Games where the Protagonist ultimately Lost

Video games are a lot of fun, but there's something a little empty about playing someone who always wins. It feels like there's less to learn from a character who succeeds all the time, and it's hard to relate to them as a person. In games where the protagonist has a choice between winning and losing, it can be especially disappointing when they choose to ignore the option; sometimes it feels like their choices aren't really choices at all. So what happens if you're presented with someone who isn't infallible? Who loses sometimes? Well, you might find that they make more interesting characters, and you can learn more from them through their failures than you would from their successes. Here are some video game protagonists who failed in a big way.

5 video games where the protagonist ended up losing

1) Shadow of the Colossus

It's funny to think that in the game Shadow of the Colossus, the player is supposed to win. The story is about a young man named Wander who has entered a forbidden land with the goal of resurrecting a young girl named Mono by killing sixteen massive beings called Titans. After finding out that Wander cannot resurrect Mono no matter how many Titans he kills, it's made clear to him that his journey will be one of death and disappointment. Not only does Wander never get to bring Mono back to life, but he also loses his own life at the end of his quest. It may seem strange that we'd choose this game as an example when discussing games where the protagonist ultimately lost, but there are actually many experiences in which you play as someone who is not only going to lose.

2) Spec Ops: The Line

Video games are a lot of fun. We can all agree on that, right? But even on top of the fun you get from playing them, there's always something interesting to be gleaned from the stories they weaved. In this brief, I'll be talking about how the stories of games like Spec Ops: The Line and Shadow of the Colossus shows us that sometimes, even if it means winning in a game, you should always consider it a win when you lose. Spec Ops: The Line--While this military-themed shooter starts out as a typical war story with a man going off to war in Afghanistan, it ultimately becomes something much more than that. What begins as an attempt to rescue survivors at a refugee camp quickly devolves into a fight for survival against enemies who are stronger and faster than you. Eventually, you realize that everything is your fault and must make some hard decisions in order to survive. 

3) Far Cry: 5

Far Cry: 5- The player takes on the role of a CIA agent working with a rebel force to take down an insane ultra-nationalist despot who has taken control of an island and turned it into his own personal military base. At the beginning of the game, you're dropped into your home country, and you have to help fight off an invasion by getting back to your safe house. You can then use your safe house as a command center for organizing attacks against enemy forces and facilities. When you've done enough damage, you can launch an attack that will win the war and end with you facing off against Pagan Min in his fortress. 

4) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The first thing to mention about Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is how the game's story is presented. There are several cut scenes and even some full-length movies used in between gameplay sections, making for something that can be more cinematic than many other games. This element is especially important when you consider the fact that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed explores a well-known story in a way that lets gamers see it from a different angle. Everyone knows what will happen to Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, but you get to see it unfold as Darth Vader during this time period. It's a powerful retelling of a familiar tale.

5) Red Dead Redemption

When Red Dead Redemption was announced, it was touted as a game that could be played in multiple ways. You could ride the rails of the story, or you could go off on your own and live the life of an outlaw. But while you can make John Marston look as clean-cut as you want, there are no illusions about what kind of life he lives: one where even if he wins, he loses.