[[quoteright:341:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_sad_ross.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:341:"There is nothing more heartbreaking than a sad Ross."]]

Even a series as [[Funny/GameGrumps quirky and hilarious]] as WebVideo/GameGrumps has its [[TearJerker sad moments]], for reasons both inside and outside of video games.
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!!Videos
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNizrobWjBU "Ode to Jon"]]. It has its funny moments, but it's still rather bittersweet, seeing Jon suddenly leave.
** It's a depressing sight watching everyone huddled around the empty seat on the couch that Jon used to sit on, with Arin crying and rubbing the empty seat as though a close friend had died.
* In-Universe: Sad Hoshi.
** At least until it turns out he's a pedophile.
* All of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfTNZLssib4&feature=c4-overview&list=UU9CuvdOVfMPvKCiwdGKL3cQ The Wind Waker: Episode 19.]] Essentially the entire episode revolves around Danny revealing his past where he struggled with Mono, depression, and OCD.
* Danny seems genuinely sad when he realizes they've finished ''Kirby's Epic Yarn'', especially during the scene when Prince Fluff says goodbye to Kirby.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs0KPsXCJcs#t=1243 Jon reminices]] about his time with Danny, and how the two used to laugh about Wolfjob together.
-->'''Jon:''' I miss Dan. I really do.
* Many fans feel this way about the longest playthrough the Grumps ever did, ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. It was done in by Jon's departure and LeftHanging at part 108. It stops at the very end of Silver's campaign with the Grumps about to beat Iblis's final form, and they had already cleared Sonic's and Shadow's campaigns, which would have launched them into the Last Episode to beat Solaris in an epic conclusion to the game. Jon himself had said it would be an incredible finale... then left Game Grumps. Afterwards, Arin said that the playthrough was over for good, because they had gotten to a point where there wasn't much more to do near the end, and Danny felt he wasn't there for the journey and it would feel like an intrusion to pick up where Jon left off and continue only a smidgen of the game.
-->'''Arin:''' [[https://youtu.be/PMInK_n7Mf8?t=12m33s Like I keep saying, man.]] Sonic 06 is a character study on us. As people. We grow with the game, we grow as friends. Maybe we fight a couple times, but we always come back. Because we know...
-->'''Jon:''' [laughing] We know there's more to be had.
* In Part 13 of Katamari Damacy, Dan recalls his first day of nursery school. Mixed with Heartwarming, he says how he cried after saying goodbye to his mom, and was so fussy as a result he threw blocks at kids.
* ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'' naturally brings a few of these out, as Danny keeps saying how bad he feels about killing the Colossi.
** Agro's death. Danny is "so sadmad right now." There's also the way Danny says "That fucking ''sucks''" while sounding like he's on the verge of tears.
** Not helped when he reflexively whistles for Agro after defeating a Colossus... and she's not there. Danny accidentally [[MadeMyselfSad makes himself sad.]]
** What makes it worse is that Arin managed to trick Danny into gushing about Agro right before her death. The way Dan shouts "you FUCKER!" to Arin is absolutely ''dripping'' with hatred.

** During the whole ending, Danny seems like he's about to start crying, and even begs Arin to cut out his shtick of pretending he doesn't know what's about to happen. He ends up declaring that he might need to take a couple weeks off before he's up to doing the next game.
* Their ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sricGq5A3g Finale.]] Especially their final words:
-->'''Arin:''' Wanna play a Sonic game?
-->'''Danny:''' Yeah, [[LampshadeHanging those are short.]]
* [[CantCatchUp Danny's run of bad luck]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyN9jaNYXmM playing Dokapon Kingdom.]]
* [[https://youtu.be/GN8Oyllhmcw?t=9m20s Arin reaching his breaking point after being repeatedly rejected by Helena]] in ''Dead or Alive Xtreme 2'', bursting into tears, and crying into Dan's lap.
** And when he ''finally'' partners up with her, [[ShootTheShaggyDog all of Zack Island goes up in flames, taking practically everyone with it, according to the Grumps.]]
-->'''Danny''': Suzy? Come get your man...
* [[https://youtu.be/MNxakZpohm4?t=8m43s Coming across an "RIP Robin Williams" message]] while playing ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld''. And note that this was after they learned his daughter Zelda is a fan of theirs.
* In Part 2 of ''Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain'', you can hear a twinge of sadness in Suzy's voice when she compares Hideo Kojima to Creator/MontyOum.
* During the "Thank You" video Danny and Ross filmed to celebrate their two years on the channel, Ross shared a story about the negative reaction to the first episodes of ''Steam Train''. He saw the dislike bar and the comments section, and (trying to not let it get him down) he decided forget working and spend the day at the beach with Holly. Unfortunately, he got stung by a bee on his hand and the pain caused all of his pent-up frustration he had to come out in one echoing "FUCK!!!" that shocked all the nearby swimmers and surfers. He got it patched up quickly by the lifeguards and the channel obviously sorted itself out soon after, but it's sad to hear that the negative reception to him and Danny's first appearances really DID get to them in one way or another.
-->'''Danny:''' You got stung by a bee, and also had your feelings stung by Website/YouTube comments.
* Ross and Dan are genuinely utterly CRUSHED when Achaka dies in ''VideoGame/KingsQuest2015''. Apparently it hit them so hard that it took them ''thirty minutes'' to recompose themselves and continue recording.
* In the Grump Out interview with his grandmother, Danny saying that his main regret in life is that he wished he had gotten his act together before his grandfather died, and coming close to tears because he can't see how well Danny is doing now.
* The ''massive'' journey to complete "[[NintendoHard You are a monster]]"[[note]][[JerkAss One of Ross' levels.]][[/note]] during the VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker series, which takes 3 and a half episodes. And, when they ''do'', they just sound... [[BreakTheCutie broken]][[note]][[BerserkButton Except for when they see some Miiverse comments praising it.]][[/note]]:
-->'''Danny''': (near tears) [-Fucking did it, bro... You did it... I'm so proud of you...-]
-->'''Arin''': (groans; near tears) It doesn't feel good...
-->'''Danny''': No...
-->'''Arin''': Doesn't feel good...
-->'''Danny''': (reading from a Miiverse comment) [[MoodWhiplash Yoshis before Hoshis]]...
** Really, this comment from episode 12 sums it up:
--->'''Jasmine Up''': I think we just saw them going through the five stages of grief.
* In part 1 of ''Star Fox 64'', Jon and Arin talk about how when they're depressed, they eat food (Jon's food being burgers, Arin's being ice cream). They mention how eating this food actually makes them more unhappy, as they lose self-control and eat too much, making them feel bad.
* Part 73 of Super Mario Galaxy ends up being a very reflective, somber video as both Danny and Arin talk about how it feels like to grow older and how the current workload is taking a lot more out of them than it would when they were younger.
** Danny in particular admits that the reason he's not been himself in the last couple of videos is because he's reaching 'diagnosable' levels of exhaustion with his current projects, and that the reason he's driving himself so hard is because he feels he's only got two or three albums' worth of music left in him.
* Barry and Ross sounding genuinely heartbroken and feeling sorry for Asriel in the GoldenEnding of VideoGame/{{Undertale}}.
* Two words: '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnhugktXjb8 Genocide Run.]]'''
** Each episode gets worse and worse, as Barry and Ross become more emotionally distressed at having to kill every monster they'd previously befriended. So far, the worst is when they have to kill the Greater Dog, and they ''immediately'' end the episode afterwards because it's too much for them to take.
** [[https://youtu.be/Fysul9s2LzI?t=8m56s They finally make it to Papyrus, the first big hurdle of the Genocide run. Ross is already clearly upset, even while doing his Papyrus impression, but when it becomes clear Papyrus isn't even going to fight back, Ross ''leaves the room''. Even Barry, who had been reveling in the Genocide run in a "I like that it makes me feel so awful" way is clearly beyond words. The episode ends with Barry giving two depressed coughs in the mic as you can hear Ross leave, slamming the door behind him.]]
*** The worst part is Ross' short yell of anguish as Papyrus is cut down and dissolves into dust.
*** When Ross gets back, its clear in his voice he's choking up and crying.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ZeYmpnC3Y And after that, we've got 10 seconds of stunned silence on the next episode after this.]]
** Not even defeating Undyne after so many attempts alleviates their mood. After a brief moment to celebrate defeating that boss, Barry immediately says he feels like 'a piece of shit' for killing her.
** Even in the finale, it's apparent that the guys have hit the DespairEventHorizon. Understandable, since they spent an hour trying to [[KickTheDog kill one of the game's more beloved characters]] [[VideoGameCrueltyPunishment only to have the game seemingly delete itself.]]
* Dan recalling his reaction to Kurt Cobain's death in Part 60 of ''Super Mario Maker'', and how he actually thought 27 was a fine long run at the time.
* In episode 89 of Pokemon [=FireRed=], they take Knurttt out of the Day Care, takes out one Oddish, and is immediately put back into the Day Care. The sad part is that Dan and Arin paint a scenario in which Knurttt is extremely excited to be with I never again, but is thrown away with a second thought, causing Knurttt to become absolutely heartbroken. This is played as dark humor, but can still easily be seen as a tearjerker.
* The incredibly dark AlternateCharacterInterpretation for Lily from ''Petz Horse Club'', that she's in an insane asylum where the staff use her for cheap labor thanks to her delusions that she's cleaning horses.
* This comes from someone who went to their live show in Nyack, New York; near the tail end of the show, one of the show's staff brought in a man who had a VIP ticket, but made it late due to the Tappan Zee bridge falling apart, who gave the Grumps a heartfelt thanks for helping him stay happy even after he'd lost friends to heroin addiction.
** Also from GG Live, but the last person they thanked during their whole "Special Thanks" segment was Jon, for starting the whole thing with Arin.
* Ross' stories about bullying in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4R_5XmNS5k Part 5 of ''Jet Grind Radio'']].
** In fact, Ross' whole tale from dealing with ADHD in his childhood in the episode can be a bit of a relatable tearjerker for fans who suffer from ADHD/ADHD-PI.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ErjZzAyjZo Part 5 of The Dog Island.]] Midway through the episode, Danny mentions his dog Princess Tingles (who their in-game character Princef Taaanx is based on) has gone deaf and blind and lost her sense of smell. At the end of the episode Danny reveals that Princess Tingles passed away between the recording and release of the episode, and the episode ends with a montage of the two of them.
* In their VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub playthrough, upon realizing that Sayori has had depression her whole life, they immediately feel sorry for her and Danny even regrets giving her such a silly voice for such a dramatic moment.
** And you just ''know'' that Dan really empathizes with her when she admits to having trouble finding reasons to get out of bed considering his own history with depression.
** It's played for BlackComedy, but during Act 2 (after Sayori commits suicide and is {{Unperson}}ed from the game), Dan comments at one point that he wants to grab all the other characters by the shoulders and scream "SAYORI'S DEAD! WHY AREN'T YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THIS!? WHAT'S HAPPENING!?"
** Similarly, upon discovering Yuri's cutting habits later in the game, Dan's reaction is a somber "That poor girl..." without nearly as much energy as he usually injects into his commentary.
* The ending to their playthrough of ''A Way Out'', Listening to Dan being made to face Arin as Leo and losing, meaning that Leo dies, you hear Dan actively bad mouth Vincent killing him. It's very rare to hear someone like Dan to hate someone and to hear him like that really shows how much the ending got to him.
** Both Grumps are also pretty upset that the game was putting their friendship to the test by forcing them to try and kill each other.
** The plot twist reminded Dan about a time when he got to ask a relative about what it was like to live in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The answer is equal parts depressing and terrifying.
-->"It is like someone come into my house and fuck my sister, near to my eyes."
* At the beginning of the second ''A Link Between Worlds'' playthrough, Danny admits that the reason the original playthrough stopped was because he was going through a ''very'' messy breakup at the time. He outright says it was the emotionally lowest and darkest point he had ever been at in Game Grumps' lifetime.
* Gundham's execution in Part 55 of their ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' playthrough[[note]]aptly titled, "Dan cries this episode"[[/note]] made Dan ''actually'' cry. He was already upset seeing it play out, but it wasn't until the sight of the spirits of Gundham's past pets descending from the sky to carry him off to heaven that the tears began to fall. And Gundham was Dan's favorite character in the game.
--> '''Dan:''' Allie[[note]]their producer[[/note]], can you confirm that my eyes are filled with tears right now?\\
'''Allie:''' ''(slightly audible)'' Yes. Yes, they are.\\
'''Dan:''' I can't help it. ''(sniffles)'' Oh man...
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->''[[TheStinger "Who put all these tears here?!"]]''