History NonIndicativeName / VideoGames

[[AC:Games]]
* ''VideoGame/DoubleOhSevenRacing'' sounds like a racing game, especially considering it came out in 2000 -- amidst the late-90s trend where every franchise needs to have a racing game spinoff. But it's not, it's a game where players control Franchise/JamesBond across a series of driving-based missions.

* Nobody wields a battle axe in ''VideoGame/BattleAxe''.

* ''VideoGame/CharlieNinja'' have the players assuming the role of two ninjas named Roy and Lon. At no point is there a ninja named "Charlie" in the game. (Instead, the game is named after its character designer, Charlie Arai)
* While ''VideoGame/ChocoboRacing'' is a racing game, nobody does so on a chocobo. There are two playable chocobos, though that's a minority of the ten characters you can choose.

* ''VideoGame/CrusaderKingsII'': While it is possible to play as a Catholic the game also featured other Christians, Muslims, Jews, a LOT of different pagans, Zarathustrians, Buddhists, Hindus and Jainists. Additionally, besides kings, there are also counts, dukes, emperors, doges, khans and Gengis Khans playable.

* The official English translation of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' titles the fifth chapter "100 Mile Dash! Problems of a Junk Food Junkie". This title has nothing to do with the events of the case, and was likely a [[LostInTranslation translation error.]]

** ''Donkey Kong Circus'' does not take place in a circus. That part of the name is leftover from when the game was gonna be a Mickey Mouse game called "Mickey Mouse Circus".

* ''Franchise/DoubleDragon''
** ''Super Double Dragon'' was a ContinuityReboot, but the Japanese version (''Return of Double Dragon'') was titled in a way that seems to imply that it was continuation of the previous arcade/NES trilogy. Certain plot details, such as the Lee brothers's home being moved from New York to Los Angeles and Marian working as a policewoman when the original version of the character had no such occupation, makes it impossible to fit ''Super Double Dragon'' with previous games.
** Likewise, the Tradewest-developed ''Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls'', was a fighting game based on the ''WesternAnimation/DoubleDragon1993'' animated series and not a sequel to any of the previous games. At the time, there was no game actually called ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonIV'' (which wouldn't be released until 2018), which seems to suggests that Tradewest was counting ''Super Double Dragon'' as the fourth installment

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** Despite the name of the series, it's only in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' that the titular "Elder Scrolls" have started actually being an important part of the plot, although one is part of a sidequest in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', [[spoiler:being used to break the curse on the Gray Cowl by using it to learn the name of the thief who originally stole it]].

* ''VideoGame/LEGOStarWars: The Complete Saga'', the third game in the series, ''was'' accurately titled upon release, being an adaptation of the Original and Prequel Trilogies. [[UnCancelled Then the Sequel Trilogy happened.]]
* ''VideoGame/TheLionKing'' names several levels after songs from the movie it was based on. However, the level "Be Prepared" has nothing to do with the song "Be Prepared", which is instead used as background music to the "Elephant Graveyard" level.

** ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 2'' has no references to the Star Force that gave you your SuperMode in the first game. Solo/Rogue, introduced in the second game, is only half-non-indicative; he does prefer to work "solo", but he hasn't gone rogue from anything, to the point where his entire character is focused on loyalty to his [[LastOfHisKind vanished homeland]], nor does he demonstrate any particular talent for stealth or theft -- the one time he actually goes a-stealin', his actual ''objective'' ends up in Omega-Xis' stomach.

* ''VisualNovel/MilkInsideABagOfMilkInsideABagOfMilk'': The sequel shows that the girl bought a carton of milk, not a bag.

* ''VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors'': As the title suggests, the game feature nine people that have nine hours to find their way through nine doors. However while they start out with nine people, the ninth member of the party is killed off before the opening cutscene is even over, meaning that the game only has eight participants. And while [[spoiler:his bracelet can still work and thus participate, later on it's revealed there's more people stuck with them with their own bracelet, pushing the participant number higher than nine]]. There are also more than nine doors, with [[spoiler:the reveal that the "9" door found is not the true one, and the second one is the one that really leads to the exit.]] Finally, [[spoiler:the True Ending actually lasts longer than the allotted nine hours, with the final puzzle happening as the group tries to escape the apparent sinking. The reveal that there was never any danger of drowning proves that there was actually no time limit at all.]]

** Due to trademark issues, the title for the franchise was changed from ''Biohazard'' to ''Resident Evil'' after the mansion that the first game is set. It becomes an ArtifactTitle when the following games started taking place in police departments, towns and cities, Africa, etc.

* ''VideoGame/SpeedyEggbert''; the main character is neither particularly speedy, nor is he called Eggbert. His name is Blupi in case you're wondering.
* Despite the title, ''VideoGame/SpiderManAndVenomSeparationAnxiety'' is not based on the miniseries where Eddie Brock gets separated from his symbiote (hence the title) and has to help Scream and her fellow Life Foundation symbiotes on how to control themselves. Rather, the game is based on the ''ComicBook/VenomLethalProtector'' miniseries, which preceded ''Separation Anxiety''.

* ''Franchise/StreetFighter''
** The only connection between the rest of the franchise and ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010: The Final Fight'' is the main character's name, Ken, and even that doesn't apply to the Japanese version.
** The puzzle game spin-off ''Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo'' is [[SelfDeprecation a play on]] ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII Turbo''. [[CapcomSequelStagnation It is not a "super" or "turbo" edition of an existing game]], nor is there more than one ''Puzzle Fighter'' game in the series, unless you count all the ports that came afterward.

* Played with in ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}''. Specifically, with the character Souka Tsukihime, who, despite the coincidence, is a [[ThoseTwoGuys very minor character]].
* The main character in ''VideoGame/TwinBlades'' uses a single blade. There's not a player two to be the twin, either. Maybe the scythe is double-sided?

* In summer of 2023, Platform/{{Steam}} held a "Steam Shmup Fest" to promote ShootEmUp games on the platform. However, many of the games featured were not purely shmup games, with their main connection at most being that they have BulletHell elements, such as ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'' ({{roguelike}}) and ''VideoGame/RabiRibi'' (PlatformGame, with [[UnexpectedShmupLevel a single proper-shmup segment]]). Even more strangely, some games that ''are'' clearly shmups, such as ''VideoGame/TerraFlame'', got initially rejected because [[https://twitter.com/Terarin55/status/1707170591785255059 for unknown reasons, they were not considered examples of the genre]].

* In summer of 2023, Platform/{{Steam}} held a "Steam Shmup Fest" to promote ShootEmUp games on the platform. However, many of the games featured were not purely shmup games, with their main connection at most being that they have BulletHell elements, such as ''VideoGame/VampiorSurvivors'' ({{roguelike}}) and ''VideoGame/RabiRibi'' (PlatformGame). Even more strangely, some games that ''are'' clearly shmups, such as ''VideoGame/TerraFlame'', got initially rejected because [[https://twitter.com/Terarin55/status/1707170591785255059 for unknown reasons, they were not considered examples of the genre]].

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' has an attack called "Drain." Instead of [[LifeDrain draining HP]] or [[ManaDrain Flower points]], it's a weak fireball attack (in Japan, it's called "Fireball").

* The Family Computer (or Famicom for short name), the Japanese version of the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem (NES), is not usually remembered as a home computer, despite Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s early attempt at marketing it as one with the Family BASIC programming kit for hobbyists. This is probably why its successor, the Super Famicom (the Japanese version of the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super NES]]), used the shortened name instead (aside from the fact that's what everyone calls the console anyway).
* The [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis]] was actually Creator/{{Sega}}'s second video game console in North America, following the [[UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem Master System]]. It was otherwise known as the Mega Drive everywhere else. Incidentally, the Mega Drive is actually considered to be the ''fifth'' Sega console in Japan (hence its internal code name, the Mark V), even though the SG-1000 II and the Master System (the Mark II and IV) were just remodeled versions of the original [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems SG-1000]] and the Sega Mark III respectively.
* The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, despite its name, actually uses an 8-bit CPU, specifically an overclocked version of the MOS 6502 previously employed by various 8-bit computers (such as the Atari 8-bit line and the UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}}), as well as the NES.[[note]]It did however use a pair of 16-bit [=GPUs=].[[/note]] In Japanese, the console was released under the similarly misleading name PC Engine, likely due to NEC trademarking the term "PC" for their range of computers in Japan (e.g. PC-8801, PC-9801). Its (even) less successful successor ended up being named the PC-FX.
* The UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, without the Game Boy Player attachment, is a rectangular prism; 6 in by 6 in by 4.3 in.
* The UsefulNotes/XboxOne is the third game console released by Microsoft, following the original UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} and the UsefulNotes/Xbox360. Prior to this, "Xbox 1" used to be an unofficial retronym for the original Xbox, but this naturally felt into disuse and now everyone just refers to the first console as the "original Xbox" or rarely "Xbox OG."

* Despite the "Swedish Erotica" label used by American Multiple Industries in their porn games for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600 (most notably ''Custer's Revenge''), none of the games had anything to do with Sweden or its people for that matter. The label was simply licensed from a series of adult videos by its parent company Caballero Control Corporation.

** Despite the name of the series, it's only in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' that the titular "Elder Scrolls" have started actually being an important part of the plot.

* PlayedForLaughs with ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'', which proudly advertises itself as not containing a single vampire. (In fact, much of the plot is regarding the characters looking for the non-existent vampire.)

* ''{{VideoGame/Valheim}}'': The greydwarves are about the size of the player when standing straight, while the shamans and brutes are clearly larger. The greylings are clearly smaller, but then their name ''is'' indicative.* [=McCoy-Oni=] from ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'' is not an oni but rather a tanuki. However, his name is a PunnyName based on the Roman expression "me' cojoni", meaning "my balls", in reference to tanuki's huge testicles.
* Played for laughs with ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors, which proudly advertises itself as not containing a single vampire. (In fact, much of the plot is regarding the characters looking for the non-existent vampire.)

* ''Franchise/MetalGear'': The eponymous [[HumongousMecha Metal Gears]] are an example, since they don't look remotely like any kind of metal gear. While "gear" can be used as another word for "mecha", in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' Granin explains the name by the Metal Gear's intended purpose of being the previously "missing link" between infantry and artillery (like a gear in an engine).

* ''VideoGame/DoubleOhSevenRacing'' sounds like a racing game, especially considering it came out in 2000 - amidst the late-90s trend where every franchise needs to have a racing game spinoff. But it's not, it's a game where players control James Bond across a series of driving-based missions.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy'', despite what the name and box art may suggest, has absolutely nothing to do with ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon'' whatsoever; it's actually a VideoGameRemake of ''VideoGame/AceCombat2''.
* The [[RemixedLevel Hard Mode variation]] of the ''VideoGame/AceCombatInfinity'' level "Dubai Night Assault" is actually set during the daytime.

* ''{{VideoGame/Valheim}}'': The greydwarves are about the size of the player when standing straight, while the shamans and brutes are clearly larger. The greylings are clearly smaller, but then their name ''is'' indicative.
* In ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'', you survive against just about everything you'd find in your average MonsterMash ''except'' vampires. Their exclusion is actually an intentional joke by the developers.
** From the "Legacy of the Moonspell" DLC, [=McCoy-Oni=] is not an oni but rather a tanuki. However, his name is a PunnyName based on the Roman expression "me' cojoni", meaning "my balls", in reference to tanuki's huge testicles.
* ''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}}'' doesn't feature any vector graphics at all.

** The battle teams, or "[[TitleDrop splatoons]]" if you will, only have four Inklings/Octolings. They're really more of a [[JustForPun splire team]].

** Team Star Fox has been composed of at most two actual foxes (Fox and Krystal) that are mercenaries. The other guys are a bird, frog, and rabbit, as well as a robot and possibly also [[VideoGame/StarFox2 a lynx and a dog]].
** Likewise, there's only one wolf in Team Star Wolf, [[EgocentricTeamNaming but that might be because of something else...]]

* In ''VideoGame/VampireSurvivors'', you survive against just about everything you'd find in your average MonsterMash ''except'' vampires.

* The developers carried this over to ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' as well, where all thrown melee weapons get lumped under the term "glaive". Not that other weapon categories are exempt from odd nomenclature. Hammers also encompass maces, while the heavy blade category was originally named "axes", despite including greatswords; neither term accurately describes the Zenistar, a large, flaming staff, with a detachable fiery disk that can be shoot. The dual swords category really contains any pairs of bladed weapons that aren't dual daggers, such as short axes, sickles, cleavers, or even a sword paired with a dagger. Meanwhile, single-handed sickles get dumped in the machete category. And there are guns that get called rifles and pistols! The main example being the "Rifle" category of mods, which can be applied on rocket launchers, laser cannons, and even ''bows''.

* Despite the title, ''Franchise/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Venom}}: Separation Anxiety'' is not based on the miniseries where Eddie Brock gets separated from his symbiote (hence the title) and has to help Scream and her fellow Life Foundation symbiotes on how to control themselves. Rather, the game is based on the ''Venom: Lethal Protector'' miniseries, which preceded ''Separation Anxiety''.

** Heck, even ''the games themselves'' fall into this. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' are actually the fifth, eighth, and eleventh games in chronological order. And the latter two are ''incomprehensible'' without playing almost every other game.

*** The '''Ruler''' class, introduced in ''Literature/FateApocrypha'', sounds like a class where you'd find a lot of kings. No. It's a class for people who do not wish for the Holy Grail, and they're supposed to act as regulators for the other Servants... ''Except'' that Amakusa Shirou Tosikada didn't get the memo, because he sure wants that cup. And there are a whole bunch of people in other classes who are not interested in the grail, either.

** The names of the three rival gangs are all over the place with this. Both The ''Brother''hood and The ''Sons'' of Samedi have unisex membership, while The {{Ronin}} (as [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by their own members in NPC-chatter) ''do'' have a leader.
** The name of the Sons of Samedi's signature designer drug, Loa Dust, implies that it's a powdery substance like cocaine, when it's actually a pot-based inhalant. This one gets [[LampshadeHanging called out]] immediately:

** Heck, even ''the games themselves'' fall into this. [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts1 Kingdom Hearts,]] [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts2 Kingdom Hearts II,]] and [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3 Kingdom Hearts III]] are actually the fifth, eigth, and eleventh games in chronological order. And the latter two are ''incomprehensible'' without playing almost every other game.

** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'': Despite her name, Dark Samus has nothing to do with the other "dark" enemies in the game (She's the result of the defeated Metroid Prime absorbing Samus's Phazon Suit at the end of the first game while the other "dark" enemies are organisms and machines [[DemonicPossession possessed]] by the Ing) and, in fact, as a "light world" enemy, she's weak to the [[CastingAShadow Dark Beam]].

* In ''[[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3,]]'' "Blade" is a catch-all term for any weapon that can be summoned into one's hand [[Hammerspace from nowhere,]] including spears, pistols, [[HealingShiv healing rifles,]] [[GoodOldFisticuffs metal boxing gloves,]] boat anchors, and ''a flagpole.''

* In ''[[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3,]]'' "Blade" is a catch-all term for any weapon that can be summoned into one's hand from nowhere, including spears, pistols, [[HealingShiv healing rifles,]] [[GoodOldFisticuffs metal boxing gloves,]] boat anchors, and ''a flagpole.''

* In ''[[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3,]]'' "Blade" is a catch-all term for any weapon that can be summoned into one's hand, including spears, pistols, [[HealingShiv healing rifles,]] [[GoodOldFisticuffs metal boxing gloves,]] boat anchors, and ''a flagpole.''

* The Drivers in [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 ''Xenoblade Chronicles 2'']] don't actually drive...well...anything. In Spanish they're called ''pilotas'' (pilots), which makes...slightly more sense. Their Blades might be a case, too, with them being [[LivingWeapon living weapons]], and their "blades" are called Blade weapons (and many Blade weapons are, of course, cannons or balls).
* In [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3,]] "Blade" is a catch-all term for any weapon that can be summoned into one's hand, including spears, pistols, [[HealingShiv healing rifles,]] [[GoodOldFisticuffs metal boxing gloves,]] boat anchors, and ''a flagpole.''