A new poll has revealed gamers' picks for the saddest RPGs of all time, and the Final Fantasy franchise is unsurprisingly dominating the scene when it comes to tear-jerking moments. An overwhelming number of gamers' most tragic RPG memories seem to come from Final Fantasy games, but a recent poll shows that appreciation for the art of tragic storytelling comes from a variety of sources.
Although sad video game stories aren't all constrained to the RPG genre, the heavy narrative nature of most RPGs provides writers with the ability to twist the knife in the metaphorical hearts of gamers. Now those fans have shown their appreciation by choosing the games that made them hurt in the best way possible.
8 RPGs With The Grandest Stories, Ranked
These RPGs will take players on a wild ride with their rich, engrossing narratives.
The Top 10 Saddest RPGs of All Time, Chosen By Players
- Final Fantasy 10 (498 votes)
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 (289 votes)
- Persona 3 (245 votes)
- Okami (211 votes)
- Mother 3 (208 votes)
- Tales of the Abyss (207 votes)
- Dragon Quest 11 (164 votes)
- Final Fantasy 9 (161 votes)
- Suikoden 2 (158 votes)
- Final Fantasy 15 (154 votes)
The poll was conducted by Japanese website Dengeki Faminico Gamer, and it received more than 4,700 responses, with at least 40 different games represented. Final Fantasy 10 tops the list, capturing more than 10 percent of the overall vote. The heartbreaking tale of Tidus, as he navigates his romance with Yuna and his even more complicated relationship with his father, the embodiment of Sin, has captivated players since its release in 2001, and those feelings are still running strong 24 years later.
But it's not alone on that mountain, as three other sad Final Fantasy games made it into the top 10, and five others made the top 40. Zack Fair's brief time with Cloud, Aerith, and the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 crew has earned Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 the silver medal of sad RPGs, with 289 votes, and Final Fantasy 9 and Final Fantasy 15 made strong showings in eighth and tenth place, respectively. Other games making the overall list are Final Fantasy 14 in 16th place, Final Fantasy Zero in 19th, Final Fantasy 7 in 24th, Final Fantasy 16 in 32nd, and Final Fantasy 5 in 34th.
As for RPGs that don't fall under the Final Fantasy umbrella, Persona 3 edges out the competition, keeping sun goddess Okami Amaterasu off the podium and in fourth place. There are an abundance of tragic deaths in the Persona series, but those who have played all the way through Persona 3 or its 2024 remake, Persona 3 Reload, know to brace themselves for waterworks before tackling the endgame. Other games making the top 10 are Mother 3 in fifth, Tales of the Abyss in sixth, Dragon Quest 11 in seventh, and Suikoden 2 in ninth.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- December 17, 2001
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
The magical world of Spira is under threat from Sin - an evil entity that unleashes havoc, terror, and destruction.
Join Tidus, a heroic blitzball superstar, and Yuna, a courageous girl skilled in the ancient art of summoning, as they embark on an epic quest to defeat Spira's deadliest enemy.
Only the Final Summoning can defeat Sin and bring peace back to Spira.
- Engine
- PhyreEngine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 45 Hours
