Deaths in video games have made for some of the most iconic moments in the history of the medium. Not every character is given the dignity of an on-screen passing, with the developers shoving their final moments to the imagination of the fans.
Not every video game character’s death needs to be milked for drama. Sometimes, the right narrative move is for the player to learn about the demise after it has happened, so that the shock comes from learning about it afterwards, knowing nothing can be done. When done right, this approach can make for a great gut-punch moment, while at others, it can feel like a cheap attempt at drumming up drama at the cost of a beloved hero.
10 Khalid Was Killed Off Before Baldur’s Gate 2
Baldur’s Gate 2 starts off with the hero of the first game, fresh off saving the titular city, now trapped in the dungeon of an evil mage, who was performing horrific experiments on the party. Luckily, some had survived, but one of the original heroes perished before the story began.
Khalid, the husband of Jaheira, was slain during the experiments done by Jon Irenicus. As Baldur’s Gate 2 is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the party had to comment on how Khalid’s damage was beyond repair. This argument doesn’t hold water in the expansion, when characters get access to the Wish spell. However, in this game, the player can romance Jaheira, so maybe she wasn’t in a big rush to get her husband back?
9 Chrono Trigger’s Lucca Died Before Chrono Cross
While some would argue that Chrono Cross is a game that gets more hate than it deserves, the way it treated the cast of Chrono Trigger was a major misstep. Crono and Marle were likely killed in the invasion of Guardia, Magus became an amnesiac, Frog vanished from history, and Robo’s programming would be killed off for cheap drama in the sequel.
Lucca was also subject to a dire fate, being slain at the hands of Lynx between the events of the game, with the player able to visit the burning ruins of her orphanage. Thankfully, in a game where time/dimensional travel is possible, there’s a chance she’s alive out there somewhere, maybe in the world of Xenogears.
8 Tekken Said Goodbye to the Original Kuma
The Tekken timeline has gradually evolved over time, with some characters aging. This had the unfortunate side effect of killing off some of the animal fighters, as their limited lifespans meant that they couldn’t survive into the modern era. That was the fate of the original Kuma from Tekken, who passed away due to old age over the course of the story.
Much like the cat from The Simpsons, the developers had a ready-made replacement, as Kuma’s offspring took up the mantle and entered the Iron Fist tournament in their honor, ensuring the Kuma mains (all five of them) had a fighter going into the modern era. Now, the younger Kuma is one of the strongest characters in Tekken 8.
7 Donkey Kong Killed Off Wrinkly Kong
It’s rare for first-party Nintendo characters to suffer a permanent fate, partly because the primary audience is kids, but also to allow future creators the chance to use them, as they generally don’t have a solid timeline. That’s why it’s so surprising that Wrinkly Kong passed away.
The elderly gorilla helped the player save their game in Donkey Kong Country 3, but died after the events of the game. Luckily for the player, Wrinkly Kong carries on as the living dead in Donkey Kong 64, aiding the big ape and his friends as a ghost. Her passing has remained a core part of her character, as she keeps returning in undead form, continuing to aid the DK Crew in death.
Kazuhira Miller is an unusual example, as players are tricked into thinking that he’s alive. Originally acting as one of Snake’s advisers during the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Miller is called back into action for the events of Metal Gear Solid, helping out Snake during his mission on Shadow Moses Island.
Unfortunately, it isn’t Miller who is contacting Snake, as it’s actually Liquid Snake in disguise. It turns out that Miller was killed before the events of the game, and Liquid was masquerading as him to get inside Snake’s head and influence the mission. Luckily, players got to see a lot more of Miller in later games, as he had a prominent role in the Big Boss era of the franchise.
5 Resident Evil Turned Brad Vickers Into a Zombie
Brad Vickers was a member of the original S.T.A.R.S. team who played a vital role in saving the lives of his allies, as he was the helicopter pilot who extracted the group from the Spencer Mansion. He also provided the rocket launcher needed to stop the Tyrant. Despite barely appearing in the game, he was a major part of the Resident Evil timeline.
Resident Evil 2 brought Brad back in a cameo role, but players needed to rush to the Raccoon City Police Station to see him and not pick up any items along the way. He had been transformed into a zombie during the outbreak. Luckily, players did get to see his death in a future game, as it was revealed that he perished at the hands of Nemesis during the events of Resident Evil 3.
4 Shin Megami Tensei 4 Made Navarre a Ghost
When Navarre was first encountered in Shin Megami Tensei 4, it’s obvious that he’s meant to be the Draco Malfoy of the franchise, being a smug rich kid who is quickly given a harsh lesson about how brutal the real world can be. It’s quickly apparent that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a Samurai, so he vanishes from the story.
Navarre returns in the game’s direct sequel, Apocalypse, having drowned while trying to spy on women in the bath. He returns as a ghost, joining Nanashi as an ally, aiding the Godslayer in his journey using his supernatural powers. Navarre actually gets an interesting redemption arc, one where he can finally become the hero that he promoted himself as in the first game.
3 Dynaheir Is Another Hero Who Didn’t Survive Past Baldur’s Gate
When Minsc is introduced in Baldur’s Gate, he is currently looking for Dynaheir, a powerful Rashemen witch whom he’s sworn to protect. If the player is able to save Dynaheir from the nearby Gnoll stronghold, then she’ll join the party as a powerful ally. Anyone not playing as a mage should seek out Dynaheir as soon as possible.
Like Khalid, Dynaheir did not survive until Baldur’s Gate 2. She was killed in Jon Irenicus’ dungeon, and the player is unable to retrieve her remains, making it impossible to bring her back with magic. Minsc is able to find a new witch to protect on his journey, and like Jaheira with Khalid, he never attempts to use epic-tier spells to bring back his old ally.
One of the most surprising reveals of Metal Gear Solid 4 was that several members of the Patriots were actually Naked Snake’s allies during the events of Metal Gear Solid 3. Para-Medic, the radio operative who provided medical advice, was the person responsible for the events of “Les Enfants Terrible”, leading to the creation of Liquid, Solid, and Solidus.
It’s revealed in Metal Gear Solid 4 that Para-Medic was one of the Patriots who had died, as she was also responsible for the horrific experiments that created Grey Fox. She was later killed by Fox as revenge for the terrible things she had done to him while under her care. Many fans would describe Metal Gear Solid as a game series with a ridiculous story, but those off-screen deaths still hurt.
1 King from Tekken Had the Same Fate As Many Pro Wrestlers
King from the Tekken franchise is a reference to pro wrestlers, many of whom suffer early demises due to the demands of their sport. In the case of masked wrestlers, their relatives and protégées often take up their mantle, ensuring that their characters live on, even after the original performer has passed away.
The original King from Tekken was one of the first fighters to suffer a permanent fate, as he was killed by Ogre between the events of Tekken 2 and Tekken 3. Fortunately, he had a student who was ready to put on the mask and the moveset, becoming the next King and bringing dropkicks and throws back to the franchise.
