History HeroicSacrifice / VideoGames

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'': Sora sacrifices himself in order to restore Kairi's heart. Saving her also means unlocking TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon and brings TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt that much closer, but hey, [[SavingTheWorld it got better]].
** Then in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', a villain...no, ''two'' villains sacrifice themselves to save Sora. One of them [[RedemptionEqualsDeath dies]], and the other doesn't. [[spoiler:[[UnexplainedRecovery The former got better, though.]]]]
*** To be fair, [[spoiler:Axel]] is not really a villain to begin with. In fact, it is debatable if most of the Organization XIII members are true villains or not. A few of them are, obviously, like Xemnas, but some, like Axel, and, hello, Roxas, are not really.
*** Also, [[spoiler:Axel]] technically died to save Sora, but really, he was doing it to save Roxas.
** [[spoiler:Xion]] may also qualify. True, she doesn't technically "die", but [[spoiler:sacrificing your independent existence and any record of your existence in order to wake up the MessianicArchetype has to qualify.]]
** [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Ventus]] does this when he kills his EvilCounterpart Vanitas.]]
** Goofy saved Mickey from a falling boulder, but [[DisneyDeath he gets better like five minutes later]].

*** Fai Dan, the colony leader from Feros, is under the control of the Thorian, a plant creature that infects other organisms with spores and causes intense pain when its orders are disobeyed. As Dan approaches Shepard, who's trying to reach the Thorian, he draws his pistol and says that you can't imagine the pain. He tells you that the Thorian is forcing him to stop you, but in a burst of willpower, shouts "I won't!", puts the gun against his head, and pulls the trigger.

* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'', [[spoiler: Fiora is killed after she comes in with a Giant Mech]] and saves Shulk, Dunban and Reyn, who are currently paralyzed and about to be killed by Metal Face. [[spoiler: She gets better though.]]

*** The game begins with the SR-1 Normandy coming under attack from an unidentified but vastly superior warship. It isn't long before the crew is abandoning ship, but Shepard stays behind to force Joker to come with them. S/He gets Joker in an escape pod, but [[spoiler:before s/he can enter him/herself, one of the massive energy beams cuts through the hull and sends the commander hurtling away from the pod. So Shepard does the only thing that s/he can do: Shepard hits the emergency launch button, sending the last escape pod out of the ship and condemning him/herself to certain death]].
*** Also, the KillEmAll DownerEnding of the game, Joker is wounded and fails to [[TakeMyHand pull Shepard up into the Normandy hatch]], so Shepard voluntarily lets go and plummets to his/her death, so that Normandy can escape the imminent explosion of the [[spoiler:Collector Base]].

** At the end of the game, it is revealed that in order to fire the [[WaveMotionGun Apollo Lens]] to end the Grave Eclipse that has been [[RedShirtArmy killing off the population of most of the world]], one of your party [[TonightSomeoneDies must die to activate it]] because of the [[LightIsNotGood excessive light]] on the firing platform. When the [[CuteMonsterGirl beastmen Princess]] in your party realizes that she must do it because [[BecauseDestinySaysSo she is the only one]] that can wear the [[ChekhovsGun Umbra Gear]], her [[BalefulPolymorph transformed-into-a-monster]] [[TragicMonster brother]] [[BigBrotherInstinct regains his memory and knocks her away from it]] before [[RedemptionEqualsDeath he fires it himself]], ending the Eclipse.

** ''VideoGame/Halo4'' has two back to back in the climax: after [[spoiler:defeating the Didact]], Master Chief finds himself with no other option but to [[spoiler:sacrifice himself to manually detonate a nuke in order to destroy the Composer and save Earth. His own sacrifice is actually adverted, though, due to Cortana sacrificing herself to shield Master Chief from the detonation of the nuke and destruction of the Didact's ship.]]

* Canadian web series ''Watch Mojo'' has a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6bCg0MY7Y video]] devoted to this trope in video games, including [[spoiler:James]] in the third ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' game, [[spoiler:Dominic Santiago]] in the third ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'', and the top one going to [[spoiler:Baby Metroid from the ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}'' series]].

** In the backstory of [[spoiler:Lon'qu]], [[spoiler:his FirstLove Ke'ri pulled one to save him from being murdered by bandits. This is the reason of his [[CannotTalkToWomen gynophobia]]: he believes that [[CartwrightCurse if a girl approaches him, she will die]].]]

** In the ''Heirs of Fate'' FLC, taking place in {{alternate universe}}s, [[spoiler: the fathers of the Second Generation characters (and mother, in the case of a Male Kana) did this when Anankos and his tropes invaded the Deeprealms.]]

** The sins of the fathers'' features this in a BIG way, when [[spoiler:Wolfgang]] ''rips out'' his own heart to give the hero access to the PlotDevice.

** In the second game, it is possible to [[spoiler:persuade Visas to sacrifice herself in order to defeat Darth Nihilus.]] In the cut content, [[spoiler:Atton, given high enough RelationshipValues, would have a one-on-one battle with Darth Sion. If he loses, he would be brutally tortured and left to death by Sion. Eventually, Atton dies in the Exile's arms.]] In addition, [[spoiler:if the Exile has Hanharr in the party and Malachor V is being destroyed, Hanharr would throw the Exile onto the Ebon Hawk. Hanharr would then die with Malachor V. This is likely an easily overlooked ShoutOut to the similar death of a certain Wookie in the Literature/NewJediOrder.]]

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'':

*** At the end of the Mage's Guild questline, [[spoiler:Hannibal Traven]], {{The Archmage}}, [[spoiler:enacts a ThanatosGambit by trapping his own soul in a [[SoulJar black soul gem]] to allow you to confront [[EvilSorcerer Mannimarco]] without being turned into one of his thralls]].

** In ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy VI}}'', [[spoiler:Shadow]] [[BigDamnHeroes shows up at the last second]] to buy the party enough time to escape the FloatingContinent. If you [[NoOneGetsLeftBehind wait for him at the airship,]] he'll show up and escape with you right before the whole place is destroyed, but if you leave before that point, he gets KilledOffForReal, making it a true HeroicSacrifice.

* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'', [[spoiler:Micaiah can [[TakeAThirdOption prevent Pelleas' death]] by [[TakingTheBullet throwing herself in front of him]] to protect him from the sword slash. A bit different from the usual situation since Pelleas is trying to pull a Heroic Sacrifice in the first place, and her reasoning has definite shades of [[MartyrWithoutACause Martyrdom Without A Cause]].]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon]]'', [[spoiler:Frey sacrifices himself as a decoy in order for Marth and company to escape. In the Easy version, this can be any of the Cavaliers, but in Hard mode, Frey is absent, making him the canonical sacrifice]].

* In ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'', when [[spoiler:the ''Inquiry'' is being destroyed]], [[spoiler:Virgil]] stays behind and [[spoiler:uses the last available backup power]] to get Ros to safety.

** Two in ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'': Defiance. Ariel appears at the Spirit shrine and merges with Raziel to give him power to defeat the [[EldritchAbomination Elder God]] which he must pass on to Kain.

* Possible subversion in ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain]]'': at the start of the game, Kain is resurrected as a vampire to avenge his killers, and after the deed is done, he must find a way to rid himself of his vampyric curse. It is heavily implied to him that by murdering the nine Pillar guardians of Nosgoth, he might be able to restore balance to the land and rid himself of his vampyric unlife. Yet, in the end Kain pieces together the puzzles and figures out that he himself is the last pillar guardian, and that his aides meant for him to sacrifice himself so that the pillars may be healed and he be released from his curse -- ''in death''. [[spoiler:Surprisingly, according to canon, he chooses to rule Nosgoth as its vampire king instead.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' [[UpdatedRerelease Golden]], [[spoiler:Marie/Kusumi-no-Okami]] attempts to kill herself to ensure [[spoiler:the fog of deception will never plague the real world again.]] Thankfully, the [[TrueCompanions investigation team]] comes to save her.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' [[UpdatedRerelease Royal]], The Kasumi Yoshizawa that Joker meets in the game [[spoiler: is ''not'' Kasumi; she died saving her sister Sumire from accidentially throwing herself to incoming traffic by taking her place, and the "Kasumi" Joker meets is actually Sumire.]] Of course, since that [[spoiler:accident was caused by Sumire being envious of Kasumi's talent and her seeming CondescendingCompassion fueling Sumire's inferiority complex to outright ''suicidal'' levels, Kasumi taking her place to become roadkill just made her go insane from the SurvivorGuilt, to the point that Maruki had to use his cognition warping persona for the first time to make her think that she's Kasumi so she won't off herself or go catatonic from the grief.]]

* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon:Explorers''. [[spoiler:First, the main character [[TakingTheBullet takes an attack meant for Grovyle]] and is turned into a Pokémon and loses his/her memory. Then, [[YouShallNotPass Celebi stays behind to face Dusknoir]]. Then, [[TakingYouWithMe Grovyle gives up his freedom and possibly his life]] to save the main character. Then, [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong the main character fixes the flow of time]], thereby erasing him/herself from existence.]]

* ''VideoGame/TelltalesGameOfThrones'' has a few examples, most notably the sacrifice of [[spoiler:Rodrik or Asher in order to save the other, depending on the player's choice. Whoever is chosen to sacrifice themselves will [[LastStand attempt to kill as many of Lord Whitehill's men as possible in order to give the other the chance to escape, despite being hopelessly outnumbered and standing no chance of winning.]] Lord Ethan can also [[TakeMeInstead offer himself as a hostage for Ramsay Snow in the place of his sister Talia]], though sadly all this gets him is a blade through the throat.]]

* ''Videogame/TheWalkingDead'' Season 1: [[spoiler:Kenny's both possible deaths]] in Episode 5 are this. However, Season 2 Episode 2 [[spoiler:reveals that he managed to survive charging into a wave of walkers.]]

** Galuf of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV''. [[spoiler:He fights Exdeath, going waaaay beyond unconsciousness, at 'x0 HP'', going just purely out of rage to protect the heroes. The team tries to revive him, but fails. A poignant scene.]]

* VideoGame/{{TCT RPG}}: Kyle ''tries'' this when he realises it's lose his memories, powers, and his relationship with [[ChildhoodFriends Alex,]] or leave his sister to die from the lack of medicine. Alex manages to think of a [[TakeAThirdOption third option.]]

** [[spoiler:Ballade]] of Mega Man IV on the Gameboy, during the ending.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' has so many of these it gets ridiculous (two of them are within 5 minutes of each other), even if all but one are {{Disney Death}}s.
*** Five, to be precise.
*** It even gets [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]].
----> '''Kain:''' Why is everyone so ready to die?
** Galuf of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV''. [[spoiler:He fights Exdeath, going waaaay beyond unconsciousness. The team tries to revive him, but fails. A poignant scene.]]
*** And Gilgamesh.

* At the end of ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' [[spoiler: the BigBad has been defeated but the portal they opened is still pulling Pop Star and New World towards each other. With no other options, Elfilin opts to sacrifice himself, using all his power to close the rift between worlds. Thankfully, the sacrifice part is ultimately subverted as it turns out he survived and was rescued by Clawroline.]]

* In ''VideoGame/EverOasis'', in the player’s final battle with Chaos in the Chaos Void, Esna sacrificed herself by turning herself into rain to purify him, making sure that he disappears and unable to wreck havoc in the dessert ever again.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon''. [[spoiler:First, the main character [[TakingTheBullet takes an attack meant for Grovyle]] and is turned into a Pokémon and loses his/her memory. Then, [[YouShallNotPass Celebi stays behind to face Dusknoir]]. Then, [[TakingYouWithMe Grovyle gives up his freedom and possibly his life]] to save the main character. Then, [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong the main character fixes the flow of time]], thereby erasing him/herself from existence.]]

--> '''Kain:''' Why is everyone so ready to die?

** Deliberately avoided in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase, the game's character designer and director respectively, found the idea of "heroic sacrifice" repellently artificial and gave Aerith an abrupt death which achieved nothing for the good guys (arguably the game would have ended with them victorious if she had survived at this point) to show how awful death actually is. Although they were highly successful, a certain subset of the fanbase was having none of it, with Japanese gamers going so far as to organise a petition, and one notable Internet hoax claiming her comeback was programmed in as a secret plot branch but [[DummiedOut not activated]] in certain versions of the game.

-->'''Balthier:''' Vaan. A word. If something untoward should happen to me, you're taking the ''[[GlobalAirship Strahl]]''.\\

** In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Squall]] is performing a drawn out, non-lethal variation: turns out his [[IWorkAlone standoff-ish "lone wolf" persona]] [[HiddenHeartOfGold is a facade]], and he really does care about his comrades in arms; he just thinks he'll be better able to protect them by acting alone, deliberately drawing the villains to attack him so his friends won't have to deal with them. Don't worry, he can handle it. When Ultimecia and Garland ambush and double-team him, he's ''happy'', as he explains that he'll be able to make things easier for his friends if he [[TakingYouWithMe brings one of them down with him]] -- thankfully, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX Zidane]] arrives just in the nick of time to give him backup before he can pull off a real one. Also, in the prequel ''Duodecim'', [[spoiler:all the new Duodecim heroes -- Lighting, Kain, Yuna, Tifa, Laguna and Vaan -- [[KilledOffForReal die permanently]] in a BolivianArmyEnding to seal away most of the Manikins and give the other heroes a better chance]].

* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon]]'', [[spoiler:Frey sacrifices himself as a decoy in order for Marth and company to escape. In the Easy version this can be any of the Cavaliers, but in Hard mode, Frey is absent, making him the canonical sacrifice]].