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[LakeOf9]

Looking for games that deal with the concept and issue of death beyond the usual video gamey way. I don’t mean death as a game mechanic as much as I mean the story has something to say about death. Are there any good games like this? I’ve heard of the spiritfarer, and it’s on my radar.

 

[Dacvak]

Spiritfarer for sure. Could also check out What Remains of Edith Finch. Life is Strange deals with death and loss, as well.

Adding Hellblade, The Walking Dead (telltale), Grim Fandango, and Undertale (kinda) to this as well.

 

[Dorfdad]

LEGACY OF KAIN!!!

 

[LazyParrot]

Grim Fandango

 

[jufonuk]

Limbo, Trek to Yomi, to the moon

 

[tommib]

Heavy Rain?

Don’t want to spoil it in case you haven’t played it but the main motif is family tragedy and the consequence of a particular death.

 

[GHG]

Pathologic 2.

The whole game is basically a series of moral dilemmas surrounding death.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I know Max Payne isn't the answer you're going for, but any reason to play Max Payne is a good reason to play Max Payne.

 

[JohnSpartanLee]

Silent Hill 2

 

[tommib]

Silent Hill 2

The most obvious response that actually didn’t cross my mind.

 

[GHG]

The most obvious response that actually didn’t cross my mind.

I'm trying to pretend it doesn't exist so that I don't feel pain when the remake is released.

 

[Magic Carpet]

check out What Remains of Edith Finch

Yep, this game is a whole series of stories about Death, and it's handled in both an entertaining and introspective way.

 

[mansoor1980]

LEGACY OF KAIN!!!

1st game that i thought of

 

[Bojji]

Death Stranding.

 

[RoadHazard]

Not sure how spoilery this is, but Outer Wilds. Can't say much more, because you should really go into it knowing nothing, but it deals with acceptance of things coming to an end in a very moving way.

 

[AgatonSax]

What remains of Edith Finch.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

 

[AmuroChan]

Dear Esther
Unfinished Swan
That Dragon, Cancer
Rime
Life is Strange

 

[lughnasadh123]

Returnal

 

[Represent.]

Hellblade 2
TLOU 2

 

[Dorfdad]

PAC MAN! you will see allot of ghosts!!!

 

[ManaByte]

Goodbye Volcano High

You'll want to die after playing 30 seconds of it.

 

[NuclearDiarrhea]

MGS4

 

[T4keD0wN]

Persona 3

 

[LordOfChaos]

That Dragon, Cancer

Exactly what you're asking for talking about the topic in a non-videogamey way

 

[MrRibeye]

 

[ReBurn]

Spiritfarer for sure. Could also check out What Remains of Edith Finch. Life is Strange deals with death and loss, as well.

Adding Hellblade, The Walking Dead (telltale), Grim Fandango, and Undertale (kinda) to this as well.

With no context that would be a morbid statement.

 

[poodaddy]

Omori.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

It's not a game specifically about death, but death is a big element in the story thematically (if not the dominant one). I also guarantee it's unlike any other game you have likely played, and probably a more unique experience than any single other game being mentioned ITT.

The English translation came out ~ 2 years ago but until then it was a Japanese exclusive. It's also one of, if not the, last Quintet game ever made. Seriously, give Planet Laika a play; I'll be replaying it again over the holidays.

A good runner-up I could throw in there is Cosmology of Kyoto. I need to replay this one again sometime, but it was a very enjoyable play the first time around. Also packed with a lot of interesting info on myths and historical events of Kyoto during feudal periods.

 

[thatJohann]

What Remains of Edith Finch
Spiritfarer

 

[Rentahamster]

 

[Švejk]

Limbo

 

[Shifty1897]

To The Moon, what a great game.

 

[Hudo]

 

[Corian33]

Death Stranding

I’m not sure what the message was, but it had a lot to do with life and death. I remember feeling plenty of emotions despite not fully understanding what the heck the game was trying to say.

 

[Dragon_Rocks]

Murdered Soul Suspect
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

Some good walking simulator games as well:
Whats left of Edith Finch
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
Vanishing of Ethan Carter

 

[Spukc]

Fucking this and nothing else

 

[Madflavor]

I would say Silent Hill 2 has the most profound and adult messages in regards to death.

 

[SHA]

Silent Hill.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

indie: What remains of Edith Finch

AAA: Death Stranding

 

[tommib]

Returnal

How I didn’t think of that is fucking embarrassing.

 

[SHA]

Borderlands 3 ending, this girl is on fire.

 

[SHA]

Shadow of the colossus,
Prince of Persia.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

I really enjoyed Rime. The story relates to death though it's hard to know if it is what you're looking for in a game.

 

[SHA]

Resident Evil.

 

[lughnasadh123]

How I didn’t think of that is fucking embarrassing.

Easy enough to do since the gameplay is usually the main focus when talking about it.

 

[STARSBarry]

 

[bender]

Some good choices in here. I'd like to add:

 

[fudgybrownie]

Everybody's gone to the rapture.

 

[adamsapple]

Be ready for a good crying session, OP.