For all their ability to give the experience of enticing stories, engaging gameplay, and immersive world design, video games can also use these factors to shock us. Some of the darkest moments in any form of media are represented in video games, with their interactivity oftentimes making the anguish-able experience much more tangible than if the same thing happened in a movie or TV show. Your opinion on what constitutes dark may differ, of course, but the 15 moments discussed in this rundown are inarguably disturbing: upsetting at one end of the spectrum, downright harrowing at the other. Also, it’s worth pointing out that there’re spoilers for the games featured.
The Bloody Baron – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Arguably the most morally bankrupt NPC Geralt encounters in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Bloody Baron’s history as an abuser to wife Anna and daughter Tamara is revealed during Geralt’s attempts to locate The Baron’s estranged family in exchange for information on his own daughter’s whereabouts. Neither of The Baron’s conclusions are favourable for him (or, indeed, his wife Anna); should both The Baron and Anna survive, Anna will have succumbed to madness whilst a band of witches abscond with the orphans of whom she was residing. Should Anna die, the Baron will tragically hang himself due to a lifetime of grief and guilt.