10 Characters You Should've Been Able To Save (But Couldn't)

Saving people is the crux of being a hero, and being a hero is a massive part of gaming. Sure, some gamers like to sprint away from altruism and delve headfirst into murder and mayhem, but the act of protecting the characters you care about is a lure many can't avoid. Of course, this is a double-edged sword, as there are some people you simply cannot save, and it hurts worse than a hornet sting. 

Many games take a player-centric approach to character death, giving players some agency over who lives or dies. Because there's nothing better than saving the life of a character who you know could have died for real. Still, there are times when this freedom to save does not apply, and the following ten games display some harrowing examples of this. 

These characters deserved your help, but the devs clearly didn't want you to give it to them. There are no alternate routes, no secret endings, and no redemption; they're all doomed to die, and there's nothing you can do about it - even if you think you should. 

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This list will contain heavy spoilers for all games discussed. 

Death is a fate that befalls many of V's colleagues in Night City. But while the unavoidable demise of the beloved Jackie Welles, for example, plays an integral role in the story, Evelyn Parker's ending feels a little more preventable - even if it's not. 

Evelyn is a doll you encounter early in the game. She seems destined for narrative relevance as she plans the heist on Arasaka Towers and kicks the whole story into motion. However, after everything goes tits up, Evelyn experiences a fate worse than death, becoming the subject of numerous torture BDs. You and Judy eventually come to her rescue, but the damage is too great, and she takes her life. 

While her response to the horrors she's been through is highly understandable, it hurts that there's no option to help her get through the trauma. You can prevent many character deaths in the game, including Takemura, Songbird, and even V. The fact Evelyn's demise is fixed indicates how much she went through and how hopeless this setting can be. 

No matter what you do or try, this tragic doll will always end up broken.