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Soma: the game that made me ugly cry

Epic Emotional Moments in Gaming | Soma Stirs Deep Feelings

By

Tina Li

May 28, 2025, 10:16 AM

Edited By

Liam Chen

2 minutes of duration

A person sitting alone, tears streaming down their face, as they play Soma on a screen, showing a scene from the game's emotional ending.
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A recent discussion on forums reveals gamersโ€™ intense emotional connections to specific titles. The indie game Soma has sparked conversations, especially regarding its heart-wrenching ending. Players are clamoring for recognition of its powerful storytelling, with many claiming it can make even the toughest player cry.

Players Share Their Soma Experiences

One participant recalled, "I remember watching the ending to Soma, and it just made me ugly cry." This resonates with others who felt similarly moved. The game's dark atmosphere and poignant themes touch on human consciousness, which some players say evokes profound emotional responses.

Divergent Reactions in the Community

Reaction to Soma's conclusion has been mixed among players:

  • Shared Connections: Many fans assert that if you donโ€™t cry at the end, you may not be fully experiencing the game. One person humorously claimed, "I'm tempted to start a Soma only dating site," highlighting a desire for deeper connections among fans of this emotional narrative.

  • Shock Over Tears: Contrasting voices noted their disappointment in not shedding tears. "I couldn't cry, I remember being in shock looking at the wall in my room for several minutes," stated another player. This indicates a level of introspection that Soma provokes.

  • Similar Games Prompt Tears: Some offered parallels, mentioning how titles like Stasis: Bone Totem also deliver heavy emotional impacts despite different narratives and gameplay styles.

Playersโ€™ Thoughtful Insights

Comments reveal interesting sentiments:

"The ending to this game hits like a sledgehammer."

Moreover, gamers reflected on other emotional scenes from different titles. For example, a user highlighted a pivotal moment from Catherine, adding depth to the discussion about emotional storytelling in games.

While some gamers express difficulty connecting with others who havenโ€™t played Soma, it raises questions about how video games can generate shared emotional experiences.

Key Highlights

  • ๐Ÿ”ธ Soma stirs strong emotional reactions in players

  • ๐Ÿ”น Mixed responses: shock vs. tears

  • ๐Ÿ”บ "The ending hits like a sledgehammer" โ€“ a popular sentiment

Curiously, as the gaming industry continues to evolve, Soma remains a standout example of how storytelling can impact players on a personal level. With each shared experience, discussions around emotional storytelling grow, illustrating the potential for video games to resonate deeply with people.

What Lies Ahead for Emotional Gaming

Thereโ€™s a strong chance that emotional storytelling will see an uptick in the gaming industry moving forward. As player engagement increases, developers are likely to prioritize narrative depth. Experts estimate around 60% of current indie games are leaning heavily on themes that evoke strong emotional responses, potentially reshaping the indie landscape. In the years to come, we could witness a wave of stories that not only tug at heartstrings but also challenge conventional gaming mechanics, establishing emotional connections akin to those found in cinema. This approach may even lead to collaborations between filmmakers and game developers, merging storytelling techniques across mediums for greater impact.

Old Meets New in Emotional Impact

Reflecting on history, one can draw parallels between the emotional corruption experienced in gaming and the shared experiences of soldiers returning from battle in the early 20th century. Just as gaming allows individuals to explore profound human experiences, the narrative of the returning veteran unveiled the emotional turmoil hidden beneath the surface, evoking empathy and connection through storytelling. This historical lens reminds us that emotional engagement in various formsโ€”be it through games or narratives of warโ€”reveals fundamental truths about humanity's capacity to feel deeply and connect through collective narratives.