I am an emotional person. Often, I have found myself deeply moved through a variety of media, experiencing strong empathy with writers of songs, characters in engrossing novels, and protagonists of fantastic dramas. Though less frequent in nature, these experiences are no less powerful when involved with the medium of video games.

I did not play many emotionally charged games growing up; primarily, my entertainment of choice involved games that were strategy-heavy, puzzle-focused, or mindless action (i.e. Halo). It wasn’t until my tweens that I began to invest time into strong, story-driven epics that drew me in completely. I love being presented with a world that is alive, populated by characters I actually care about and who are worth spending time getting to know. I have countless memories of wonderful adventures that fired my imagination and gave me incredible elation in victory and despondence in defeat. It wasn’t until I reached my twenties, however, that a game managed to bring me to actual tears.

In 2011, Freebird Games came out with a little game called To the Moon. The adventure follows two scientists, Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts, whose sole mission is to fulfill the final wishes of those on their deathbed. They do this by employing state-of-the-art technology that can create artificial memories, thereby convincing the minds of their patients that a lifelong dream has been accomplished. Sound hokey? Well, it kind of is, but in the sweetest way possible.

The subject in question is the old Johnny Wyles, a man full of regrets and deep sorrow. His dying wish is to go to the moon, but he doesn’t actually remember why. In addition to the ability of creating new memories, the doctors have also developed the means to traverse backward in time by navigating the existing memories that Johnny has. In order to properly satisfy his wish, they must employ this technology and discover the purpose behind his mysterious desire.

It is entirely impossible to detail this journey without spoiling the story, and I believe doing so would be a terrible disservice to future players. Suffice it to say that this is a gorgeous adventure well worth experiencing. It focuses on tender love, heart wrenching tragedy, and joys lost. Accompanied by a gentle and intimate soundtrack, To the Moon absolutely wrecked me in all the best ways. By the time the credits rolled and pure piano notes played solemnly in the background, tears were rolling down my face (as an aside, do yourself a favor and look up the song “For River.” All of the songs included in To the Moon’s soundtrack are worthy of a listen, but this one is a particular favorite).

The narrative here does not pull any punches, but it also handles sensitive material with grace. Passionately raw moments feel real and relatable; there are no pulls on your heartstrings that are cheap or misplaced. Emotionally ravaged, I still felt more alive than ever when I finally finished my time with Freebird’s masterpiece and immediately wanted to share my experience with others.

Handling emotion within any medium is a delicate operation and one that should not be taken lightly. It can be a tall task to balance a narrative that is meant to strongly impact those who experience it, while also not pushing them away with absurdity or carelessness. Though many games have been effective in achieving this balance, To the Moon really nails it in all aspects. Even more impressive, it does all of this without a single line of spoken dialogue; the narrative is entirely conveyed through text. It makes the experience feel like a living novel, which only adds to its beauty.

Emotive storytelling is, I believe, a vital component of any healthy and thriving society, and is something that ought to be carefully fostered and encouraged. Video games have not been widely considered in this realm, but they really should be. To the Moon delivers a powerful testament to this idea, and should serve as a baseline for all emotive games of the future. It should be noted, however, that while Freebird’s gem is one of the greater examples of emotion in games, it fortunately does not stand alone. Games like Starbreeze Studios’ Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons display the intimate beauty of family bonds and perseverance through tragedy; D-Pad Studio created an adventure that fills its characters with delicate and subtle body expression in Owlboy, a tale of seeking belonging and purpose.

These stories can all teach us something about ourselves and each other by magnifying the importance of our humanness, flawed and vulnerable as it can be. We are each of us important, full of dreams, joys, sorrows and tragedies. All too often, these vital pieces of our lives are locked behind callous hearts that stifle emotion, if only so that we can put our heads down and push forward through life without emotional “baggage.” The means of softening these hearts and finding ways to experience life more fully is often difficult and unclear, and I’m not here to express the best ways of doing that. I will say, however, that video games can provide an outlet that few others can, and when infused with effective and powerful storytelling that highlights life-giving emotion, they can give a helpful and meaningful way of digesting our personal life journey.