20 Video Game Side Quests That BROKE You

4. Diallos' Questline (Elden Ring)

Trying to find the saddest side quest in Elden Ring is like trying to find a football fan at the World Cup - you're surrounded by them. The questlines of characters like Boc the Seamster, Blaidd, Thops, Sellen, Irina, and more all feel designed to make you cry. Still, while picking just one may be tough, there's something about Diallos' story that stings that little bit more. 

You'll first encounter Diallos at the Roundtable Hold, where he tells you about his missing assistant, Layna. Sadly, every subsequent meeting with this Tarnished NPC gets worse and worse, as the death of Lanya and his constant failures at Volcano Manor cause him to lose all faith in himself. Luckily, he becomes far more hopeful after finding a new purpose in Jarburg, home to a community of Living Jars. 

Then, FromSoft strikes again. 

Jarburg is eventually raided by a poacher, leaving nearly every Jar dead. A dying Diallos then asks you if he managed to save the town, letting you all but decide if he dies happy or not. It's a brutal ending not only for Diallos, but for the whole town, leaving you feeling as broken as all those poor little Jars.