History Main / InevitableTournament

* ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker 2'' has an annual Harvest Festival in October. Your daughter can participate in one of four contests, including a fighting tournament, a cooking contest, an art festival, and a dancing ball.

* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}'' has one of these spread across two chapters and the aftermath in its own chapter. [[spoiler:The whole thing was just to lure out Etna and erase everyone else out to kill Zenon. It didn't go as planned.]]

In a video game, if someone, somewhere, mentions a tournament or large-scale competition [[ItsAlwaysMardiGrasInNewOrleans being held]], you will almost always end up competing in it. Most of the time, you won't have a choice.

** ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]] [[LicensedGame Task Force]]''

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'' also features a tournament, including some of the same battles from ''IV'', and naturally you have to enter and win, because the prize is something you need. [[spoiler:The second-place winners also prove essential.]]

* The coliseum is in nearly every ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' game and usually at least one match in it is required to progress.

* ''[[Manga/{{Gunnm}} Battle Angel Alita]]''. Twice. Well, three times thanks to alternate continuities. One is two versions, same tournament.

* The back cover and all promotional materials for ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' [[FirstEpisodeSpoiler give away the fact that]] Katniss fights in the Hunger Games in book one.

-->-- '''[[http://www.mmhp.net/Commentaries/Musing07.html The MegaMaster,]]''' on ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 3'''s [[FollowTheLeader similarities]] to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight This was before the fourth game came out]], which was widely criticized for ''revolving entirely around'' tournaments.[[/note]]

-->-- '''[[http://www.mmhp.net/Commentaries/Musing07.html The MegaMaster,]]''' on ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 3'''s [[FollowTheLeader similarities]] to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[note]][[HilariousInHindsight This was before the fourth game came out,]] which was widely criticized for ''revolving entirely around'' tournaments.[[/note]]

** Out of the whole ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' franchise, there are only a few games which don't make use of the "World Fighting Championship" setup: the whole ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' subseries and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII: 3rd Strike''.
** ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' has not used its [[ArtifactTitle title tournament]] since ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 MK3]]'', with the exception of a minor unrelated tournament in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Deadly Alliance]]'', part of Li Mei's story. ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' revisits the tournament, since it gets back to the stories of the first three games.

** The ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' series and ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', as little story as they have. In some of the Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}} games, this is because they are loosely based off comic book stories.

** ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' actually has an instance where a tournament is held during ''Chronophantasma'', with the bounty for Ragna the Bloodedge as the prize. [[spoiler:The entire tournament was a trap to lure out Azrael, who would obviously want to fight Ragna, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker. Tsubaki went to preside over the affairs, not knowing the tournament was meant to be a trap for her, too.]]

** Only the original ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' featured a tournament, and that was only in response to rumors of a plot to revive the SealedEvilInACan [[BigBad Commander Gear]] responsible for a recently-ended war that lasted over a century. The following games focus on the cast traveling around the world, dealing with situations like the daughter of the Command Gear, a government conspiracy, the man responsible for the creation of said Commander Gear, tenuous alliances, and loads of interpersonal conflict.

* The "Story" mode of ''VideoGame/SonicPinballParty'' requires Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog to challenge Dr. Robotnik in a pinball tournament to rescue his kidnapped and brainwashed friends.

-->-- '''[[http://www.mmhp.net/Commentaries/Musing07.html The MegaMaster,]]''' on ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 3'''s [[FollowTheLeader similarities]] to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''[[labelnote:*]][[HilariousInHindsight This was before the fourth game came out,]] which was widely criticized for ''revolving entirely around'' tournaments.[[/labelnote]]

* The Starry Nights tournament in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' is a rather large focal point of the game. The coliseum is also in nearly every Dragon Warrior ___ game and usually at least one match in it is required to progress the game.

** ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' also includes an optional fight club, with the catch being no armor and fists only.
*** [[MemeticMutation . . .Final Destination!]]

** The Pokémon League at the end of every single Pokémon RPG to date. It's the whole bloody point ([[GottaCatchEmAll catching 'em all]] aside)...
*** The Elite Four isn't really a ''tournament'', per se. Like the ''Fable'' example it's more an escalating-difficulty course.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' has one during Venice's Carnivale. It features a boxing tournament, stealing ribbons from pretty ladies, and... um... CaptureTheFlag. Played with in two ways: [[spoiler:First, Ezio willingly enters the tournament as part of a BatmanGambit arranged by the local HookerWithAHeartOfGold ([[NaughtyNuns who's a nun, btw]]) to get a pass to a party arranged by his target; and secondly, although Ezio wins, the Carnivale organizers are bribed by the target's associates and rigs the final results. So after that, you just steal the golden mask from the guy.]]

* The Olympus Colosseum Preliminaries in ''KingdomHearts'' and the Struggle and later the Underworld Tournaments in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'' also features a tournament, and naturally you have to enter and win, because the prize is something you need. [[spoiler:The second-place winners also prove essential.]]

->''"If I see one more story where some kids have to fight in a tournament to win some prize [[ToBeAMaster and prove they are masters at whatever it is they are doing]], [[BerserkButton I'm going to explode.]]"''

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* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap''. The tournament is over before the game begins and no tournaments are held throughout the game.

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* ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'': Twice a year CCP, the developers, hold the [[http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Alliance_tournament Alliance Tournament]]. A series of matches pitting small teams from various player Alliances against each other for cash prizes and unique ships. True to the spirit of EVE, it is plagued with player corruption. There are recorded incidents of ransoms being offered. A number of fights blatantly thrown, with one side activating their ship's self-destruct mechanisms or violating the rules. In the 8th Alliance Tournament, Hydra Reloaded negotiated said match throw while the match was still being fought(albeit victory for Hydra would have been all but academic at that point). After payment Hydra activated their self destructs and "lost".

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* In ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'', not once but twice do the bear and bird have to transform into a Stony to win a Jiggy in a Mayan kickball tournament.

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* Colosso in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' is a more elaborate tournament than usual, but you're still forced to compete (you don't have to win, however, but losing prevents you from getting unique equipment in the sequel).
* The Olympus Colosseum Preliminaries in ''KingdomHearts'' and the Struggle and later the Underworld Tournaments in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.
* The storyline-required blitzball tournament in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' (seeing as the main character is a star player). Winning the tournament, however, is not.
** Parodied in ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'' with [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/04/28/episode-839-wide-world-of-sports/ Drownball,]] which Fighter enters while his friends are slaughtering/taking a city.
** Throughout the game, you can whisk yourself away at any time to play Blitzball, which has its own tournaments in the game clock. The only time you can't is when you're fugitives. TakeYourTime, indeed.
* The entire third chapter of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' is devoted to making one's way up the ranks in the Glitz Pit, a gladiatorial fighting arena. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope At least, it begins this way:]] the chapter [[CerebusSyndrome takes a darker turn]] [[HalfwayPlotSwitch when you have to solve the mystery of the disappearing fighters,]] and by the end you've thwarted a conspiracy to [[YourSoulIsMine steal]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext souls.]] It's considered by fans to be [[NightmareFuel the darkest chapter in the game.]]]] Once you've gotten to the top and beaten the chapter boss, Mario retires and his information is erased, [[PostEndGameContent letting you fight your way back to the top as a SideQuest]]-[[spoiler: and this time, ''without'' [[BitchInSheepsClothing Grubba]] getting in your way.]]
** [[RecycledScript Similarly,]] in Chapter 6 of ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', King Sammer insists that you win the Duel of 100, defeating 100 Sammer Guys, before he gives you the [[PlotCoupon Pure Heart.]] [[spoiler: Interestingly, [[CerebusSyndrome this is widely considered the darkest chapter]] of ''this'' game: the Duel [[HalfwayPlotSwitch is interrupted by]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Void devouring the Sammer Guy world]] before you can finish, though you can play through its entirety as an optional SideQuest [[PostEndGameContent after you beat the game.]]]]
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' contains a mandatory weapons tournament you have to enter, but can't actually win. No matter what you do in the opening rounds, you will advance (in fact, it's more fun to lose to see the ridiculous excuses they come up with to have you keep winning by default) and in the finals, you can't so much as scratch Lloyd.
* The Inevitable Tournament is one of the most important plot points in ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}''. It introduces the BigBad, reveals important backstory and gives you the opportunity to kill a friend for money!
** ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' also includes an optional fight club, with the catch being no armor and fists only.
*** [[MemeticMutation . . .Final Destination!]]
** ''VideoGame/FableII'' features the Crucible, though it's less of a tournament and more of a death course. However, everyone in-game refers to it as a tournament and you can be crowned Crucible Champion, so... and it's not optional, of course.
* Somewhat subverted in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'': you can compete in the Imperial Arena to advance the plot, but you don't ''have'' to. It has some significant (if optional) plot points, especially for one of your party members. It also features a bunch of rewards and a lot of tough and interesting fights.

* While fighting in Trotmobile tournaments is part of ''VideoGame/SteambotChronicles''' WideOpenSandbox nature, a scenario pops up at around the halfway point where you have to participate in a single-elimination tournament. The final opponent you face is the undefeated Elder in his "White Phantom" Trotmobile.
* ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory''. As a bonus, get to Dias (you won't beat him) if you want to ever get the InfinityPlusOneSword.
* In ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' the main character does ''not'' compete in the Sacred Games, a multi-layered fighting tournament meant to determine the future husband of the princess of Falena, despite its legendary status. Mainly this is because the main character is the prince of Falena and said princess is ''your little sister''. You ''are'' required to participate in a ceremonial opening match, though, which leads to a rather hilarious cutscene if you win when it turns out nobody told your sister that it was only ceremonial...
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/YsVITheArkOfNapishtim'': one of the Rehda tells you about an upcoming competition wherein the village warriors test your strength, hinting that Adol will be asked to compete... [[spoiler:but then it gets called on account of the Romun Empire invading and abducting everyone]].
* The ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGUGames .hack//G.U.]]'' series has one of these in every game of the trilogy, as each game features a different level of the Arena's ranking structure for various level brackets. They are required for progress, and unless there's a pre-requisite to gaining a certain rank or fighting a number of battles first, all story fights are static. With enough LevelGrinding, you can end up in story matches that you can win by offing all three opponents in a single attack.
* There are a lot of these in ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'', as the name implies. There are several arenas around Orre and you can enter into short tournaments at each one. There's also Mt. Battle, which you have to enter as part of the plot but later opens up to free challenges- it's a 100-battle gauntlet!
** The Pokémon League at the end of every single Pokémon RPG to date. It's the whole bloody point ([[GottaCatchEmAll catching 'em all]] aside)...
*** The Elite Four isn't really a ''tournament'', per se. Like the ''Fable'' example it's more an escalating-difficulty course.
** There's also the Pokémon Contest / Super Contest in which Pokémon are judged for their looks rather than their battling ability. You don't have to enter these to advance the plot, however they do unlock bonus items. (Replaced by Pokemon Musical, a talent contest of sorts, and Pokéstar (a Hollywood expy) in Gen V, still optional and still rewarding you with bonus stuff.)
** Played straight with the Pokémon World Tournament in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2/White 2]]'', where you must enter one Driftveil Tournament. Further tournaments are optional.
* The elaborately titled N1 Grand Prix in ''[[VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork Megaman: Battle Network 3]]''.
** One of the main complaints against ''Megaman Battle Network 4'' is the fact that most of the game involves you participating in ''three'' of these... while the approaching of a potentially ''[[EarthShatteringKaboom world ending asteroid]]'' is treated as a ''B plot'' until you become involved in it ''at the very end of the game''.
*** It should be noted, however, that when you do get involved at the end, it turns out that [[spoiler:the two plots were connected all along--the asteroid is artificial and has an onboard computer, and they needed to find the best [=NetBattler=] to connect to it via a giant laser and stop it from hitting Earth, hence the tournament]]. However, it's not clear how far back this goes; it almost certainly doesn't apply to the first tournament (which was held before the scientists discovered this), and very likely only applies to the last one.
* This trope is subverted in ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3''; around the beginning of the game, everybody is talking about a Wizard tournament at the mall. When you go there, however, you see that Ace has already finished it, after which the Noise Wizards attack. Considering how similar the plot of the third game was to that of Battle Network's fourth, this could arguably be construed as a TakeThat to its hated predecessor.
* ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker 2'' has an annual Harvest Festival in October. Your daughter can participate in one of four contests, including a fighting tournament, a cooking contest, an art festival, and a dancing ball.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' requires Cloud to engage in a round at the Battle Arena for the enjoyment of the proprietor. Afterwards, even if you lose round one to Mooks, you receive the Plot-Necessary Item.
** It also has a second forced race to escape the Gold Saucer dumping grounds. You can of course return and use it to help obtain one of the InfinityPlusOneSword -type spells.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}'' one of the reputation tasks involved in joining the Old Camp was challenging a New Camp fighter in the camp's arena; you could win or lose and still earn the arena master's respect. Otherwise averted, despite the claim the next fight isn't for a couple of days, the area is never open proper (interviews have confirmed it was purposeful, rather than cut-content).
* The VideoGame/{{Tales series}} almost always has an arena. It's rarely necessary to ''complete'' the tournament, though the BonusBoss therein often coughs up some sweet stuff if you beat it, but you are often required to participate in a fight or three when the plot calls.
* ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' games as well. Considering the first Tales game essentially split off into the Tales and Star Ocean series, they share quite a few common elements despite now being made by entirely different companies.
* ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. The tournament and events surrounding it makes up an important chunk of the early game.
** There are actually two tournaments, one with humans and one as an actual "fighting game" minigame with Gears. Both are required, but you can go back to the second one later and get prizes.
** The human tournament is also played with- the purpose of fighting in it is to buy some time for another person. You don't have to win, but winning gives you more opportunities to stall. You can even get [[GuideDangIt a unique item]] from one of the bosses by [[SheatheYourSword constantly defending and healing instead of attacking him]].
* Somewhat averted in ''VideoGame/LostOdyssey''. The game has the Backyard Battles, but they're completely optional and are more a series of specific challenges than a tournament-style combat.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' also has a combat tournament on the planet Taris which is related to the Bendak Starkiller sidequest players interested in picking up Dark Side points, but is otherwise optional. The game also features swoop races, where you have to compete to move the story forward.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' holds not one, but two {{Inevitable Tournament}}s. The first being a hunting tournament that you compete in against two other party members. The second is a card tournament. Both you must participate in, but you don't need to win either, although you still need to beat the first two opponents in the card tournament. In fact, the prize you get from the hunting tournament is better if you finish second instead of first.
** To clarify, if Zidane (who the player controls in the tournament) wins, you get a cash prize (worthless, as you can grind for gil), If Vivi wins, you get a card (absolutely worthless, as it offers you nothing gameplay wise, just like every other card with the possible exception of one specific card that you can get without even touching the card game if you count being able to rename characters a gameplay feature). If Freya wins, you net yourself the Coral Ring, an accessory that you can't get anywhere else on Disk 1 and whose Thunder absorbing qualities just so happen to completely nullify the end-of-disk boss's most powerful single-target attack. You can also get a decent accessory for winning the final match of the card tournament, but there's plenty of other ways to get it by that point in the game.

* The ''VideoGame/WildArms'' series likes to throw in arena battles though they are often not plot relevant. They usually contain some of the [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]]. ''VideoGame/WildArms3'' is the exception, making the completion of the lowest tournament tier required to get a plot required item.
* Inevitable in the sense that there's inevitably a 'tournament quest' in a Bioware game, ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' provides one in the dwarven Proving Ground. Depending on your choices you might not have to fight in it though.
* ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'' features randomly occurring tournaments in each of the large cities. They're not inevitable in the strictest sense, but entering them, placing massive bets on yourself, and winning is a very good way to get quick cash, and may be essential depending on how large and expensive your RedshirtArmy is.
* Surprisingly averted in ''VideoGame/ResonanceOfFate''. There is an arena right next to the starting zone, but you are never required by the plot to go there. Still, completing the fights gets you oodles of scrap parts and Battle Coins that can be spent on very valuable accessories.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'': when the Illithids capture your entire party, you are set up to fight in a tournament for your new mind-controlling masters' amusement, however, you can break out and organize a gladiator uprising before the tournament even begins.
** The [[UpdatedRerelease Enhanced Editions]] adds the Black Pit set of adventurers (they're separate from the main adventure, and canonically are not done by the same characters), which consists ''entirely'' of tournaments done for your masters' amusement until the equally inevitable gladiator uprising (Black Pits starts with you getting kidnapped for Baeloth's Pits, and ends when, after grinding your way up the ranks of the gladiators, you manage to overthrow Baeloth and escape to freedom. Black Pits 2 starts with you getting kidnapped for a Thayvan arena, and ends when, after grinding your way up the ranks of the gladiators, you overthrow the master of the arena [[spoiler: and is [[SequelHook diverted somewhere else]] by an angry and crazy resurrected Baeloth]].
* ''VideoGame/BarkleyShutUpAndJamGaiden'' features a tournament in the B-Ball Dimension. It's possible to enter and fight a series of {{Duel Boss}}es using only Charles in your party.
* ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryV'' being a lot more [[ActionizedSequel fight heavy]] than the previous instalments, which are more ActionAdventure, you'd ''think'' the giant Colosseum in town leads to this. [[SubvertedTrope It's not]], the fights in there are a SideQuest that runs optionally in the beginning of the game.
* The martial arts tournament at the Zen Zone in ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue''.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky FC'' has a plot-forced tournament in the last chapter, with the winner invited to dinner at Grancel Castle. A particularly fun one - after fighting [[spoiler: The Ravens, [[DestinedBystander Kurt, Anelace]], and company, the player has their first fight with [[TheDragon Lt. Lorence]].]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Robopon}}'', this happens a lot in both games as part of the main plot.

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* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'''s Tri-Wizard Tournament.

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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' features the Imperial Arena, which you can enter for gold and experience. It's entirely optional, though.
** This is a ContinuityNod to ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'', including the posters for it (redrawn from that game's box art).
** In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' you had to fight Bolvyn Venim at the Vivec arena to be awarded the title of Hortator. No official tournament, but it inspired a mod or two.
** Interestingly, the ''Mages Guild'' can culminate in an Arena fight between you and Archmage Trebonius Artorius, for the title of Archmage. The other option involves essentially getting him fired (it might seem as if you're missing out on the Necromancer's Amulet -- a terrific artifact -- that way, but there's a quest to get him to ''give'' it to you). You also fight Bolvyn Venim for the title of Archmaster of House Redoran if you're a member of that faction. And the Imperial Legion questline ends with a duel against the current Knight of the Imperial Dragon of the Order of Ebonheart (that is, the local leader of the Legion) over the title.

* ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' games as well. Considering the first Tales game essentially split off into the Tales and StarOcean series, they share quite a few common elements despite now being made by entirely different companies.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' contains a mandatory weapons tournament you have to enter, but don't necessarily have to win, though winning gives a better reward than losing of course.
** You can't actually win. No matter what you do in the opening rounds, you will advance (in fact, it's more fun to lose to see the ridiculous excuses they come up with to have you keep winning by default) and in the finals, you can't so much as scratch Lloyd.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/{{Ys}} VI'': one of the Rehda tells you about an upcoming competition wherein the village warriors test your strength, hinting that Adol will be asked to compete... [[spoiler:but then it gets called on account of the Romun Empire invading and abducting everyone]].

* The ''VideoGame/WildArms'' series likes to throw in arena battles though they are often not plot relevant.They usually contain some of the [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]]. ''VideoGame/WildArms3'' is the exception, making the completion of the lowest tournament tier required to get a plot required item.

* ''VideoGame/LegendOfLegaia'' and its sequel have a fighting arena. Only the second game requires that you actually compete.

* The ''Franchise/WildArms'' series likes to throw in arena battles though they are often not plot relevant.They usually contain some of the [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]].Wild Arms 3 is the exception, making the completion of the lowest tournament tier required to get a plot required item.

* Colosso in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' is a more elaborate tournament than usual, but you're still forced to compete.

* The storyline-required blitzball tournament in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''.

* ''DigimonWorld2'' requires you to win a few tournaments before you can advance the storyline.