History Main / CrapsackWorld

* An ''[[StatusQuoIsGod immutable]]'' Crapsack World has agony InherentInTheSystem, both physically and metaphysically, and cannot be saved or made a better place. Trying to break TheCorruption [[StatusQuoIsGod will instead always result]] in [[DownerEnding it winning]], often [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu breaking every bone in your body in the process]], and any positive changes that you try to make will ultimately be torn down and revealed to be AllForNothing -- or, even worse, they will only succeed in [[NiceJobBreakingItHero making things even worse for you and the people that you were trying to help]], and/or [[GambitRoulette even accomplish whatever the villains wanted in the first place]]. Examples: ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'', ''Literature/Fahrenheit451'', ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', ''Literature/XeeleeSequence'', ''Franchise/DeadSpace'', ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'', ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}'', ''VideoGame/{{LISA}}'', ''Website/SCPFoundation'', ''VideoGame/LobotomyCorporation'', the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'', most ''Series/BlackMirror'' settings, and any non-LovecraftLite [[CosmicHorrorStory Cosmic Horror Fiction]] in general.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'' and ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'', most of the action takes place in {{Hell}}, which is full of apathetic evil cynics with some random mayhem thrown in, and there's also the annual exterminations from Heaven. The living world is not ''quite'' as bad, but it's still a [[HumansAreMorons very cynical place full of idiots.]] Heaven is mostly ran by morally bankrupt {{Hate Sink}}s, aside from [[TokenGoodTeammate Emily]] and [[AntiVillain Sera]]. People are always getting killed horribly in passing, but they were probably horrible people anyway. The only rays of light are in the main characters' personal relationships, where they actually have some depth and care about each other, at least deep down.

* In ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' and ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'', most of the action takes place in Hell, which is full of apathetic evil cynics with some random mayhem thrown in. The living world is not ''quite'' as bad, but it's still a very cynical place full of idiots. Heaven is also implied to be anything but ideal. People are always getting killed horribly in passing, but they were probably horrible people anyway. The only rays of light are in the main characters' personal relationships, where they actually have some depth and care about each other, at least deep down.

* The world of ''Website/GoAnimate'' consists of troublemaking kids and teens (sometimes adults) who regularly do various bad actions that can range from minor misdeeds to literal terrorism, thus constantly putting everyone's lives in danger because of it. Their families aren't much better, often grounding the troublemakers for excessively long periods of time, giving them Punishment Days that often put their life on the line, and if they die, they are just revived immediately afterwards to continue the Punishment Day. Sometimes, the troublemakers don't even do much bad at all, and are often unfairly punished for being either baby show characters or are seen as troublemakers. On the other half of the spectrum, people who aren't these things often get away with every bad thing they do, including killing said baby show characters and troublemakers, even if such actions are worse than what the troublemakers do. Worst of all, the society of [=GoAnimate=] often celebrates the executions of these people, with their funerals being seen as an opportunity to party and have fun, with anyone opposed to it getting shunned or punished by their families.

* A ''[[ScrewDestiny mutable]]'' Crapsack World simply ''starts out'' as crappy, but a determined protagonist and their TrueCompanions, be they the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In Shining]] (or in many of these cases, [[KnightInSourArmor Sour]]) [[KnightInShiningArmor Armor]] or a simple old PI, can actually cause some, but mostly few, [[EarnYourHappyEnding positive changes in the setting]]. See also AWorldHalfFull. Examples: ''Film/{{Elysium}}'', ''Film/MadMax'', ''Film/VForVendetta'', ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''[[WesternAnimation/WallE WALL•E]]'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse''.

* An ''[[StatusQuoIsGod immutable]]'' Crapsack World has agony InherentInTheSystem, both physically and metaphysically, and cannot be saved or made a better place. Trying to break TheCorruption [[StatusQuoIsGod will instead always result]] in [[DownerEnding it winning]], often [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu breaking every bone in your body in the process]], and any positive changes that you try to make will ultimately be torn down and revealed to be AllForNothing -- or, even worse, they will only succeed in [[NiceJobBreakingItHero making things even worse for you and the people that you were trying to help]], and/or [[GambitRoulette even accomplish whatever the villains wanted in the first place]]. Examples: ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'', ''Literature/Fahrenheit451'', ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', ''Literature/XeeleeSequence'', ''Franchise/DeadSpace'', ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'', ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}'', ''VideoGame/{{LISA}}'', ''Website/SCPFoundation'', ''VideoGame/LobotomyCorporation'', the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'', and any non-LovecraftLite [[CosmicHorrorStory Cosmic Horror Fiction]] in general.

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''VideoGame/NieR'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

* A ''[[RuleOfFunny comedic]]'' Crapsack World is PlayedForLaughs and is made up of [[LethallyStupid idiots]], [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], {{Butt Monkey}}s, [[TheChewToy Chew Toys]] and the occasional OnlySaneMan, with plenty of ComedicSociopathy to go around. The "upside" is that it's usually [[SatireParodyPastiche parodic]] and [[CrossesTheLineTwice funny in its extremes]]. Though people die left and right, it likely has NegativeContinuity to facilitate the inhabitants' suffering. [[BlackComedy Black comedies]] and [[SadistShow Sadist shows]] are often set here. May be a CrapsaccharineWorld, a WorldOfJerkass, or a WorldGoneMad. Examples: ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands}}'', ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'', ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' is [[BlatantLies not an example of this in the slightest.]]

* A ''[[ScrewDestiny mutable]]'' Crapsack World simply ''starts out'' as crappy, but a determined protagonist and their TrueCompanions, be they the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In Shining]] (or in many of these cases, [[KnightInSourArmor Sour]]) [[KnightInShiningArmor Armor]] or a simple old PI, can actually cause some, but mostly few, [[EarnYourHappyEnding positive changes in the setting]]. See also AWorldHalfFull. Examples: ''Film/{{Elysium}}'', ''Film/MadMax'', ''Film/VForVendetta'', ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''[[WesternAnimation/WallE WALL•E]]'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', and ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope''.

* The ''[[Franchise/DespicableMe Despicable Me Franchise's]]'' world (which overlaps with CrapsaccharineWorld) is a world where supervillains and criminals can run rampant, even to the point where they have their ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Minions}} own damn yearly convention]]'', and a [[WesternAnimation/{{MinionsRiseOfGru}} kid can]] [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior casually announce in class that he wants to be a supervillain.]] The government and the police ''rarely'' interfere, and the only agency ''CAPABLE'' of going against villains (the [[WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2 Anti-Villain League]]) seems to only interfere '''''AFTER''''' a supervillain steals something important.

* [[WebAnimation/TalesFromScorchwaterValley]]: The eponymous Valley has become this ever since it was striked by a drought, being ridden with FunnyAnimals that will resort to ''anything'' in order to survive, and in the main cast we have our two prontagonists who have to overcome their [[HandicappedBadass physical disabilities]] in order to fight against any danger that comes to them.

* [[WebAnimation/TheRhinoAndTheRedbill Tales from Scorchwater Valley]]: The eponymous Valley has become this ever since it was striked by a drought, being ridden with FunnyAnimals that will resort to ''anything'' in order to survive, and in the main cast we have our two prontagonists who have to overcome their [[HandicappedBadass physical disabilities]] in order to fight against any danger that comes to them.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/JudgeDredd https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crapsack.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:And this line is only for the [[JaywalkingWillRuinYourLife jaywalkers]]...]]

* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': It's a crapsack universe for you, [[CosmicPlaything Charlie Brown]].

A Crapsack World is a horrible setting where the [[TheCynic jaded]] notion of "[[FinaglesLaw anything that can go wrong]] will go horribly, ''horribly'' wrong" almost always applies, and it corrupts its inhabitants into [[HumansAreBastards perpetuating that nastiness against each other]]. More succinctly, trying to survive in one of these places [[ThisIsGonnaSuck is gonna suck]].

Although there are countless ways Crapsack Worlds can be depicted (often with SceneryGorn), it is usually {{dark|erAndEdgier}}, and on the [[CynicismTropes cynical end]] of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, so it will have either GreyAndGrayMorality or BlackAndGrayMorality, if not outright EvilVersusEvil in the worst of cases (beware of TooBleakStoppedCaring if you decide to go this route though). Settings like these are not kind at all to [[WideEyedIdealist idealists]], who usually get [[BreakTheCutie traumatized]] and/or [[CruelAndUnusualDeath die horribly]] when their attempts to change the world through idealism meet tragic ends.

If a SugarBowl (usually the antithesis of this trope) turns out to be one of these under the surface, then you have yourself a CrapsaccharineWorld. If the people who live in the Crapsack World don't realise or pretend it isn't a horrible place to be in, it is a FalseUtopia. A VillainWorld or DeathWorld is likely to be this, and BadFuture is a SubTrope. Someone who just thinks the world they inhabit is this is a [[TheCynic Cynic]] or a StrawNihilist.

For worlds that are almost literal sacks of crap see TheDungAges. See YouWouldNotWantToLiveInDex for other crapsack environments, and (on a less negative note) the WorldOfBadass which is also likely to have elements of the Crapsack World, to give justification on why kicking ass is very important to survival. Compare WorldOfJerkass, a world which is only unpleasant because all of the characters are horrible people.

This trope is also known as World Half Empty, for the expression of pessimism being a state of seeing a glass with half the amount of water in it as being "half empty". Also, a half-empty glass means it can only be emptied, and can't be refilled. It represents [[DespairEventHorizon hopelessness]] [[FromBadToWorse and inevitable doom]], fitting this trope perfectly. By definition, contrast AWorldHalfFull.

[[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie Everything is NOT awesome]]...

* A ''[[RuleOfFunny comedic]]'' Crapsack World is PlayedForLaughs and is made up of [[LethallyStupid idiots]], [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], {{Butt Monkey}}s, [[TheChewToy Chew Toys]] and the occasional OnlySaneMan, with plenty of ComedicSociopathy to go around. The "upside" is that it's usually [[SatireParodyPastiche parodic]] and [[CrossesTheLineTwice funny in its extremes]]. Though people die left and right, it likely has NegativeContinuity to facilitate the inhabitants' suffering. [[BlackComedy Black comedies]] and [[SadistShow Sadist shows]] are often set here. May be a CrapsaccharineWorld, a WorldOfJerkass, or a WorldGoneMad. Examples: ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands}}'', ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'', ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' is [[BlatantLies not an example of this in the slightest.]]

* A ''[[ScrewDestiny mutable]]'' Crapsack World simply ''starts out'' as crappy, but a determined protagonist and his TrueCompanions, be they the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In Shining]] (or in many of these cases, [[KnightInSourArmor Sour]]) [[KnightInShiningArmor Armor]] or a simple old PI, can actually cause some, but mostly few, [[EarnYourHappyEnding positive changes in the setting]]. See also AWorldHalfFull. Examples: ''Film/{{Elysium}}'', ''Film/MadMax'', ''Film/VForVendetta'', ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''[[WesternAnimation/WallE WALL•E]]'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', and ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope''.

Heroes in this setting are usually {{Anti Hero}}es, and often have at least a bit of the DeadpanSnarker about them. [[BeingGoodSucks Being good will suck]], and if there are genuinely good heroes in this setting, expect them to be [[KnightInSourArmor Knights In Sour Armor]] and/or {{Hurting Hero}}es--more idealistic heroes such as the KnightInShiningArmor tend to not last long in this kind of setting. Any victories they manage to win over the forces of this world are likely to be {{Pyrrhic|Victory}} in nature.

* A ''[[ScrewDestiny mutable]]'' Crapsack World simply ''starts out'' as crappy, but a determined protagonist and his TrueCompanions, be they the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In Shining]] (or in many of these cases, [[KnightInSourArmor Sour]]) [[KnightInShiningArmor Armor]] or a simple old PI, can actually cause some, but mostly few, [[EarnYourHappyEnding positive changes in the setting]]. See also AWorldHalfFull. Examples: ''Film/{{Elysium}}'', ''Film/MadMax'', ''Film/VForVendetta'', ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''WesternAnimation/WallE'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', and ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope''.

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''VideoGame/NieR'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''VideoGame/NieR'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''VideoGame/NieR'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''VideoGame/Nier'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

* A ''[[RuleOfFunny comedic]]'' Crapsack World is PlayedForLaughs and is made up of [[LethallyStupid idiots]], [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], {{Butt Monkey}}s, [[TheChewToy Chew Toys]] and the occasional OnlySaneMan, with plenty of ComedicSociopathy to go around. The "upside" is that it's usually [[SatireParodyPastiche parodic]] and [[CrossesTheLineTwice funny in its extremes]]. Though people die left and right, it likely has NegativeContinuity to facilitate the inhabitants' suffering. [[BlackComedy Black comedies]] and [[SadistShow Sadist shows]] are often set here. May be a CrapsaccharineWorld, a WorldOfJerkass, or a WorldGoneMad. Examples: ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands}}'' (with elements of dramatic), ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'', ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' is [[BlatantLies not an example of this in the slightest.]]

** ''CrapsackWorld/EdEddNEddy''

* A ''[[RuleOfDrama dramatic]]'' Crapsack World [[TrueArtIsAngsty has plenty]] [[DysfunctionJunction of angst]] to go around, and often makes {{Woobie}}s out of its sympathetic cast, particularly the protagonist, as they [[TraumaCongaLine suffer horribly]] in their attempts to do the right thing or pursue their dreams. Expect characters [[BeingGoodSucks who do the right thing]] to [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished suffer for it]]. Expect characters who do the wrong thing to prosper... and ''[[LonelyAtTheTop then]]'' [[PyrrhicVictory suffer]]. Examples: ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ''Franchise/FarCry'', ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', ''Franchise/DragonAge'', and ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.
* A ''[[RuleOfFunny comedic]]'' Crapsack World is PlayedForLaughs and is made up of [[LethallyStupid idiots]], [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], {{Butt Monkey}}s, [[TheChewToy Chew Toys]] and the occasional OnlySaneMan, with plenty of ComedicSociopathy to go around. The "upside" is that it's usually [[SatireParodyPastiche parodic]] and [[CrossesTheLineTwice funny in its extremes]]. Though people die left and right, it likely has NegativeContinuity to facilitate the inhabitants' suffering. [[BlackComedy Black comedies]] and [[SadistShow Sadist shows]] are often set here. May be a CrapsaccharineWorld, a WorldOfJerkass, or a WorldGoneMad. Examples: ''{{VideoGame/Borderlands}}'', ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'', ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' is [[BlatantLies not an example of this in the slightest.]]

* A ''[[ScrewDestiny mutable]]'' Crapsack World simply ''starts out'' as crappy, but a determined protagonist and his TrueCompanions, be they the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight In Shining]] (or in many of these cases, [[KnightInSourArmor Sour]]) [[KnightInShiningArmor Armor]] or a simple old PI, can actually cause some, but mostly few, [[EarnYourHappyEnding positive changes in the setting]]. See also AWorldHalfFull. Examples: ''Film/{{Elysium}}'', ''Film/MadMax'', ''Film/VForVendetta'', ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''WesternAnimation/WallE'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', and ''VideoGame/TheNewOrderLastDaysofEurope''.

This kind of world often occurs AfterTheEnd. WretchedHive and CityNoir are city-sized versions of the Crapsack World. A {{Dystopia}} is a speculative Crapsack World ruled by repressive forces modeled after real-life politics. A TeenageWasteland is a Crapsack World run by kids. If the Crapsack World's continued misery is caused by supernatural forces, see DarkFantasy, HellOnEarth or CosmicHorrorStory.

** The first example may be the Metru Nui of the [[GiantSpiders Visorak]] saga: a once beautiful and colorful urban utopia turned into a monster-infested spider nest, with crumbled buildings and almost perpetual darkness, overseen by an UnholyMatrimony of a BigBad-TheManBehindTheMonsters and his [[TheDragon Dragon]]-[[TheStarscream Starscream]].

** Bara Magna: Also like Voya Nui, but it's a [[ExaggeratedTrope full-blown]] [[DesertPunk desert]] [[SingleBiomePlanet planet]]. However, the villains here are far more cunning and skilled than the zany Piraka.