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What are some of the best story payoffs you experienced?
(reddthat.com)
I think for a branching / multiple endings game, the first route will always be the most special. Because at that point you'll be going in blind, to some extent. You may understand the vibe of the beginning of the game, and can extrapolate on the tone of the endings, but you'll never know for sure until you complete the route. You're forced to prepare yourself for the tonal shift that may or may not happen. And from that uncertainty comes a better payoff, in my mind.
For that reason I'll nominate my first ending of Grisaia no Kajitsu, Sachi.
