History Main / SecretCharacter

* The game ''VantageMaster'' by Falcom allowed you to play as characters from their other games, by answering the questions to get a specific class, then naming the character appropriately. For instance, becoming a knight and naming him "Adol" lets you play the knight from the Ys games, while naming the swordsman "Mail" gives you the title heroine from the game ''PopfulMail''.

** ''[[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes Marvel vs. Capcom]]'': The Marvel secret characters are different palette swaps of the Hulk (gives him his ''Marvel Super Heroes'' movelist and properties), War Machine (has incredible defense and armor, now fires missiles instead of lasers) and Venom (becomes the fastest and weakest character in the game), while the Capcom side has Shadow Lady (Chun-Li transformed into a cyborg ala Shadow), [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Lilith-Mode Morrigan]] (Morrigan with Lilith's color scheme and properties) and [[{{Megaman}} Roll]] (a JokeCharacter who has Megaman's movelist).
** ''[[VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]]'': In the original version (''Cross Generation of Heroes''), [[QuizNanairoDreams Saki Omakane]], Hakushon Daimao, Ippatsuman and ViewtifulJoe needed to be unlocked by beating the game a certain number of times with either a Tatsunoko or Capcom character, and then purchased in the store. In the updated version ''Ultimate All-Stars'', the above four (save Daimao for licensing reasons) were made into starting characters. Now, TekkamanBlade, [[ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman Joe The Condor]], [[DeadRising Frank West]], and [[MegamanX Zero]] are unlocked only by beating the game with a set number of characters from both sides. Beating the game with Blade, Joe, Frank and Zero would unlock Anime/{{Yatterman}}-2.

* NipponIchi games, such as ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'' or ''LaPucelle'', often allow you to unlock characters from their other games.

See also OptionalPartyMember, GuestFighter, if it's actually an entirely different protagonist in a game with a single playable character, it's AnotherSideAnotherStory.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'', [[spoiler:Rosalina]] is unlocked in the second level of the first secret world.

* Luigi has become this in many later ''Frnachise/SuperMarioBros'' games, usually because his abilities tend to [[LightningBruiser overshadow]] [[JackOfAllStats Mario's]] gameplay-wise.
* In ''VideoGame/TheAngryVideoGameNerdAdventures'', Mike Matei and [[WebVideo/YouKnowWhatsBullshit the Bullshit Man]] are found in {{Secret Path}}s.

* [[spoiler:Futomimi and Sakahagi]] in ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne. In Hell's Maze, you can encounter two souls; one that's red ([[spoiler:Sakahagi]]) and another that's green ([[spoiler:Futomimi]]). Talking to both of them causes a corpse to show up in Zoshigaya Cemetery, which is holding the Afterlife Bell. Bring the Bell to the two souls and ring it to bring them BackFromTheDead as their former selves. That alone won't unlock them, however; you still need to fuse a pair of demons to get them. Dante and Black Frost also count, but they join you instantly regardless of your level.

* There are a few secret characters in the ''[[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series. The SuperMode versions might count, but there's also Metal Sonic in ''Sonic Adventure DX'' who is available after getting all 130 emblems (though he's only available in trial mode and can't do Sky Chase), as well as Amy in ''Sonic Advance 2'' after beating the game with all the Chaos Emeralds with the previous 4 characters.
* The first ''ViewtifulJoe'' game lets you play as [[spoiler:Sylvia, Alastor, Captain Blue]] and even [[spoiler:Dante]] ( who is unfortunately, only unlockable in the [=PlayStation 2=] version of the game) by beating the game's multiple difficulty levels.

* ''[[VideoGame/MeatBoy Super Meat Boy]]'' has a whole host of entirely optional secret characters from other various indie games, including [[BitTrip Commander Video]], [[VideoGame/{{Aquaria}} Naija]], [[VideoGame/HalfLife a headcrab]], [[VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy The Kid]], [[VideoGame/{{VVVVVV}} Captain Viridian]], [[AlienHominid the alien hominid]]...
* [[SuperMarioBros Luigi]] has become this in many of the recent platform games, usually because his abilities tend to [[LightningBruiser overshadow]] [[JackOfAllStats Mario's]] gameplay-wise.

-->--''Franchise/StreetFighter''

* Since ''SymphonyOfTheNight'', ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}}'' has featured unlockable characters, usually the secondary characters. ''Dawn of Sorrow'' 's Julius Mode, besides being a tribute to ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}} 3'', is also a rare example of a BadEnd Plus: the reason you're playing as Julius is to [[spoiler: kill Soma, who's become Dracula.]]

See also OptionalPartyMember, GuestFighter.

** And quite often, there will be two or more hidden mecha/weapons that cannot be gained in the same playthrough (ex: [[GundamSEEDAstray Hyperion Gundam]] and [[Anime/TekkamanBlade Tekkaman Rapier]] in ''[[SuperRobotWarsW W]]'', which are achieved on different sides of the same route split), making OneHundredPercentCompletion impossible.

* ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition]]'', Vergil is playable after beating the game once.

A character that the casual player may never see. Not due to some strange invisibility, or even things that he should know but are AllThereInTheManual. Like any other form of UnlockableContent, getting the SecretCharacter is not required to finish the game.

In a FightingGame, uncovering the character may be as simple as holding down a button while you select a certain fighter, or you may have to beat the game on the hardest setting, [[NoContinueRun without using any continues]]. In many fighting games, there is also a secondary path to getting characters that usually entails a set number (usually in the hundreds) of versus matches completed or a set amount of gameplay time if you really don't want to play story mode.

Some Secret Characters can be LostForever depending on the means used to unlock or acquire them.

* [[DevilMayCry Devil May Cry 3]], Vergil is made playable after beating the game once.

* Most famous FightingGame example: Akuma/Gouki in ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII Turbo'', who began life as an April Fool's day joke by EGM. Now subject to WolverinePublicity, as he shows up in games which aren't associated with ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', like ''VideoGame/{{Cyberbots}}'', where he appears as a giant robot version of himself.
** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' also had Akuma, but JokeCharacter Dan Hibiki made his debut as a secret character in the first ''Alpha'' game. ''Alpha 2'' featured Shin Akuma and Evil Ryu.
* ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos'' had a buttload of secret characters. Some of them were the ones you woudl expect like Dan or [[VideoGame/FatalFury Geese]], while others included [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero]] and [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Demitri]]. It also featured an evil version of Ken, called Violent Ken, based off of his possessed self from the Street Fighter 2 movie.
* ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden'': In order to play as Gaia and Sho, the two bosses, you had to enter two codes on the title screen before the options showed up, then select either Eiji or Kayin while holding certain down certain buttons on the D-pad
* Most of the modern Wrestling/{{WWE}} games have former WWE talent as hidden "legends".
** Recent WWE games can be hacked to unlock WWE management like Vince Mcmahon, Jim Ross, Michael Cole, Lillian Garcia, Mike Chioda and Nick Patrick.
* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'': [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI Shantotto]] and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Gabranth]] join the heroes and villains (respectively) once their story lines are cleared, adding them to the PP catalog to be purchased.

* A tradition in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series. Typically by fullfilling a requirement, followed by DefeatMeansPlayable.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'s'' "Devil Kazuya" was unlocked by ''leaving the game on for '''30 hours'''''. Alternatively, one could get a perfect score in the game of ''Galaga'' that replaced a standard LoadingScreen at the very beginning of the game.

* In the FightingGame ''OneMustFall'', it was possible, through a series of button sequences, to play as both the end boss, and use his towering robot (not normally available in the story mode). There were also a lot of secret characters you couldn't play as, but could access for special fights, both in story mode and tournament play--"unranked challengers". In tournament mode, some of these unranked challengers would appear in other tournaments, some were the only appearance of a story mode character in the tournaments, some were references to other EpicGames franchises, and some were just unique characters who only popped out surprise you.

** VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom: Aside from bosses [[MidBoss Juggernaut]] and [[FinalBoss Magneto]], we also have [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma.]]
** VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes: [[MidBoss Doctor Doom]] and [[FinalBoss Thanos]], along with the very much broken and incomplete test character [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Anita.]]
** ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroesVsStreetFighter'': Several. We have Armored {{Spider-Man}} (increased defense but lowered speed), [[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Evil Sakura]] (Sakura with an Akuma/Evil Ryu-inspired movelist), [[VideoGame/{{X-MenVsStreetFighter}} Shadow]] (a powerful PaletteSwap of Charlie/Nash), Cyborg Zangief (very enhanced defense), U.S. Agent and Mephisto (PaletteSwap characters of Captain America and Blackheart), in addition to boss characters Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma.
** ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes'': The Marvel secret characters are different palette swaps of the Hulk (gives him his Marvel Super Heroes movelist and properties), War Machine (has incredible defense and armor, now fires missiles instead of lasers) and Venom (becomes the fastest and weakest character in the game), while the Capcom side has Shadow Lady (Chun-Li transformed into a cyborg ala Shadow), [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Lilith-Mode Morrigan]] (Morrigan with Lilith's color scheme and properties) and [[{{Megaman}} Roll]] (a JokeCharacter who has Megaman's movelist).
** VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom: In the original version (''Cross Generation of Heroes''), [[QuizNanairoDreams Saki Omakane]], Hakushon Daimao, Ippatsuman and ViewtifulJoe needed to be unlocked by beating the game a certain number of times with either a Tatsunoko or Capcom character, and then purchased in the store. In the updated version ''Ultimate All-Stars'', the above four (save Daimao for licensing reasons) were made into starting characters. Now, TekkamanBlade, [[ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman Joe The Condor]], [[DeadRising Frank West]], and [[MegamanX Zero]] are unlocked only by beating the game with a set number of characters from both sides. Beating the game with Blade, Joe, Frank and Zero would unlock Anime/{{Yatterman}}-2.
** ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'': Getting a certain amount of points either offline or online will unlock Taskmaster, [[Franchise/StreetFighter Akuma]], [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Hsien-Ko]], and [[Franchise/{{X-Men}} Sentinel.]]
* Mortal Kombat is basically the trailblazer for secret characters in fighting games. For the first two games, they were simply unplayable, but far stronger and faster palette swaps of the ninja characters. Starting with MK3, they could be unlocked.
** First up is a roboticized version of Smoke, the first ever unlockable character in the series which you could unlock by entering the "Ultimate Kombat Kode", which used a total of ten slots, divided up by inputs from BOTH players.
** In the update following that, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 adds three new unlockables each with their own UKKs which includes "Classic Sub-Zero", Mileena and Ermac. Smoke is relegated to a normal playable character, but by inputting a code before any round, he will change into his much faster human form, which is basically a faster silver colored swap of Scorpion.
** The original arcade version of Mortal Kombat 4 had a rare player-exclusive version in Meat who used the skinned corpse model utilized in a couple of Fatalities but used other characters' moves instead and could be unlocked.
*** The console versions add Goro and Noob Saibot, both of whom were playable by selecting Shinnok or Reiko respectively while using the Hidden option. For some reason, Reptile became this in the Gameboy Color version.
*** MK Gold added Sektor to the mix by doing the same with Cyrax.
** Many of the characters in Deadly Alliance could be unlocked by purchasing their Koffins, which had both a specific koin count and type of koin but two in particular were only available after clearing everyone's Konquests; Blaze and Mokap. However, neither have a weapon style or Fatality.
** Deception continues this but the characters and costumes now require a key to open. There's an especially infamous example in the case of a [[spoiler:zombified Liu Kang]] whose key could only be found a very specific date and time and in an obscure location. The payoff is worth it since he actually deals twice the damage against Onaga. You also technically play as one through the entirety of the game's adventure mode until you cleared the main story where he will be available in all modes but the size of his moveset, which is taken from most, if not the entire cast, is dependent on how many keys you can unlock, including his Fatalities.

* There are a few secret characters in the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' series. The SuperMode versions might count, but there's also Metal Sonic in ''Sonic Adventure DX'' who is available after getting all 130 emblems (though he's only available in trial mode and can't do Sky Chase), as well as Amy in ''Sonic Advance 2'' after beating the game with all the Chaos Emeralds with the previous 4 characters.
* The first ''ViewtifulJoe'' game lets you play as [[spoiler:Sylvia, Alastor, Captain Blue]] and even [[spoiler:Dante]] ( who is unfortunately, only unlockable in the PS2 version of the game) by beating the game's multiple difficulty levels.
** The PS2 game also lets you use all the characters (including the PS2-exclusive one) with a button code.

* ''Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo'' Scrolling off to the side on the character select screen revealed a few secret characters, including [[JokeCharacter Dan]]. Also, holding down a button while selecting certain characters turned them into others.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Yuffie appeared as a random battle, and the player must select certain dialogue options to get her to join. The game was merciful, though, in that she would appear later [[NPCAmnesia until the player gets it right]] (justified as she stole from you each time you got the sequence wrong). Also Vincent, who involved solving puzzles in a haunted house. After finally finishing the puzzles, surprise! BossBattle! Also made annoying in that the boss was ''very'' tough if you didn't know what you were doing, ''and'' there's still little indication on what you're supposed to do to actually ''recruit'' Vincent.
*** [[GuideDangIt Not only did you need a strategy guide to find these two,]] but they were in the ding dong ''instruction manual!'' That's right, the two secret characters you could miss very easily? They're mentioned in the instructions! And then there was DirgeOfCerberus...
* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' had Ms. Mowz, who makes several appearances as an {{NPC}} but won't join unless you do a certain side-quest.

* On the Franchise/DragonAge wiki, "Secret Character" is the spoiler-shielding codeword for... the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin secret character]] of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'' allowed you to unlock a whole bunch of characters (usually through a NewGamePlus, with a code as an alternative). A couple are from the AlternateContinuity ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'', and are only unlocked if you have a save file from the Ac!d games (or, again, through using the right code).

* A tradition in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series.

* In racing games, you often have [[UnlockableContent secret vehicles]] rather than secret [[CharacterizationTropes ''characters'']]. Though some games like the ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' series are character driven enough to have actual unlockable characters. In the case of ''Mario Kart Wii', not only you can unlock characters by acing the Grand Prix Cups, but also by unlocking ghost racers (not playable, they're simply leftovers of previous races) in Time Trial, for which your times have to be exceptionally good.

** Typically, you first unlock Jigglypuff by beating single-player mode once, and then the requirements get tougher. Another standout secret character is Luigi, the only other character besides Jigglypuff to have been a secret character in the first three ''Smash'' games. Each time you meet the requirements, you will fight that character with whichever one you were playing as at the time, and if you win you will unlock the character. Other typical requirements include beating the game without continues, with a specific character, or completing certain side events. Each game would also give you the characters if you logged a certain amount of multiplayer hours. In ''Brawl'', there are three ways to unlock each character: getting them to join you in Adventure Mode, playing a certain number of Vs. matches, or by doing other events. Also, that version mixed it up by making Jigglypuff one of the ''last'' characters you unlock.
** Mewtwo in particular took the GuideDangIt to the extreme, you have to play over 20 player-hours (that is, 20 hours divided by the number of people playing) or fight around 700 matches.

* In racing games, you often have [[UnlockableContent secret vehicles]] rather than secret [[CharacterizationTropes ''characters'']]. Though some games like the VideoGame/MarioKart series are character driven enough to have actual unlockable characters.

* A tradition in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series. Typically, you first unlock Jigglypuff by beating single-player mode once, and then the requirements get tougher. Each time you meet the requirements, you will fight that character with whichever one you were playing as at the time, and if you win you will unlock the character. Other typical requirements include beating the game without continues, with a specific character, or completing certain side events. Each game would also give you the characters if you logged a certain amount of multiplayer hours. In ''Brawl'', there are three ways to unlock each character: getting them to join you in Adventure Mode, playing a certain number of Vs. matches, or by doing other events. Also, that version mixed it up by making Jigglypuff one of the ''last'' characters you unlock.

** Sheik and Zero Suit Samus are technically "secret" in Melee and Brawl respectively because you cannot play as them right from the start without holding a button.
** The standout examples of secret characters in the series are [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Luigi]] and [[VideoGame/{{Pokemon}} Jigglypuff]], who have both been secret characters from the very beginning, and have continued to be secret characters ever since (unless the fourth game changes the tradition).

* ''[[VideoGame/MeatBoy Super Meat Boy]]'' has a whole host of entirely optional secret characters from other various indie games, including [[BitTrip Commander Video]], [[VideoGame/{{Aquaria}} Naija]], [[HalfLife a headcrab]], [[VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy The Kid]], [[VideoGame/{{VVVVVV}} Captain Viridian]], [[AlienHominid the alien hominid]]...

-->--''StreetFighter''

** VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom: Aside from bosses [[MidBoss Juggernaut]] and [[FinalBoss Magneto]], we also have [[StreetFighterII Akuma.]]

** ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroesVsStreetFighter'': Several. We have Armored {{Spider-Man}} (increased defense but lowered speed), [[StreetFighterAlpha Evil Sakura]] (Sakura with an Akuma/Evil Ryu-inspired movelist), [[VideoGame/{{X-MenVsStreetFighter}} Shadow]] (a powerful PaletteSwap of Charlie/Nash), Cyborg Zangief (very enhanced defense), U.S. Agent and Mephisto (PaletteSwap characters of Captain America and Blackheart), in addition to boss characters Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma.

** ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'': Getting a certain amount of points either offline or online will unlock Taskmaster, [[StreetFighter Akuma]], [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Hsien-Ko]], and [[Franchise/{{X-Men}} Sentinel.]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Phantasmagoria of Flower View]]'' you can unlock Merlin and Lunasa Prismrivers if you complete the NintendoHard Extra Mode with Komachi and Shikieiki. Given that this game is from BulletHell genre, many casual players won't even try this (it's like the story mode, but with number of bullets on [[HarderThanHard Lunatic]] standards, both you and opponent having [[OneHitPointWonder one hit point]] while she has the invincibility time for the beginning of the fight, and without any spare lives or continues).

* In racing games, you often have [[UnlockableContent secret vehicles]] rather than secret [[CharacterizationTropes ''characters'']]. Though some games like the VideoGame/MarioKart series are character driven enough to qualify.

* ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden'': In order to play as Gaia and Sho, the two bosses, you had to enter two codes on the title screen before the options showed up, then select either [[RyuAndKen Eiji or Kayin]] while holding certain down certain buttons on the D-pad

** {{VideoGame/Marvel Super Heroes}}: [[MidBoss Doctor Doom]] and [[FinalBoss Thanos]], along with the very much broken and incomplete test character [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Anita.]]
** MarvelSuperHeroesVsStreetFighter: Several. We have Armored {{Spider-Man}} (increased defense but lowered speed), [[StreetFighterAlpha Evil Sakura]] (Sakura with an Akuma/Evil Ryu-inspired movelist), [[VideoGame/{{X-MenVsStreetFighter}} Shadow]] (a powerful PaletteSwap of Charlie/Nash), Cyborg Zangief (very enhanced defense), U.S. Agent and Mephisto (PaletteSwap characters of Captain America and Blackheart), in addition to boss characters Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma.
** MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes: The Marvel secret characters are different palette swaps of the Hulk (gives him his Marvel Super Heroes movelist and properties), War Machine (has incredible defense and armor, now fires missiles instead of lasers) and Venom (becomes the fastest and weakest character in the game), while the Capcom side has Shadow Lady (Chun-Li transformed into a cyborg ala Shadow), [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Lilith-Mode Morrigan]] (Morrigan with Lilith's color scheme and properties) and [[{{Megaman}} Roll]] (a JokeCharacter who has Megaman's movelist).

** MarvelVsCapcom3: Getting a certain amount of points either offline or online will unlock Taskmaster, [[StreetFighter Akuma]], [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Hsien-Ko]], and [[Franchise/{{X-Men}} Sentinel.]]

** TatsunokoVsCapcom: In the original version (''Cross Generation of Heroes''), [[QuizNanairoDreams Saki Omakane]], Hakushon Daimao, Ippatsuman and ViewtifulJoe needed to be unlocked by beating the game a certain number of times with either a Tatsunoko or Capcom character, and then purchased in the store. In the updated version ''Ultimate All-Stars'', the above four (save Daimao for licensing reasons) were made into starting characters. Now, TekkamanBlade, [[ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman Joe The Condor]], [[DeadRising Frank West]], and [[MegamanX Zero]] are unlocked only by beating the game with a set number of characters from both sides. Beating the game with Blade, Joe, Frank and Zero would unlock Anime/{{Yatterman}}-2.

** XMenChildrenOfTheAtom: Aside from bosses [[MidBoss Juggernaut]] and [[FinalBoss Magneto]], we also have [[StreetFighterII Akuma.]]

** MarvelSuperHeroesVsStreetFighter: Several. We have Armored {{Spider-Man}} (increased defense but lowered speed), [[StreetFighterAlpha Evil Sakura]] (Sakura with an Akuma/Evil Ryu-inspired movelist), [[XMenVsStreetFighter Shadow]] (a powerful PaletteSwap of Charlie/Nash), Cyborg Zangief (very enhanced defense), U.S. Agent and Mephisto (PaletteSwap characters of Captain America and Blackheart), in addition to boss characters Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma.

* ''VideoGame/StarFox Assault'' 's Multiplayer mode lets you play as the core Star Fox team, but Wolf O' Donnell can be unlocked. He has the same total stats as Fox, but with three maxed out skills (a maxed out speed in particular that lets him run around all the other characters), he is considered by some to be a GameBreaker.
* ''RaidenFighters Jet'' has the Slave and Fairy planes, unlockable by holding the bomb button when pressing Start at the title screen. The Slave will replace whichever plane you select, inheriting its movement speed and bomb; the Miclus is replaced by the Fairy instead.

* In the [=iOS=] port of [[DonPachi Daifukkatsu]] you can unlock [[spoiler: Hibachi]] as a playable ship. And it is just as powerfull as it's boss counterpart.