Are There Games With Abandoned By Family Storylines?

Man, games tackling the theme of abandoned families hit harder than you'd expect. One that wrecked me emotionally was 'What Remains of Edith Finch'—though it's more about uncovering family secrets, the loneliness and fractured bonds seep into every corner. Then there's 'The Last of Us Part II', where abandonment isn't just physical but emotional, with characters like Ellie grappling with loss and betrayal. Even indie gems like 'Night in the Woods' explore this through Mae returning to a hometown that feels alien. These games don’t just use abandonment as a plot device; they make you feel the ache of missing connections.

Another angle is JRPGs—'Final Fantasy XV' starts with Noctis literally losing his kingdom and father, forcing him into isolation before rebuilding bonds. It’s less about literal family abandonment and more about the weight of legacy and loneliness. Meanwhile, 'Life is Strange 2' dives headfirst into sibling survival after their dad’s death, capturing the raw struggle of being left to fend for yourself. What fascinates me is how these stories often pivot from despair to resilience, showing how characters redefine 'family' on their own terms.

As a parent, games exploring abandoned kids wreck me differently. 'Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' is a quiet masterpiece—two boys journeying to save their sick father, but the real story is their reliance on each other after losing their mom. The gameplay itself mirrors their bond, which guts you when things go wrong. Then there’s 'To the Moon', where a dying man’s fragmented memories reveal how childhood neglect shaped his life. It’s not flashy, but the writing makes you ugly-cry.

Even 'NieR: Automata', with androids questioning their purpose, mirrors the human need for belonging. The way 2B and 9S cling to each other in a world that treats them as disposable? Oof. These games don’t just ask 'What if family leaves?'—they ask 'How do we fill that void?' Sometimes with love, sometimes with vengeance, but always with unforgettable storytelling.

Abandonment in games often ties into survival mechanics. 'This War of Mine' forces you to make brutal choices to protect your group—some storylines involve kids orphaned by war, and whether you take them in or not haunts you. 'The Long Dark' has no NPCs, just wilderness, making you feel utterly forsaken. Even 'Firewatch', where Henry escapes to the woods after a marital breakdown, is less about action and more about confronting isolation.

Then there’s 'Disco Elysium', where your amnesiac detective’s failures hint at a life of burned bridges. The game never spells it out, but the emptiness in conversations about family? Yeah, that sticks. These games make abandonment a tangible force, not just backstory.

Ever notice how horror games love exploiting family abandonment? 'Resident Evil 7' throws you into the Baker family’s nightmare, where the protagonist’s wife vanishes, and the 'family' you encounter is... well, messed up. Then there’s 'Silent Hill 2', where James searches for his dead wife, but the real horror is how guilt twists memory. It’s less about being physically left behind and more about psychological abandonment—like you’re haunted by the absence of someone who should have been there.

Even lighter games like 'Stardew Valley' let you roleplay escaping a soul-crushing job to rebuild a life, subtly nodding to feeling discarded by society (or family expectations). And don’t get me started on 'Detroit: Become Human'—Kara’s storyline as an android protecting a neglected child is heart-wrenching. These games frame abandonment as a catalyst, whether for survival or self-discovery.