History BittersweetEnding / VisualNovels

* ''VisualNovel/{{Yandere-chan}}'': The only good ending in the whole game is this. Mia's mental instability is discovered and she's being treated, no one died in the process, and the main character still loves her. However, it's noted that Mia will probably never be healthy enough to leave the mental asylum, and the main character seems to be putting their life on hold just to be with her. At least they have each other.

* All the endings of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' that aren't outright [[DownerEnding downers]] are bittersweet, because just as Shirou's father warned him, he can't save everyone. In particular, either Saber or Ilya has to die, and in the only route where Sakura isn't left in the hands of her (horrifically) [[RapeAsBackstory abusive]] [[AbusiveParents grandfather]] (who will likely eventually kill her), the only non-downer ending has ''both'' of them dying. The first route (which is the one followed by the anime) is the most bittersweet: Shirou wins the war, destroys the Grail, and avenges his father, but Saber is gone, and nothing can take her place in his heart. We're left to ponder what "continuation of the dream" Saber might be seeing, and to hope it'll bring them back together somehow.
** Since she has already become a Heroic Spirit there is a chance that she could be summoned again during Shirou's lifetime, perhaps even by Shirou himself.
*** It's unlikely, however, since the Great Grail is dismantled by Waver Velvet.
**** Made slightly less bittersweet in the [[UpdatedRerelease Realta Nua ending.]] [[spoiler: As Arturia (Saber) lies dying, Merlin visits her mentally and tells her that if her soul will wait forever; and if Shirou will look for her forever; they will meet restored at the field of Avalon. He makes it perfectly clear that this is impossible. [[DiedHappilyEverAfter It happens]].]] Let me make that clear. [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Saber will always, throughout time, for eternity, wait for Shirou, and that Shirou will always be trying to move towards Saber, to find her again]].]] Pity that to unlock the ending you have to get [[HundredPercentCompletion all 40 deaths, and all 5 endings.]] [[GuideDangIt And THEN you have to play the Fate route again.]]

* ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', an earlier work from the [[{{Nasuverse}} makers]] of ''FateStayNight''.

* Depending on which side of the fantasy fence you sit on for the possible endings of ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', the final fate of all the cast members is either this, [[spoiler:where the Metaworld is real and Battler is reunited in death there with Beatrice and his whole family]] or a downer, [[spoiler:where the whole thing is just made up as a way for an amnesiac Battler to sort out his own thoughts about the Rokkenjima incident]]. Still, no matter which viewpoint you take, it doesn't change the fact that by the end of the series, [[spoiler:almost everyone who was on Rokkenjima is dead]].

* Depending on which side of the fantasy fence you sit on for the possible endings of ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', the final fate of all the cast members is either this, [[spoiler:where the Metaworld is real and Battler is reunited in death there with Beatrice and his whole family]] or a downer, [[spoiler:where the whole thing is just made up as a way for an amnesiac Battler to sort out his own thoughts about the Rokkenjima incident]].

** ''VisualNovel/{{KisetsuODakishimete'': No matter which storyline you go and no matter what you do, the main heroine, Mayu, [[KilledOffForReal won't resurrect]] and thus you won't be able to become a couple with her. The best you can do for her, is to help her [[QuestForIdentity recover her memories]] and AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence; and for you, thanks to her help and the quest you shared with her, it's either realizing you love Tomoko and get a RelationshipUpgrade with her, or find a new love in Mayu's sister Mami or with your neighbour the Sexy Lady.

* All the endings of ''FateStayNight'' that aren't outright [[DownerEnding downers]] are bittersweet, because just as Shirou's father warned him, he can't save everyone. In particular, either Saber or Ilya has to die, and in the only route where Sakura isn't left in the hands of her (horrifically) [[RapeAsBackstory abusive]] [[AbusiveParents grandfather]] (who will likely eventually kill her), the only non-downer ending has ''both'' of them dying. The first route (which is the one followed by the anime) is the most bittersweet: Shirou wins the war, destroys the Grail, and avenges his father, but Saber is gone, and nothing can take her place in his heart. We're left to ponder what "continuation of the dream" Saber might be seeing, and to hope it'll bring them back together somehow.

* ''{{Tsukihime}}'', an earlier work from the [[{{Nasuverse}} makers]] of ''FateStayNight''.

* After sitting through the credits for [[VisualNovel/GSenjouNoMaou G-Senjou no Maou]], you are treated to a MoodWhiplash epilogue. After surviving the chaotic incident he instigated in the climax, "Maou" pays Kyousuke and Haru a visit, which culminated in Haru chasing him and attempting to gun him down. Kyousuke intervened by killing Maou with his own gun, sparing Haru from the media attention and thus, protecting her future as a violinist. After spending 8 years in prison, he meets Haru and her daughter, and assumed that she got together with another person. [[spoiler: The trope is then subverted when he asks how old the girl is, to which she replied:]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[spoiler: Rintaro preventing both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha disappeared because of the Time Paradox created by the new timeline and there's a chance she might not exist in this timeline. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]
* ''KaraNoShoujo's'' best endings are bittersweet at best. Yes, Reiji lives and the murders stop [[spoiler:but most of the cast is dead including (normally) Toko. And the ending she lives in is a downer ending.]] The ones that are bittersweet instead of downers are the ones where [[spoiler:he catches Rokushiki and is impied to start a relationship with either Kyoko or Hatsune.]]
* ''DigitalALoveStory'': Hooray, the Internet is saved! [[spoiler:Because Emilia [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed herself]] to take down Reaper.]] At- at least the whole thing will be remembered?
* Depending on which side of the fantasy fence you sit on for the possible endings of ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', the final fate of all the cast members is either this, [[spoiler:where the Metaworld is real and Battler is reunited in death there with Beatrice and his whole family]] or a downer, [[spoiler:where the whole thing is just made up as a way for an amnesiac Battler to sort out his own thoughts about the Rokkenjima incident]].

** ''VisualNovel/{{Kisetsu o Dakishimete}}'': No matter which storyline you go and no matter what you do, the main heroine, Mayu, [[KilledOffForReal won't resurrect]] and thus you won't be able to become a couple with her. The best you can do for her, is to help her [[QuestForIdentity recover her memories]] and AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence; and for you, thanks to her help and the quest you shared with her, it's either realizing you love Tomoko and get a RelationshipUpgrade with her, or find a new love in Mayu's sister Mami or with your neighbour the Sexy Lady.

* A couple of the endings in ''KatawaShoujo'':

**** Made slighlty less bittersweet in the [[UpdatedRerelease Realta Nua ending.]] [[spoiler: As Arturia (Saber) lies dying, Merlin visits her mentally and tells her that if her soul will wait forever; and if Shirou will look for her forever; they will meet restored at the field of Avalon. He makes it perfectly clear that this is impossible. [[DiedHappilyEverAfter It happens]].]] Let me make that clear. [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Saber will always, throughout time, for eternity, wait for Shirou, and that Shirou will always be trying to move towards Saber, to find her again]].]] Pity that to unlock the ending you have to get [[HundredPercentCompletion all 40 deaths, and all 5 endings.]] [[GuideDangIt And THEN you have to play the Fate route again.]]

** Since she has already become a Heroic Spirit there is a chance that she could be summoned again during Shirou's lifetime, perhaps even by Shirou himself.
*** It's unlikely, however, since the Great Grail is dismantled by Waver Velvet.
**** Made slighlty less bittersweet in the [[UpdatedRerelease Realta Nua ending.]] [[spoiler: As Arturia (Saber) lies dying, Merlin visits her mentally and tells her that if her soul will wait forever; and if Shirou will look for her forever; they will meet restored at the field of Avalon. He makes it perfectly clear that this is impossible. [[DiedHappilyEverAfter It happens]].]] Let me make that clear. [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Saber will always, throughout time, for eternity, wait for Shirou, and that Shirou will always be trying to move towards Saber, to find her again]].]] Pity that to unlock the ending you have to get [[HundredPercentCompletion all 40 deaths, and all 5 endings.]] [[GuideDangIt And THEN you have to play the Fate route again.]]

** Lilly's bad ending can also be interpreted as this. [[Spoiler:Hanako has finally come out of her shell and is making friends on her own, Hisao has found a new direction in his life and a good future ahead of him, but the woman he loves leaves forever for Scotland, to live with her family who she barely even knows, likely spending the rest of her days unhappy, ending up as StarCrossedLovers]].

* Unlike 07th Expansion's previous work ''HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'', with the characters [[EarnYourHappyEnding finally achieving a happy ending]], the ending for ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' can only be called bittersweet. By the end of the series, most of the characters we were introduced to in [=EP1=] are really, truly dead, and some characters may not have even existed in the first place. [[spoiler: In [=EP8=]'s ??? ending, however, it's revealed that Ange has become a successful author under the alias "Yukari Kotobuki". One day she receives a call from another famous author, Tohya Hachijo, who wishes to meet with her. Tohya Hachijo turns out to be two people: Ikuko Hachijo, the writer, and Tohya Hachijo, the scenario writer, who turns out to be none other than Battler Ushiromiya, having suffered amnesia and been confined to a wheelchair. He explains to Ange that despite having memories of being Battler, he has trouble accepting them as his own and thus can't consider himself to be her brother. In an attempt to connect with her brother one last time, Ange invites Tohya and Ikuko to the re-opening of Kinzo's orphanage, the Fukuin House. When Tohya goes inside, it's revealed the interior has been remodeled to look exactly like the dining hall of the Ushiromiya mansion, and there all of the series' familiar characters appear before him, including Beatrice, whom he finally reunites with in his memories.]]

** ''VisualNovel/{{Sampaguita}}'': Don't expect coming out unscathed of saving Maria from the Yakuza's clutches by [[StormingTheCastle storming their headquarters]] with Boy and pals, as there's only two possible outcomes: either being jailed for gunning down the Yakuza boss who was trying to shoot Maria; or being killed by said Yakuza boss [[TakingTheBullet by protecting Maria with your body]]. However, after those events, you'll discover (either after you've served your 5-years jail time and reunited with Maria in her native Philippines, or [[OurGhostsAreDifferent after awakening as a ghost]] 2 years after your death), to your joy, that Maria had become pregnant with your kid during the time you were living together, and gave birth to a little boy.

* Depending on which side of the fantasy fence you sit on for the possible endings of ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', the final fate of all the cast members is either this, [[spoiler:where the Metaworld is real and Battler is reunited in death there with Beatrice and his whole family]] or a downer, [[spoiler:where the whole thing is just made up as a way for an amnesiac Battler to sort out his own thoughts about the Rokkenjima incident]].

* ''DigitalALoveStory'': Hooray, the Internet is saved! [[spoiler:Because Emilia [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed herself]] to take down Reaper.]] At- at least the whole thing will be remembered?

* After sitting through the credits for [[GSenjouNoMaou G-Senjou no Maou]], you are treated to a MoodWhiplash epilogue. After surviving the chaotic incident he instigated in the climax, "Maou" pays Kyousuke and Haru a visit, which culminated in Haru chasing him and attempting to gun him down. Kyousuke intervened by killing Maou with his own gun, sparing Haru from the media attention and thus, protecting her future as a violinist. After spending 8 years in prison, he meets Haru and her daughter, and assumed that she got together with another person. [[spoiler: The trope is then subverted when he asks how old the girl is, to which she replied:]]

* ''KaraNoShoujo's'' best endings are bittersweet at best. Yes, Reiji lives and the murders stop [[spoiler:but most of the cast is dead including (normally) Toko. And the ending she lives in is a downer ending.]] The ones that are bittersweet insteads of downers are the ones where [[spoiler:he catches Rokushiki and is impied to start a relationship with either Kyoko or Hatsune.]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[spoiler: Rintaro preventing both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha disappeared because of the Time Paradox created by the new timeline and there's a chance she might not exist in this timeline. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[Rintaro preventing both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha disappeared because of the Time Paradox created by the new timeline and there's a chance she might not exist in this timeline. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[spoiler:In the true ending, Rintaro prevented both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha disappeared because of the Time Paradox created by the new timeline and there's a chance she might not exist in this timeline. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[spoiler: Rintaro preventing both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha has to go back to the future. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]

* ''[[SteinsGate Steins;Gate]]'' true ending, ends with [[Rintaro preventing both the bad future and Kurisu's death, but the Lab member except Rintaro doesn't remember any of their experience together and Suzuha has to go back to the future. But it is hinted that the members might not have completely forgotten their memories, as shown when Rintaro met Kurisu again in Akihabara and she still has memories of the nicknames Rintaro gave to her]]

** [[spoiler: I'm seven years old, daddy.]]

* In the freeware VisualNovel ''{{Narcissu}}'', [[EmotionlessGirl emotionless]] IllGirl Setsumi escapes her bleak existence of hospitalizations and discharges, experiences life on the open road, and finds a little bit of happiness for the first time- then promptly kills herself. It's implied that the unnamed protagonist (also ill) doesn't last much longer.