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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is hands down one of the best sad games I've ever played. In fact, I was crying within the first 30 minutes after seeing the dreaded "Gommage" for myself. It took me three months to recover and put on my big gamer pants to complete one of the best new games of 2025, and I'm so glad I did.
Not only did Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 make me bawl a few more times, but it also taught me to embrace heavy emotions when playing games in general. If I can make it through Sandfall Interactive's game, then I can face all the best Steam games that I had long left alone in my library. From the best RPGs to the greatest indie games, I have finally played all the titles I've been putting off; whether it be because of the heavy topics they explore, or the sensitive themes they touch on. And, shocker, I've found some absolute gems in the process.
Spiritfarer
Developer: Thunder Lotus
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
When I first bought Spiritfarer, I thought that it would be a cute, cozy game, but the next thing I knew, my heart was ripped out of my chest as I discovered that the whole point of the game is to basically be a grim reaper. Playing as Stella, you have to manage a ship filled with loveable spirits, fulfilling their requests and listening to their stories before you accompany them to the gates of the afterlife.
Every character you meet in Spiritfarer is as enduring as the next, and saying goodbye to them hurts each and every time. You learn skills from each passenger which helps you progress; discovering their favorite meals and gifts, and you giving them hugs as you greet them each day. Real bonds are formed during this management sim, and bidding them farewell feels all too real as a result.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One
What remains of Edith Finch is somber from the get-go, and only gets more emotionally brutal as you progress through an anthology of tragic stories. The premise here is that you take on the role of Edith Finch (the last remaining member of the family) after returning to your ancestral home for the first time in many years. As you explore the house, you experience a magical realism narrative that takes you through experiences from each deceased family member.
Playing mini games packed with symbolism and heavy themes, you slowly piece together what happened to your family. If that story doesn't sound melancholy, just wait until you see the twist ending for this one as well. What remains of Edith Finch is a must-play experience, and for all the heartache is one of the best game stories you'll ever witness.
Undertale
Developer: Toby Fox
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One
Undertale may seem like an odd choice among this list of sad games, but don't be fooled, I still cried after finishing Toby Fox's acclaimed adventure. In fact, it's a given that if you complete the "true pacifist ending," you'll likely be a bubbling mess. Everyone is counting on you in your final battle, and there is massive emotional vulnerability to the game's main antagonist that will make you want to hug that murderous flower after you discover the truth.
Undertale's story and deceptively charming world are built on a history of pure pain and trauma. The feeling you get after saving the day is profoundly moving. Here we have one of those rare cases where a sad game also doubles as one of the best feel-good games you can play. It's a happy-sad experience that will stick with you for years.
The Last of Us Part 1
Developer: Naughty Dog
Platforms: PC, PS5
Most of the best zombie games are more concerned with frights than feelings, but The Last of Us presents an incredibly human story in its depiction of humanity's downfall. The game's main characters Joel and Ellie, have gone through all the trauma and loss you'd expect from surviving in an undead apocalypse. However, it's how these characters are written that truly makes The Last of Us such a sad game.
In our The Last of Us Part 1 review, we pointed out how the game perfectly enhances feelings of grief from that first opening scene with Joel and his daughter. It's a gut-punch that continues to make you curl over as more stories unfold around the world, and your decisions become more intense too. It's starkly realistic, unforgiving, and it's easy to see why Naughty Dog's masterpiece was made into a TV show.
To the Moon
Developer: Freebird Games
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
You want a sad game? Well, To the Moon is so emotionally devastating that I refuse to replay it because I can't cope with feeling like that again. Developed by Freebird Games, you play as two doctors who have been tasked to try and reconstruct a dying man's memories in order to discover his final wish before he passes on. Through completing puzzles, you collect memories spanning from his childhood all the way to his old age.
You feel his pain as you get to know him, and not only is his story sad, but so is the idea that after forging this connection with him that you'll soon see him pass on. The most heart-breaking thing about this game, though, is the fact that, for various reasons that would be too spoilery to get into here, the doctors decide to alter memories in order for the man to be at peace. Even thinking about this plot makes my eyes well up, so if you are after a sure-fire tear-jerker, To the Moon is your best bet.
Check out our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review for more information on one of the best games of 2025.
