History CentralTheme / Videogames

* ''VideoGame/ToothAndTail'': [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilised Revolution eats her children]] and scarcity is manufactured for profit. The SapientEatSapient world is inherently unstable and society is set up by the Civilized to make the only alternative (vegetarianism) undesirable, and all the factions simply want to make themselves the beneficiaries of what meat is left rather than change the system. In the process, their 'revolution' only makes things oh-so-much worse.

** ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'': Captivity, whether literally or psychologically, and being exploited in some way during that confinement. This shows up with the Waddle Dees, [[spoiler: [[BrainwashedAndCrazy King Dedede and the Beast Pack]]]], and [[spoiler: the GreaterScopeVillain]].

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'': If you were given the chance to make the world over, how would you do it?

** ''Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All'': Are amoral actions justifiable by sympathetic intentions?
** ''Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations'': What does it really mean to "defend" someone?

* ''VideoGame/NeedyStreamerOverload'' How far someone can go in order to achieve fame and approval on social media?

** ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeonII'': Facing and overcoming your failures.

** ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'': [[{{Pride}} Arrogance]] and [[CycleOfRevenge cycles of violence]]. All conflicts in the game are instigated by the arrogance of the four Stilwater gang leaders: the Brotherhood arc is kicked off by [[PlayerCharacter the Boss]]' SmallNameBigEgo-fueled rejection of Maero's rather reasonable[[note]]assuming that you, like most players, tackle this arc early on[[/note]] business offer, coupled with Maero's own [[RatedMForManly alpha male]] stubbornness; of the Ronin leadership, both Kazuo and Jyunichi are so proud of their GoodOldWays from back in Japan, they refuse to adapt and consequently ''really'' screw things up with the Saints (and Ultor); the General of the Samedi, meanwhile, has the InsufferableGenius kind of arrogance, in that he firmly believes that he is better than everyone else and therefore can do no wrong, [[TheSociopath regardless of the human cost involved]]. All three conflicts are then exacerbated by the eye-for-an-eye escalation of violence, with each next reprisal grander and more vicious than the last, until, in the end, the Saints are the only ones left standing -- not thanks to any kind of superiority over everyone else, but simply by outlasting them all. In fact, the only enemy who is [[AintTooProudToBeg decidedly NOT arrogant]] or vindictive is Dane Vogel of the [[MegaCorp Ultor Corporation]], which makes him the perfect final boss for this game, being pretty much the [[{{Foil}} polar opposite]] of the Boss.

** ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'': Is lasting peace achievable in a world defined by nations and borders? Alternatively, one’s legacy is defined by one’s actions.

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'':

** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': Is the truth attainable? Can one successfully dispel the fog of deception and self-deception?

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3'': The things we can do when desperate and determined. Sheer determination can win out against overwhelming odds against us.

** ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'': PoeticJustice, as the non-lethal takedowns for each of Corvo's targets, with the uncomfortable exception of Lady Boyle, are ironic reflections of their own transgressions[[note]]Overseer Campbell abuses his religious office -- and is himself branded a heretic; the sadistic Pendleton twins get a taste of their own cruelty, being forced to labor anonymously in their own mines; the Lord Regent, the mastermind behind the whole conspiracy, is OutGambitted and falls to his own schemes[[/note]].

** ''VideoGame/FugaMelodiesOfSteel'':
*** WarIsHell and hard decisions must be taken to persevere through it. Trust in your comrades and make good use of everything at your disposal.
*** How far will one go to save those they care about? Can peace truly only be attained through sacrifice?

* ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'': Scope; the necessity to understand all sides of the story and the full truth before one can make the correct decision, and the danger of jumping to conclusions. However, you must acquire the necessary knowledge without also losing sight of what is truly important.

* ''VideoGame/{{Manhunt}}'': HumansAreBastards and how much violence are you willing to inflict on others in exchange for your freedom?
** ''Manhunt 2'': Sacrificing your life and family for your [[TheGovernment government]] is a terrible idea. Also, [[SplitPersonality split personalities are really dangerous]].

** '' Manhunt 2'': Sacrificing your life and family for your [[TheGovernment government]] is a terrible idea. Also, [[SplitPersonality split personalities are really dangerous]].

** ''VideoGame/Halo5'': How an 'Imperial Peace' like the Mantle is not worth it, due to the force and terror needed to enforce it. How your viewpoint depends on your perspective, and when you dig deeper, things that are one way look to be another one very quickly.

** ''VideoGame/Manhunt2'': Sacrificing your life and family for your [[TheGovernment government]] is a terrible idea. Also, [[SplitPersonality split personalities are really dangerous]].

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'': Don't let thirst for revenge consume you. Don't draw hasty conclusions. [[EnemyMine Know your priorities]].

** ''VideoGame/Halo4'': Losing your humanity to pursue goals. The game opens with a discusson about how the Master Chief is a functional sociopath, and Cortana reminds him that his determination, both to fight the Didact and to save her, turns him into more of a machine than anything else. Both the Didact and his Prometheans are warped from what they once were (in the case of the Prometheans, humans literally becoming machines), due to extensive attempts to fight the Flood.

* ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'': The importance of teamwork.

* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'': The power of music and how it can change lives.

** Your choices matter, and actions have consequences… even if they don't necessarily affect you, so [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what would you do in that case]]? And to go back to the above theme, is [[OneHundredPercentCompletion seeing every possibility in a game just because you can]] ''really'' worth going on such an frustrating endeavor to do so, especially since the road you're on may just lead to nowhere? Wouldn't it be more fulfilling to look inwards for the answers you seek instead?

** Growing past your own personal biases and learning from them to become a better person. Even if it's easier to resort to violence when dealing with something new and intimidating, it's an unfulfilling cycle, and kindness and mercy will give us the opportunity to learn, grow, change and build bridges with each other. This theme applies to the FantasticRacism towards humans expressed by characters like Undyne, Flowey's "kill or be killed" philosophy, and arguably [[spoiler:''[[YouBastard the player themselves]]'' on a No Mercy run, as they treat ''Undertale'' more like a typical kill-all-the-monsters RPG rather than a unique experience, even when it deliberately isn't even fun or friendly anymore.]]
*** In general, the ways in which we can learn from the world around us and allow ourselves time for personal introspection, be it through spending time together, telling stories, reading books, watching anime or expressing [[{{Pun}} humerus]] jokes about skeletons.
** Your choices matter, and actions have consequences… even if they don't necessarily affect you, so [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what would you do in that case]]? And to go back to the above theme, is [[OneHundredPercentCompletion seeing everything a game has to offer]] ''really'' worth taking such an unfulfilling path to get there, especially since there's no guarantee the answers you're chasing may even be fulfilling?

* ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'': Your choices don't matter, but even then, it's cool to make friendships and go on adventures together.