History TearJerker / StardewValley

* Think you're doing Shane a favor by shutting down Joja Mart? [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nope, he ends up unemployed and starts going to the bar at 3 in the afternoon instead]], [[FromBadToWorse grumbling about how it's even worse not to be able to support his family at all]].

* Shane hanging out on the dock near his aunt's house. Even more so since this is the first time he says anything to you that isn't "Why are you talking to me?"
** The 1.1 update added additional events. He recovers, but talking a falling-down drunk Shane out of throwing himself off a cliff is pretty heart-wrenching.

* One of the events added in 1.1 is a rather bleak scene which sees Marnie finding him passed out drunk in his room. She enlists your help in bringing him around, which involves dumping the contents of your watering can over his head (and provides a bit of light relief given his cartoonish reaction), but then the mood becomes serious again. Marnie gently prompts Shane to consider the future, asking what his overall plan is...to which Shane replies that he hopes that [[DrivenToSuicide he won't be around long enough]] to ''need'' a long-term plan. As if that weren't bad enough, he hasn't noticed that Jas has wandered into the room-- you know, the little girl who lost her mother and father and now only has Shane and Marnie to count on? Whose guardian has just stated his intention to die and leave her behind again? She bursts into tears and flees, leaving a remorseful Shane to slump to his knees in despair as the player looks on, uncomfortable at being caught in the situation. What's worse is the implication that this is a relatively regular thing that happens, as Marnie doesn't seem even shocked or scared at Shane's condition... Just let that sink in.

* The cutscene that follows is a TimeSkip where you're working a SoulCrushingDeskJob at Joja Corporation. You look bored to death like your colleagues, doing the same things day in and day out with no fulfillment. At least, until you open the letter your grandpa gave you and learn that there ''is'' an out to this lifestyle.

* At higher friendship ratings, one of Harvey's dialogue options is to tell you how terrible it feels to lose a patient who trusted you with their life. Harvey has, at some point, lost a patient. Think about that next time you get KO'd by monsters in a dungeon and wake up in the clinic. One wonders if perhaps the patient in question was Alex's mother...

* With 1.1, Emily also became romanceable. Y'know, that same girl that [[TheBlacksmith Clint]] has been pining for? Romancing Emily to 8 hearts will have Clint walk in on her making advances on you, and being understandably dejected. ''Ouch''.

* Out of all the Ten Heart events, where your Romantic Interest confesses to you, [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Penny's is the only one you can royally mess up.]]
** The first opportunity is on her 8-Heart event in which you can pretty much say to the kids' faces that you can't stand kids, knocking your relationship with Penny to square one.
** The second is on her 10-Heart event, which mind you, you have to give her the Bouquet to show that you're romantically interested in the first place. After inviting you to the bathhouse, Penny confesses, [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential to which you can respond that you don't feel the same way.]] [[VideoGameCrueltyPunishment This sends poor Penny into tears,]] [[YankTheDogsChain especially when you consider that she worked up a lot of courage to invite you under such conditions.]]
* As of the 1.1 update which made Shane a marriage candidate, there's a rather bleak scene which sees Marnie finding him passed out drunk in his room. She enlists your help in bringing him around, which involves dumping the contents of your watering can over his head (and provides a bit of light relief given his cartoonish reaction), but then the mood becomes serious again. Marnie gently prompts Shane to consider the future, asking what his overall plan is...to which Shane replies that he hopes that [[DrivenToSuicide he won't be around long enough]] to ''need'' a long term plan. As if that weren't bad enough, he hasn't noticed that Jas has wandered into the room - you know, the little girl who lost her mother and father and now only has Shane and Marnie to count on? Whose guardian has just stated his intention to die and leave her behind again? She bursts into tears and flees, leaving a remorseful Shane to slump to his knees in despair as the player looks on, uncomfortable at being caught in the situation. What's worse is the implication that this is a relatively regular thing that happens as Marnie doesn't seem even shocked or scared at Shane's condition... Just let that sink in.
* Sebastian is very quietly depressed and anxious around people, except for two friends, and he usually hangs out in a grand total of TWO places (besides the lake and railroad right next to his house). Once you start [[DefrostingIceQueen getting him out of his shell]] and up to a certain amount of hearts, he mentions he normally feels anxious around people, but not around you. If you decide to get married to him, he THEN mentions that [[TheUnfavorite he felt like he never belonged in his own home.]]
* Abigal's 14-heart event is a little melancholy. She saves you from a monster that ambushes you on the path just north of the farm, but feels guilty about having to take a life to save that of her spouse. Abigail convinces you to at least give it a proper burial, and a small monument to the slain monster appears on the north road. Examining it produces a message that might just leave you feeling a little guilty [[WhatMeasureIsAMook for all the monsters YOU'VE slain playing the game]].

* Your grandpa's evaluation at the end of Year 2 is definitely a big cross between this and Heartwarming. The ghost of your beloved Grandpa comes to you, with the same lullaby tune playing in the background. [[SoProudOfYou The best evaluation he gives has him cheerfully saying you've put his soul to rest by improving his farm]]. Even the worst evaluation has him saying that while you haven't done much to improve the farm, what matters to him most is that you're happy. It's hard not to shed TearsOfJoy during this scene.

--> '''Harvey''': [Player Name]...I thought you wanted to get married and start a family with me...What did I do wrong?
--> '''Shane''': The last shred of hope I had left is completely destroyed...Thanks, [Player Name], are you happy now?
--> '''Leah''': I...I thought you were different than other men/women...
--> '''Emily''': Th...That night in the tent...you whispered such sweet things to me in the dark...Now I have to face each day knowing it was all a lie.

* After building a house for Pam and Penny and getting the former to nine hearts, you go inside to find Pam setting up a Sign of the Vessel. She tells you that she's happy always felt that her problems were money-related, but even after getting a new house she still hasn't cut back on drinking and got the Sign with the hopes that Yoba would help her. Watching her break down in tears and frustration with herself is hard to watch without shedding a tear. You can also tell her that [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Yoba isn't real]], to which she responds by yelling at you to get out.

** George was paralyzed in a mining accident - he can't even play catch with his grandson due to being wheelchair-bound.

** Marnie would like to properly date Lewis, but he's nervous about losing his position as the mayor, leaving her lonely and depressed.

** No amount of financial success is enough to make Pierre happy, and he questions his own character from time to time because of this. Whether or not the fact that he neglects his family in the process affects this at all is never mentioned.
* Leo's backstory. He was on a ship with his parents when a storm claimed the ship and his parents, while Leo is washed up on an island. He insists it's AllJustADream to cope, and he insists that he was [[RaisedByWolves raised by birds]].

** The following event if you continue pursuing your friendship with him leads you to the beach, where he's crying. You discover that he's holding on to a music box, which is the only thing he has left from his deceased mother. As he lets it play, you're treated to an ethereal image of his mother holding a baby Alex.
* Shane hanging out on the dock near his aunt's house. Even moreso since this is the first time he says anything to you that isn't "Why are you talking to me?"

* As of the 1.1 update which made Shane a marriage candidate, there's a rather bleak scene which sees Marnie finding him passed out drunk in his room. She enlists your help in bringing him around, which involves dumping the contents of your watering can over his head (and provides a bit of light relief given his cartoonish reaction), but then the mood becomes serious again. Marnie gently prompts Shane to consider the future, asking what his overall plan is...to which Shane replies that he hopes that [[DrivenToSuicide he won't be around long enough]] to ''need'' a long term plan. As if that weren't bad enough, he hasn't noticed that Jas has wandered into the room - you know, the little girl who lost her mother and father and now only has Shane and Marnie to count on? Whose guardian has just stated his intention to die and leave her behind again? She bursts into tears and flees, leaving a remorseful Shane to slump to his knees in despair as the player looks on, uncomfortable at being caught in the situation.
** What's worse is the implication that this is a relatively regular thing that happens as Marnie doesn't seem even shocked or scared at Shane's condition... Just let that sink in.

** Think you're doing Shane a favor by shutting down Joja Mart? [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nope, he ends up unemployed and starts going to the bar at 3 in the afternoon instead]], [[FromBadToWorse grumbling about how it's even worse not to be able to support his family at all]].
* At higher friendship ratings, one of Harvey's dialogue options is to tell you how terrible it feels to lose a patient who trusted you with their life. Harvey has, at some point, lost a patient. Think about that next time you get KO'd by monsters in a dungeon and wake up in the clinic.
** One wonders if perhaps the patient in question was Alex's mother...

** Worse for Shane, a loveless marriage causes him to relapse into alcoholism and depression. In one line he is drunk; in others he expresses that he can barely find motivation to get out of bed.

* After building a house for Pam and Penny and getting the former to nine hearts, you go inside to find Pam setting up a Sign of the Vessel. She tells you that she's happy always felt that her problems were money-related, but even after getting a new house she still hasn't cut back on drinking and got the Sign with the hopes that Yoba would help her. Watching her break down in tears and frustration with herself is hard to watch without shedding a tear.
** You can also tell her that [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Yoba isn't real]], to which she responds by yelling at you to get out.