10 Most Heartbreaking Video Game Moments Of The Decade (So Far)

8. 2B's Death In Nier: Automata

Death isn't much of a problem for most of Nier: Automata. Although the physical body can die, the memories of main characters 2B and 9S can be uploaded and integrated into other machines to keep them alive, essentially rendering their consciousness immortal.

At least that's how it is until a corruption wipes out the system entirely in the the final third of the game. Infecting machines at a rampant rate, the corruption sweeps through the world of these A.I characters, turning them into mindless violent husks.

Proving just how dangerous the infection actually is, late in the game you find out that a wounded 2B is actually corrupted beyond repair. Players are forced to spend the character's final few moments putting up a futile effort to keep on fighting, all the while her systems shut themselves down.

She eventually succumbs to the corruption completely, and is put out of her misery not long after.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.