Sad/Bittersweet Games

[kytee]

Hi guys, I was thinking about possible story ideas for a game and I wanted to know your thoughts on sad/bittersweet games. Not sad as in depressing (*cough* Dual Family *cough*), but sad with a bright spark of hope on the horizon.

I was wondering if you'd still fap to broken characters and could you go from shedding a tear in one scene, to unzipping those pants for a good jerk in the next.

I don't have a large catalog of sad games to analyze so if you know if any, feel free to recommend em.

 

[u z i]

...
I was wondering if you'd still fap to broken characters and could you go from shedding a tear in one scene, to unzipping those pants for a good jerk in the next.
...

i was immediately reminded of Melissa from Acting Lessons.

 

[kytee]

Oh yeah, forgot about that game.

 

[scrumbles]

As for me, I think it depends on what the MC is for the girl. If he's meant to protect her, but he exploits her weakness or abuses his power, sexual content makes me uneasy (unless they actually fall in love or she initiates sex, e.g. reverse rape).
For instance, I avoid any sex scene in 1 room or Teaching Feeling. This doesn't prevent me from enjoying the non-lewd content of the game (I know it sounds stupid, but I like all the cuddling, head patting, pampering and so on).

In Katawa Shōjo, on the contrary, I had no regrets about fapping on Ami, for instance. She's strong and positive, despite her disability and her past, and I don't take pity on her. Actually I admire her.

 

[Synx]

It will highly depend on how the sex scenes are integrated in the story. If it's the same peeping/creeping MC scenes with the girls having cock-amnesia syndroom as 90%+ of the games on here, I doubt it will work.

But if the scenes fit well into the story, then yeah for sure. A game you could look at is the DeLuca family. While not a particular sad story (it has its sad parts), it's one of the few games where the more lewd scenes are integrated decently in the story.

 

[Rhythm]

Life with a Slave - Teaching Feeling

One of the better ones.

 

[Fliptoynk]

'cant think of a sad story other than the aftermath of the marriage. How about this:

The mc got hitched to a woman which happens to be on an alimony business. And the mc tuns night into day to support an ingrate sonnavubiznatch who always frowns at his allowances.
Todd: this ain't enough old man! I hate you! I wish you weren't my dad!!!
Mc: an I wish I should've shoot you down the toilet when you were just a cum!

 

[icesun]

Okay, I just went through my catalogue - and I'll list what came up:

1. Harem Hotel Some of the girls have a really sad backstory (especially Ashley).
2. Melody Often enough you have to deal with the fact that her mother died and the effect that has on her.
3. Alison Fall of the Apple The intro (especially if you go for the original and not the remastered one (you may choose in the beginning)) is pitch black (and not the only dark thing about the game).
4. Haley's Story Patch 0.6 introduced some deep rooted drama in her backstory (which caused a lot of dismay in the game's thread the way it was done, but still worth mentioning).
5. Our Fate - A new family The amount of drama/sadness depends on how you treat the main girl, but still...

And I could continue...
What I want to get across with this is that if you write a compelling story and deliver it properly there's nothing keeping you from establishing a fan base for it - no matter how broken the characters are.

 

[TweakTiny]

Sad games are not easy, but you might come up with something unique about it

 

[woody554]

can't see how giving it even a try could come out as worse than 99% of the usual total emotional detachment we see in these games. it'll instantly make your characters better no matter how badly you execute it.

 

[Deleted member 1706148]

A lil bit of feels is good in a game in my opinion. I'll take good develop story than fap fap fap every time.

 

[SeniGaming]

For me https://f95zone.to/threads/depraved-awakening-v1-0-phillygames.4907/ it's who does the job, the story is beautiful.
a very sad universe

I'm a Sadcore fan and I really like this sad universe, I think that if you want to make a gloomy, sad story, you should look at novels rather than games, or kinetic novel like that, but not porn because porn doesn't lend itself very well to the genre but it can obviously be done and be original.

Novels are a source of inspiration because they are made to work on the imagination of readers.

if your project is successful, I look forward to seeing you start the game.
I hope you will choose the kinetic novel style because it lends itself very well to the sad style.

A dark and very narrative style in a northern big city with a lot of rain and a story taking place at night, I think these are the bases in the sadcore universe.
listen to sadcore music to get you in the mood.

 

[Fliptoynk]

How about this for a plot:
Boss: spread ya legs bitch
Wife monologue:
If have to do thisOW! my mother's starting to OWF! developing dementia and my husband GODDAMMIT! tried improv and now he's suffering from AAAAYK! ptsd from all the boo's and tomatoes thrown at him AY KIRAMBA! I'm sorry my FUCK'N beloved husband, I dunno what d'OOOH! I'm at my limit...

 

[deadh30775n]

Leap of faith

 

[John Doe Jr.]

Can't go wrong with a classic like Katawa Shoujo. Sad but also hopeful and light moments