Are true routes / grand finale routes something you enjoy?

[usagi-k]

i feel like in recent games it's become kind of mandated thing where instead of having the lore be properly divided across routes the writing formula prefers to either dump all the exposition behind the final locked li or have a separate finale route / heroine route that focuses on the story with the mc not ending up with anyone ^^ i wanted to know everyone's opinions on the latter since people dont usually discuss these when talking about a game and i dont know if people even enjoy playing them in the first place. if youre someone who cares about the game's mystery and lore im sure you'd like them and care if theyre well written but what about the people who are only there for the romance? since most of the time the heroine doesnt really end up with anyone and it feels like this harem type situation lol

in my case while i do like these routes i wish it wasnt something that was present so often since i enjoy it a lot more when each route is equally interesting in the lore it explores ^^:; it also feels more natural that way instead of having all the heavy lifting be done by one route alone. however the nature of the routes is still for fun for me tho since we're getting close to uncovering the story we've only been fed bits and pieces of and i also really enjoy the dynamics everyone has in routes like these !! all the lis tend to not be as heavy in their pursuit for the mc but theyre still very clearly vying for her attention and more often than not personal grudges between them tend to be settled too which makes me really happy !!

 

[totallyamanda]

definitely depends on how its written, but sometimes i feel like it spurns any routes you may have played prior as nothing special or false routes as THIS is the true route. ( •̀⤙•́ )

i enjoy a 'true' route as just another route and it may tie all the finishing ends to the story but doesn't discredit or devalue the other routes.

most of the time, my favorite LI isn't the 'true' ending so it might be my bias showing here. ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

 

[ruuuiii]

I don't know, it really depends on if I'm obsessed with a specific route or not- if i like a route so much and another one is supposed to be the "true end" I'll feel a little upset and disappointed, because it'll feel like my favorite route is being treated as an au or not "canon".
Though if i don't care/care about all the lis equally, i guess it wouldn't bother me as much.
I guess I'm definitely someone who's only there for the romance,, unless the game is a literal masterpiece that does other genres well, I'm not a fan of these routes.

 

[sergylort]

I like them if they're not used as the true ending but rather as a the last piece of the story

 

[0.Shina.0]

"is my main LI the focus or does the ending tie up the sad ends like virche evermore?" YES i love it..if its just for the another LI i dont like or doent give enough heroine lore etc, then NO. it depends but usually i dont mind it unless its reverse harem becuase that just feels like the hours i spent on each route meant nothing for the grand finale

 

[nerim-w]

Not a fan. I wanna romance the LIs and actually have a relationship with them, not be stuck in this arbitrary reverse harem situation where eventually we dont get with anyone. It feels unsatisfying

Its even worse if they gatekeep critical pieces of lore which locked behind the true route which makes you feel like you HAVE to do it... but if i cant fall in love along the way i don't wanna play

 

[Marrychan]

Hmm, it depends? I mean, I don't mind whether there's a "true route" or not. Take Mistonia, for example: I actually prefer the characters' normal routes over the true one—the true ending just feels a bit too perfect for my taste. I definitely didn't like the conclusion regarding how they handled Tia—"yeah, it's fine for her to stay inside Aprose body while she recovers"—no, definitely not. Not to mention the pseudo-harem ending (?). On the other hand, in Radiant Tale, I really like Vilio route, and he effectively has the game's true route, It makes sense within the overall plot for him to be the canonical choice, and it also explains why he simply disappears in every route. I actually have plenty of patience for unlocking true endings across various types of games; I find it interesting.

 

[usagii]

i tend to like them when they answer questions that come up throughout the story in all the routes but just never get answered until the true ending. its nice to see some questions get answered for certain lore things usually regarding the mc or the backstory of certain things. i dont like when they are too short tho, like shorter than an actual route, cus then its like well this couldve been either put somewhere else or sprinkled into the love interest routes.

 

[satory]

Imo grand finale is not only there for lore, but for everyone to be happy. Lore is important, but there are many games where you could make happy only one person you romance, and everyone else is left with their unsolvable without MC problems. Grand finale's main point is to bring everyone together, answer unanswered questions and finish on a happy note, look at Cafe Enchante for example. Ofc it needs to be done well, and I get why it's present

 

[甘味鎮痛剤]

Personally, I really love it.
The true route is often about that resolve — "I won't give up on anyone."

That CG from Piofiore, with everyone together watching the snow after everything finally settled — it's stayed with me. Everyone survived, and that just felt so good.

All those little pieces of the truth scattered across the different routes finally come together in the true route. It honestly makes for the most satisfying ending.

In each love interest's route, they all have their own problems or emotional baggage that they can't quite resolve on their own. Sure, those issues get addressed in their individual route — but what if you don't choose that path? What happens to them then?

I want everyone to find closure. I care about each of them. In the true route, those problems often get resolved in a more complete and meaningful way, and that's something I really appreciate.