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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toejamearlcover.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHYdF_-LBI Give 'em that funk! Doo-doo doo!]]'']]
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->"Greetings and various apropos felicitations. My name is [=ToeJam=], and this is my homeboy, Big Rappin' Earl. Yo, say wassup, Earl."\\
"Yo, wassup?"
-->-- 1991 promo rap

[[TotallyRadical Supremely funky alien homeboys]] [=ToeJam=] and "Big" Earl, proud residents of the planet Funkotron, have crashlanded on the decidedly lame and non-funky planet of Earth. The impact, while leaving them unharmed, scattered pieces of their spacecraft all over the planet, and [[GottaCatchEmAll finding all of these pieces]] is the only way to get back home. Sounds simple in principle. The Earth's natives might be a bit of trouble, though...

''[=ToeJam=] & Earl'' is a series of video games known mainly for the titular first entry, released in 1991 on the [[Platform/SegaGenesis Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]]. The first game is an exploration-oriented ActionAdventure game with an overhead perspective and (the option of) randomly-generated [[GameLevel levels]], giving it a {{roguelike}} feel.

The sequels include ''[=ToeJam=] & Earl in Panic on Funkotron'', a two-dimensional PlatformGame released on the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1993, where the duo has made it back home, only to find that several Earthlings have stowed onboard, and are now causing [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Panic on Funkotron]]. ''[=ToeJam=] & Earl III: Mission to Earth'' was a three-dimensional platformer released on Creator/{{Microsoft}}'s Platform/{{Xbox}} in 2002 (the game had been intended for the Platform/{{Dreamcast}}, but after Sega went third-party, it was ported over to the Xbox as part of Sega's quasi-alliance with them at the time). [=ToeJam=] and Earl were also featured in ''Ready, Aim, Tomatoes!'', a pack-in game with the Genesis's Menacer light-gun peripheral. A beta of the third game from when it was intended for the Dreamcast [[http://www.geek.com/games/dreamcast-just-got-a-new-game-and-its-toejam-earl-3-1580775/ was discovered and released]], bearing many more similarities to the first game than the finished product.

In late February 2015, series creator Greg Johnson announced a fourth game in the series, ''Back in the Groove'', that was [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578116861/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/ successfully funded]] on Website/{{Kickstarter}}. It was released in March 2019 and is a return to the style of the original game. Outside of the series, [=ToeJam=] and Earl have also appeared as {{Guest Fighter}}s in other games such as ''VideoGame/SuperIndieKarts'', ''Mighty Fight Federation'' and ''VideoGame/WonderWickets''.

In December 2022, a [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toejam-and-earl-movie-in-the-works-stephen-curry-exclusive-1235275179/ film adaptation]] was announced to be in the works at Creator/AmazonStudios.

----
!!These tropes are jammin'!
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Series-wide]]
%%
%% Note: Back in the Groove has most of the 1st game's and many of the 2nd game's tropes.
%% Tropes that only appear in one of those games and Back in the Groove can go to the older game's folder
%% (if a trope is in only 1 and 4, it can be filed under 1; if it's in 2 and 4, it can be filed under 2).
%%

* AffectionateParody: Critics have interpreted the games as a lighthearted satire of America's urban and hip-hop culture.
* AbnormalAmmo: The original game features tomatoes as the protagonists' weapon of choice. ''Panic on Funkotron'' features jars that capture enemies (though it takes multiple jars to weaken the enemy).
* AccessoryWearingCartoonAnimal: In the first two games, [=ToeJam=] wears a white baseball cap, white gloves, a medallion, and white shoes. In ''Mission to Earth'', he gains a white shirt and blue pants.
* AerithAndBob: One of the characters has the fairly mundane name of Earl. The other is called [=ToeJam=].
* AllMythsAreTrue: Earth is home to ghosts, devils, wizards, boogie men, cupids, monsters, and even Santa Claus.
* BinomiumRidiculus: Many of the Earthlings follow this naming convention, at least in the [[AllInTheManual instruction manual]]. {{Justified|Trope}} in the fact the game is written from the [[HumansThroughAlienEyes perspective of aliens]].
* BrattyHalfPint:
** There are a few child enemy types in ''Panic on Funkotron'', who attack with tomatoes, spitballs and kicking the player in the shins. The shin-kicking child enemies return in ''Mission to Earth''. ''Back in the Groove'' features little girls who perform silly flying kicks... [[KillerRabbit that will take off more health]] than anything else in the game.
** Though not an enemy per se, Lewanda's little brother(s) love messing with their sister's friends.
* ChestMonster:
** The Mailbox Monster, as its name implies, looks exactly like one of the mailboxes you can order presents from, with the exception that it'll occasionally open its eyes to look around, revealing its true nature. They're extremely fast and hit fairly hard, so approaching all mailboxes with extreme caution is advised.
** ''Back in the Groove'' features fake elevators. If you and/or your squad are foolish enough to enter one, it drops you ''down'' a level instead of taking you up. While it doesn't have a semi-obvious tell like the Mailbox Monster, you at least have a brief moment to escape from its clutches once it reveals itself.
* {{Cloudcuckooland}}: Earth is... a very strange place.
%%* CoOpMultiplayer
* DancePartyEnding: All the games feature the protagonists jamming out at the end.
* DisposableDecoyDoppelganger: In the original game, one of the presents is a Decoy, which is a balloon of Toejam or Earl tied to a sandbag. When used, enemy Earthlings will attack it until it is destroyed. While the Earthlings are distracted, Toejam or Earl can easily sneak past them.
* DropInDropOutMultiplayer: After a one-player game is started, a second player can jump in at any time without penalty. It's even [[ExactWords taken literally]] as the second player drops right in where the first player is standing, meaning, in the first game, the first player better move or he'll get crushed by his partner.
* FatAndSkinny: Earl and Toejam, respectively.
* HappyEndingOverride:
** The ending of the first game has the Funkotronians welcoming [=ToeJam=] and Earl back from their trip to earth. The introduction to ''Panic on Funkotron'' reverts it when the inhabitants discover that earthlings have stowed away on their rocketship during their return trip.
** ''Mission to Earth'' overrides the second game's earthling-free happy ending with Lamont explaining that the twelve Sacred Albums of Funk have been stolen.
* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: PlayedForLaughs, obviously. However, there're some Earthlings that will help you out for the right price.
* HyperactiveMetabolism: Food items heal you to varying degrees, generally corresponding to the tastiness or richness of the food (e.g. a hot fudge sundae will heal you more than a bowl of cereal). Some food items in the first game will [[PoisonMushroom harm you instead]]; these take the form of rotten foods.
* InnocentAliens: Toejam and Earl are both very nice. It's the humans who are the enemies.
* JumpScare: Quite a few villains will provide those for the player -- most notoriously the Boogie Man in the first game.
* LittleGirlsKickShins: An enemy Earthling from the second game onward.
* MercyInvincibility: ZigZagged. It only happens when [=ToeJam=] or Earl are SquashedFlat. Otherwise, this can lead to several otherwise-innocuous enemies becoming much more difficult to handle.
* MooksButNoBosses: One of the few gameplay tropes shared between the original game and its sequel. ''Mission to Earth'' does have bosses, but ''Back in the Groove'' returns to this trope.
* MultipleEndings: Beating the game in co-op as [=ToeJam=] and Earl together usually gets you an extended ending of some kind, with ''Panic on Funktron'' additionally having a GoldenEnding for 100% completion.
* MultiplayerOnlyItem: One of the presents available exclusively in a two-player game is called "Togetherness". When used, it brings the other player to the player who used it.
** In single player mode, or after the other player loses all lives, "Togetherness" becomes "Un-Fall", which transports you back to the highest level you've made it to.
* NewJackSwing: Alongside pure hip hop, all 4 games' soundtracks are heavily influenced by new jack swing. It was met with a positive response for the first two games, when the genre was contemporary. The new jack style was heavily criticized in ''Mission To Earth'' for being dated, with Game Informer specifically likening it to 90s time capsules ''Series/InLivingColor'' and ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''. Reviews of ''Back in the Groove'', released at a time when 90s nostalgia was strong, took things full circle and praised the soundtrack for its retro vibe.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: At the end of the first game the guys are received as heroes for surviving a visit to the most dangerous planet in the known universe. That is, until it's discovered that a large number of Earthlings followed them back and are trashing Funkotron. [=ToeJam=] and Earl set out to solve the problem themselves seemingly to avoid being punished for it.
** Also the reaction a character has when the other opens a "Total Bummer!" while they're both on the same screen, meaning they both die instantly. "Thanks a lot."
* {{Not}}: In ''Ready, Aim, Tomatoes!'', if you fail to to rack up enough points needed to advance to the next level, you get this line from the announcer:
-->Good shooting...\\
NOT!!
* {{NPC}}:
** Helpful Earthlings include the Wizard, who will fully heal you for a buck; the Wise Carrot, who will tell you the contents of a given present in your inventory for two bucks; the Opera Singer, who will kill all enemies on the screen [[DreadfulMusician with her voice]] for three; and Santa Claus, who will drop presents from his sack if you can sneak up on him.
** ''Panic on Funkotron'' also has various recurring Funkotronians who will give the player hints on where to find secret areas.
** ''Back in the Groove'' adds a number, including Gandhi, who makes you immune to damage when you're near him, a mysterious stranger who will offer to trade presents, a mechanic who will fix your broken presents for a fee, an Egyptian vizier who will reveal hidden passages, and a dolphin who will replenish your OxygenMeter.
* OurMonstersAreWeird: The series almost rivals ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' for the amount of silly, bizarre enemy types.
* OxygenMeter: Your life bar drains while you're underwater, but it replenishes to what it was when you climb out (or refills when you die and respawn in the water). Use an Inner Tube to avoid having to hold your breath. In ''Back in the Groove'', a Dolphin will replenish your oxygen meter, and there's also an unlockable Fish Power Hat that allows you to breathe underwater when you wear it.
* PlanetOfHats: The series centers on the inhabitants of Funkotron, a planet where everyone is funky and tends to use [[TotallyRadical radical lingo]].
* PlotCoupons: The first game has the pieces of the boys' spaceship so they can escape the planet. Second game has Lamont the Funkapotamus's favorite things, needed to unlock the good ending. ''Mission to Earth'' has the Sacred Albums of Funk.
* ProducePelting: Tomatoes are a surprisingly popular weapon. Even some enemies get in on it.
* RainOfSomethingUnusual: One of the presents is called "Tomato Rain", which, when used, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin makes tomatoes rain down from the sky]]. These tomatoes can hit anyone unlucky enough to be standing under them, whether it be Toejam and Earl themselves, or the enemy Earthlings. ''Back In The Groove'' tomatoes only hurt earthlings, but don't discriminate between good and bad.
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Toejam's "Youch!" in the first game. Toejam and Earl will also yell "Ow!" this way when kicked by a girl in ''Panic on Funkotron''.
* SecretLevel:
** In the first game, the very first level has a hidden entrance to Level 0, where [=ToeJam=] and Earl can get extra lives and chat with some cuties in a hot tub. Getting to the entrance requires a lot of swimming (or Icarus Wings or Rocket Skates), so the players must first acquire some appropriate presents to reach it without drowning. Leaving the secret level returns the players to the highest level they've reached so far.
** The sequel has numerous secret rooms, usually containing loads of presents, health items, or one of the Funkopotamus' favorite things.
* SlippySlideyIceWorld:
** ''Panic on Funkotron'' has icy hills which act as slides Toejam and Earl can ride to reach certain areas.
** Some levels in the third and fourth games are covered in snow, which acts similarly to sand and covers all land besides lakes, which are frozen and slippery. Only floating earthlings can go over the frozen lakes, making them mostly safe to slide around on.
* SurrealHumor: The series' quirky atmosphere is arguably its biggest selling point. The [[TotallyRadical exaggerated 90's verbiage]], new jack soundtrack, and colorful, absurdist tone give the games a lot of charm.
* StarfishAliens: Earl looks relatively humanoid, but Toejam has three legs and two eyestalks with no head. A few of the other residents of Funkotron are equally bizarre-looking.
* SymmetricEffect: All gifts are shared in a two player game when both aliens are on the scene. This is great when the present in question is a level up or free life, not so much when it's a "bummer." The exception to this is the Randomizer gift, which will affect both players' inventories no matter where they are.
* TotallyRadical:
** It would be hard to find someone in RealLife who uses the games' peculiar blend of slang without irony. This probably reaches its peak on the back of ''Panic on Funkotron'''s box, proclaiming "The Boyz R back & in worlds of trouble!"
** Invoked in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxxP1CS1NcM the commercial]] for the second game, where they subtitled a guy talking about the game's selling points in ridiculously over-the-top "street"-speak.
* VideoGameCrueltyPotential:
** You can steal presents from Santa in the first game.
** Friendly [=NPCs=] can be destroyed in all the same ways that enemies can.
** In ''Panic on Funkotron,'' you can drive your neighbors to distraction by continually ringing their doorbell, but unlike stealing presents it serves no practical purpose. Also worth mentioning is "Lil Kid Mode" where you can inflict unlimited damage to [=ToeJam=] and Earl without killing them.
** In ''Mission to Earth'' you can shove humans off into BottomlessPits, even after you've converted them, and even if they were never hostile to begin with.
** ''Back In The Groove'' has the Special Delivery present that allows them to choose another present and apply it to another player of their choice. Sending them a bad present is possible, and there is even an achievement for sending an identified bad present. Also, the Hat of Bunny Ears makes tomatoes more powerful and enables friendly fire with them.
* VideoGameLives:
** In the first game, [=ToeJam=] and Earl start with three extra lives each. An extra life is earned by opening a certain present, getting a lemonade in the secret level, or every third promotion level.
** In the second game, [=ToeJam=] and Earl share a pool of three extra lives, with an extra life earned Every10000Points, up to a maximum of six.
** The third game goes back to the first game's method of each player starting with their own set of three lives each.
* WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath: What happens if your character loses a life in the first and third games. If it's their final life, they will wave goodbye to the fourth wall.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''[=ToeJam=] & Earl'' (1991)]]
%% Note: tropes that appear in this game and Back in the Groove, but not the others, can go here.

* AlcoholHic: Guzzle a Root Beer and the boys will spend a few seconds burping as they walk around. This can awaken sleeping humans.
* ArcWords: "Funk" is easily the series' favorite word, and shows up repeated in numerous contexts.
* BlahBlahBlah: If you jump into the hot tub with the two Wahinis on Level 0, your character will talk with them, exclusively depicted with random utterances of "chat," "giggle" and "titter".
* ABoyAGirlAndABabyFamily: [[spoiler:At the end of the game, [=ToeJam=] is revealed to have two younger twin sisters and a baby sibling of an indeterminate gender in his family.]]
* BinomiumRidiculus: The humans and animals are given "scientific" names that are nothing like the ones of their real life counterparts.
* CanisLatinicus: The instruction booklet gives faux-Latinized names for each type of Earthling that appears in the game. Most memorable of these is Cupid's Latin name: "Cupidus Stupidus."
* CartographySidequest: In the first game, you acquire (experience) points for every map tile you uncover.
* ChestMonster: Variation: the dreaded Mailbox Monster (Mailboxium Donttrustium) disguises itself as a regular mailbox, which you can usually use to order presents, and will attack if you get too close - and aside from waiting to see if eyes randomly appear in the mail slot, this is the only way to distinguish the two. Less notable are the Earthling presents which may or may not summon harmful enemies.
* ComedicUnderwearExposure: Earl's shorts occasionally fall down, revealing his spotted boxer shorts, and he has to stop to pull them up. A rare example of this trope as a gameplay mechanic.
* {{Cutscene}}s: In the first game, when traveling in the elevator to the next level while in Two-Player mode, you can hear a conversation by [=ToeJam=] & Earl, with hilarious results.
* DepravedDentist: One enemy is the Insane Dentist (Painus Maximus). The manual indicates that he delights in causing pain using his workman's drill, but this doesn't come through in the game itself, where he simply chases after you and deals damage on contact, sometimes stopping to cackle like a madman.
* DigAttack: The moles (Diggus Thiefius Yawannakillum) chase after you while burrowed underground. You can see where they are, as they leave dirt piles in their location, and if they catch you, they don't damage you at all, but they steal a random present from you, sometimes more than one.
* DoNotTouchTheFunnelCloud: The Tornado (Spinnius Makemesickium) moves around erratically, but does not affect you unless you come into direct contact with it. If you get caught in it, you don't take damage, but you lose control of your character as it moves around randomly for a few seconds before disappearing, potentially throwing you off the edge of the current floor in the process.
* FragileSpeedster / MightyGlacier: Toejam runs a little faster than Earl, while Earl moves slower than Toejam but has a slightly longer life bar.
* Every10000Points: By exploring the map and revealing portions of it, you gain experience points. You get promotions at certain amounts, which increase your maximum health and give you more lives.
* ExperiencePoints: Earned by opening presents and flipping over map tiles. Your levels expand your health bar.
* FloatingContinent: Each level in the original is a piece of land floating in a void. If you drop off the edge, you will land in the previous level, implying that they are arranged in a vertical stack. [[spoiler:Try falling off the bottom-left corner of Level 1.]]
* FragileSpeedster: [=ToeJam=] is faster than Earl but has a shorter life bar.
* FriendOrFoe: Opening one of the tomato presents in co-op mode. [=ToeJam=] or Earl can lob tomatoes at one another, and they will take damage.
* HealingSpring: The hot tub on level 0 replenishes all your health.
* HyperactiveMetabolism: Food is used as healing items. There are good and bad foods, though, and different degrees of each. Generally the tastier the junk food you find is, the more health it restores.
* IdleAnimation: If you leave them idle too long, they'll actually fall asleep. You then have to mash the buttons a bunch of times to have a disembodied voice yell at them to wake up. [[PoisonMushroom The Schoolbook]] also does this.
* IllTimedSneeze: Though it's incredibly rare (as in, once every few games), [=ToeJam=] and/or Earl may randomly sneeze while sneaking, alerting any nearby enemies to their presence.
* InvoluntaryDance:
** The Wahini (Hawaiinus Bootius Shakium) enemy can distract Toejam and Earl by making them dance compulsively, making them vulnerable to attacks from other Earthlings.
** The Boom Box item distracts enemy Earthlings by making them dance.
* LogoJoke: On the opening screen, Toejam and Earl's rocket flies toward the Sega logo. One of them sneezes, and the ship scoots upward to avoid crashing into it.
* MacGuffin: The ten spaceship parts in the first game and Lamont the Funkopatomus's 12 Sacred Albums of Funk in the third. The second has Lamont's ten favorite things, which aren't necessary to complete the game, but are to get the GoldenEnding.
* MediumAwareness: In the first game, the characters introduce themselves and explain the entire situation to the player.
* MightyGlacier: Earl is slower than [=ToeJam=] and his pants fall down occasionally, forcing him to stop and pull them back up, but he has a longer life bar that lets him take more hits.
* MoodWhiplash: Most of the presents have cheery and/or funky designs on them despite what they contain, so you might open a large purple present with white polka-dots on it only to find out it contains instant death.
* OhCrap: Opening the Tomato Rain present will elect an "uh-oh" from whoever opened it.
* OneHitKill: The "Total Bummer" present will drain your character's entire life bar in one go. If both characters happen to be together (no SplitScreen), it [[TotalPartyKill kills them both]].
* ParentalNeglect: The shopping cart lady, whose only interaction with her wailing baby is to stop occasionally and yell "SHUT UP!" at him.
* ParrotExposition: All Earl does in the intro (outside of the flashback) is just repeat things that Toejam just said.
* PersonalRainCloud: A nuisance occasionally found in presents is a small thundercloud that follows your character around, zapping them with lightning and doing some damage over time.
* PointOfNoContinues: Once [=ToeJam=] and Earl run out of lives, the game is over. If the surviving character has at least two lives, he can put the other back in the game by giving up one of his.
* PoisonMushroom:
** Some presents have intentionally bad effects, such as the Schoolbook, Randomizer, and [[OneHitKill Total Bummer]].
** There is a literal mushroom that, if eaten, will take a significant portion of the characters' health.
** The [[PersonalRainCloud rain cloud]] is a classic example. You open a present just to have a rain cloud follow you around, giving you a nigh-unavoidable shock for slight damage every so often.
%%* PortalDoor: The Doorway present creates a door which, when entered, deposits you in a random location in the current level.%%ZCE -- check with TheLonelyDoor before adding context
* PowerupLetdown: Opening new presents is always a gamble, and about 25% of the time it's a harmful present. Even useful presents opened at the wrong time can set you back. Opening Rocket Skates can potentially send you back several levels as you careen wildly out of control.
** Zig-Zagged with the telephone. If you find and collect it before it stops ringing, it will reveal several random portions of the map. While it can potentially reveal the location of the elevator or a ship piece (if there is one present on the floor), it can also be completely useless.
* PressXToDie: Opening an identified "Total Bummer" present would qualify. Best to drop them right away lest you wind up opening it accidentally.
* QuicksandSucks: The protagonists will sink in sand, but not far enough to suffocate; their movement just slows the farther they sink. And it's otherwise more like desert sand ([[AllDesertsHaveCacti including cacti!]]) than quicksand.
* RandomLootExchanger: The Randomizer gift does ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, shuffling all the gifts including itself around. This can be a major headache if you've managed to find the extra life or a bummer present. However, if you can get the randomizer identified before use, it can become an ace in the hole if you have nothing that can save you in your inventory.
* RandomTransportation: The Doorway present creates a doorway, and walking into it will take you to a random location on the current floor.
* RoadRunnerPC: [=ToeJam=] walks slightly faster than Earl.
* {{Roguelike}}: Plays like a game in the rogue-lite sub-genre that would be named years later. In Random World, [[RandomlyGeneratedLevels each level is randomly generated]], along with the enemies therein and the locations of presents. In Fixed World, all of these things have set forms and locations. Also, you have to climb up floors, you gain experience points, and presents are challenging to identify. Lots of the presents are bad, including one that re-randomizes all the presents, including itself!
* RPGElements: There are nine player rankings. Which ranking you currently have is based on your score, which is primarily increased by opening presents and exploring more of the map. "Wiener" is the lowest ranking.
* ScaryStingingSwarm: One enemy is the Angry Bees (Buzzius Stingium), a swarm of bees that slowly fly around. They typically appear on lower levels, and attack you with their stingers if they get close.
* ShoutOut: When [=ToeJam=] and Earl use the super hi-tops long enough, they will say "[[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadRunner Meep Meep]]".
* SplitScreen: When [=ToeJam=] and Earl get far enough apart in the first game, the screen splits so they can split up and search individually. They can even be on entirely different levels (although the higher player won't be able to advance further until the lower player catches up.)
* SprintShoes: Super Hi-Tops grant the wearer the ability to run much faster than usual, making it easier to escape enemies. They can also be used to jump over large gaps and even come with a cute little honking horn sound.
* SquashedFlat: Happens rather frequently, either as a result of attacks by certain Earthlings or when your own partner lands on top of you.
* StandardSnippet: [[Music/GeorgeFredericHandel "Hallelujah!"]]
* StatusEffects: Quite a few. Schoolbooks put you to sleep, which makes you helpless to enemy attacks, forcing you to button mash your way to being awake. Wahini will make you do a dance if you get too close to her, slowing you down. Cupids fire arrows [[InterfaceScrew which screws with the controls, usually by reversing them]]. Finally, the Rain Cloud will randomly drain your health with lightning bolts.
* TakeThat: [[spoiler:If you make it to the end of the original game, there is a secret area on Funkotron with Trixie, who says [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog "No hedgehogs round here."]]]]
* ThreateningShark: If a shark gets close, you'll hear a quick snippet of the ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' theme as a warning.
* TaxonomicTermConfusion: The manual refers to the Nerdherd as a "[[HumanSubspecies Subspecies of human]]", even the given scientific name is "[[BinomiumRidiculus Geekus Dorkia]]", which would make it a full species. Not that it matters, since the [[ArtisticLicenseBiology actual scientific "Homo sapiens" is never used anyway]].
* TooAwesomeToUse: Players might be tempted to hoard the most choice presents in the game.
* UnidentifiedItems: Presents are initially unidentified. Though, since all presents of the same design contain the same item or effect, using one automatically identifies any identical ones (whether in the player's inventory or on the ground). The "man in the carrot suit" is a randomly-appearing [=NPC=] who can identify a present for a few dollars. This is important because one of the effects is the Randomizer, which ''un''identifies all presents and scrambles the design-effect relationships!
* {{Understatement}}: Total Bummer, a powerup found in presents. It instantly kills you.
* UnintentionallyUnwinnable: If you're playing a game with randomly generated floors, you may encounter a floor with an area that is ''completely'' isolated from where you spawn. If you encounter one of these floors, you better hope and pray the elevator/ship piece isn't there. If it is, you will need to use presents to get powerups that will allow you to get there...but what if you don't have any? There ''might'' be presents on lower floors with the necessary powerups, but if even ''they'' don't have the effects you need, this trope comes into play.
* WarpWhistle: One that comes in two varieties. In single-player games, the Unfall present warps you up one level, assuming you've been to said level before. In multiplayer, it turns into the Togetherness present, which warps the user to the other player's location.
* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: When [=ToeJam=] and Earl are leaving Earth in two-player mode, Earl asks, "Can I drive?" [=ToeJam=], knowing how that got them into the accident that led them to be stranded on Earth in the first place, responds, "No!"
* WhatDoesThisButtonDo: The characters exchange comedic banter in the elevator rides between levels in two-player mode. One skit has Earl asking this and [=ToeJam=] stopping him before they get in even ''more'' trouble.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''[=ToeJam=] & Earl: Panic on Funkotron'' (1993)]]
%% Note: tropes that appear in this game and Back in the Groove, but not the others, can go here.

* AlienInvasion: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]; It's the aliens who are trying to fend off an ''Earthling'' invasion.
* AscendedExtra: Trixie, who appears in a secret area in the first game, gives out powers that last until the end of the current level in this one.
* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: The Earthlings got to Funkotron by clinging to the sides of [=ToeJam=] and Earl's ship through space.
* BlindingCameraFlash: The game features {{Hawaiian Shirted Tourist}}s who use their camera flash as a weapon.
* BraggingRightsReward: Reaching the end of each of the three Hyperfunk Zones twice[[note]]Contrary to popular belief, you do ''not'' need to collect all of the presents - simply reaching the end will suffice[[/note]] will grant you infinite Super Jars for the rest of the game. This is [[NintendoHard much easier said than done]], especially with the third layout which borders on PlatformHell.[[note]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE3kOdmLzO4 See for yourself]].[[/note]] If you can achieve this Herculean feat, either you have inhuman reflexes or you've memorized all three stages, which would require playing through the game repeatedly in a short time span. Both of these prove that you're probably skilled enough not to need the infinite Super Jars to begin with.
* BrickJoke: Near the start of the game, the duo can ring the doorbell on a house, causing the owner to come out and ask if they're there to fix the plumbing. In the PlayableEpilogue, they run across the same house and the owner asks the same question, prompting them to point out that they've done this already.
* BonusStage: The Hyper Funk Zone.
* CirclingBirdies: [=ToeJam=] and Earl get the star variant if a heavy object falls on their heads.
* ContextSensitiveButton: Pressing down normally makes [=ToeJam=] or Earl duck with the following exceptions:
** While a tourist is on screen, this makes [=ToeJam=] or Earl cover their eyes from the flash.
** While the Flying Duck is near, this makes [=ToeJam=] or Earl dive for cover.
** If both players press down while [=ToeJam=] and Earl are facing each other, they will high five and even out their health bars.
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: Checkpoints tend to be plentiful, and any progress you've made after touching a checkpoint is retained (so you won't have to re-capture Earthlings that you've already caught). While your lives are limited, EveryTenThousandPoints is in full effect, and considering how easy points are to earn, you'll often find yourself earning lives back just as quickly as you lose them.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Stages will occasionally turn monochrome thanks to the Funk draining out of Funkotron, causing the player's Funk meter to bottom out until the color returns.
* DynamicDifficulty: The Jam Out sessions increase in difficulty if you consistently reach the top of the scoring meter, eventually leading to some seriously intense sequences.
* EasyModeMockery: "Lil' Kids" mode makes it impossible to die, but ends the game after level five, thus robbing players of the chance to collect the Funkopotamus' favorite things and get the good ending.
* EnemyDetectingRadar: Part of the HUD includes an arrow that points to the nearest Earthling (turning into a flashing red bulb if they're somewhere on-screen.) When all Earthlings are captured, it points to the rocket at the end of the level, instead. Can apply also to the Funk Radar in regards to the ghost cow if it's gone invisible, as well as any other Earthlings if they're hiding in anything.
* EverythingSensor: The Funk Radar, which detects anything that's hidden on-screen, including presents, secret doors and Earthlings.
* EveryTenThousandPoints: Until you reach the cap of six extra lives.
* GenreShift: The other games are overhead view with Rogue-Lite elements, while this one is a side-scrolling PlatformGame with just a dash of inventory management.
* GoldenEnding: Finishing the game with all ten of the Funkopotamus' favorite things triggers the best ending, where the Funkopotamus returns to his throne of Funk.
* GuideDangIt: Collecting the Funkopotamus's favorite things. Downplayed in that game's various {{NPC}}s will give you hints to guide you to where each item is hidden, so it's a lot less of a hassle if you go out of your way to explore each level thoroughly.
* HumanSnowball: Subverted. Some levels are covered in snow but [=ToeJam=] or Earl won't turn into snowballs if they slip down hills.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: By completing six perfect runs of the Hyper Funk Zone, you get unlimited superjars for the rest of the game.
* InnocentlyInsensitive: The first time you ring Jerome's doorbell, he'll ask if you brought the Earthlings to Funkotron. Your player character says "[[NonAnswer Sort of]]." to which Jerome says he'd hate to be in your shoes.
* InvincibilityPowerUp: The Panic Button, which causes the player to run wildly without taking damage and while hurling jars everywhere.
* ManaMeter: The Funk meter, which powers the Funk Move and Funk Radar.
* NakedPeopleAreFunny: One of the enemies is a seemingly-naked guy in a cardboard box who sings "Figaro!"
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: One of the enemies is a ghost cow.
* NonIndicativeName: The "Funkopotamus" looks more like a tiny googly-eyed lizard.
* OfficialCouple: Bloona and Peabo by the end of the game. Also [=ToeJam=]/Earl and Lewanda in the best ending, depending on who the player is controlling (if it's a co-op game, she introduces her identical cousin Sharice for the second player.)
* OhCrap: [=ToeJam=] and Earl when a news report outs them as bringing the Earthlings to Funkotron.
* OneHitKill: Super Jars can trap an Earthling with a single hit.
* OverlyLongGag: Pleading with the Funkopotamus to come out.
-->"Please?" "No." '''[repeats 3 times]'''
* PairTheSpares: Lewanda officially hooks up with [=ToeJam=] in the GoldenEnding in co-op mode, while Earl is introduced to her [[UncannyFamilyResemblance identical cousin Sharice]].
* PeopleJars: [=ToeJam=] and Earl use their trap-o-matic jars to catch the Earthlings invading Funkotron. It takes several to successfully capture one of them.
* PlayableEpilogue: Pretty much everything after "The Final Battle" could count. The only fight after that is against one last group of enemies that can't directly damage you.
* PowerUpLetDown: One of Trixie's level-long power-ups is giving the player immediate max jumping height on jump pads. Not only does it not take that long to reach max height on your own (unless you ''really'' suck at the timing) but it also gets really annoying when you find that you ''can't stop'' jumping.
* RhythmGame: The "Jam Out" sessions, where the player can basically play Simon Says for more Funk.
* SmartBomb: The Funk-Vac in ''Panic on Funkotron''.
* YouShouldntKnowThisAlready: Even if you try to cheat and get to the secret rooms where the Funkopatomus' favorite things are held without getting the proper {{NPC}} hints first, the hidden doors won't actually appear until you're told where they are.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''[=ToeJam=] & Earl III: Mission to Earth'' (2002)]]

* BigBad: While all other games lacked a main villain, the Anti-Funk is responsible for the plot and stole Lamont's 12 Funk Albums.
* DarkerAndEdgier: This game is for a slightly older audience and has innuendo and mild swearing, which previous games lacked.
* {{Disco}}: Disco balls appear over Earthlings in ''Mission to Earth'' who have been "funkified".
* DownloadableContent: ''Mission to Earth'' had three extra characters--Geekjam, Earlbot, and Suteki--and some additional levels available while it was online-capable. The Xbox Exhibition Vol. 2 demo disc also made the DLC available for those without an account or an internet connection.
* ExtremeOmnivore: Earl can eat bad food without issue in this game, an ability carried over to ''Back in the Groove''.
* FemBot: DLC character Suteki.
* MaleGaze: In the intro sequence Toejam keeps focusing the camera on Latisha's butt when he thinks she isn't looking.
* MythologyGag: In the intro sequence we have Toejam greeting the viewers by saying "Greetings and various apropos felicitations." Magazine ads for the original game used the exact same line, as did the original game's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqEoQanpk7Q cassette tape rap]].
* NiceMeanAndInBetween: The three leads could qualify. Earl is the chill and easygoing Nice, [=ToeJam=] is the selfish and egotistical Mean, and Latisha is the no-nonsense yet caring In-Between.
* NonLethalBottomlessPits: Fall off an edge, and you respawn inland at the minor cost of some health. However, devils who cannot be converted to funk will follow you back.
* SequelEscalation: The first game was about [=ToeJam=] and Earl getting back home, while ''Panic in Funkotron'' had them defending their home and cleaning up their own mess. This game sees them head back to Earth on a mission to save the universe and funk as we know it.
* SexSells: An ad in ''Magazine/ElectronicGamingMonthly'' had an arrow pointing to Latisha's cleavage, with the message "Sells games".
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Knocking on people's doors will have them comment on your "costume", even if you're playing as [=ToeJam=], [[StarfishAliens who doesn't look even remotely human.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''[=ToeJam=] & Earl: Back in the Groove'' (2019)]]

* AbilityMixing: Present synergy was added in Version 1.6.1, which let you combine present powers for added abilities and sometimes entirely new ones, like Funkzilla making you grow gigantic.
* AchievementMockery: Several Trophies/Achievements are given for... less-than-stellar "accomplishments", like sending a player an identified bad present (Truly Evil), getting tricked into taking an Evil Elevator twice in one game (Fool Me Twice), having 10 broken presents explode on you (Why Do I Keep Doing That?), using a Total Bummer twice in one game (Totally Bummed Again), failing at the Hyper Funk Zone by touching the very first exit (HFZ Goober), and getting a Game Over before the third level (I Can't Believe I've Done This).
* AmplifierArtifact: The "Amp Present" and "Amp 5" presents can be used to amp other presents, making them more powerful, such as amped food which has double the effect of regular food and doesn't have a chance of being rotten.
* AntiFrustrationFeatures:
** To balance out the fact that there's [[SequelEscalation a lot more going on]], ''Back in the Groove'' has far more beneficial Earthlings than the original game.
** Some presents were changed up to be less damaging. For instance "Tomato Rain" hurt all characters originally. Now it doesn't hurt players at all (although it does also hurt friendly Earthlings).
** When creating your own beat in the Dance Party minigame, if your timing is slightly off then the game will auto correct to the nearest beat for you.
* ArtisticLicensePhysics: Played for laughs; apparently a planet getting sucked into a black hole will cause it to be rolled around in a giant washing machine and spat out in the same place as 25 levels of random landmass stacked one above another.
* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: The Funkzilla synergy makes you huge, knocking away anything that gets in your way.
* BettingMiniGame: You can roll a 20-sider with the [[TabletopRPG Roleplayers]] for $1, winning $1 to $5 back if you roll high enough, and $8 if you roll a 20.
* BlackoutBasement: Some levels are dark, making it especially hard to see transparent enemies like Boogie Men and Ghost Cows from a distance. The Torch, Flash Light, and Light Switch presents exist to help with these.
* CaptainOblivious: One type of earthling is a person walking around texting on their phone without watching where they're going and bumping into players for damage. Amusingly, they're actually one of the most tenacious enemies to be found in earlier levels.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The Little Girl goes around wanting to "play" with the aliens, delivering silly karate kicks and crying that the aliens are being mean to her whether they are or not. Pay attention though, because those silly karate kicks do more damage than any other move in the game if they connect.
* EasterEgg: [[spoiler:Hovering over the backer named "[=ToeJam=] and Earl" in the credits makes the 1991 promo rap play]].
* EasyModeMockery: The Easy Farty mode makes the game easier but also gives your character gas.
* ExcusePlot: [=ToeJam=] and Earl went for a joyride to impress Lewanda and "borrowed" Lamont's ship, and now have to find the rocket ship pieces to get home. [[spoiler:Subverted with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCx_vHUUrRs secret dialogue]], which reveals [=ToeJam=] stole the ship to take pictures of Earth and its inhabitants to help Latisha's ill younger sister Janeese]].
* FanDumb: The Rabid Fan Boy is an In-Universe one. It pesters the aliens and does damage like most enemies do.
* {{Fartillery}}: The Gassy Tummy effect gives you gas, which makes Earthlings stay away from you every time it's... deployed.
* FriendlyFireproof: In the original game, Tomato Rain hurt both Earthlings and players, but in "Back in the Groove" it only hurts Earthlings.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Players can slap other players to snap them out of Cupid's effect.
* HarderThanHard: Extreme Mode isn't kidding around--your breath is twice as short, enemies have a much wider aggro range, you can get bad presents on any level, there's no chance of helpful earthlings giving free stuff, and the hole to level 0 has been filled.
* {{Hologram}}: The non-playable Funkotronians show up on Earth through these to present a variation of the RhythmGame from ''Panic on Funkotron''.
* KarmaHoudini: Provided you can get through the game, the protagonists suffer no consequences for sucking Earth into a black hole.
* MegamixGame: Features nearly everything from the first game, many elements from the second including the Hyperfunk Zone, most of the characters throughout the entire series, and some new stuff.
* MiniGame: Besides the BettingMiniGame, there's the Hyperfunk Zone and the RhythmGame.
* MultipleEndings: Besides the normal ending, there's a secret co-op ending and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCx_vHUUrRs dialogue]] that only unlocks when you play and beat the game as [=ToeJam=] and Earl together.
* MythologyGag: While riding the elevator, your character can wonder, "Where are the bees?" Bees were a common enemy in the original game, but have been removed from the sequel.
* NasalWeapon: An unlockable present is the Big Sneeze. When used, this present allows the player to sneeze loudly for a short time by pressing the action button. This sneeze can blow enemy Earthlings away, but it can also do the same to objects, so you'll need to use it wisely.
* NostalgiaLevel: Level 1 is a carbon copy of the same level from the original game, [[spoiler:though they moved the hole that leads to Level 0.]]
* OfficialCouple: Sharla reveals she and Bloona are a couple in the ending if talked to repeatedly.
* OneHitKill: Besides the Total Bummer returning from the first game, amped tomato presents cause the tomatoes to glitter and pop earthlings in one hit.
* PromotedToPlayable: Lewanda and Peabo from ''Panic on Funkotron'' are playable characters, as is Earl's Mom Flo, who appeared at the end of the first game.
* RandomTransportation: Doorway and Timed Teleport presents.
* ReadingIsCoolAesop: When Geekjam reads a School Book, instead of falling asleep like the other characters he gains a random stat.
* {{Retcon}}: In the original game, the Rapmaster Rocketship belonged to Toejam and Earl themselves. In ''Back in the Groove'', however, it's Lamont's ship, and the player characters took it for a joyride.
* RevisitingTheRoots: The gameplay is largely a return to the style seen in the first game, though several elements from the sequels are thrown in for good measure.
* RPGElements: Each character has six varying stats[[note]]Speed, Max Health, Present Skill, Search Skill, Inventory Size, and Luck[[/note]] that can be increased with each level. The main difference between characters (and even [[PaletteSwap reskins]]) is the starting value of these stats.
* SequelHook: The credits have "The End" with a question mark, and [[spoiler:secret dialogue implies [=ToeJam=] will continue to search for his missing parents]].
* SocializationBonus: Playing in co-op can make several pieces of unique dialogue appear, with different characters having different conversations. [[spoiler:Using [=ToeJam=] and Earl together lets you access the truth behind the story and an extended ending]].
* SuperNotDrowningSkills: One unlockable hat is the Hat of Fish. When equipped, this allows the player to breathe underwater indefinitely.
* TakingYouWithMe: An Amped Total Bummer kills you... in a massive fiery explosion that roasts everything around you.
* {{Troll}}: One of the new enemy types who shoot insults at you. If you get too close they turn into teenagers [[ComedicUnderwearExposure with no pants on]] and run away in terror.
* UndergroundMonkey: Some enemies on higher levels, such as a recolor of the ice cream truck that drops cabbages and does even more damage.
* UnlockableContent: Some of the playable characters, presents, and power hats need to be unlocked by winning games or performing other feats.
* WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler:Latisha's younger sister Janeese is only seen and mentioned in co-op games under specific circumstances]].
[[/folder]]
----
->"Alright Earl, let's go. Let's take care of some business."\\
"I'm wit you, [=ToeJam=]. I gotcha back."