History Main / CatharsisFactor

* After spending the rest of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' having to run from the SA-X, ''finally'' being able to defeat it is extremely satisfying.
* Similar to the above, ''Videogame/MetroidDread'' after extended sequences running from EMMI, whenever the player gets powered up and is able to blast the terrifying robot's head off, it gives an almost-tangible sense of relief. [[spoiler:Even the last one being a CutsceneBoss can leave players euphoric at seeing those things killed.]]

* After spending the rest of ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' having to run from the SA-X, ''finally'' being able to defeat it is extremely satisfying.

* ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' was designed specifically to invoke catharsis. It's short, there's not so much as a line of dialogue, and the story is as minimalistic as it gets, but by the end, you will be downright ''tired'' from the emotional wringer it puts you through.

*** Every time you kill a difficult enemy, or a boss that's been giving you a hard time, WordOfGod even lampshades it saying he wanted every little kill to practically bring the player to tears of relief!

** In the case of the Mystery Dungeon series, getting to fight Chatot during the graduation exam if you are still pissed at him for the perfect apple incident. Even more so if you or your partner have a [[ElementalRockPaperScissors type advantage]] against him as Pikachu or Shinx.

* In ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'', those Dagon worshippers are attacking a defenseless old man and the Resolute girl for no good reason. There's a good reason why [[HunterOfMonsters witchers]] exist in this universe. No one likes a bully.

* ''VideoGame/FlatOut 2'', Simcade, which provides a number of highly satisfying ways to run into other cars Available modes are Race (heavily-themed courses with a large amount of scenery to demolish at very high speed), Event (smaller track, usually designed for extra speed or with a calculated chance for collisions), Demolition Derby ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, or Stunt (use a jetcar to get up to speed and then launch the driver through the windshield for things like High Jump, Darts, etc). When in a suitable mood for completely wanton devastation, the WreakingHavok that this game provides is highly enjoyable.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mugen}}'' can take this trope UpToEleven. Given how many characters there are, all you need to do is take the [[GameBreaker most overpowered character you can find]], then take who or whatever has been displeasing you or simply your least favorite character, and then [[PunctuatedForEmphasis go. To. TOWN.]] And if you want to relieve even ''more'' stress, take an appropriate character and perform a [[Franchise/MortalKombat Fatality]], [[VideoGame/FistOfTheNorthStarTwinBlueStarsOfJudgment Fatal KO]], [[Franchise/BlazBlue Astral Finish]], [[Anime/GaoGaiGar Hell And Heaven, Goldion Hammer]], [[Franchise/KamenRider Rider Kick]], Creator/ChuckNorris roundhouse kick, or whatever type of OneHitKill pleases you.

** ''[[VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder The New Order]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/WolfensteinIITheNewColossus The New Colossus]]'' dial this trope UpToEleven, on the count of the game's setting taking place in a world conquered by the Nazis, allowing you to slaughter the bastards who enslaved the world with their totalitarian regime. The second game in particular had this trope singled out by developer Creator/MachineGames as a major theme for the game.

* In the wake of September 11 ''VideoGame/RainbowSix'' as the premier tactical shooter found itself hit with one GameMod after another either centering on a Delta Force mission to kill Bin Laden in the Khyber Pass or focus on UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror in general. Fans even got Ubisoft to submit the bus terminal map for ''Black Thorn'' and rework it to the original vision of an airport.

** The final defeat of the Tyrant/Mr. X from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2Remake''deserves a special mention. After spending the whole game trying to avoid him and hide from him, him constantly blocking your path from where you had to go and chasing you right into the arms of zombies and Lickers on probably more than one occasion, it is so goddamn satisfying to finally blow that pesky bastard straight to hell with a rocket launcher!

* ''VideoGame/{{Mugen}}'' can take this trope UpToEleven. Given how there are LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, all you need to do is take the [[GameBreaker most overpowered character you can find]], then take who or whatever has been displeasing you or simply your least favorite character, and then [[PunctuatedForEmphasis go. To. TOWN.]] And if you want to relieve even ''more'' stress, take an appropriate character and perform a [[Franchise/MortalKombat Fatality]], [[VideoGame/FistOfTheNorthStarTwinBlueStarsOfJudgment Fatal KO]], [[Franchise/BlazBlue Astral Finish]], [[Anime/GaoGaiGar Hell And Heaven, Goldion Hammer]], [[Franchise/KamenRider Rider Kick]], Creator/ChuckNorris roundhouse kick, or whatever type of OneHitKill pleases you.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' has Hojo, the MadScientist who used several of the protagonists as guinea pigs in his depraved experiments, imprisoning them for several years (and even ''decades'' in one case), leading to [[{{Cloud}} TheHero]] having serious mental problems that nearly drove him insane, and is the whole reason the BigBad obtained his powers and caused the deaths of dozens of innocent people, all for his own sick ForScience curiosity. When you finally catch the bastard at the end of Disk 2, karma is long overdue and the beatdown you give him is ''immensely'' satisfying. That goes double if you bring Vincent and/or Nanaki to the fight, the other two characters besides Cloud who have the most reason to want revenge on Hojo.

** ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar Sticker Star]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash Color Splash]]'' have an infamous ScrappyMechanic in the form of Things. Then ''[[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing The Origami King]]'' has the Legion of Stationery, a bunch of bosses which are essentially Things. Even better, when you defeat them, they crack and explode.

* After being plagued at nearly every turn in ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'' and ''[[VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon Year of the Dragon]]'' by [[CashGate Moneybags]], getting the opportunity to finally [[spoiler:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOwFgJ0DAzs chase him down yourself and beat seven shades of crap out of him in the process]]]], getting back every last gem he had extorted from you in the latter game is probably the most gratifying moments in the entire series. Sure, Hunter getting you your money back from him at the end of ''Ripto's Rage'' and the [[RecruitmentByRescue other playable characters]] that you free through ''Year of the Dragon'' dealing out their own punishment on him was nice, but this time? Revenge is '''''yours''''', and it's never tasted so sweet.

** The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake remake]] gives us quite the treat, as well. [[spoiler:After defeating the Arbiters of Fate and [[ScrewDestiny ensuring that the remake can go in its own direction]], '''''Sephiroth''''', the FinalBoss of the original game, comes down and serves as the final battle of part 1. And since Aerith is in your party, you get to have her enact sweet revenge on Sephiroth for his infamous murder of her in the original timeline.]]

** The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake remake]] gives us quite the treat, as well. [[spoiler:After defeating the Arbiters of Fate and [[ScrewDestiny ensuring that the remake can go in its own direction]], '''''Sephiroth''''', the FinalBoss of the original game, comes down and serves as the final battle of part 1. And since Aerith is in your party, you get to have her enact sweet revenge on Sephiroth for his infamous murder of her in the original game.]]

** The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake remake]] gives us quite the treat, as well. [[spoiler:After defeating the Arbiters of Fate and [[ScrewDestiny ensuring that the remake can go in its own direction]], '''''Sephiroth''''', the FinalBoss of the original game, comes down and serves as the final battle of part 1. And since Aerith is in your party, she gets to enact sweet revenge on Sephiroth for his infamous murder of her in the original game.]]

** Alternatively, the Pacifist route is [[GoodFeelsGood one of the most heartwarming experiences]] in gaming ever.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', starting at the highest level you can. But TetrisEffect is one of the most Catharsis helpers in the franchise.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', starting at the highest level you can. But ''VideoGame/{{TetrisEffect}'' is one of the most Catharsis helpers in the franchise.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', starting at the highest level you can.

* After every boss fight in the ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'' series, the boss can be taken back to the onion and turned into more Pikmin for you. Needless to say, turning the monster that was just menacing you into more loyal soliders is beyond fun.

Related to VideoGameCrueltyPotential. Not to be confused with InUniverseCatharsis, though overlap is certainly possible. Or the webcomic ''Webcomic/{{Catharsis}}'', for that matter. See also: PercussiveTherapy.

!!Non-video game examples:
[[index]]
See the subpage [[CatharsisFactor/NonVideoGameExamples here]].
[[/index]]

* ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII]]'' has Hojo, the MadScientist who used several of the protagonists as guinea pigs in his depraved experiments, imprisoning them for several years (and even ''decades'' in one case), leading to [[Cloud TheHero]] having serious mental problems that nearly drove him insane, and is the whole reason the BigBad obtained his powers and caused the deaths of dozens of innocent people, all for his own sick ForScience curiosity. When you finally catch the bastard at the end of Disk 2, karma is long overdue and the beatdown you give him is ''immensely'' satisfying. That goes double if you bring Vincent and/or Nanaki to the fight, the other two characters besides Cloud who have the most reason to want revenge on Hojo.