History Main / PlayerVersusPLayer

Some games have both a [=PvP=] mode and a [=PvE=] mode. In some cases, the two modes occur at the same time, like in most {{MMORPG}}s. In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''[[note]]Technically ''[=WoW=]'' allows players to create characters in different realms. Only in [=PvP=] realms can ambushes of that sort happen. In Normal realms you can only be attacked if you have recently attacked other players, certain [=NPCs=], or chosen to "flag" yourself. Many other {{MMORPG}}s have similar separations.[[/note]], the player character can be busy with a quest vs. computer generated monsters in an outdoor zone, and be ambushed by enemy players nearby. This can be either irritating or exhilarating, depending on your mood and tolerance for fellow players, forming the basis of TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate.

* Versus Mode was possible in ''VideoGame/SpudsAdventure'' with two Game Boys, two copies of the game, and the Game Boy Link Cable. Given the game's rarity, this may be the most expensive PVP mode of all time.

** [[CardBattleGame Tableturf Battle]], introduced in ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'' technically makes use of both Asynchronous and Synchronous [=PvP=]. In terms of the former, among the player avatars that populate the HubWorld are ones that hang out around the Tableturf Battle location where you can face the game's NPCs. Talking to one of them will allow you to duel an AI that uses one of the decks created by that player.

* In episode 2 of ''LightNovel/{{Haganai}}'', Kodaka, Sena, and Yozora are all playing ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Sena "accidentally" hits and knocks out Yozora's character, and later Yozora "accidentally" shoots Sena with her bow and arrow. She then knocks out Sena with a sleeping arrow while fighting a boss, and sets an explosive, and blows up both Sena and the monster. A few moments later, both girls are fighting each other much more than the monsters, and in the end fail the quest due to running out of time.
* This trope is a plot point in ''LightNovel/LogHorizon''. Players who die are resurrected at a nearby cathedral, although they may drop items before dying. So other players have taken up looting and killing other players, partly [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife out of boredom]], and partly ForTheEvulz.

* Due to the players' circumstance, [=PvP=] is deeply frowned in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline''. A minor arc dealt with someone exploiting bugs in the [=PvP=] system to send players to their death. No, not character death -- ''actual'' death of the person behind the joystick.

* While the ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' series does feature single-player and PlayerVersusEnvironment modes, its primary focus has always been its online 4v4 competitive multiplayer modes. The game's flagship mode, Turf War, is one of these. In it, two teams of four players are pitted against each other, with the goal of painting more of the stage with their own color ink than their opponents can paint with theirs. The additional ranked modes feature more specific objectives, many of which are unique variations on classic game modes like King of the Hill and CaptureTheFlag.

* * ''VideoGame/ArteryGearFusion'' has this in the form of the 'exercise' mode. Each day, you get ten chances to challenge other players, and tiers are reset at the end of each week. Final rankings are calculated with the end of every season.

* While the ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' series does feature single-player and PlayerVersusEnvironment modes, its primary focus has always its online [=PvP=] modes. The game's flagship mode, Turf War, is one of these. In it, two teams of four players are pitted against each other, with the goal of painting more of the stage with their own color ink than their opponents can paint with theirs. The additional Ranked Battle modes feature more specific objectives, many of which are unique variations on classic game modes like King of the Hill and CaptureTheFlag.

* ''VideoGame/RakionChaosForce'' is a PVP-based game as players can join servers and clash against other people all over the world in six different game modes: Boss War, Clan War, Golem War, Stage, Solo Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch modes. Each of them has different objectives to win from protecting the base to killing as many players as possible before running out of time

* From the same developers of ''[=SINoALICE=]'' comes the Legion Battles of ''[[Franchise/AssaultLily Assault Lily: Last Bullet]]'' where Legions of up to 9 members fight against another Legion for 20 minutes every day depending on which of the 5 timeslots the leader picks. While both games' [=PvP=] (or rather, [=GvG=]/[=LvL=]) have a lot of similarities such as the Demon/Neunwelt Phase and the Skirmish/Attack Phase, ''Last Bullet'' has additional features such as the activation of Rare Skills and the ability to buff ally vanguards during the Recovery Phase which help it to stand out from its older sibling.

* From the same developers of ''[=SINoALICE=]'' comes the Legion Battles of ''[[Franchise/AssaultLily Assault Lily: Last Bullet]]'' where Legions of up to 9 members fight against another Legion for 20 minutes every day depending on which of the 5 timeslots the leader picks. While both games' [=PvP=] (or rather, [=GvG=]/[=LvL=] have a lot of similarities such as the Demon/Neunwelt Phase and the Skirmish/Attack Phase, ''Last Bullet'' has additional features such as the activation of Rare Skills and the ability to buff ally vanguards during the Recovery Phase which help it to stand out from its older sibling.

* From the same developers of ''[=SINoALICE=]'' comes the Legion Battles of ''[[Franchise/AssaultLily Assault Lily: Last Bullet]]'' where Legions of up to 9 members fight against another Legion for 20 minutes every day depending on which of the 5 timeslots the leader picks. While both games' PvP have a lot of similarities such as the Demon/Neunwelt Phase and the Skirmish/Attack Phase, ''Last Bullet'' has additional features such as the activation of Rare Skills and the ability to buff ally vanguards during the Recovery Phase which help it to stand out from its older sibling.

* Asynchronous [=PvP=] is when you fight against a player and ''AI plays on their behalf''. This is very popular in MobileGames because synchronous [=PvP=] can be hard to organize when people are going about their daily lives. This typically goes in hand with the idea of "asymmetrical" [=PvP=] where the AI-controlled player has different objectives. For example, in ''VideoGame/ClashOfClans'', your job as an attacker is to decide which troops to deploy, when and where. (This is important because troops prioritizes different targets.) As a defender, your job is to design your city in a way that causes those troops to march to their deaths; when you are attacked, the AI takes care of all the actual fighting and you're not allowed to intercede. (In fact, if you try to log in while you are being attacked, the different ''Clash of Clans'' Clones vary in whether you are even ''allowed'' to do so, or whether you have to wait until someone's done with your base.)

----

* In episode 2 of LightNovel/BokuWaTomodachiGaSukunai, Kodaka, Sena, and Yozora are all playing Videogame/MonsterHunter. Sena "accidentally" hits and knocks out Yozora's character, and later Yozora "accidentally" shoots Sena with her bow and arrow. She then knocks out Sena with a sleeping arrow while fighting a boss, and sets an explosive, and blows up both Sena and the monster. A few moments later, both girls are fighting each other much more than the monsters, and in the end fail the quest due to running out of time.

* ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' has [[spoiler: a [[MirrorBoss boss]] controlled by another player, the ''entire boss battle'' is essentially a PvP match.]]

* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' has several different PvP areas. The most well-known is the Wilderness, a volcanic wasteland where players can be attacked by anyone within a certain number of levels of their own, defined by how far into the Wilderness they are. There's also the Duel Arena, where players can fight each other one-on-one using agreed rules, the Soul Wars game where players try and stop the opposite team from destroying their team's Avatar, the classic Capture The Flag game of Castle Wars, and the Clan Wars where teams of players can fight each other.

* Both ''VideoGame/PlanetSide'' games, being [=MMOFPS=]es, are ''entirely'' PvP - each faction is [[ForeverWar always at war]] with other two factions; the [[MegaCorp New Conglomerate]], [[TheEmpire Terran Republic]], and [[MachineCult Vanu Sovereignty]]. Everyone on your faction is always on your side. Everybody else is someone to shoot at. The only non-player enemies are the turrets guarding bases and the player-deployed turrets.
* ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'' is PvP by its very ''nature''. The players run ''everything'' significant, and most of the memorable events were orchestrated by player factions. Even within Concord space (i.e. NPC guaranteed safe space), players regularly try to screw other players through exploits.

* Every VRMMORPG shown in ''VideoGame/SwordArtOnline'' has PVP combat, albeit in different capacities.

** In its introduction, ''Alfheim Online'' encourages PVP combat, with players divided into races (such as Spriggans, Sylphs, Salamanders, etc.) and fighting with each other to complete the game's Grand Quest. When the game is relaunched, the emphasis on PVP is downplayed.
** ''Gun Gale Online'' has an even greater emphasis on PVP, with players able to convert in-game money into real-world cash and thus having incentive to attack other players to take their gear. There's even an annual tournament with prizes.

* Due to the players' circumstance, PVP is deeply frowned in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline''. A minor arc dealt with someone exploiting bugs in the PVP system to send players to their death. No, not character death -- ''actual'' death of the person behind the joystick.

Player Versus Player ([=PvP=]) is a type of Gameplay Mode in VideoGames where the enemies are other players of the video game. This is in contrast to PlayerVersusEnvironment ([=PvE=]), where the enemies of your character are generated and controlled by a computer's artificial intelligence. The idea of Player vs Player is not only to outplay, outlast, or outwit your opponents, but to put your opponents at as many disadvantages as possible so they can't do the same to you.