Character deaths have become pretty commonplace in video games, and it isn't surprising to see established personas die in their respective video games during rather tumultuous events. However, this event can still hurt quite a bit when a player's favorite character dies. After all, these attachments are something that players can find hard to let go of, and the death of these characters can prove to have major repercussions further down the line.

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The deaths of the following characters hurt quite a bit since players had grown really attached to them over the course of their playthrough. To watch these characters fall after standing in the face of adversity time and time again was a truly horrifying moment that cemented no one in these games was safe from the fate that awaited them.

Spoilers Ahead

10 Joel Miller (The Last Of Us Part 2)

Joel Miller in The Last of Us

Joel is one of the most beloved video game protagonists of all time. Watching him fight through incredible odds to save Ellie time and time again made the first game an absolute masterpiece.

So, fans were deflated to see him meet such a brutal end near the beginning of the second game. It's easy to see why the fanbase was furious with this story development, although Joel still had a ton of time to shine in the series regardless.

9 Booker DeWitt (BioShock Infinite)

Bioshock Booker Dewitt

Booker DeWitt is another brilliant protagonist voiced by the talented Troy Baker. He plays a central role in BioShock Infinite where his bond with Elizabeth forms the bedrock of what makes Infinite such a great title.

This makes the ending all the more jarring, where it's revealed that a certain point in his life led to Booker either following his own path or setting up another one where he takes on the role of Prophet Comstock. It's only by drowning him before his baptism that his potential reign of terror across multiple universes comes to an end.

8 Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy 7)

Aerith Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Aerith is one of the most beloved party members in Final Fantasy history. Her amazing relationship with Cloud along with her helpful healing abilities make her a force to be reckoned with.

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This is what makes her sudden death all the more heartbreaking in Final Fantasy 7. It also cements just how evil Sephiroth really is, with the rest of the game being solely focused on stopping this villain from accomplishing his heinous goal of destroying the entire Planet.

7 John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)

John Marston arrives at Armadillo

Red Dead Redemption is easily one of the greatest western open-world games ever made. The story of John Marston as he hunts down his previous comrades in a bid to secure the life of his wife and son makes for a great time indeed.

After fulfilling the demands of agent Edgar Ross, John believes that he's secured a peaceful life with his family... only for reality to come crashing down upon him. Since he's the last loose end that the government needs to take care of, John decides to sacrifice himself to help his wife and child escape.

6 Lee Everett (Telltale's The Walking Dead)

Telltale Walking Dead Memorable Characters Lee Everett

Lee Everett is the protagonist of the first game in Telltale's The Walking Dead trilogy. He's an engaging protagonist who has his fair share of moments in the series and forms an amazing bond with Clementine.

This is precisely what makes the ending of the game so heartbreaking. After being bitten in the final chapter, Lee slowly succumbs to the virus... but not before giving Clementine some parting words of advice that she holds dear throughout the series.

5 Mordin Solus (Mass Effect 3)

Mordin Solus from Mass Effect

Mordin Solus is one of the best companions in Mass Effect 2. His monotonous manner of speaking coupled with a bit of dry humor makes him a memorable part of what is a brilliant game in its own right.

While he doesn't return as a companion in the trilogy's last game, he does play a central role in creating the cure for the Genophage. In a bid to ensure that the cure is dissipated to the masses, he chooses to sacrifice his own life to make up for his past mistakes... if Shepard lets him, that is.

4 Vesemir (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)

Vesemir from The Witcher 3

Vesemir is one of the best characters in The Witcher, playing a fairly key role in the first and third games. He's the mentor who has single-handedly run the School of the Wolf after the demise of the Witchers.

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Watching him meet his end in the third game makes for a pretty heartbreaking moment indeed. While it also repels the assault of the Wild Hunt after Ciri loses all control, the sacrifice is too much for many to bear.

3 Zack Fair (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7)

Final-Fantasy-7-Crisis-Core-Reunion-Zack-Fair-No-New-Story-Elements

In one of the very few examples of a retcon actually being for the best, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 portrays Zack's last stand to be pretty heroic indeed. It's also incredibly emotional to see Zack put his body on the line for Cloud all the way to the very end.

His death is a rather poignant one, giving Cloud some words of advice before passing on to the afterlife. It makes for a somber ending to this spin-off title and also marks the start of Cloud's dissociative identity disorder.

2 Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)

Image from Red Dead Redemption 2 showing a close-up of Arthur Morgan's face.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the greatest video games ever made, featuring perhaps the best Rockstar protagonist of all time. Arthur Morgan is a fairly grounded and well-thought-out protagonist who has his fair share of memorable moments in the game.

After his tuberculosis diagnosis, fans figured it was only a matter of time before Arthur would meet his end. However, he still manages to go out with a bang... and that's taken quite literally if players have low Honor by the end of Arthur's journey.

1 Cole Phelps (L.A. Noire)

Cole Phelps in LA Noire

Cole Phelps is a detective who goes through his fair share of ups and downs over the course of the series. However, he always retains his impressive charm and the zeal to fight for the truth no matter what.

However, the ending of L.A. Noire sees the detective sacrificing his life rather abruptly after a wave of water in the sewers sweeps him away to his death. It's a moment that many fans didn't like since it didn't give their favorite detective the closure he deserved.

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