History Main / MassiveMultiplayerCrossover

A {{crossover}} that involves characters from more than two works of {{fiction}}. More often than not, this is a mash up of series which do not have a strict sense of continuity or a clear UniverseBible. To lessen {{canon}}-faulting, especially with series that do have strict continuity, a new 'neutral' setting is made that offers equal footing for all the characters. Sometimes characters are anthropomorphise in various ways so that they can interact better. It also becomes more viable the farther you get from canon, such as one-time TV specials and especially video games. As {{Story Arc}}s have become more prevalent, this practice has somewhat lessened, with shifts to strict [[TheVerse Verse]] building and explicit references.

[[caption-width-right:350:Let's see... ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'', ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'', ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'', ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''VideoGame/StarFox'', ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'', ''VideoGame/FZero'', ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', ''UsefulNotes/GameAndWatch'', and ''VideoGame/IceClimber''. All in just one game, and this game isn't even [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate the best example]] from [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros its franchise]].]]

* Any revue based around a composer's work is going to be one of sorts. ''Prince of Broadway'' is notable for (a) being a revue dedicated to a Broadway ''director'', Hal Prince, and (b) recreating scenes from some of his most famous productions. The end result is a set list made up of excerpts from ''[[Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet Sweeney Todd]]'', ''[[Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}}'', and Franchise/Superman [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers of all properties]].

* Any revue based around a composer's work is going to be one of sorts. ''Prince of Broadway'' is notable for (a) being a revue dedicated to a Broadway ''director'', Hal Prince, and (b) recreating scenes from some of his most famous productions. The end result is a set list made up of excerpts from ''[[Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet Sweeney Todd]]'', ''[[Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}}'', and [[Franchise/Superman]] [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers of all properties]].

* The Tony Awards, especially more contemporary ceremonies, often will lean into the territory of this trope with the cast of nominated shows (as well as anything currently running) appearing in skits and the opening number, or at least a group of reference to Broadway classics. However, the 67th Tony Awards does something interesting: the opening production number, a dedication to taking it UpToEleven called "Bigger", began with host Creator/NeilPatrickHarris performing among the Broadway casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_(musical) Once]]''. As the performance goes on, he ends up dancing with the casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_Boots_(musical) Kinky Boots]]'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown:_The_Musical Motown]]'', the [[CircusEpisode circusey]] ''Theatre/{{Pippin}}'' revival, ''Theatre/BringItOn'', ''Theatre/{{Matilda}}'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story:_The_Musical A Christmas Story]]'', the ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'' revival, [[Theatre/CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Cinderella'']] and Creator/MikeTyson (apparently he had a one-man show), climaxing with the casts of currently-running Broadway shows running up and down the aisles.

* The Tony Awards, especially more contemporary ceremonies, often will lean into the territory of this trope with the cast of nominated shows (as well as anything currently running) appearing in skits and the opening number, or at least a group of reference to Broadway classics. However, the 67th Tony Awards does something interesting: the opening production number, a dedication to taking it UpToEleven called "Bigger", began with host Creator/NeilPatrickHarris performing among the Broadway casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_(musical) Once]]''. As the performance goes on, he ends up dancing with the casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_Boots_(musical) Kinky Boots]]'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown:_The_Musical Motown]]'', the [[CircusEpisode circusey]] ''Theatre/{{Pippin}}'' revival, ''Theatre/BringItOn'', ''Theatre/{{Matilda}}'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story:_The_Musical A Christmas Story]], the ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'' revival, ''[[Theatre/CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella]]'' and Creator/MikeTyson (apparently he had a one-man show), climaxing with the casts of currently-running Broadway shows running up and down the aisles.

* The Tony Awards, especially more contemporary ceremonies, often will lean into the territory of this trope with the cast of nominated shows (as well as anything currently running) appearing in skits and the opening number, or at least a group of reference to Broadway classics. However, the 67th Tony Awards does something interesting: the opening production number, a dedication to taking it UpToEleven called "Bigger", began with host Creator/NeilPatrickHarris performing among the Broadway casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_(musical) Once]]''. As the performance goes on, he ends up dancing with the casts of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_Boots_(musical) Kinky Boots]]'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown:_The_Musical Motown]]'', the [[CircusEpisode circusey]] ''Theatre/{{Pippin}}'' revival, ''Theatre/BringItOn'', ''Theatre/{{Matilda}}'', ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story:_The_Musical A Christmas Story]], the ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'' revival, ''Theatre/CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein'' and Creator/MikeTyson (apparently he had a one-man show), climaxing with the casts of currently-running Broadway shows running up and down the aisles.

* Any revue based around a composer's work is going to be one of sorts. ''Prince of Broadway'' is notable for (a) being a revue dedicated to a Broadway ''director'', Hal Prince, and (b) recreating scenes from some of his most famous productions. The end result is a set list made up of excerpts from ''[[Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet Sweeney Todd]]'', ''[[Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}}'', and ''[[Franchise/Superman]]'' [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers of all properties]].

* Legendary Manga creator Creator/OsamuTezuka similarly uses {{Reused Character Design}}s in his "Star System", wherein a character from a previous work will actually play a different role in another story, [[AnimatedActors as if that character was an actor or actress]].

* Legendary Manga creator Creator/OsamuTezuka similarly uses {{Reused Character Design}}s in his "Star System", wherein a character from a previous work will actually play a different role in another story, [[AnimatedActors as if they were an actor or actress]].

* The direct-to-video special ''Kids for Character'' had [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] and Creator/TomSelleck appearing in-between clips from various childrens' cartoons and TV shows of the time as they teach the "six pillars of character" using the clips, ending in a musical number which featured ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'', among others.

* The direct-to-video special ''Kids for Character'' had [[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney the Dinosaur]] and Creator/TomSelleck appearing in-between clips from various childrens' cartoons and TV shows of the time, ending in a musical number which featured ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'', among others.

* A 2019 ad for WalMart's pickup service featured a plethora of pop culture cars from the [[Franchise/Batman Batmobile]], [[Film/Ghostbusters Ecto 1]], K*I*T*T* from KnightRider, a [[Film/JurrasicPark Ford Explorer]], [[Film/Cars Lightning McQueen]], the [[Film/DumbAndDumber Mutts Cutz van]], the [[Film/NationalLampoonsVacation Griswold family station wagon]], and many, many more.

* An advertising campaign for Krystal has a red-haired girl, a [[UsefulNotes/McDonalds clown]], and a guy in a [[Advertising/TheBurgerKing creepy mask]] passing up their respective restaurants to get some food from Krystal.

** In ''Disney/RalphBreaksTheInternet'', Ralph and Vanellope visit the website Oh My Disney, where they meet many Disney characters, including all the Franchise/{{Disney Princess}}es, as well as characters from subsidiaries Creator/{{Pixar}}, Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} and Creator/MarvelStudios.

* ''The Search For Mickey Mouse'' was a [[WhatCouldHaveBeen scrapped]] Creator/{{Disney}} film from the early 2000s meant to coincide with WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse's 75th anniversary. In it Mickey gets kidnapped. WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, and Basil from ''Disney/TheGreatMouseDetective'' go around the world looking for him and encountering numerous Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon characters. The film was inspired by cut scenes from ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' and ''Disney/{{Fantasia 2000}}''. Rumors existed that the film was coming out as late as 2012. The film however was cancelled all the way in 2002. The team couldn't figure out how to make an engaging film with a decent plot that also involved Disney cameos every few scenes.

* In 1959 a movie was released called ''Alias Jessie James'' starring Creator/BobHope, who was a big fan of TV westerns; he used his clout to include characters from nine different shows in what would turn out to be the first of three Western massive multiplayer crossovers. People appeared in that movie from ''Franchise/TheLoneRanger'', ''Series/TheGeneAutryShow'', ''Annie Oakley'', ''UsefulNotes/DavyCrockett'', ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'', ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}'', ''Series/WagonTrain'', ''[[Creator/RoyRogers The Roy Rogers Show]]'' and ''Series/{{Maverick}}''.

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'' is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a crossover between]] ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and ''Franchise/MegaMan''. It was followed by a sequel, ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite'', which adds ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' and ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' into the mix... and halfway through ''that'', [[SerialEscalation even more crossovers from Sega and Capcom's properties]] were added[[note]]i.e. ''VideoGame/AlexKidd'', ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'', ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'', ''VideoGame/BillyHatcherAndTheGiantEgg'', ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'', and ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'' for the Sega side; ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'', ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'' (specifically ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII''), and ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' for the Capcom side[[/note]]. And while characters original to Archie's ''Sonic'' and ''Mega Man'' comics did not appear in the first crossover, they do play roles in the second one, with Xander Payne from the ''Mega Man'' comic playing a crucial role.

* ''FutureQuest'' is a six-issue mini-series teaming up the various HannaBarbera superheroes, including a quite respectful rendition of [[WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest the original Jonny Quest and family]], the serious iterations of {{WesternAnimation/Birdman}} and WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost, a modernized version of WesternAnimation/MightyMightor, a somewhat modernized version of WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr, a cringeworthy ''modernization'' of WesternAnimation/TheImpossibles, and WesternAnimation/TheHerculoids.

* {{omicStrip/Blondie}} and Dagwood celebrated their 75th anniversary with a who's who of other comic book characters, far too many to list here.

* ''FutureQuest'' is a six-issue mini-series teaming up the various HannaBarbera superheroes, including a quite respectful rendition of [[WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest the original Jonny Quest and family]], the serious iterations of WesternAnimation/Birdman and WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost, a modernized version of WesternAnimation/MightyMightor, a somewhat modernized version of WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr, a cringeworthy ''modernization'' of WesternAnimation/TheImpossibles, and WesternAnimation/TheHerculoids.

* ComicStrip/Blondie and Dagwood celebrated their 75th anniversary with a who's who of other comic book characters, far too many to list here.

* ''FutureQuest'' is a six-issue mini-series teaming up the various HannaBarbera superheroes, including a quite respectful rendition of [[WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest the original Jonny Quest and family]], the serious [[WesternAnimation/Birdman Birdman]], WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost, a modernized version of WesternAnimation/MightyMightor, a somewhat modernized version of WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr, a cringeworthy ''modernization'' of WesternAnimation/TheImpossibles, and the WesternAnimation/TheHerculoids.

* ''FutureQuest'' is a six-issue mini-series teaming up the various HannaBarbera superheroes, including a quite respectful rendition of [[WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest the original Jonny Quest and family]], [[WesternAnimation/Birdman the original (serious) Birdman]], WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost, a modernized version of WesternAnimation/MightyMightor, a somewhat modernized version of WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJunior, a cringeworthy ''modernization'' of WesternAnimation/TheImpossible, and the WesternAnimation/TheHerculoids.

** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' serves as this for the MCU.

** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' is going to be the biggest superhero crossover movie yet. Asides from the Avengers, it would also bring the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and Wong, Black Panther and his supporting cast, Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Thanos. The fourth untitled Avengers movie would also include Captain Marvel and the Wasp.

* In 2007, Alex Shane and Doug Williams called sixteen promotions to Liverpool England for a "King Of Europe Cup". Jody Fleisch represented [=1PW=], Wrestling/ClaudioCastagnoli represented Wrestling/{{Chikara}}, Wrestling/ChrisHero represented Wrestling/{{CZW}}, Ryo Saito represented Wrestling/DragonGate, Wrestling/ElGenerico represented the International Wrestling Syndicate, Wrestling/MattSydal represented IWA Mid-South, Wrestling/{{PAC}} represented IPW:UK, Davey Richards represented Wrestling/ProWrestlingGuerilla, Go Shiozaki represented Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH, Trent Acid represented Pro Wrestling Unplugged, Martin Stone represented Real Quality Wrestling, Wrestling/NigelMcGuinness represented Wrestling/RingOfHonor, Wrestling/{{Rh|yno}}ino represtned Wrestling/{{TNA}}, Ares represented westside Xtreme wrestling, Zebra Kid represented World Association of Wrestling and Williams himself represented Premier Promotions. In addition, there were two "Taste Of IPW:UK" pre shows.

* nCw Femme Fatales XI boasted a "Triple Main Event" featuring championships of three different women's promotions from three different countries all on the line. The Bellatrix World Title(UK), Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}} Title(USA) and nCw FF International Title(Canada).[[/folder]]

* The Myth/KingArthur mythos incorporates characters from various mythical cycles, which has also made it something of an AnachronismStew. Gawain and Merlin, nowadays permanent fixtures in the mythos, were originally folk heroes in their own right, and for centuries, writers have added new characters relevant to their own contemporary times or CreatorProvincialism (Lancelot from the French, for instance).

* The Myth/KingArthur mythos incorporates characters from various mythical cycles, which has also made it something of an AnachronismStew. Gawain and Merlin, nowadays permanent fixtures in the mythos, were originally folk heroes in their own right, and for centuries, writers have added new characters relevant to their own contemporary times or CreatorProvincialist (Lancelot from the French, for instance).