10 Video Game Tragedies That Elevated Stories
8. Vesemir's Sacrifice - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A title loved by many, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt featured many a likeable character in its encompassing narrative. Of the few mutated warriors that remain, Vesemir is the oldest and wisest Witcher of the School of the Wolf, having spent many years raising and training his fellow monster hunters.
He's with Geralt at the game's prologue which does a great job of laying out the strong companionship between the two of them. Later, once Geralt finds Ciri he partakes in the battle of Kaer Morhen; when the Wild Hunt launches a devastating blizzard that immobilises the group, Ciri is on the verge of capture.
Vesemir sacrifices himself to save his friends at Kaer Morhen, stabbing Imlerith to trigger a full outpouring of Ciri's powers. In a tearful funeral, the old Witcher is laid to rest on a pyre with Ciri declaring that she will no longer run from those who seek to obtain her power.
Many who played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were getting into the series for the first time. The way CD Projekt Red were able to draw so much emotion from players in a single game without background context is very impressive. This just pushes players even more towards avenging his death.