FF10 really hit me in the feels. I was just old enough to finally understand some of the more mature stories in JRPGs and then realizing after hours and hours that my beloved healer/summoner was basically just a sacrifice really hit home with that they were trying to do. I will note that JRPGs generally are long and if it takes you months ( sometimes years in my case) to get through, the impact of these sad stories don't hold as much weight as they should. Cool video!
What’s so cool about your choices and video is that you cover games that don’t tend to always make everyone’s lists. It feels fresher and more intriguing.
The true tragedy of Blue Reflection is them releasing a 3rd game exclusively as a mobile gacha game in Japan, it flopping hard and shuttering the following year. While the art was fantastic and music phenomenal, the fallout of this is we’re probably not seeing another entry in the series anytime soon and this absolutely breaks my heart 💔
Great video! Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is definitely up there for me with some incredibly sad moments. I had only played a little under half of XC2 prior to this and it really surprised me.
It's not quite JRPG exactly, but To The Moon owns this category for me. Even 10 years later, just a few notes from Everything;'s Alright and I'll lose it. I would also add Ni No Kuni to the list as the entire story is about accepting loss. Many of the games you mention are somewhere in my queue. Just need to find the time. I'm most exited for Blue Reflection and Omori.
I seem drawn to sad games but am rarely in the correct head space for them. Let’s hope you get them subs it’s especially tragic to have to wait in your own driveway seeing that we host Christmas But hey at least you enjoy a good cry. 😉😂.
i cried so many times playing final fantasy 15, i felt so connected to them (especially ignis since im also blind) Blue reflection was super amazing too, i loved the stories they gave the girls and all the emotion.
I thought Blue reflection was pretty bad but i played it all the way to the end and the ending got me good, that final pic with Hinako and the sisters made me smile, i would never play that game again but i will say that the ending was worth it
This is a great video - thanks for sharing! Some of the saddest games I can think of: Undertale - the true pacifist ending had me weeping. Suikoden 5 - the beginning is a little slow, but when you get to the tragic moment, hoo boy. The voice acting in this one really helped sell it for me.
For me, any story that deals with death in some form or matter is automatically sad. Like Undertale I would call sad, even with the True ending there's a bit of sadness in the end. A few of my fav JRPGs are sad when I think about it- Grandia 2, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, and Eternal Sonata. Grandia 2, you don't think it's going to be sad at the start, but you have to deal with death pretty quickly in the game. The 'sad music' that plays in certain moments really get to me. With Ni No Kuni, I don't know how Studio Ghibli does it, there's a reason I call them the Japanese equivalent of Disney, because they know how to bring on the feels that's still suitable for kids. And Eternal Sonata, it starts off with a death, for crying out loud. Kingdom Hearts franchise has some sad stories like with 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, Union Cross, and more recent, Dark Road. And I wouldn't be surprised if Missing Link had a sad story attached to it.
To speak to Undertale specifically, there's so much tragedy baked in to the backstory that, even when you're experiencing the happy ending, it's still heartbreaking because of everything that came before. It's super powerful.
Another great video. Even after all this time, Persona 3 Reload kicked me in the gut even though I knew what was happening. I supposed Blue Reflection would have turned me to mush if I didn't know there was a sequel. If I were to recommend Final Fantasy XV to someone now, I'd advise to get them to get the DLC as it does fill in gaps. Congrats and good luck on your up coming panel.
I should probably go back and play Final Fantasy XV sometime, I played when it first came out and apparently a lot was changed about it. Some good sad stories in this list, especially Final Fantasy X!
Utawarerumono has most saddest story in videogames for me and similar to Lufia 2/Crisis core entry, Xenoblade 2: Torna is a bit sad, you know what happens to Lora and Jin in the original game
Hey Brandon, yeah I really wish you get to 10k sub, because it's is really sad to not meet your wife family... lol But I wish you to get there soon anyway! thanks for the video, was fun to learn more about those games!
Sae the title and my mind instantly jumped to Mother 3, was surprised it didnt make it on here lol. That last battle still hurts me just to think about
I agree about Berseria for the most part but man I fucking hate that ending. a lot of games I love along these lines are pretty dark throughout but manage to end on a hopeful note thanks to the ending - Xenoblade 3, Nier Automata, etc. but Berseria's ending not only wasn't hopeful, it made me feel like Velvet's journey and development was for absolutely nothing. if they wanted a sad ending, I'd honestly rather she just have died, at least she would have died as herself!
I was so disappointed in FF XV - but it was the gameplay that destroyed it and I never even got to the story. I gave up on it after about an hour. I was so looking forward to it then it just really let me down. Now Tales of Berseria - one of my favorite games ever and yeah it did make me cry. I have started FF X so many times but always seem to drift away...not because I'm not enjoying it but just because it really doesn't grab me. Omari I have also started but got kinda bored with quickly. I will go back to Omari and probably at some point FFX. Now Crystar I have been wanting forever and I finally ordered it and am really looking forward to it.
Great picks here! My hot take is that FF15 is a better game than FF10. Sure, both have their own tragic arcs, but 15 really had such a great build-up with the main four characters and their ultimate fates end up superseding 10 for overall sadness but righteousness in their history. Plus 15's battles are a lot more fun than the grind-fest that 10 has (beyond 10's boss battles). And I *love* turn-based RPGs too!
@@JustTheGems if you watched State of the Arc podcast on FFX, you’ll find out that the Japanese names and the English names aren’t related. And the pronunciation was from a commercial announcement, not from the the voice actors. They even said you can pronounce it either way because it makes no difference. Since it doesn’t make a difference, I’ll go by Tid-us to sound more like like the theme of the game water, also because it’s how I pronounced him in the first place.
Berseria was a good idea but was terrible in practice, endless repeating of exposition every 2 minutes for the entire game made me want it to be over, such tedious story telling
I do recall the repetition. It's still my all-time favorite Tales game thus far. Yes, even better than Arise. Exposition heavy? yes. A little repetetive? Undoubtedly. That's never taken away its appeal for me personally however. I've played it twice, and honestly have a hankering to do so again. And I replay few RPGS these days. So that's saying something.
FF10 really hit me in the feels. I was just old enough to finally understand some of the more mature stories in JRPGs and then realizing after hours and hours that my beloved healer/summoner was basically just a sacrifice really hit home with that they were trying to do. I will note that JRPGs generally are long and if it takes you months ( sometimes years in my case) to get through, the impact of these sad stories don't hold as much weight as they should. Cool video!
True, long games (or long periods between play sessions) can diminish the impact
The "I'm not a Japanese high school girl bit" keeps delivering for me
thank you
Hahaha😆
This is easily becoming one of my favorite TH-cam channels. You 100% deserve 10k subs. Also, I need Omori so bad!
Wow, thank you!
Tales of the Abyss made me cry at the end. There's some sad moments that I didn't see coming
Oh yeah, that's a good one that doesn't get enough attention
What’s so cool about your choices and video is that you cover games that don’t tend to always make everyone’s lists. It feels fresher and more intriguing.
That means a lot, thank you! ♥️
The true tragedy of Blue Reflection is them releasing a 3rd game exclusively as a mobile gacha game in Japan, it flopping hard and shuttering the following year. While the art was fantastic and music phenomenal, the fallout of this is we’re probably not seeing another entry in the series anytime soon and this absolutely breaks my heart 💔
Videos like this are part of why I love this channel. Zero spoilers but still able to get the point across. Definitely a good 'tuber.
I'm glad to hear that! I really try to walk that line as much as possible.
Crisis Core Reunion definitely hit me hard
Omg it's so powerful
Great video! Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is definitely up there for me with some incredibly sad moments. I had only played a little under half of XC2 prior to this and it really surprised me.
Very true, XC3 is gonna have to go on the list for next time
Lovely channel you have! Always glad to find another fan of JRPGs!
You've got a sub!
Thank you so much!
It's not quite JRPG exactly, but To The Moon owns this category for me. Even 10 years later, just a few notes from Everything;'s Alright and I'll lose it. I would also add Ni No Kuni to the list as the entire story is about accepting loss. Many of the games you mention are somewhere in my queue. Just need to find the time. I'm most exited for Blue Reflection and Omori.
You're 100% right on To the Moon, that game WRECKED me
Brother hoping this is the year you don’t spend Thanksgiving in the car. You deserve a million subscribers. Another great video
Haha thank you so much!
Brandon you’re so underrated! Thanks for the great vids
I appreciate that! Thank you!!
Suikoden 1&2 still had the hardest hitting moments for me
I'll second both of these!
I seem drawn to sad games but am rarely in the correct head space for them.
Let’s hope you get them subs it’s especially tragic to have to wait in your own driveway seeing that we host Christmas But hey at least you enjoy a good cry. 😉😂.
🥲
i cried so many times playing final fantasy 15, i felt so connected to them (especially ignis since im also blind) Blue reflection was super amazing too, i loved the stories they gave the girls and all the emotion.
They're both heart-tugging classics.
I thought Blue reflection was pretty bad but i played it all the way to the end and the ending got me good, that final pic with Hinako and the sisters made me smile, i would never play that game again but i will say that the ending was worth it
Man I still get emotional (in my 30s) when I hear Aerith's theme from FF7.
Same, my friend. Same.
This is a great video - thanks for sharing! Some of the saddest games I can think of: Undertale - the true pacifist ending had me weeping. Suikoden 5 - the beginning is a little slow, but when you get to the tragic moment, hoo boy. The voice acting in this one really helped sell it for me.
I haven't played Suikoden 5, but I 100% agree on Undertale, I had the same reaction
Thank you for the nuanced explanation of the FFX laugh scene. I'm sick of people missing the resonance of it for clicks. That ending got to me too.
Yeah, they might lose a few points on the delivery, but it's a solid emotional scene
I sobbed at the final campsite frfr
Same 😭
For me, any story that deals with death in some form or matter is automatically sad. Like Undertale I would call sad, even with the True ending there's a bit of sadness in the end. A few of my fav JRPGs are sad when I think about it- Grandia 2, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, and Eternal Sonata. Grandia 2, you don't think it's going to be sad at the start, but you have to deal with death pretty quickly in the game. The 'sad music' that plays in certain moments really get to me. With Ni No Kuni, I don't know how Studio Ghibli does it, there's a reason I call them the Japanese equivalent of Disney, because they know how to bring on the feels that's still suitable for kids. And Eternal Sonata, it starts off with a death, for crying out loud.
Kingdom Hearts franchise has some sad stories like with 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, Union Cross, and more recent, Dark Road. And I wouldn't be surprised if Missing Link had a sad story attached to it.
To speak to Undertale specifically, there's so much tragedy baked in to the backstory that, even when you're experiencing the happy ending, it's still heartbreaking because of everything that came before. It's super powerful.
Not necessarily a sad game but the ending made me cry copious amounts and that was like a dragon.
Great video! Crisis Core is such a good one - SO SAD MY GAWD!
Another great video. Even after all this time, Persona 3 Reload kicked me in the gut even though I knew what was happening. I supposed Blue Reflection would have turned me to mush if I didn't know there was a sequel. If I were to recommend Final Fantasy XV to someone now, I'd advise to get them to get the DLC as it does fill in gaps. Congrats and good luck on your up coming panel.
Thanks Doc!!
I should probably go back and play Final Fantasy XV sometime, I played when it first came out and apparently a lot was changed about it. Some good sad stories in this list, especially Final Fantasy X!
Yeah, there's quite a lot in the DLC that is pretty darn cool
Utawarerumono has most saddest story in videogames for me and similar to Lufia 2/Crisis core entry, Xenoblade 2: Torna is a bit sad, you know what happens to Lora and Jin in the original game
I am surprised you omitted "I Am Setsuna" in your video. It's a sad JRPG about self-sacrifice to save a dying world.
You should check out A Space for the Unbound. Its similar to Omari, a story about grief.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 had me emotional. Sometimes I listen to the OST "A Moment of Quiet" just so I can be sad again
Oh that's interesting to hear, I haven't played that one yet!
I got you bro, im subscribing so you don't have to wait in the car anymore!!
Haha thank you!! 😆
Hey Brandon, yeah I really wish you get to 10k sub, because it's is really sad to not meet your wife family... lol But I wish you to get there soon anyway! thanks for the video, was fun to learn more about those games!
I would say trails series. Has made me cry a lot of times. Baits and real.
I probably cry like every twelve hours in Trails 😅
Ending of "Zanki zero last beginning" is very sad for me.
Yeah, definitely super bittersweet
Lost Odyssey has the saddest stories hands down no other jrpg comes close tbh.
Final Fantasy Type-0 final battle and ending.... oh man the feels.
I need to play that...
Sae the title and my mind instantly jumped to Mother 3, was surprised it didnt make it on here lol. That last battle still hurts me just to think about
Haven't played it yet, but I just started it!
I agree about Berseria for the most part but man I fucking hate that ending. a lot of games I love along these lines are pretty dark throughout but manage to end on a hopeful note thanks to the ending - Xenoblade 3, Nier Automata, etc. but Berseria's ending not only wasn't hopeful, it made me feel like Velvet's journey and development was for absolutely nothing. if they wanted a sad ending, I'd honestly rather she just have died, at least she would have died as herself!
Yeah, I can see that. I may have felt similarly at the time, too
I'm surprised Xenoblade isn't on here somewhere, especially Xenoblade 3 😭 Great video Branden, I love to cry too 🤣 Need more JRPGs like these.
There's a lot in the whole Xeno series that could land it on this list for sure!
Good-tuber! 🙌🏻
🥰
I'm a simple man. I see just a gem has uploaded. I click and watch
🥰 Thank you!
As badly as I want to try Omori, I feel like it will be the one jrpg to hit too close to home
That may be true. If you find yourself in a good headspace for it, it's worth a look, but don't push yourself.
I’m a man, I don’t cry dammit. Ouch I got a paper cut. 😭
The ending of FF15 hits hard, man
😭😭😭
Don't forget Nier and Nier Automata. Man, does Yoko Taro know how to make games that are equally funny, awesome, and tear flooding.
Oh yeah, that's on my list for next time for sure
Played most other than the PC ports but you never mentioned Dragon Quest 11.... Everyone cried when Veronica died bro...
Damn ... I did as a 46 year old man.!
That part hit so hard
Omori absolutely wrecked me
I’ve cried a lot with Xenoblade 3 😂
Tales of Xillia 2, and these aren't jrpgs but lisa the joyful and lisa the painful definitely, lol
I was so disappointed in FF XV - but it was the gameplay that destroyed it and I never even got to the story. I gave up on it after about an hour. I was so looking forward to it then it just really let me down. Now Tales of Berseria - one of my favorite games ever and yeah it did make me cry. I have started FF X so many times but always seem to drift away...not because I'm not enjoying it but just because it really doesn't grab me. Omari I have also started but got kinda bored with quickly. I will go back to Omari and probably at some point FFX. Now Crystar I have been wanting forever and I finally ordered it and am really looking forward to it.
I honestly remember nothing about the gameplay of FF15... Which is not exactly a ringing endorsement of it😅
Shadow Hearts 1-2
I refuse to believe you were never a Japanese high school girl. My entire perception of you has changed.
🙋♀️
Great picks here! My hot take is that FF15 is a better game than FF10. Sure, both have their own tragic arcs, but 15 really had such a great build-up with the main four characters and their ultimate fates end up superseding 10 for overall sadness but righteousness in their history. Plus 15's battles are a lot more fun than the grind-fest that 10 has (beyond 10's boss battles). And I *love* turn-based RPGs too!
It may be Tida in Japan but it Tidus in English, almost like tidal wave as in water theme
Don't they pronounce it "tee-dus" in the Kingdom Hearts series?
@@JustTheGems if you watched State of the Arc podcast on FFX, you’ll find out that the Japanese names and the English names aren’t related. And the pronunciation was from a commercial announcement, not from the the voice actors. They even said you can pronounce it either way because it makes no difference. Since it doesn’t make a difference, I’ll go by Tid-us to sound more like like the theme of the game water, also because it’s how I pronounced him in the first place.
Berseria was a good idea but was terrible in practice, endless repeating of exposition every 2 minutes for the entire game made me want it to be over, such tedious story telling
I do recall the repetition. It's still my all-time favorite Tales game thus far. Yes, even better than Arise. Exposition heavy? yes. A little repetetive? Undoubtedly. That's never taken away its appeal for me personally however. I've played it twice, and honestly have a hankering to do so again. And I replay few RPGS these days. So that's saying something.