[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/game_theory_logo.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin A show about theories - and games.]]]]

->''"Hello, Internet. Welcome to ''Game Theory''."''

''[[https://www.youtube.com/user/MatthewPatrick13 Game Theory]]'' is a comedy AnalysisChannel created by Matthew Robert "Creator/MatPat" Patrick, where he engages in WildMassGuessing by analyzing video games to provide answers on a wide variety of questions, from scientifically determining if something in a video game could be achieved in real life (e.g. could someone survive being headshot à la ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''?) to tackling some of gaming's biggest questions (example: what is [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 the Pyro's]] gender?) to some game changing accusations. (e.g. should [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Dr. Light]] be considered a villain?) The show is accompanied by pictures and diagrams, which often aid with what he is saying, or they are just there for {{visual pun}}s. There are a lot of puns.

[=MatPat=] has also created side channels branching off specifically from "Game Theory", including [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaegDUlb7doIKo0Rc1F08g [=GTLive=]]], which posts live streams of Matt and Stephanie [[LetsPlay playing video games]], and ''Game Lab'', a {{Series/Mythbusters}} style show where [=MatPat=] goes on camera to test the episode's topics exclusively on Website/YouTube Premium, with the pilot episode available for free.

Game Theory is a part of the Game Theorists, a group of game-based shows that analyze video games for a certain reason. For more members of the group, see ''Game Exchange'', ''Digressing And Sidequesting''. Another SpinOff, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOl4b517qn8hmH4Pe0_P8-Y723NmtL08S The SCIENCE!]]'', is a show by fellow host Austin Hourigan, which picks video games apart with science and logic. It started airing on the [=YouTube=] channel ''[=ShoddyCast=]'' on January 29, 2016, before being picked up by Game Theory's [=YouTube=] channel on December 21.

Not to be confused with the fanfic of the [[Fanfic/GameTheoryLyricalNanoha same name]]. Nor should it be confused with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory the study of strategic decision making]].

On January 9, 2024, [=MatPat=] announced that he would be stepping down as the face of the channel network in the coming months, but would remain in the background while other members of the channels would take over as hosts for future videos. He released his final ten theory videos from January 12th to March 9th, when he officially retired from hosting. On March 16th Tom Robinson took over as the head writer and host.
----
!!''Game Theory'' provides examples of:

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: Touched upon in his ''VideoGame/WarThunder'' Tanks video when he finally reveals a real life attribute that is ''not'' accurately represented in the game (that being [[spoiler:the very significant rates at which the real tanks break down just from locomotion without even seeing combat]]), only to then state that the developers ''did'' spend some time deliberating as to whether or not they should add that trait into the game and ultimately decided that [[spoiler:having your tank cripplingly malfunction at random]] was not fun.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Downplayed, lampshaded, and later subverted here.
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac''. Man, this game is depressing, disturbing, dark, even some adjectives that don't start with D, like uh… baffling, obtuse, just plain weird.
* AllJustADream: [[spoiler:One of his FNAF theories suggests that the entire tetralogy is the coma-induced nightmares of the fourth game's protagonist]].
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Hoo boy. [[invoked]]
** [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]] is actually paying Bowser to kidnap her.
** In a two-part episode, he described Mario as [[spoiler:an animal abuser, misogynist, sadist, and mass murderer.]]
** He theorizes that ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' (the character, not James Rolfe, who plays him) has a serious mental condition.
** In his Toad's Deadly Secret episode, he proposes that [[spoiler:Peach is the true BigBad of the Mario franchise, using her parasitic followers to run the goombas out of their native homeland, with Bowser as the tragic, reluctant BigGood just trying to combat a parasitic threat.]]
** Handsome Jack of ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' already got a decent amount from fans, but Matt also theorizes that [[spoiler:Jack actually has borderline personality disorder and gives examples meeting 7 of the 9 criteria]].
** Bowser's habit of kidnapping Peach is actually an attempt to [[spoiler:give his son and seven adopted children the complete family Bowser wishes he'd had growing up]].
** In his analysis of ''VideoGame/UntilDawn'', he comes to the conclusion that [[spoiler:Josh has been experiencing poor mental health care, and, based off his symptoms, should be treated for schizophrenia.]]
** Villagers in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' aren't buying back the crops you stole from them, they're paying you to harvest food that would take them a full day of work.
** In his analysis of ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'', Austin comes to the conclusion that [[spoiler:Arthur Morgan's tuberculosis, which he got from Thomas Downes, has a latency period that could have stayed for years, but Arthur chose to hasten the tuberculosis process into a matter of weeks with his smoking, drinking beer, and getting beaten by physical trauma and malnutrition, all of which are risk factors for TB]]:
--->[[spoiler:"Everything [Arthur] chose to do with his life was a risk factor for disease, and pretty much guaranteed that the instant he was exposed to the bacteria, he was going to not only get infected but die. [...] This means that Arthur 100% caused his own death. No, he didn't know that [[SmokingIsNotCool smoking would make things worse]] and everybody at the time was drinking like a fish, but it was his ''life'' that put him in this position in the first place. His life, his choices... those put him in harm's way, and made his death inevitable.]]
** Due to YourMindMakesItReal, Luigi being brainwashed- er, sorry, ''hypnotized'' into becoming Mr. L in ''Super Paper Mario'' enabled him to show how he really felt BeneathTheMask of his usually cowardly facade.
** Sarah, the protagonist of ''VideoGame/JustDance 2023's'' story mode, is hesitant to play not out of shyness, but because she knows she has a tendency to become overcompetitive and obsess over dancing perfectly (just like the BigBad, Night Swan), mistreating her friends and ruining their fun in the process. Under this view, her battle against Night Swan can be seen as a battle against her own negative qualities.
* AndNinetyNineCents: Coincidentally, [=MatPat's=] calculations for the cost of ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''[='s=] Diamond Armor and ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2''[='s=] Gold Banzai Bills both end with 98 cents.
* {{Angrish}}: Says this out during the ''Humans are Pokémon'' theory, during his reaction to the Wheel of Gaming's flipper lands on "Pokémon" the [[RuleOfThree third time]].
* ArmorIsUseless: In the ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' episode, diamond armor turns out be AwesomeButImpractical. Sure, it looks awesome, but it would weigh about 1100 lbs (over 500 kilograms)… and because of the fact that it would be very easy to cut the armor by slicing it along 90–degree planes relative to the surface of the armor, due to the diamond's cleavages (that all crystals also have), making it easier to slice through the hard armor, you would risk wasting a few billion dollars when hit with a sword.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
** In the episode "Video Games Predict YOUR FUTURE!":
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Whether it's [[VideoGame/DeadSpace dismembering Necromorphs in the Singna System]] in 2508, [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved fighting off the dual onslaught of Flood and Covenant on a Ringworld]] in 2525, or [[VideoGame/SpaceChannel5 wielding the power of a well-executed Macarena against extraterrestrial Teletubbies]] in 2499, I think we can all agree opening the door to space simultaneously opened a dangerous can of worms.
** In ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'', he mentions how hackers can shut down your car, black out power grids, and slightly increase your home temperature, making it really hard to sleep.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Lampshaded in Matt's video on ''Film/JurassicWorld'', regarding the Indominus Rex's ability to hide its body temperature (due to tree frog DNA) ''and'' change color to camouflage itself (due to cuttlefish DNA). He points out that these abilities work ''opposite'' of each other: the tree frog's body heat regulation works by making its skin tone lighter-and thus ''more'' visible. Matt instead posits the idea that the I. Rex's escape was due to [[spoiler:Dr. Wu sabotaging the cameras, so that he and Hoskins can have a chance to showcase the I. Rex as a weapon]].
* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: Matt pointed out that the ingredients for [[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist human transmutation]] do not match up with the actual mass of elements found in the body as well as the cardinal sin of scientific calculations -- inconsistent measurement units (going between grams and kilograms in the same list).
* ArtisticLicenseLaw: Zig-zagged; In [=MatPat's=] video about ''Franchise/AceAttorney'', he starts off looking at it from the perspective of the US courts. The ''Ace Attorney'' series' legal system is based on the Japanese one, with elements of the US system. Since he brings this up partway through, and debunks his previous points, it's clear that he did it on purpose to add a twist. However, he then goes on to accuse Phoenix of tampering with the crime scene in "Turnabout Sisters" despite the fact that he disclosed all of his actions to Gumshoe and so wouldn't get in trouble.
* AssShove: The line "Let's diagnose" in the AVGN episode is accompanied by a picture of the host giving the Nerd a prostate exam.
* AuthorTract: The UsefulNotes/WiiU-centric theories are this regarding [=MatPat=]'s opinions on the console, although a more obvious example would be the sociopathic Mario theory.
* BeneathTheMask: According to [=MatPat=], Luigi's hynposis-induced persona, Mr. L from ''Super Paper Mario,'' is effectively our green-clad plumber free from his inhibitions, unafraid to show how he truly felt about Mario and Peach, among other things.
* BerserkButton:
** [=YouTuber=] "[=TheJWittz=]", having done 375 videos about ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' at the time, was furious when [=MatPat=] complained to him about having to do more than six ''Pokémon'' videos.
--->'''[=TheJWittz=]:''' Six? '''''SIX?''''' Try three-hundred and seventy-five! Video after video, week after week. Creepy Pokémon, cool Pokémon, sexy Pokémon, weak Pokémon. Pokémon games, Pokémon manga, Pokémon CARDS. Blue, red, white, black, X & Y? PURPLE!? I can't talk without saying Pokémon puns anymore!
** [=MatPat=] wasn't necessarily happy about the secret wall code in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3''.
* BigBadFriend: The theory posted that [[spoiler:Phone Guy is the Golden Freddy Murderer after seeing ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'']]. Despite ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3'' supposedly refuting that theory, [[spoiler:he instead managed to solidify his theory with it, though the "Golden Freddy" part is disproven]]. After later games further refuted the theory and it was eventually that [[spoiler: the killer is William Afton, one of the founders of Fazbear Entertainment]], [=MatPat=] dropped it, however.
* BlahBlahBlah: Downplayed, when Mat is reading out complex math formulas, he speeds up the talking to give the viewer a general idea without boring them.
* BiggerIsBetterInBed: [=MatPat=] deduces that Luigi from Super Mario is blessed with a 7 inch penis, while his brother, Mario, has [[TeenyWeenie the smaller 2.5 inch penis]]. He humorously theorizes that Luigi's "package" is the reason Daisy stays with him and why [[GreenEyedMonster Mario is aggressive to him]].
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment:
** {{Invoked|Trope}}. [=MatPat=] calls Scott Cawthon out on making the key-pad tiles in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3''.
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Scott, ''seriously? Seriously, Scott?'' Oh look! Here's a ''wall''. Let me just dial in my ''phone number.'' Beep boop boop beep boop boop! What?! When did we jump from a point-and-click horror game to magical fantasy? This thing is like Platform 9 and 3/4, I expected ''[[Literature/HarryPotter Harry effin' Potter]]'' to Apparate into Pirate's Cove or something.
** After [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 FNAF2]] was announced, [=MatPat=] never brought up his [=FNAF1=] Theory.
* BigNo: Suffers one in TheStinger for the second half of part two of his ''[[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3 FNAF 3]]'' video when he learns how ''Videogame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4'' was announced just a day after posting the first part of the video.
* BoomHeadshot: There's a scientific look into how [[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas the Courier]] survived their headshot. Long answer: Yes, but only under certain conditions and the Courier likely wouldn't be the same afterward. Short answer: Doesn't matter, because Benny actually fired ''[[DoubleTap twice]]'', with the second aimed at the temple, aka the squishiest, most vulnerable part of the head.
* BreakTheCutie: [=Matpat=]'s experience with ''Five Nights At Freddy's'' became this as he spoke fondly of the lore in his FNAF 2 episode but he jokingly states under the title of the playlist "All the theories on Five Nights at Freddy's, FNAF 2, FNAF 3, and FNAF 4, AKA: Why [=MatPat=] has developed an anxiety disorder".
* ButtMonkey: Ronnie of ''Digressing and Sidequesting'' is frequently mocked in Game Theory videos and end slates. These became far less funny after Ronnie's suicide.
* CallBack:
** The ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' episode connected back to the Modern War Crimes video.
** The episode on ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' (A.K.A. the BoomHeadshot video) and specifically the tale of Phineas Gage was brought back to the limelight in the episode on ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4''.
** Game Theory's latest opening references various previous episodes, like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze_uxxFJTvE Mario outspeeding Sonic and in turn being outsped by Eggman]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQcPIt1BQU Peppy directing to do an aileron roll]] (instead of the inaccurate "barrel roll"), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFPPKz6Y2hY Majora's moon]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1SVkysIRw Link's gravestone]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUOMDODEBk0 the failure of the]] [[Franchise/AssassinsCreed Leap of Faith]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOl4b517qn8jl4Lw8H8cDrDkGwf1FtC7I locked box, a TV with Golden Freddy's head]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avCB6HOjsG4 a picture of Isaac]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_24zLyKdI the Pyro's mask]].
* TheCameo: After several years of ''Five Nights at Freddy's'' theories, Creator/ScottCawthon himself appears at the very end of [=MatPat=]'s final theory video to invite him into his house.
-->'''Scott:''' I've been expecting you. Come. We have much to discuss.
* CannotTellAJoke:
** Happens in the "Surviving the ''Assassin's Creed'' Leap of Faith" Episode after disproving its chance of survival. [[spoiler:Which also somehow involves the AC world's gravity being greater than ours.]]
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Leap of faith? Hah! They wish they had the chance! More like tumble of… fatigue. I don't know, I can't come up with any good punchlines this week.
** And again in episode about ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' moon.
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' It's really just a little baby moon, little moon-in-training, Literature/GoodnightMoon, Moon Jr... Junior Mints, Film/MoonOverMiami, [[OverlyLongGag moon, moon...]] there's a joke here, and I can't figure it out.
* CanonImmigrant: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfomNvIEX74 "FNAF, The Origins of EVIL"]], he suggests [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys1 Chica]] was originally one of the [[VideoGame/FreddyFazbearsPizzeriaSimulator Mediocre Melodies]] before joining the Fazbear Band as a result of the merging of Henry Emily's and William Afton's restaurants.
* CatchphraseInterruptus:
** In the video on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDXSr8jjpVk Polybius and MK Ultra]], where [=MatPat=] changes to "a conspiracy theory!" before cutting out the video with static.
** In his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPugMe4ePEw 102nd video covering Part 1]] of him solving the mysteries of ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'', cutting off his "Thanks for watching!" is the Phantom Freddy from the third game before static, then his advertisement of [=NatureBox=].
** Every GT Live stream cuts off the word "theory" in the "Hello, Internet. Welcome to Game Theory" opening.
* CharacterCatchphrase: In addition to those listed under SigningOffCatchPhrase below...
** "Hello, Internet. Welcome to Game Theory, the show that (insert intro joke)."
** "That's just a stream. A ''live'' stream!"
* {{Crossover}}: There are a number of guests that appear in various episodes.
** The ''VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege'' episode features LetsPlay/{{Strippin}}, Mari and Jovenshire of ''WebVideo/SmoshGames'' and Kellie AKA [=TheNationalDex=].
** With Australia Zoo, kinda. Part of the episode on ''VideoGame/LegoJurassicWorld'' is hosted by Robert Irwin, the son of [[Series/CrocodileHunter Steve Irwin]].
* DamnedByFaintPraise: [=MatPat=] was extremely pleased to appear in ''Website/YouTube's'' 2015 rewind for "a glorious 22 frames, 0.92 seconds".
* DareToBeBadass: After examining the misleading advertising of Evertale and finding that not only did the truly massive number of ads have lore, but ''compelling'' lore, Mat's takeaway basically amounted to this - he suggested that rather than the microtransaction-laden gameplay they came out with, the developers get to work actually developing a game more in line with their advertising.
* DeadAllAlong:
** The center of the ''Link is Dead'' episode.
** ''Rosalina Unmasked'' suggests this of [[spoiler: Princess Peach, or at least an alternate version of her]] as well.
* DealWithTheDevil: The ''VideoGame/HelloNeighbor'' theory is that the Neighbor is committing unholy rituals with victims trapped in his basement as payment for whatever he got in exchange for such a deal.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Towards the end of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhF0sYqpFJ4 No Cowboy is Safe! Red Dead's Biggest THREAT!]]", Austin gives a powerful message for those affected by tuberculosis:
-->We should do what we can to help those of us who are in need; like [[VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2 Arthur Morgan]] trying to forge a future for his adopted family, we should do what we can to help those of us who are in need! ''[caption says, "[[LampshadeHanging I literally noticed just now that I repeated myself. Imma leave it. I'm only human.]]"]''
* DeusExMachina: Repeatedly lampshaded in the Composite Superman episode.
* DiscussedTrope: The focus of some episodes is to determine if some concepts, like [[VideoGame/BioShockInfinite a flying city]], [[VideoGame/{{Minecraft}} diamond armor]], or [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} the Morph Ball]] are actually feasible.
* DistractedByTheSexy: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpUs8oNjuV8 This episode]] argues the biological advantage in the ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' franchise's skimpy costumes, and their capacity to create imbalance in tournament play.
* DrunkOnMilk: Well, more like "addicted to milk", in the ''VideoGame/CandyCrushSaga'' episode he claims to have an addiction to Diet Coke.
** Has reached the RunningGag status by now. "[=#NotSponsored=], [=#JustAnAddict=]."
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** [=MatPat=] says outright that the show was inspired by ''WebAnimation/ExtraCredits'', and before he found his own voice, artifacts of that style can be seen in the presentation.
** The Theme Song "Science Blaster" wasn't featured until his ''VideoGame/BioShock'' video. Until then the first episodes had a slide show of various game consoles, with each episode having a unique song related to the theme of the episode. The intro initially featured Mario looking popping up of Mat's head, until "Mario, the Problems with Princess Peach" had him leap out of the Game Theory logo instead. "Polybius, MK Ultra, and the CIA's Brainwashing Arcade Game" is the video to first introduce the longer run through the various game system logos, as well as replace the checkered surface with a reflective one.
* EpilepticTrees: [[invoked]]The whole purpose of his theories.
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: [[invoked]]In many theories, [=MatPat=] uses obvious or supposed symbolism as evidence.
* {{Expy}}: The speculative theory on ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'' is that the game's recurring enemy The Blighters, are modeled after various real world London gangs of the time such as the Elephant and Castle Mob and Forty Elephants Gang.
* FakeBoobs: There is an ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCYqk3-lUTY entire episode]]'' about which video game characters have fake breasts and which ones have natural breasts.
* FakeOutOpening: The satire before the [=FNAF=] video.
* FanDislikedExplanation: [[invoked]] [[DiscussedTrope Discussed.]] [=MatPat=] suspects that, based on strong evidence, Scott's original plan regarding ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4'' was that it and most of the series was AllJustADream, only to ultimately leave said point unrevealed and discarded due to the likelihood of fan backlash.
* {{Fetish}}: When The [=JWittz=] rants about all the different types of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' he's made videos about, he mentions "Sexy Pokémon". [=MatPat=] promptly types the phrase into Google.
* FreezeFrameBonus: In his ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' Diamond Armor theory, after he talks about crystals having four planes of cleavage and says "we're not talking about the Creator/PamelaAnderson Bermuda Triangle brand of cleavage here," two "editor's notes" briefly appear on screen, the first saying "Wait!? We're not?" and the second saying:
-->Matt, I just spent, like, 25 minutes Photoshopping Music/KatyPerry's pom-poms onto crystalline solids and you're telling me we aren't even talking about ta-tas?\\
My roommate walked in on me! Imagine having THAT conversation...
* FreudianExcuse: Part of the "[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]]'s Broken Home" theory posits that Bowser is villainous because he grew up an orphan, using real-world studies regarding criminals with parentless upbringing.
* FreudianSlip: Matt sure has a hard time saying "[[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry1 Kremcroc]]."
* GirlsWithMustaches: In his video on who most likely would and wouldn't survive the Covid-19 Coronavirus, he mentions that facial hair interferes with medical masks. He cites the fact that Princess Peach does not have facial hair as one reason why she is likely to survive (in his opinion), while briefly remarking that it's possible that she does but shaves it off regularly. While saying this, he edits an image of her to give her a blonde goatee.
* GoshDangItToHeck: [=MatPat=] actually ''apologizes'' for saying the word "poop" in one episode.
* HiveMind: The [[VideoGame/StarCraft Zerg]] episode focuses on the functions of a hive mind, or swarm intelligence, and goes on to theorize that [[spoiler:humans operate on the same mentality as the Zerg thanks to the Internet]].
* HostileShowTakeover: Subverted. While ''WebVideo/PeanutButterGamer'' interrupts an episode about ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' ([=MatPat=] blames [[TakeThat a YouTube glitch]]), it's by no means hostile, or even intentional[[note]]In-Universe, anyway[[/note]] on PBG's part.
** In fact, the only real moments of hostility (if you can call it that) are when [[spoiler:[=PBG=] jumps the gun and trys to say "[[SigningOffCatchphrase A Game Theory!]]" before the proper point]].
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms:
** At the beginning of the [[OldShame boobs episode]], he sings a song of these to the tune of Offenbach's "Orpheus In The Underworld Overture".[[note]]The can-can song.[[/note]]
** Throughout the 2018 April Fool's episode, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKwLWRuxYOA Does Luigi MEASURE Up?]], he does the same for "penis", from "ye olde dinglehopper" to "little cannoli".
* INeedAFreakingDrink: Discussed in "No Cowboy is Safe! Red Dead's Biggest THREAT!", when Austin points out a tidbit about drinking beer in the late [=1800s=] in one of ''[=RDR2=]''[='=]s SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
-->"Arthur also drinks quite a bit, with an [[BizarroEpisode entire mission]], [[Awesome/VideoGameLevels easily the best part of the game]], being dedicated to [[CantHoldHisLiquor getting blackout drunk]]. This isn't an anomaly, and it in fact would be much more surprising if Arthur Morgan wasn't a ''bon vivant''. In the 1800s, the average man ''[caption says, "Hi Jim!"]'' consumed seven gallons of ethanol (pure ethanol amounts, mind you!) per year, which translates into over four-and-a-half beers per day, or over 1,659 bottles of beer per year: over 155 gallons of beer per year! And you wonder why prohibition has existed!"
* ItWasHisSled: In-Universe. Austin's ''Red Dead Redemption II'' review video says, "No Cowboy is Safe! Red Dead's Biggest THREAT!" for a reason: Since he played the game to its completion at High Honor, he decided to do this video after studying the research on tuberculosis and its risk factors by looking them up on websites and on Wikipedia. The video itself has a SpoilerOpening, revealing the plot point as Austin narrates:
-->"...what I'm talking about today, this is the real stuff! I'm talking about things that affect real people every day across the world. I'm talking about the most deadly threat to human existence, something that's been stalking and killing us ever since our birth as a species; a predator that's been growing alongside us, evolving and killing more of us than any other single cause of death; one that's been able to learn over time how to become immune to our best and strongest weapons against it. It's currently THE most deadly disease on Planet Earth, ''and'' [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies it killed Arthur Morgan]]]]! I'm talking, of course, of the disease tuberculosis."
* JumpingTheShark: [=MatPat=] makes this joke about Scott Cawthon with his ''Fazbear Frights'' books in "[=FNAF=], Return To The Pit (3 New [=FNAF=] Theories)", showing Scott's avatar jumping over a shark in the time travel ball pit.
* KindheartedCatLover: [=MatPat=] has a cat named Skips, though he also nicknames it [=CatPat=] in the livestream.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: If you saw the thumbnail for the second part of the ''Rosalina Unmasked'' theory before watching the first, then [[spoiler:Princess Peach being DeadAllAlong won't come as much of a surprise to you.]]
* LaterInstallmentWeirdness:
** The show removed the famous "Science Blaster" intro theme song after the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSecurityBreach'' triple theory, and the first episode remaster featured a compilation of the various intro videos throughout the show's run. The intro song only briefly returned during the final ten videos of [=MatPat's=] tenure.
** Long time host [=MatPat=] stepped down as the face of the channel on March 9th 2024. On March 16th Tom Robinson took over as the head writer and host.
* NothingIsScarier: [=MatPat=] acts terrified in the satirical beginning of the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' episode, but once he actually gets jump-scared, he stops being scared of it in the slightest. [[spoiler:Until Golden Freddy shows up, at least.]]
* MagicFeather: One of the ''Zelda'' episodes focused on the various strength and health items, and then goes on to explain the PlaceboEffect.
* MassivelyMultiplayerCrossover:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blaX_eMz3Qw This]] episode attempts to prove that all video game characters share one universe, which is also ours via [[VideoGame/PunchOut Mike Tyson]] and [[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWSWjN6n_UQ This later episode]] then goes on to claim that [[VideoGame/WatchDogs A number of]] [[Franchise/FarCry Ubisoft's more]] [[VideoGame/SplinterCell realistic franchises]] all share a universe, using [[Franchise/AssassinsCreed Abstergo Industries]] as a linchpin.
* MessianicArchetype: Discussed in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' episode, where [=MatPat=] claims that the whole game is actually a retelling of [[Literature/TheBible the Bible]].
* {{Metaphorgotten}}: In "Batman + Superman + COW = ???":
-->'''[=MatPat=]''': And it looks like now I've finally become the comic nerd I was always destined to be. Not the comic nerd I deserved, but the comic nerd that I thought that I needed to deserve to have... Batman dark knight!
* MetaphorIsMyMiddleName: In his first FNAF video:
-->'''[=MatPat=]''': Hello, internet! Welcome to Game Theory, where fear is our middle name. Matthew '''Fear''' Patrick! It's a very strange name.
** Also in the video about the WesternAnimation/BeeMovie meme where he says that "impossible" is his middle name. "Matthew Robert Danger Impossible Patrick".
* MissingStepsPlan: [[https://youtu.be/gHwPYrMA0z0?t=593 Here]] in the dating sim episode.
-->STRATEGY\\
1) Spa\\
2) Bathing Suit\\
3) ....\\
4) PROFIT
* MontyHallProblem: Half of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbX6-iNp3-Q Monty Hall, Plinko, and Probability]]" concerns this and how [[spoiler:by switching your door, you're 2/3rds more likely to win]].
* MoodWhiplash:
** The ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' episode. [[spoiler:Who expected him to bring up a ''real life murder incident'' that took place at a Creator/ChuckECheese?]]
** At the end of the 2nd part of the ''Watch_Dogs'' episode, where he ends on a dark note about how vulnerable we are to hackers, so much so that they could ''kill'' people… immediately follows it up with a light-hearted advert about a shaving website.
* MultipleEndings: "[=MatPat=]'s FINAL Theory!" has six different endings, which viewers can uncover by searching for the different clues throughout the preceding videos (though the links to each ending are still included in the video description). The six endings are (in order):
** Lore Keeper Ending (the standard ending): [[spoiler:[=MatPat=] and Stephanie leave the studio to go on a road trip, so that Matt could take care of some unfinished business. They make their way to the residence of the one and only Creator/ScottCawthon, who tells Matt that they have much to discuss]].
** Chaos Ending: [[spoiler:Matt and Steph head to the beach for a much-needed vacation, assuring that the team will be fine during their absence. Unbeknownst to them, the entire office has fallen into ''absolute anarchy'']].
** Meme Ending: [[spoiler:A parody of Nyan Cat, in which Matt, Ness/Sans, the Pope, and DJ Music Man fly across the sky while encountering a slew of memes from the channel's past]].
** Insanity Ending: [[spoiler:After the episode wraps up, Stephanie finds a frantic Matt in a RoomFullOfCrazy, madly obsessing over the mysterious FNAF box]].
** Horror Ending: [[spoiler:The video suddenly delves into AnalogHorror, with Matt and Steph getting KilledOffscreen by some unknown entity. And whatever it is, it's gunning for ''[[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou you]]'' next…]]
** [[GoldenEnding True Ending]]: [[spoiler:Instead of a skit, we get a clip of the team wrapping up the shoot, followed by one final farewell message from [=MatPat=]]].
* NineOutOfTenDoctorsAgree: In one episode, he calls ''GT'' the show "Ten out of ten doctors agree... [[SubvertedTrope they don't watch]]."
* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer: He frequently puts these in his theories to demonstrate that his explanations are supported by the math. In "Mario's Lunar Apocalypse", however, he goes so far as to apply this to the ''entire theory'', implying that he's dead serious about Mario's planet facing a lunar catastrophe in its very near future.
* OccamsRazor: Said ad verbum during several episodes. For example, he uses this principle to say that instead of Raticate dying, the rival simply stored it away and replaced it with a better Pokémon.
* OverlyLongGag: In an episode discussing whether ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' supports animal abuse, the screen stops on a shot of a cricket match. While [=MatPat=] is talking, the subtitles comment that he's never stayed on one shot so long before. They then go off on a random tangent for about a minute, before reminding you that [=MatPat=] is still talking in the background and you should probably rewind to hear what he said.
* ParanoiaGambit: Claims in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1kw1RmzrPc&t=48s a FNAF video]] that he's not going to use any more {{Jump Scare}}s, before invoking the trope.
* ParodyOfEvolution: In "No Cowboy is Safe! Red Dead's Biggest THREAT!", Austin uses Zallinger's "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_of_Progress March of Progress]]" to describe the evolution of tuberculosis, placing a TB cell on top of a head of each creature in human evolution, ending with the current ''Homo sapiens'' itself.
-->"So, this is a disease that's been hunting us basically as long as we've existed, and in all likelihood co-evolved alongside us."
* PathOfInspiration : One episode was dedicated to examining the religion-themed antagonists from the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games.
* PoesLaw: While they tried to defy this with the opening of the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' episode, (where [=MatPat=] deliberately made it blatantly obvious that he was faking it), some people who failed to sit through the first two minutes apparently believed it.
-->'''Game Theorists:''' Website/YouTube Rule #13: Make sure all obvious satire in a video comes with a large red label on screen that says "OBVIOUS SATIRE." *cough* first two minutes *cough*
* PunBasedTitle: ''Game Theory'' is a pun on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory a mathematical concept]] that allows a person to build a winning strategy based on previous outcomes. [[spoiler:In fact, [=MatPat=]'s final video is dedicated to pointing this out and how the concept factors into the channel's growth.]]
* RelaxOVision: In "Is [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] the STRONGEST Video Game Character?", when [=MatPat=] discusses "[[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]]'s latest beatdown where he takes a mythological creature and manually separates torso from cranium," he shows a bunny eating because "literally nothing Kratos in his games is brand-safe for us to use here."
* TheReveal: Subverted. Near the end of the two-parter concerning Rosalina, Matt thinks a little more and starts to think that [[spoiler:she isn't Peach and Mario's daughter, but Peach and ''Luigi's'']]… before dismissing it. Though his latest Mario Timeline episode seems to imply he accepts this theory.
* RhymesOnADime: Performed whenever the Wheel of Gaming is involved.
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Wheel of Gaming, spin around, give a franchise that is profound.
* RunningGag: [=MatPat=] is really fond of them.
** Ever since the episode where it was the main topic, [=MatPat=] has frequently used his claim that "Wario is 10 feet tall" to highlight inaccuracies in his videos, and also for general SelfDeprecation.
** He frequently expresses his goal of beating LetsPlay/PewDiePie in subscribers.
** As of his theory on Video Game Movies, he also likes to randomly throw a fez on characters and graphics.
*** Though, supposedly, this is done not as a random joke, but for copyright reasons - by doing this to the images, he avoids any potential lawsuits that might occur from using them in unaltered form.
** His fear of, out of all the scary things in there, ''the fan'' in his ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' theories. Moreso when it's now ''purple'' in the fourth game.
** And before ''finally'' doing it, mentioning the dating sim episode.
** In the ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' videos, "Psychic Friend Fredbear" has its own jingle, sometimes played multiple times in one video.
** Failing to have a decent drum roll sound effect when revealing a final calculation (and sometimes having to settle for a different sound effect, like a slide whistle or an air horn).
* RuleOfSexy: Mentions the controversy about ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'' and its original character model for Kali (and other characters) being overly sexualised to draw the attention of males.
** Justified, as [=MatPat=] goes on to argue, in that most mythological art of female goddesses are practically half-naked. Kali's already been showing her boobs since BC times, so ''Smite'' isn't really giving us anything we couldn't have seen after a quick search on the internet.
* RuleOfThree: During his ''Humans are Pokémon'' theory:
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Wheel of Gaming, spin around, to give me a franchise that is profound.\\
''(Wheel of Gaming lands on'' Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'')''\\
'''[=MatPat=]:''' Huh. Uh, sorry, no, we've done more than enough ''Pokémon'' episodes, thank you very much. Let's try this again. Wheel of Gaming, Spin, Span, Spun, land on a series that's super fun.\\
''(Wheel of Gaming lands on ''Pokemon'' again)''\\
'''[=MatPat=]:''' Ha Ha, very funny, Wheel of Gaming. Wheel of Gaming, I'm getting weary, give me a game to do a theory.\\
''(Wheel of Gaming lands on ''Pokemon'' the third time)''\\
'''[=MatPat=]:''' ''({{Angrish}})''
* SandInMyEyes: [=MatPat=] goes through this when bringing up [[Anime/PokemonHeroes Latios' death]] in the Raticate episode.
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' That Latios scene man... oh... seems someone is always cutting onions when that scene is on. (tearing up) So strange how that works. I don't even like onions!
* SelfDeprecation:
** In his ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' video, after saying that 10 percent of people shot in the head survive, he remarks that "you have better odds of surviving a headshot than I do of writing a decent joke for this show."
** This gem from "Problems with [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]]" episode:
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Hello, Internet, welcome to ''Game Theory'', hailed by critics as "Fast edits with mildly impressive Photoshopping".
** He's repeatedly referenced his error in evaluating [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Wario's]] {{fartillery}}, in which he says that Wario is ten feet tall.
** Ronnie while talking during ''Digressing and Sidequesting'' has a GreekChorus calling out most of the flaws in what he says.
** Game Theory's 2015 rewind was just a montage of [=MatPat=] saying "FNAF", "Freddy", "Creator/{{Scott|Cawthon}}", and "Purple Guy".
** At the beginning of "The Tragedy of Deltarune", [=MatPat=] makes a SelfParody of the infamous "Sans Is Ness" theory, then locks it in a vault with the channel's other unpopular theories. The vault is even sarcastically labeled as containing the best theories.
* ShipperOnDeck: Throughout the streams of VideoGame/LifeIsStrange [=MatPat=] is desperate for Max and Warren to get together. Stephanie on the other hand is desperate for Warren and 'Drone Girl' (Brooke) to end up in a relationship.
* ShoutOut:
** In the "What gender is the Pyro?" video, [=MatPat=], after "ending" the video about halfway through, says that his end-cards are long, [[TakeThat but he's no]] WebVideo/{{Yuriofwind}}.
** He has name-dropped WebVideo/GameGrumps, WebVideo/{{SMOSH}}, and WebVideo/{{Markiplier}} in an episode regarding "What Gamers Want".
*** Mark also appears in the beginning of "Why [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]] will never end"
** Really, his videos are full of references to other works, including non-video games like ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'', ''Manga/DragonBall'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''Literature/TheCatInTheHat'' (for his early {{visual pun}}s on "Here's the thing.")
** Tom's first video as [=MatPat=]'s successor, focusing on the identity of [[VideoGame/PoppyPlaytime the Prototype]], sees Poppy say in a speech bubble [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie "Business, business, numbers"]].
** The British-accented Tom opens a video about [[VideoGame/{{Minecraft}} the Sniffer]] as if it he was doing a nature documentary on it, in the vein of [[Creator/TheBBC BBC]] nature documentary narrator Creator/DavidAttenborough.
%%* ShownTheirWork: The whole point of the show.
* SickEpisode: Dan fills in for [=MatPat=] on the video for ''VideoGame/ChooChooCharles'' due to [=MatPat=] contracting a sickness.
* SigningOffCatchphrase: "But hey! That's just a theory: ''a [[TitleDrop Game Theory]]!'' [[ThankingTheViewer Thanks for watching]]."
** He also sometimes uses variations of this when mentioning other theories like "string theory", "scientific theory", "crime theories", and so on.
** When doing two-parters, he ends with "In the meantime, that's just a theory!"
* SoftWater: {{Defied|Trope}} in "Surviving the Franchise/AssassinsCreed Leap of Faith", where he notes that the surface tension of water makes hitting it at high speeds just as bad as hitting concrete, and [[RealityIsUnrealistic hay would actually break the assassin's fall better]].
* SoundtrackDissonance: Toward the end of "No Cowboy is Safe! Red Dead's Biggest THREAT!", a song called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCk33xD8BVY Can't Get Through to You]]" by Nemi plays in the background while Austin speaks about how people around the world are dying from tuberculosis every year, but that donating to charities like TB Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation can help save a life and work on new cures for TB. The video itself ends with [[spoiler:a wounded Arthur Morgan watching the sunrise on the mountaintop as [[TheHeroDies he passes away from TB]] in one of ''[=RDR2=]''[='=]s High Honor endings, all set to the tune of the same song]].
* SpecialGuest: WebVideo/{{Dream}} appears in the Minecraft Warden theory video as one, with WebVideo/{{GeorgeNotFound}} and LetsPlay/{{Sapnap}} making brief cameos as well, being the Hunters chasing Dream down.
* StockEpilepticTrees: Many of his theories are some of these:
** Link being in purgatory.
** Mario being the villain.
** Kirby being a heartless force of destruction.
** The Animal Crossing characters all actually being humans viewed ThroughTheEyesOfMadness.
* StunnedSilence: Matpat is visibly taken aback when Stephanie sees a rocket-propelled-grenade in the ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'' and immediately thinks it's a harpoon. He sits in silence for a second, and then gives her a hug.
-->'''Matpat:''' I love you, and as your husband, I'm not supposed to tell you when you're wrong...but you're wrong.
* StylisticSuck: The opening of his video on ''Five Nights at Freddy's'' plays out like a really bad LetsPlay.
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' ''(whispering quickly)'' I am so scared right now, I am so scared, can't you tell how scared I am right now?
* SubvertedCatchphrase:
** The first being the video on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDXSr8jjpVk Polybius and MK Ultra]], where [=MatPat=] changes to "a conspiracy theory!" [[CatchphraseInterruptus before cutting out]].
** He changes it the most [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A9Iu-E80-w at the conclusion]] of his ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' theory duology.
--->'''[=MatPat=]:''' '''That''' is the world of Watch_Dogs. That is ''our'' world. And that ''isn't'' a theory. It's a fact.
* SubliminalSeduction: Proven to be laughably ineffective in an extremely early episode on ''{{VideoGame/Pokemon}}'' with his main evidence being "GottaCatchEmAll" and "I Love Satan" aren't even close to having the same syllables whether forwards or backwards.
* SympathyForTheDevil: Matt's thoughts about [[spoiler:Josh]] from ''VideoGame/UntilDawn''.
* TakeThat:
** The AVGN episode has one towards WebVideo/TheIrateGamer.
** The laser blade episode has one towards certain ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' fans.
* TakeThatAudience: [=MatPat=] regularly uses gags involving comment sections in videos, often hypothetical ones that he can often use for SelfDeprecation or for guessing what people will attempt to debunk him with.
* TakeThisJobAndShoveIt: [=MatPat's=] reaction to the wheel of gaming insisting he make a seventh video about ''Pokémon''.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: [[invoked]]One of the videos shows that the games that sell best are usually not too different from the ones we've already tried, and that the games praised for being "innovative" rarely sell as well.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: [[invoked]]{{Discussed|Trope}} in "The Scariest Game That Doesn't Exist!" with ''Evertale''. The lore that goes into all of the advertisements is intensive, engaging, and well thought-out, which would make for an amazing game... if the ads weren't [[VeryFalseAdvertising a complete lie]] to cover up what the game is ''actually'' like.
* ThinkOfTheCensors: Even the very ''title'' of "Who Will Survive [CENSORED] Virus?" says it all. Apparently, [=YouTube=] will ''not'' have its monetized creators taking the name of the coronavirus in vain.
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: From the beginning of "Is Link dead in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]''?" episode:
-->'''[=MatPat=]:''' Wheel of Gaming, turn, turn, turn, tell me the fanbase I should burn.\\
''(wheel stops on ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'')''\\
'''[=MatPat=]:''' Oh, geez...
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: [=MatPat=] loves Diet Coke.
* TriumphantReprise: [=MatPat=]'s final sendoff in "[=MatPat=]'s FINAL Theory!" is accompanied by a slow but rousing and epic rendition of "Science Blaster", the series' opening theme.
* TwoFirstNames: The host of the show, Matthew Patrick.
* UnfortunateImplications: Invoked when [=MatPat=] made an episode on how many LGBT characters are portrayed; as villains, mentally unstable, inhuman.
* UnrealisticBlackHole: "The Pokédex is Full of Lies!" is dedicated entirely as an analysis to debunk this trope.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: According to the "Who is VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'s TRUE villain?" theory, due to Dr. Light's inability to program roboethics, Dr. Wily managed to [[VideoGame/MegaMan9 manipulate the robots]] into serving him, by convincing them that by the time they have finished their work, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness they would be scrapped]], and thus, joining him in his quest for world domination is the only way to survive, resulting in the events of the original ''Mega Man'' series.
* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Half of the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th_LYe97ZVc Five Nights at Freddy's]]" episode posits that [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys the game]] is based off of [[spoiler:[[http://component.geolearning.com/courses/smb2_46_lms/caliber/vathtml/vspoverview/Rebecca%20Oakes%20testimonial.pdf a real life incident]] that took place at a Creator/ChuckECheese on December 14th, 1993]].
* VillainProtagonist: The story in the Ultimate ''[[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys FNAF]]'' Timeline {{Miniseries}} is told from the perspective of [[BigBad William Afton]] in the [[https://youtu.be/gWOXSh4-Iuc first]] and [[https://youtu.be/oLj9qS9EgB8 second]] episodes and Mrs. Afton (the proposed GreaterScopeVillain of the modern era of the ''FNAF'' series) in the [[https://youtu.be/qGJLTDxnMs8 fourth episode]].
* VisualPun: Multiple ones per episode too.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: During the final episode of the ''VideoGame/FranBow'' livestream, when [[spoiler: Mabuka, Queen of Darkness appears,]] Matt and Stephanie spontaneously decide to SpeakInUnison. [[https://youtu.be/CbmEApQLADU?t=1h22m7s The effect is very unsettling.]]
* WorthyOpponent: [=MatPat=] and Scott Cawthon can be considered this as both sides have had an impact on the other. ''Five Nights At Freddy's can be seen as [=MatPat=]'s magnum opus and both him and Scott have mentioned the other with [=MatPat=] trying to solve the mystery and point out flaws while Cawthon adds more complications to the lore and does credit Game Theory in a post about FNAF 4's ending.

----
->But hey, that's just a theory! A ''Game'' Theory! Thanks for watching.
----