History PaperThinDisguise / Videogames

** Game Freak must really like this trope, since it's used ''again'' in ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet''. [[NonGivingUpSchoolGuy Director Clavell]] disguises himself as a student named Clive in order to join you on your mission to take out Team Star. Said disguise consists of putting on a (mismatched) school uniform, switching out his glasses for different ones, and putting on a pompadour wig (the fact that he's an old man is actually ''not'' part of what makes his disguise paper-thin as there are actual students that old at the academy [[note]]It’s not quite clear what the average age-range for students at the academy is, if it is more like a boarding school, a college, or both. There are plenty of older people who go to colleges in RealLife, so this is TruthInTelevision[[/note]]). Like with the Masked Royal, you can see through the disguise immediately, and continue to address him as Director Clavell every time you encounter him (to which he will continue to insist that he's not). Even the alternative dialogue options sound more like you're just playing along rather than genuinely being fooled. Penny, however, is completely fooled by the disguise... though she does admit the pompadour was ridiculous once he "reveals" himself.
*** During one of Clavell's side stories, he says he heard "from a friend" that pompadours are a popular hairstyle. The player can ask if this "friend" is Clive, but it again sounds like they're just playing along instead of actually thinking Clavell and Clive are different people.

** Sudowoodo is a tree mimic (it's not a Grass-type at all) who tries to pass as an ordinary tree, and usually stands out if you pay any inkling of attention. In ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', you can run into hordes of Trevenant ([[WhenTreesAttack which are actual haunted trees]]) with a single Sudowoodo trying to pass itself off as being part of the horde.

*** Your team encounters the "Beauty Thief" and even deduces that she goes to your school... yet it takes some genuine diving to figure out which of the classmates with the floofy auburn hair that you've had recent run-ins with and is the daughter of the owner of the building you're breaking into.

** Game Freak must really like this trope, since it's used ''again'' in ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet''. [[NonGivingUpSchoolGuy Director Clavell]] disguises himself as a student named Clive in order to join you on your mission to take out Team Star. Said disguise consists of putting on a school uniform, switching out his glasses for different ones, and styling his hair up in a ridiculous pompadour (the fact that he's an old man is actually ''not'' part of what makes his disguise paper-thin as there are actual students that old at the academy [[note]]It’s not quite clear what the average age-range for students at the academy is, if it is more like a boarding school, a college, or both. There are plenty of older people who go to colleges in RealLife, so this is TruthInTelevision[[/note]]). Like with the Masked Royal, you can see through the disguise immediately, and continue to address him as Director Clavell every time you encounter him (to which he will continue to insist that he's not). Even the alternative dialogue options sound more like you're just playing along rather than genuinely being fooled.

** Game Freak must really like this trope, since it's used ''again'' in ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet''. [[NonGivingUpSchoolGuy Director Clavell]] disguises himself as a student named Clive in order to join you on your mission to take out Team Star. Said disguise consists of putting on a school uniform, switching out his glasses for different ones, and styling his hair up in a ridiculous pompadour (the fact that he's an old man is actually ''not'' part of what makes his disguise paper-thin as there are actual students that old at the academy). Like with the Masked Royal, you can see through the disguise immediately, and continue to address him as Director Clavell every time you encounter him (to which he will continue to insist that he's not). Even the alternative dialogue options sound more like you're just playing along rather than genuinely being fooled.

** Amusingly enough, a Gormotti {{NPC}} ''does'' pick up that Pyra is the Blade the Ardanians are looking for (despite Rex's protests that ''[[BlatantLies he]]'' [[BlatantLies could be a Blade and Pyra is his Driver]]), but fortunately, he's on the party's side. It also makes a bit more sense why the Ardanians only have Pyra's core color to go on when you realize [[spoiler: they were probably expecting to find [[AlternateSelf Mythra]] instead, based on Brighid's diary.]]

** Part of the reason for the cloak is to cover up Pyra's distinctive emerald [[HeartDrive Core Crystal]], which the Ardanian soldiers were told to look for (apparently with [[FailedASpotCheck no other distinguishing features to go on]]). Half of that Core Crystal is also in Rex's chest to [[FirstEpisodeResurrection patch a stab wound he took from Jin]] at the start of the game. Nobody considers that it might be a good idea for him to cover his chest as well, but like Pyra, it doesn't end up mattering. You can stroll right up to Captain Padraig and he won't catch on until his scripted fight later on.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', Nastasia dresses Luigi in black clothes and provides him with a mask, so Mario, Peach and Bowser won't find out that Mr. L is really BrainwashedAndCrazy Luigi. However, he keeps his hat, his mustache, his way of moving, his shoes.... virtually everything about him is shouting: "HEY, I'M-A LUIGI IN-A EVIL-COSTUME!!!" Naturally, none of the other main characters -- not even his own twin brother (though admittedly since he's a SilentProtagonist it's hard to tell) -- manages to recognize him in this getup. Averted in ''Manga/SuperMarioMangaMania'' wherein Mario and Bowser are not only ''not'' fooled but Bowser even makes fun of Luigi for honestly thinking his "disguise" would work.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', Nastasia dresses Luigi in black clothes and provides him with a mask, so Mario, Peach and Bowser won't find out that Mr. L is really BrainwashedAndCrazy Luigi. However, he keeps his hat, his mustache, his way of moving, his shoes.... virtually everything about him is shouting: "HEY, I'M-A LUIGI IN-A EVIL-COSTUME!!!" Naturally, none of the other main characters -- not even his own twin brother (though admittedly since he's a SilentProtagonist it's hard to tell) -- manages to recognize him in this getup. Averted in ''Manga/SuperMarioAdventures'' wherein Mario and Bowser are not only ''not'' fooled but Bowser even makes fun of Luigi for honestly thinking his "disguise" would work.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', Nastasia dresses Luigi in black clothes and provides him with a mask, so Mario, Peach and Bowser won't find out that Mr. L is really BrainwashedAndCrazy Luigi. However, he keeps his hat, his mustache, his way of moving, his shoes.... virtually everything about him is shouting: "HEY, I'M-A LUIGI IN-A EVIL-COSTUME!!!" Naturally, none of the other main characters -- not even his own twin brother (though admittedly since he's a SilentProtagonist it's hard to tell) -- manages to recognize him in this getup.

* In ''VideoGame/YuGiOhReshefOfDestruction'', as Sol Chevalsky, Pegasus changes his name, ties his hair back, and wears an eyepatch. Nobody recognizes him until the Millennium Eye is received and reveals his image instead of Pegasus's normal appearance.

** Game Freak must really like this trope, since it's used ''again'' in ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet''. Director Clavell disguises himself as a student named Clive in order to join you on your mission to take out Team Star. Said disguise consists of putting on a school uniform, switching out his glasses for different ones, and styling his hair up in a ridiculous pompadour (the fact that he's an old man is actually ''not'' part of what makes his disguise paper-thin as there are actual students that old at the academy). Like with the Masked Royal, you can see through the disguise immediately, and continue to address him as Director Clavell every time you encounter him (to which he will continue to insist that he's not). Even the alternative dialogue options sound more like you're just playing along rather than genuinely being fooled.

* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'': For your first quest for House Hlaalu, you're handed the helmet of a very-recently deceased Redoran soldier and told to steal some coded orders from Ald'ruhn by [[DeadPersonImpersonation impersonating them]]. There ae a couple of {{Contrived Coincidence}}s at work that make this disguise at all plausible (The particular soldier you're impersonating was known for wearing said helmet at all times to conceal a hideous battle scar, and you happen to sound exactly like them anyway), but in practice, you can walk through Ald'ruhn stark naked and, as long as you're wearing the helmet, the Redorans will be none the wiser even if you are obviously not a Dunmer. This mission, and the absurdity of this disguise, are referenced with the ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsLegends Legends]]'' card "Imposter's Mission". The card spawns a tubby Orc "[[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Legends:Imposter Imposter]]" who can't even wear the helm ''properly'' because of how thick his head is (though humorously, the Imposter's race is still listed as "Dark Elf").

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', your first quest for House Hlaalu is to impersonate a ([[DeadPersonImpersonation very-recently deceased]]) Redoran soldier and steal some coded orders from Ald'ruhn. Your questgiver does state that the disguise only works because A) [[ContrivedCoincidence You happen to sound exactly like the soldier you're impersonating]] and B) That particular soldier was known for wearing their helmet all the time to conceal a hideous battle scar, but in practice, the helmet is the ''only'' thing you need to wear. As long as you are wearing that helmet, you could walk into Ald'ruhn stark naked and, even if you are obviously not a Dunmer, the Redorans would be none the wiser.
** This mission, and the absurdity of this disguise, are referenced with the ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsLegends Legends]]'' card "Imposter's Mission". The card spawns a tubby Orc "[[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Legends:Imposter Imposter]]" who can't even wear the helm ''properly'' because of how thick his head is.

** Averted in ''Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective'', where Perducci's disguise is pulled off by using another actor.

** Still applies but given more nuance in the ''VideoGame/WorldOfAssassinationTrilogy'' (''VideoGame/Hitman2016, VideoGame/Hitman2, VideoGame/Hitman3''). Disguises will work on most under the HandWave "people see uniforms more than faces", but specific "enforcers" will see through them. The example given is a mechanic crew chief, who knows his workers and will see through the mechanic disguise.

** Still applies but given more nuance in the World of Assassination trilogy (''VideoGame/Hitman2016, VideoGame/Hitman2, VideoGame/Hitman3''). Disguises will work on most under the HandWave "people see uniforms more than faces", but specific "enforcers" will see through them. The example given is a mechanic crew chief, who knows his workers and will see through the mechanic disguise.

** For another ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' example, Devdan/Danved in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' has a disguise that's ''beyond'' paper thin. His constant denial is absolutely the only evidence that the two are not the same.
** In ''Blazing Sword'', the player's army sneaks into Bern. The three lords don ragged brown cloaks without hoods. This is somewhat effective with Hector and Lyn, but Eliwood never bothers to take off his highly visible crown.
** Another ''Fire Emblem'' example, in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', [[MysteriousWaif Azura]] at one points dons an outfit that is completely identical to her normal outfit save for being black and having a transparent veil covering the lower half of her face. Absolutely nobody recognizes her. Even when she starts dancing and singing "[[{{Leitmotif}} Lost in Thoughts All Alone]]", everyone just wonders who this mysterious woman they've never seen before could possibly be.

* The "Definitely Not Blitzcrank" skin in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. It's [[KillerRobot Blitzcrank]] with Groucho glasses and in a suit. The splash art even shows the silhouette of someone who's clearly stunned at the sight.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft: Wrath of the Lich King'', this trope is PlayedForLaughs. During the Death Knight (An unstoppable, undead killing machine) quest chain, you are required to intercept a messenger. You do this by disguising yourself as... a tree. Made of cardboard. Said messenger promptly remarks "[[TooDumbToLive What a strange tree. I must investigate]]". Shortly before the player leaps out and stabs him to death.

* ''VideoGame/RedAlert3'': Zigzagged: On the one hand, the only way to remove an infiltrated Spy (looks like an infantry unit) or Sudden Transport 'looks like a vehicle)'s disguise is to bring a detector animal, or happen to click on them on notice they don't respond/see them headed the opposite way to the rest of your army. On the other hand, the disguises can be blatantly fake, like an infantry unit swimming, a ship or aircraft on land, or a MightyGlacier zipping around at the transport's speed. Can even happen in-universe in the second Empire campaign, where a transport infiltrates a Soviet base to be carried away and take over a base from inside.

* In the SNES ''Videogame/{{Shadowrun}}'' game, two morgue workers become terrified of Jake after [[WakingUpInAMorgue he rises from the slab they left him on]] (thinking he's a zombie), and refuse to have anything to do with him. Jake solves this problem by donning a pair of sunglasses, which stops them recognizing him.

* In the SNES ''Videogame/{{Shadowrun}}'' game, two morgue workers become terrified of Jake after [[WakingUpInTheMorgue he rises from the slab they left him on]] (thinking he's a zombie), and refuse to have anything to do with him. Jake solves this problem by donning a pair of sunglasses, which stops them recognizing him.

* In the SNES ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', two morgue workers become terrified of Jake after he rises from the slab they left him on (thinking he's a zombie), and refuse to have anything to do with him. Jake solves this problem by donning a pair of sunglasses, which stops them recognizing him.

** Similarly, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'', the nighttime black market is run by the same person who runs the regular daytime market... in the same building. His "disguise" is a pair of sunglasses and taking off his wig.
*** Also in ''Majora's Mask'', a few of the non-transformative masks (namely Don Gero's Mask, the Captain's Hat, and the Gibdo Mask), will make certain people and/or monsters believe you are someone or something else.
*** Hilarious subversion: If you put on the Captain's Hat in your fight with the undead King Ikana, he is briefly struck speechless at the sight of [[TheDragon Captain Keeta]]...but he realizes the somewhat major size difference between [[KidHero Link]] and [[GiantMook Keeta]].

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', you can buy homemade monster disguise masks from a special merchant obsessed with monsters. They mostly look like button-eyed sockpuppets, but they're still enough to fool members of the species that each mask matches. The only exception to this rule are [[BossInMookClothing Lynels]]: whereas the other species are fooled by their respective masks until attacked or weeded out by another species, Lynels will only be fooled by their mask for a minute and see through it as soon as you do anything funny.

** In ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'', the Koopa Bros. boss fight start off piloting a boxy, conspicuously fake disguise of Bowser. The four Koopa Troopas inside converse with each other loudly enough for Mario to overhear while in disguise, which doesn't help much, either.
*** There's also an example in Crystal Palace. At one point, Mario has to kick Kooper into a small hole, and then he comes out with four Duplighosts claiming to be him. However, they've taken on the forms and speech patterns of Kolorado, Koopa Koot, Goompa, and Luigi, with the last one even calling Mario "Bro." Naturally, Kooper is not amused.
** In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', "Four-Eyes", one of the members on the sailing crew you join up with is obviously Lord Crump, TheDragon to the head of the X-Nauts. Although no one notices, Crump himself admits that his disguise is pretty bad, and in an aside he does ask the person [[FourthWall 'behind the TV']] not to tell Mario his real identity or else, also lampshading the ridiculousness of the disguise in the process.
*** Additionally, Mario can "disguise" as Luigi by wearing the L Badge. All this does is PaletteSwap his clothes to green, but it's still enough for a self-proclaimed Luigi fan to mistake Mario for the real thing, to the point that when the real Luigi suddenly shows up the fan accuses him of being an impostor. It seems Luigi can [[ButtMonkey never get any respect.]]

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', Shadow Mario commits vandalism on Isle Delfino and the Piantas believe Mario to be the culprit, as despite the fact that Shadow Mario is totally blue with a watery texture and that ''Mario wasn't even on the island'' when the vandalism took place.
** In the same game, Il Piantissimo, a guy disguised as a Pianta with a mask that doesn't cover his chin, fake hands and feet while the rest of his body is highly visible.

** Used in ''VideoGame/LegoStarWars'' where a disguise is a moustache. Even on the women.

** The mustache disguise is particularly amusing in the vehicle levels, where the ''spaceships'' wear mustaches...