The Uncanny Thrill of Bad Endings

Video games provide a unique opportunity in bad endings because very rarely does a story in any other medium allow for the chance to receive an alternative conclusion based on how you influenced that story. Today on Psych of Play, we will be talking about what makes these bad endings so fascinating, why we find ourselves watching them out of curiosity, and how we use a similar cognition in our everyday lives. Support Daryl Talks Games on Patreon! ▶▶ Bonus content, early access, YOUR name at the end of videos, and more all for $1/month! Twitter ▶ Twitch ▶ The INCREDIBLE new outro animation is done by Icaro, if you’d like to hire him for a Twitch overlay/motion design just like this one, hit him up here! ▶ ??? (0:00​) In 2013... (0:46) When it all goes wrong (2:08) A spoilerific conundrum (4:13) “What if...“ (4:57) Counterfactual Thinking (7:15) Danganronpa lmao (10:04) Bad Endings are a form of CFT (10:54​) Beginning of the end (14:42) End of the beginning (16:14) ▶Games Shown (not in the bottom left corner like usual to respect context for spoilers) Persona 5: Royal (2019) - Atlus, P Studio Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) - Intelligent Systems Guilty Gear Strive (2021) - Arc System Works Hollow Knight (2017) - Team Cherry The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000) - Nintendo Undertale (2015) - Toby Fox Mario Party Superstars (2021) - NDcube Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door (2004) - Intelligent Systems, Nintendo Metroid Dread (2021) - Mercury Steam Xenoblade Chronicles (2010) - MonolithSoft NieR:Automata (2017) - PlatinumGames Elden Ring (2022) - FromSoftware The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) - Nintendo Detroit Become Human (2018) - David Cage Haven (2021) - The Game Bakers Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) - FromSoftware BioShock (2007) - 2K Games Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) - CD Projekt RED Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) - LucasArts Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (2010) - LucasArts OMORI (2020) - OMOCAT, LLC Far Cry 3 (2012) - Ubisoft Dying Light: The Following (2015) - Techland Shadow of Memories (2001) - Konami Dead Space 2 (2011) - Visceral Games Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003) - AlphaDream Cuphead (2017) - Studio MDHR Batman: Arkham City (2011) - Rocksteady Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) - Spike Chunsoft Control (2019) - Remedy Entertainment Dark Souls (2011) - FromSoftware Super Mario Odyssey (2017) - Nintendo Resident Evil 3 (2020) - Capcom God of War (2018) - SCE Santa Monica Studio Ghost of Tsushima (2020) - Sucker Punch Productions The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) - Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) - Nintendo Catherine (2011) - Atlus Knuckles’ Chaotix (1995) - SEGA ANNO: Mutationem (2022) - Thinking Stars Final Fantasy XIII (2009) - Square Enix Deltarune Chapter 2 (2021) - Toby Fox Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) - Square Enix What Remains of Edith Finch (2017) - Giant Sparrow Gris (2018) - Nomada Studio ▶Media/Clips/Considerations: ▶Music Sources (in Order): Haven OST - Sweet Insomnia Undertale OST - Dating Tense! Xenoblade Chronicles OST - Apprehension Contact Lens - Seagulls () DANGANRONPA OST - Beautiful Dead Somnium Music - “Dark Dreams“ Dark Lofi () Persona PSP OST - Avidia World Track: Cinematic Ambient Story with Emotional Epic Ending by MokkaMusic / Thorny Path Music provided by “MokkaMusic“ channel and Distant Memories - Kyoshin ▶Research Articles Cited ARTICLES The Efficacy of Downward Counterfactual Thinking for Regulating Emotional Memories in Anxious Individuals Maladaptive Daydreaming #:~:text=Maladaptive daydreaming is a behavior,mental health conditions like anxiety. #PsychofPlay