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

4. Elena Catches Drake In Uncharted 4

One of the more understated moments on this list, the cut-scene where Elena catches Drake in a web of lies during Uncharted 4 is absolutely heartbreaking in the way it's presented.

The sequence comes immediately after the best action set-piece in the whole game, bringing you down from the title's biggest high to deliver its most powerful emotional blow.

Watching Drake attempt to explain why he's still hiding parts of his life from Elena for the fourth game in a row feels like the final straw for gaming's most lovable couple. Yet the moment never becomes too melodramatic or overwrought, and it's actually the fact that it doesn't take the easy route and devolve into a shouting match that makes the scene so effective.

Naughty Dog are a studio that understands that you don't have to only rely on deaths and twists to evoke heartbreak in an audience.

Contributor

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.