History Videogame / Skylanders

* GreenAesop: The trolls are guilty of multiple kinds of environmental damage in both character bios and ''Spyro's Adventure'' itself, including offshore oil drilling (Wham Shell's bio) and deforestation (Stump Smash's bio, and witnessed firsthand when searching for the Eternal Life Source).

* IKnowMaddenKombat: Terrafin, Bouncer, Night Shift and Roller Brawl were all sports stars before joining the Skylanders, with both Terrafin and Night Shift being boxers, Bouncer being the Skylands version of a baseball player and Roller Brawl being a roller blader.

* MoodWhiplash: The Skylander's backstories can vary wildly in tone. On one hand, there are characters like Sonic Boom (a full-on tragic backstory which deprives her of her children) and Wham Shell (the troubled prince of an undersea kingdom) with serious and dark backstories. On the other hand, there are completely silly ones like Shroom Boom (a mushroom who escaped being turned into Kaos' pizza).

* PostEndGameContent: Swap Force has TIme Attack and Score Mode that unlock after beating the game. Time Attack tasks you with finishing the level as quickly as you can, and Score Mode has you trying to score as many points as possible. Both of these modes reward stars for your Portal Master rank.

* PublicDomainSoundtrack: The music during the final boss against Kaos in ''Trap Team'', the third phase is based on "Mars, The Bringer of War", while the final phase is "Night on Bald Mountain".

* ShoutOut: Skylanders features many shoutout to all types of media, so many it's got its [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ShoutOut/Skylanders own page.]]

* SuperHeroSchool: Skylander Academy, the HubLevel of ''Trap Team'' and ''[=SuperChargers=]''. Since the only actual staff members we see are Buzz and Mags, it's also a TwoTeacherSchool.

* UncannyValley: The Wilikin are a race of wooden doll people who creep out almost everyone who interacts with them.

Unfortunately, the sales of both the figures and the games had begun to decline by a significant amount by the latest game, a drop usually attributed to the oversaturation of the toys-to-life market. 2016's ''Imaginators'' was the last major game in the series, and there have been no new projects for the franchise, though Spyro himself [[VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy continues to live on]]. With the closure of the series' last remaining mobile games and no talks of reviving the series, it seems as if the ''Skylanders'' franchise is indefinitely on hiatus, and may not be returning any time soon.

* CharacterClassSystem: Used in ''Imaginators'', as custom characters have ten classes to choose from and there are two Senseis of each class. The classes include [[HeroesPreferSwords Knight]], [[WizardClassic Sorcerer]], [[GoodOldFisticuffs Brawler]], [[ArcherArchetype Bowslinger]], [[{{BFG}} Bazooker]], Smasher, [[DoubleWeapon Sentinel]], [[DualWielding Swashbuckler]], [[GunsAkimbo Quickshot]], and {{Ninja}}.

* CharacterClassSystem: Used in ''Imaginators'', as custom characters have ten classes to choose from and there are two Senseis of each class. The classes include [[HeroesPreferSwords Knight]], [[WizardClassic Sorcerer]], [[GoodOldFisticuffs Brawler]], [[ArcherArchetype Bowslinger]], [[{{BFG}} Bazooker]], [[DropTheHammer Smasher]], [[DoubleWeapon Sentinel]], [[DualWielding Swashbuckler]], [[GunsAkimbo Quickshot]], and {{Ninja}}.

Unfortunately, the sales of both the figures and the games had begun to decline by a significant amount by the latest game, a drop usually attributed to the oversaturation of the toys-to-life market. 2016’s ''Imaginators'' was the last major game in the series, and as of 2023 there have been no new projects for the franchise, though Spyro himself [[VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy continues to live on]]. With the closure of the series’ last remaining mobile games and no talks of reviving the series, it seems as if the ''Skylanders'' franchise is indefinitely on hiatus, and may not be returning any time soon.

* AchievementSystem: While the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}} and UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}} versions have system-standard Achievements/Trophies, the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} version includes them too, where they are known as "Accolades" and accessible from the in-game menu. ''Giants'' also adds figurine-specific achievements known as "Quests" which are saved and stored with the individual toy (even those not officially promoted with the Series 2 lineup), and unlock metallic "Top Hat" items for the figure to wear.

* ElementalPowers: Every Skylander is classified under one of ten elements -- [[PlayingWithFire Fi]][[MagmaMan re]], [[MakingASplash Wat]][[AnIcePerson er]], [[BlowYouAway Air]], [[DishingOutDirt Ear]][[GemstoneAssault th]], [[GreenThumb Li]][[TheBeastmaster fe]], [[TheUndead Un]][[{{Necromancer}} de]][[CastingAShadow ad]], [[FunctionalMagic Magic]], [[ClockPunk Tech]], and beginning in ''Trap Team'' [[LightEmUp Light]] and [[CastingAShadow Dark]]. But not every Skylander posesses an attack or ability matching their element -- for example, Spyro (Magic) wields fire breath, while Sonic Boom (Air) has no wind-based attacks whatsoever, and instead can use [[MakeMeWannaShout sound]] attacks. See the [[Characters/{{Skylanders}} Skylanders character sheet]] for details.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The game plays out much more like a ''VideoGame/KameoElementsOfPower'' sequel than a ''Spyro'' game. To wit - you play an elemental master switching between a horde of googly-eyed collectable elemental monsters, either solo or co-op, through an ActionAdventure / BeatEmUp fantasy world floating in the sky filled with googly-eyed, brightly colored creatures; each of these creatures has three skills which can be upgraded in ways that change both the monster's and the attack's appearance. All while being advised by the floating disembodied head of a grandfatherly wizard. The general plot (an evil apprentice betrays their kingdom, curses the kingdom's elemental monster protectors to gain control of a floating world) is fairly similar, too.
** The 3DS version plays a lot like the original Spyro games, and some have even compared it to the classic ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' games.

* EarthShatteringKaboom: In ''Trap Team'', Chef Pepper Jack raids the Phoenix Psanctuary to steal a Phoenix Chicken egg, with which he plans to make an "extra spicy omelette" that could destroy all of Skylands. [[BigEater Flynn]] has to be reminded at least once that said omelette, no matter how tasty it may sound, is still a bomb.

* EvilerThanThou: The Darkness proves to be this when compared to Kaos in ''[=SuperChargers=]'', trying to consume all the sky and magic in Skylands so he can conquer the universe.

** In ''Spyro's Adventure'', selecting "No" when asked to enter a certain level will cause the player to be able to talk to a certain NPC. ''The same one to talk to in order to enter the level''.

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Happened to the core Skylanders with each successive game's gimmick Skylanders. [[FranchiseOriginalSin It wasn't too bad]] with ''Giants'' due to players only needing one Giant for specific obstacles and could use core Skylanders to open the elemental gates. However, in ''Swap Force'' and ''Trap Team'', players needed Swap Force or Trap Masters of each element to complete the game 100%, which included opening the elemental gates, so every other Skylander was optional. Reduced with ''[=SuperChargers=]'' as the gimmick involves vehicles, and any Skylander can drive any vehicle, although the [=SuperCharger=] Skylanders are the only ones who can customize vehicles, and get a buff when they drive their personal vehicle. Plus the ''[=SuperChargers=]'' toyline doesn't even ''have'' "normal" Skylanders in it.