Emotional Games That’ll Stay with You Long After You Finish

I’m sitting here in my living room in Columbus, Ohio, Emotional Games That Hit Different November rain smashing against the window like it’s personally mad at me, Switch docked, tissues within arm’s reach because—yeah—I just finished my annual replay of What Remains of Edith Finch and I’m a mess again. Like full-on ugly cry, snot everywhere, dog staring at me like “dude are you okay?” No, Luna, I’m not okay. These emotional games grab me by the soul and refuse to let go.

Why Emotional Games Wreck Me More Than Any Movie Ever Could

Movies? Two hours and I’m usually fine. Emotional games though? You’re the one pressing the buttons. You’re the one choosing to walk into that hospital room or read that last letter. That active participation makes the gut punches hit different. I still remember guiding Ellie through that winter chapter in The Last of Us and literally having to pause because I couldn’t see the screen through the tears. My hands were shaking on the controller—actually shaking—like I’d just run a marathon.

The Emotional Games That Hit Different That Still Live Rent-Free in My Head (2025 Edition)

1. What Remains of Edith Finch – The One That Broke My “I Don’t Cry at Games” Lie

First playthrough I laughed at the cannibal baby story, then bawled like an idiot at the swing set. Emotional Games That Hit Different Last month I replayed it on the porch at 2 a.m. because insomnia, and when that paper boat sails off… man, I straight-up whispered “I’m sorry” to my TV. To a fictional family. In 2025. Send help.

2. Celeste – Wait, a Precision Platformer Made Me Sob?

I rage-quit Chapter 7 so many times Emotional Games That Hit Different I almost yeeted my Switch into the snow last winter. Then Madeline has that panic attack in the mirror and—boom—I’m the one having the panic attack on my couch in Ohio realizing I’ve been treating myself exactly like Old Lady Madeline treats her. Game literally forced me to text my therapist at midnight. 10/10 would cry again.

3. Spiritfarer – I Became a Ferrymaster for Dead People and Regret Nothing

I named my boat “Therapy” unironically. Emotional Games That Hit Different Hugging Atul goodbye while he’s surrounded by all that food he loved? I had to walk away and eat an entire family-size bag of Takis just to feel something else. Still can’t listen to sea-shanty sounding music in grocery stores without getting misty.

4. A Plague Tale: Amicia & Hugo Still Own My Entire Heart

Rats, religious zealots, and the most brutal sibling bond ever. I finished Requiem last year curled up under three blankets like it could protect me. When the ending hit… I just sat there in silence for twenty minutes staring at my black screen. My roommate came home, saw my face, and just backed out of the room slowly.

5. Life is Strange (the first one, fight me) – Teen Angst but Make It Soul-Crushing

I maxed out Chloe’s chaos theory tattoo on my first playthrough because of course I did. Choosing between Chloe and Arcadia Bay wrecked me so hard I had to call my high-school best friend at 3 a.m. just to hear a human voice. We’re both 30 now and still reference “I’ll always love you” when we’re drunk. It’s fine. We’re fine.

6. Gris – No Dialogue, All Feelings

Played this on a flight back from my dad’s funeral. Bad idea? Terrible idea. The color coming back into the world as you heal? I was biting my hoodie sleeve so the person next to me wouldn’t notice the 28-year-old dude quietly losing it at 30,000 feet.

7. Before Your Eyes – Blink and You’ll Cry (Literally)

Webcam eye-tracking game that advances with blinks. I finished it in one 90-minute sitting and then stared at my ceiling until sunrise. Haven’t touched it since because I’m not emotionally ready for a replay and honestly might never be.

My Completely Biased Advice If You Wanna Get Emotionally Demolished

• Play with headphones at 2 a.m. Maximum damage.
• Keep tissues and comfort snacks nearby (mine are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Dr Pepper, don’t @ me).
• Don’t fight the ugly cry. Let it happen. Your pillow has seen worse.
• Talk to somebody after. Text a friend “yo this game murdered me” or whatever. Bottling it is how you end up writing 2,000-word blog posts at 31 about video games that made you sob.

Anyway. Emotional games are basically interactive therapy I didn’t ask for but apparently desperately needed. They stay with you because you lived them, not just watched them.

If any of these wrecked you too, drop your personal “I’m not okay” game in the comments. Misery loves company and all that. Or tell me I have terrible taste, that’s fine too. I’ll just be over here replaying Edith Finch for the fourth time this year while the rain keeps falling on my stupid Ohio apartment.