History Main / PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo

[[folder:Fighting Games]]
* If you've imported your ''Videogame/DragonBallXenoverse'' character to [[Videogame/DragonBallXenoverse2 the sequel]], the character from that game shows up as a recurring character and gets a big hologram statue in the middle of the HubCity.

* Avin and Mile from ''Legend of Heroes IV'' (I in English) pop up again in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky''.

** Speaking of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZero'', that game's hero Lloyd Bannings shows up in 3 of the 4 ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' games and is playable in two of them.
** Because of how interconnected all the arcs are, ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' in general is rife with this. It'll only be a matter of time until [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Rean]] makes his own cameo.

* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', you can pick up [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles Shulk, Fiora]], and [[VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX Elma]] as Rare Blades. [[spoiler: The inclusion of [[VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} KOS-MOS]] is done more as a MythologyGag, until ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' goes and ''strongly'' suggests that game's world(the amalgam of the post-game worlds of XBC 1 and 2) is in fact the "Lost Jerusalem" that KOS-MOS is seen approaching at the end of ''Xenosaga Episode 3''.]]

[[folder:Fighting Games]]
* If you've imported your ''Videogame/DragonBallXenoverse'' character to [[Videogame/DragonBallXenoverse2 the sequel]], the character from that game shows up as a recurring character and gets a big hologram statue in the middle of the HubCity.
[[/folder]]

* Cranky Kong is this in the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' series. That is, Cranky is the guy who kidnapped Mario's girlfriend and threw barrels at him [[VideoGame/DonkeyKong that one time]], now an old ape who spends his time criticizing modern video games.

* In ''VideoGame/TheGodfather II'', the return of player character Don Aldo Trapani is a necessity, as he starts the story off... by dying.

** The 'VideoGame/ShadowHearts1'' is confirmed to be a StealthSequel to ''VideoGame/{{Koudelka}}'' when [[spoiler:titular Koudelka turns out to be TheVoice that directs Yuri throughout the game. She plays a large role in BigBad's plans, and her son, Halley, is a party member. She doesn't join herself only because... [[HeroicNeutral reasons]]]].
** Valentine siblings appear in the games following their introduction. Keith from ''Shadow Hearts'' appears in ''Shadow Hearts: [[VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant Covenant]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld From the New World]]'', while Joachim, who debuted in ''Covenant'', appears in ''From the New World''.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' is confirmed as a StealthSequel to the game ''VideoGame/{{Koudelka}}'' with the introduction of the titular Koudelka as TheVoice who had been periodically helping main hero, Yuri, through-out the game. And when you ''do'' meet her she gives even the BigBad something to worry about! Kept from joining your party as a GameBreaker through judicious use of the DePower trope.
** Valentine siblings also appear in the games following their introduction. Keith from ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' appears in ''Shadow Hearts: [[VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant Covenant]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld From the New World]]'', while Joachim, who debuted in ''Covenant'', appears in ''From the New World''.

** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'', the Hero of the first game makes an appearance as a Bonus Boss under specific circumstances.

** ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'': Marjoly from ''VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure''[[note]]A subversion since she was a villain in that game[[/note]] and Priere from ''VideoGame/LaPucelle'' are {{Bonus Boss}}es (both join your party if you defeat them). This had actual ramifications for the latter. As ''Disgaea'' is a game about Demons, they decided to use a version of Priere that came from a GagEnding where she ended up becoming a Demon herself. But since ''Disgaea'' was a much more popular game, more gamers knew of Prier as a Demon than her normal Human self. So when an UpdatedRerelease of the game was made, they actually went back and made an additional storyline building from a former joke.

** In Zeboyd Games' later ''VideoGame/CosmicStarHeroine'' both Dem and Cthulhu are bonus bosses. Lita, one of the party members from BODVII, is one as well. Several party members from ''VideoGame/CthulhuSavesTheWorld'' also appear in this game, namely, Umi appears as an NPC, while October and Paws appear as recruits, the latter can be recruited only after beating him in the MiniBoss fight during the festival and then talking to him after the festival's end.

** In ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'', you can fight the Demi-Fiend from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''. Possibly the hardest BonusBoss in the history of video games.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'' (the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 remake) has [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2 Barbatos Goetia]] as an AntiGrinding trap[[note]]he appears and slaughters the party if the player spends too much time in auto mode[[/note]] and as a BonusBoss. While Barbatos is normally TheHeavy of his home game, by the game's release he already appeared as a player character in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheWorld: Narikiri Dungeon 3'' spin-off. It also counts as a weird CallBack[=/=]CallForward[=/=]whatever, as he is [[spoiler:long dead by the game's timeframe, but is resurrected in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2'' by the BigBad]]. How he's even here is anyone's guess.

*** [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Kratos]] appears as a BonusBoss at the end of the bonus dungeon. He's considered one of the hardest bosses in the series.

*** On a more serious and ''not'' BonusBoss-related note, [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/TalesOfInnocence QQ Selezneva]] appears in the secret cutscene, where she is revealed as a part of some sort of military. Here she is met by Gall Gruner, who has returned into what appears to be his home dimension]]. It was meant to be a part of the Triverse storyline, that now appears to have been [[AbortedArc adandoned]].

*** There's also [[VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2 Chronos]], who is the ultimate BonusBoss of the game. By the game's release he already appeared in ''VideoGame/TalesOfCrestoria'' as a playable unit.

* In ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'', the PC of all the previous games in the ''VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga'' (excepting one expansion pack) has moved on to become the master to a new PC, whom you can even fight as a BonusBoss if you [[MultipleEndings choose the dark side]]. Since the previous games have buffed him into a MemeticBadass, this is commonly regarded as the hardest fight in the game. [[spoiler:You don't even kill him in this case, either. You only incapacitate him long enough to make an escape.]]

** In ''VideoGame/Splatoon2: [[DownloadableContent Octo Expansion]]'', [[spoiler:they appear in a BigDamnHeroes moment near the end of the game. Shortly thereafter, they must be fought as the penultimate boss when they become BrainwashedAndCrazy. Later on, they serve as an [[SNKBoss SNK]] BonusBoss can be done upon [[GottaCatchThemAll collecting all of the mem cakes]].]] While an OldSaveBonus isn't possible due to the Switch being unable to download Wii U files, the game still allows you to customize their appearance, which is first prompted when Cap'n Cuttlefish sketches up a missing poster after you've collected the first three [[PlotCoupon thangs]], allowing some level of personal continuity.

** In ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories'', you meet Etna at the end of Chapter 3, and she [[HopelessBossFight wipes the floor with you]]. At the beginning of Chapter 10, you summon her into your party... at Level 1 (thanks to a botched ritual). Both Laharl and Flonne are bonus characters. Asagi, Marjoly, Prier, and Zetta appear as BonusBoss characters. The PSP remake also allows Ash and Marona from ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'' to be added as DownloadableContent.

* In ''VideoGame/CthulhuSavesTheWorld'', Dem from ''VideoGame/BreathOfDeathVII'' is a BonusBoss and OptionalPartyMember. In the alternate campaign ''Cthulhu's Angels'', you're fighting Sara (the first party member you get in BODVII) instead due to the ImprobablyFemaleCast.

** The old man who handles Streetpass functionality in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' is likewise believed by many to be ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'''s Link. He wears a green tunic, challenges you when you reach a certain amount of victories against other players' shadows (and is way more powerful than any other enemy, fighting with the full set of abilities your Link possesses) and shows up near the Master Sword during the credits. It was never fully confirmed, unlike the Hero's Shade, but the evidence surely points in that direction.

* In ''VideoGame/WildARMs5'', every party member from the previous games appear as cameos, including the temporary ones, with the notable exception of Luceid from ''VideoGame/WildARMs2''.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'' (the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 remake) has [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2 Barbatos Goetia]] as an AntiGrinding trap[[note]]he appears and massacres the party if the player spends too much time in auto mode[[/note]] and as a BonusBoss. While Barbatos is normally TheHeavy of his home game, by the game's release he already appeared as a player character in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheWorld: Narikiri Dungeon 3'' spin-off. It also counts as a weird CallBack[=/=]CallForward[=/=]whatever, as he is [[spoiler:long dead by the game's timeframe, but is resurrected in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny2'' by the BigBad]]. How he's even here is anyone's guess.

** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Kratos]] appears as a BonusBoss at the end of the bonus dungeon. He's considered one of the hardest bosses in the series.

** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' you can fight [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss The Amazing Guy!]]

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'' ends up having a post-game sidequest that involves [[VideoGame/TalesOfXillia Jude]] and [[VideoGame/TalesOfXillia Milla Maxwell]] being fought separately, before the sidequest ends in them being a DualBoss for the party.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfArise'' has a series of {{Nostalgia Level}}s, where the player firt fights [[VideoGame/TalesOfZestiria Edna]], then [[VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria Eizen]], and then both of them at once.

** The champion from the last game was possessed by Diablo and is always a few steps ahead of you. He mostly shows up in the cutscenes, but you do encounter him once ingame.
** Blood Raven and The Summoner are the two other possible player characters from the first game.

** By the time of ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', they have ascended to the rank of the [[TheTeam New Squidbeak Splatoon]]'s new commander, complete with CommissarCap, coinciding with Cap'n Cuttlefish's retirement. Unlike last time, since ''3'' is on the same console as ''2'', if the player chose to carry over their save data and had gotten to the point where they were asked to customize Three's appearance in ''Octo Expansion'', the character will once again have that appearance here.

* The ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' games have done this a few times with Agent 3, the first game's PlayerCharacter.

** The old man who handles Streetpass functionality in [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds]] is likewise believed by many to be [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast]]'s Link. He wears a green tunic, challenges you when you reach a certain amount of victories against other players' shadows (and is way more powerful than any other enemy, fighting with the full set of abilities your Link possesses) and shows up near the Master Sword during the credits. It was never fully confirmed, unlike the Hero's Shade, but the evidence surely points in that direction.

** By the time of ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', they have ascended to the rank of the [[TheTeam New Squidbeak Splatoon]]'s new commander, complete with CommissarCap, coinciding with Cap'n Cuttlefish's retirement.

*** ''LetsPlay/TwitchPlaysPokemonCrystal'' had Red's team hacked to be his team from ''LetsPlay/TwitchPlaysPokemonRed'', albeit with most of the team being leveled up to match the levels of the original Red battle as ''TPPR'' had a rather low-leveled endgame team. Taken to another level in ''LetsPlay/TwitchPlaysPokemonHeartGold'', as while the final trainer still used the ''name'' "Pokémon Trainer Red", '''she''' had the same team and sprite as ''LetsPlay/TwitchPlaysPokemonFireRed'''s A. [[spoiler:And then ''LetsPlay/TwitchPlaysPokemonBlack2'' happened, and ''all seven'' previous ''TPP'' protagonists were gathered together in a single PWT tournament.]]

* The ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' games have done this a few times with Agent 3, the first game's PlayerCharacter.
** In ''VideoGame/Splatoon2: [[DownloadableContent Octo Expansion]]'', [[spoiler:they appear in a BigDamnHeroes moment near the end of the game. Shortly thereafter, they must be fought as the penultimate boss when they become BrainwashedAndCrazy. Later on, a rematch where they serve as an [[SNKBoss SNK]] BonusBoss can be done upon [[GottaCatchThemAll collecting all of the mem cakes]].]] While an OldSaveBonus isn't possible due to the Switch being unable to download Wii U files, the game still allows you to customize their appearance, which is first prompted when Cap'n Cuttlefish sketches up a missing poster after you've collected the first three [[PlotCoupon thangs]], allowing some level of personal continuity.
** By the time of ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', they have ascended to the rank of the [[TheTeam New Squidbeak Splatoon]]'s new commander, apparently coinciding with Cuttlefish's retirement.

* All the {{Expansion Pack}}s for ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' have a brief brush with Gordon Freeman at some points. In [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 the sequel]], Barney Calhoun, protagonist of ''Blue Shift'', shows up as a supporting character.

** ''Script/C0DA'', written by former series writer/designer Creator/MichaelKirkbride, takes place in the far distant future of ''TES'' universe. Numidium, the [[RealityWarper Reality Warping]] HumongousMecha of [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwemer]] construction, presumed destroyed following the events of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', returns after having been caught in a time warp. It continues its war on the [[AntiHumanAlliance Aldmeri Dominion]], led by the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName fascistic Thalmor]], leading to an apocalyptic event known as "Landfall", which has forced the remaining inhabitants of Nirn to take refuge on the moon Masser. The supplementary work ''Landfall: Day One'' includes the Nerevarine, the PlayerCharacter from ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', make an appearance [[spoiler:piloting Akulakhan to battle Numidium]]. Taking Creator/{{Bethesda}}'s habit of describing past player characters as little as possible so as not to make any one version of them "canon" UpToEleven, the Nerevarine is described as a shapeless, multi-racial being.

** In ''VideoGame/Splatoon2: [[DownloadableContent Octo Expansion]]'', [[spoiler:they appear in a BigDamnHeroes moment near the end of the game. Shortly thereafter, they must be fought as the penultimate boss when they become BrainwashedAndCrazy. Later on, a rematch where they serve as an [[SNKBoss SNK]] BonusBoss can be done upon [[GottaCatchThemAll collecting all of the mem cakes]].]] While an OldSaveBonus isn't possible, the game still allows you to customize their appearance, which is first prompted when Cap'n Cuttlefish sketches up a missing poster after you've collected the first three [[PlotCoupon thangs]], allowing some level of personal continuity.

* ''VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode 3'' has an odd example, with the [[HumongousMecha Gunark]] from ''A.C.E. 2'' showing up...but piloted by Marina Carson, the secondary protagonist, rather than the game's main PC Tak Kepford[[note]]Marina uses Tak's Gunark; she had one of her own, but it was destroyed early on and replaced with the upgraded Buster Ark[[/note]]. They never outright say where Tak is or what happened to him, but Marina implies that he's fine, and that they've undergone a RelationshipUpgrade as well.

** ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'': Midboss, Etna, Flonne, and Laharl of ''Disgaea'' can be recruited (or, at least their "phantom copies" are), as is Myao from ''VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure''[[note]]Like her boss Majory, she is also a subversion[[/note]].