Horror games offer varied experiences in every title. While some make you feel scared and threatened, others come with such strong storylines, deep lore, and well-developed characters that they connect with you emotionally. And when they lead to a depressing ending, you can’t help but feel personally affected as a result.
Today, we are going to look at some of the best horror games that come with depressing endings — ones that will break your heart and connect you with the story in a much deeper way.
1. Yomawari: Night Alone
Yomawari: Night Alone was released nearly a decade ago for PlayStation Vita and Steam. The title was later made available on Nintendo Switch. It is considered to have one of the most depressing endings, and for obvious reasons.
The game lets you play as a little girl whose dog goes missing during a tragic walk. She returns home alone, carrying only the dog’s leash. Soon after, her sister goes out to look for the dog — but never returns. To find both her sister and her dog, the protagonist ventures out with nothing but a rock and a flashlight, leaving her completely hopeless at times against the creatures and spirits in the game.
Sadly, the game doesn’t offer a heroic ending. Instead, it reveals a tragic fate for both the dog and the sister, making it one of the most heartbreaking horror game endings.
2. The Last of Us: Part I
While The Last of Us: Part I isn’t a traditional horror game, it offers extremely intense horror elements and a terrifying atmosphere.
It also has one of the most gut-wrenching endings. When Joel and Ellie finally reach the Fireflies — who could potentially use Ellie to save humanity — it is revealed that doing so would cost Ellie’s life. Having already lost his daughter earlier in the game, Joel cannot bring himself to sacrifice Ellie.
While Ellie is unconscious, he kills the doctors and Firefly members to save her. When she wakes up, he lies about what happened — making it one of the most emotional and heartbreaking endings. Ellie likely realizes he is lying, but still decides to stay with him.
Not only does The Last of Us: Part I do this, but the later entries in the franchise also offer similar endings that leave a lingering sadness after completion.
3. Rule of Rose
Rule of Rose was released nearly two decades ago for the PlayStation 2. While the title’s combat is outdated, it is remembered by many for its powerful story and deeply depressing ending that stays with players long after finishing the game.
You play as a 19-year-old woman named Jennifer who survives an airship crash and is taken to an orphanage by Gregory, a man who also lost his son in the crash. There, she meets a girl named Wendy, who wants to be her friend.
However, Jennifer finds more comfort in a stray dog named Brown, which makes Wendy jealous. Wendy then forms a group called the Red Crayon Aristocrats to bully and hurt Jennifer — both emotionally and physically. Eventually, they even kill the dog.
Wendy also manipulates Gregory into believing that Jennifer is his lost son. Gregory, already unwell, loses his sanity and ends his own life, leaving Jennifer as the sole survivor once again. Even though it’s 20 years old, the game’s ending is still remembered as one of the most depressing in gaming history.
4. Limbo
Limbo is another powerful puzzle-platformer that includes horror elements. It begins with a young boy — whose name is never revealed — searching for his missing sister in a dark, dangerous forest.
After overcoming countless traps and creatures, including a giant spider, he eventually reaches a hill and sees a girl standing in the distance. The game ends there, without providing any closure.
The ending is left open to interpretation. As the title suggests, it’s possible the characters are in the afterlife or stuck in an endless loop. Either way, the ending feels unsettling and is often cited as one of the most emotionally disturbing titles in horror to date.
5. Heavy Rain
Last but not least, Heavy Rain deserves a place on this list. Like The Last of Us, it isn’t purely a horror game, but it includes terrifying elements and an ending that haunts players long after finishing.
The game follows four different characters, all connected by their mission to catch the Origami Killer — a serial murderer who drowns children. Ethan, one of the main characters, must make devastating choices to find the killer’s address and save his son.
The game offers multiple endings, depending on your decisions. Unfortunately, most of these endings are deeply tragic. In some, you save your son but lose custody and take your own life. In others, you fail to find the killer, and your son dies. No matter the path, the emotional weight is heavy.
And that’s it! These are some of the best horror games with the most depressing endings. However, they are not ranked in any particular order, as we appreciate each game for its unique experience and storytelling. Have you played any of these titles? Is there a game you think we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
