiple endings each carry emotional weight. Whether it’s saying farewell to allies you’ve grown to love, or V making a bittersweet sacrifice, these finales aren’t exactly happily-ever-afters. Perhaps the most tearful ending sees V and Johnny sharing a last moment of friendship before parting forever – a sequence played against a melancholic song that can leave you silent and reflective. Another ending might have you guiding Johnny to start a new life in V’s body while your own consciousness fades away – a sacrifice that’s as haunting as it sounds. Night City’s gritty stories prove remarkably emotional, and if you’ve invested in side quests (like helping Judy process her grief or watching Panam fiercely protect her clan), the impact is even stronger. In a game full of violence and style, it’s the quiet, human moments that might unexpectedly make you cry.
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan rides into the sunset, a lone figure against the dying light in Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar’s massive Western epic is often cited as one of the most tear-inducing games ever made, and for good reason. You follow Arthur Morgan – an outlaw with a rough past – on a journey of redemption that is as tragic as it is beautiful. The game spends dozens of hours endearing Arthur and his Van der Linde gang to you, showing their camaraderie and struggles. Arthur’s own transformation from a weary enforcer to a man seeking to do right provides some of the most profoundly emotional storytelling in gaming. In the end (prepare yourself), Arthur’s fate is sealed by illness and betrayal. The final ride back to camp, with “Unshaken” playing and Arthur reflecting on his life as the sun sets, is a masterclass in visual storytelling that will have you quietly sobbing. And then that final hilltop scene… Arthur gazing at the sunrise, at peace if you earned the honorable ending – it utterly shatters you, even as it gives Arthur the dignity he deserves.
Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn’t stop at Arthur’s ending – it keeps pulling the heartstrings in the epilogue and beyond. You’ll witness how the characters you cared about move on (or don’t). A visit to Arthur’s grave as John Marston can easily bring back the waterworks, especially reading Arthur’s engraving: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This game manages to make even hardened cowpokes cry, because it presents such a rich, humane story. By the time the credits roll (or when that familiar credit song “That’s The Way It Is” hits during Arthur’s last stand), expect to feel emotionally drained yet grateful for the experience. It’s a heartbreaking ode to the end of the Wild West – and a game that proves a well-crafted open-world can make even the toughest player shed a tear.
7. Disco Elysium
A scene from Disco Elysium’s concept art – a melancholic detective story told through rain, regret, and hard-won empathy. If you prefer your emotional gaming gut-punches delivered via dialogue and introspection rather than cinematics, Disco Elysium is the open-world RPG for you. Set in a depressed city and starring a detective with a fractured psyche, this game tackles heavy subjects like addiction, failure, and the ghosts of the past. Through exquisite writing, Disco Elysium lulls you with humor and wit, then floors you with quietly devastating revelations. Case in point: the “Smoker on the Balcony” side story, where a seemingly light flirtation can unravel into a profound connection or a heartrending goodbye depending on your choices. Or the moment your partner Kim trusts you with a deeply personal story under the pale glow of his car headlights – a simple act of friendship that can choke you up with its significance. While Disco Elysium’s final resolution isn’t a grand sob-fest, it leaves a lingering ache as you piece together the tragic motive behind the murder and confront the sorrow woven through Revachol’s history.
What truly makes players cry in Disco Elysium are the small, human moments of kindness in a harsh world. A down-and-out cryptozoologist’s optimism in the face of loss, a fallen political figure’s regret over a life wasted, or your detective coming to terms with his own broken heart – the game provides these in spades through brilliant prose. By the end, if you role-played earnestly, you might have helped your character find a measure of hope or forgiveness, and that emotional payoff is surprisingly moving. It’s not a cinematic tearjerker in the traditional sense – instead, it burrows into your soul with empathy and then makes you contemplate life’s sadness and beauty, perhaps misty-eyed at 3 AM as you finish reading a particularly poignant line of dialogue. In a genre full of loud action, Disco Elysium’s quiet, literary journey stands out as an open-world game that will sneak up on you and break your heart with just words.
8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt of Rivia (center) and his loved ones share a rare joyful moment – a reunion hard-won after many tears in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Finally, we come to a legendary open-world RPG known not only for monsters and magic but also for massive emotional clout. The Witcher 3 follows gruff monster-hunter Geralt as he searches for his surrogate daughter, Ciri, amid war and prophecy. Along the way, the game presents some of the most heartrending quests in gaming. Who can forget the “Bloody Baron” storyline? What begins as a hunt for a missing family turns into a tragic tale of abuse, loss, and redemption. Depending on your choices, it can end with the Baron tearfully hanging himself out of guilt – a punch to the gut in an otherwise high-fantasy adventure. Then there’s “The Last Wish” quest with Yennefer, which forces Geralt and Yen to confront whether their love is genuine or just magic – a beautifully bittersweet moment for longtime fans. But the crown jewel has to be the main story’s climax: when Geralt finally finds Ciri only to think he’s lost her forever, his raw grief is palpable. Seeing stoic Geralt collapse and sob when he believes Ciri died saving the world is enough to break anyone. And if you achieved the best ending, their ensuing embrace in a tavern – Geralt realizing Ciri survived and the two hugging tightly – is pure joy and relief that might have you crying happy tears.
The Witcher 3 wisely balances its dark tragedies with moments of warmth and triumph, making the emotional lows hit even harder. Reuniting Geralt’s family (whether it’s fellow witchers or sorceress loves) often leads to touching scenes like the Kaer Morhen party or that group selfie at Corvo Bianco (as seen above) – instances that feel like heartfelt rewards after all the pain. The game’s epilogues can vary, but each has an emotional angle: Ciri becoming a witcher and fulfilling Geralt’s dream for her, or Geralt alone with only a memento of Ciri, mourning what could have been. Both outcomes (and ones in between) are guaranteed to stir your emotions. By the end of this sprawling open-world epic, you’ll have laughed, you’ll have cried, and you’ll likely consider Geralt and Ciri as family too – that’s how powerful the storytelling is.
These open-world games prove that a massive map and dozens of side-quests don’t prevent a game from also delivering a narrative that resonates deeply. From heroic sacrifices to intimate character moments, each title on this list earns its tears honestly, through memorable writing and characters we come to love. And while crying over a video game might sound odd to some, any gamer who’s experienced these stories will tell you how impactful they can be.
Strategic Insight – The BUFF Connection: If you do decide to embark on these emotional adventures, consider doing so with a platform like BUFF (buff.game) by your side. BUFF’s loyalty program rewards you for the time and passion you put into gaming – so even when a storyline leaves you heartbroken, you’re still steadily earning points for real-world goodies. It’s a bit like getting a comforting pat on the back (or a cold drink after a crying session) as you play through gut-wrenching quests. Platforms like BUFF also connect you with communities of players who’ve felt the same emotions, so you can share in the catharsis together. In the end, whether you’re racking up BUFF points or just personal growth points from experiencing these stories, remember: the tears you shed for these open-world games are all part of the journey. Embrace the emotions, and enjoy the ride – because few gaming experiences are as unforgettable as the ones that truly make us feel.
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