History Main / InevitableTournament

*** The elaborately titled N1 Grand Prix in ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork3''.
*** One of the main complaints against ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork4'' is the fact that most of the game involves you participating in ''three'' of these... while the approaching of a potentially ''[[EarthShatteringKaboom world ending asteroid]]'' is treated as a ''B plot'' until you become involved in it ''at the very end of the game''. It should be noted, however, that when you do get involved at the end, it turns out that [[spoiler:the two plots were connected all along--the asteroid is artificial and has an onboard computer, and they needed to find the best [=NetBattler=] to connect to it via a giant laser and stop it from hitting Earth, hence the tournament]]. However, it's not clear how far back this goes; it almost certainly doesn't apply to the first tournament (which was held before the scientists discovered this), and very likely only applies to the last one.

-->-- '''[[http://www.mmhp.net/Commentaries/Musing07.html The MegaMaster]]''', on ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork3'' [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight Funnily enough]], [[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork4 the fourth game]] revolved ''entirely'' around such tournaments.[[/note]]

** There's also the Pokémon Contest / Super Contest in which Pokémon are judged for their looks rather than their battling ability. You don't have to enter these to advance the plot, however they do unlock bonus items. (Replaced by Pokemon Musical, a talent contest of sorts, and Pokéstar (a Hollywood expy) in Gen V, still optional and still rewarding you with bonus stuff.)

* The Pokémon League of each region in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime.

* The ''VideoGame/TalesOf'' series almost always has an arena. It's rarely necessary to ''complete'' the tournament, though the BonusBoss therein often coughs up some sweet stuff if you beat it, but you are often required to participate in a fight or three when the plot calls.
* The ''VideoGame/WildArms'' series likes to throw in arena battles though they are often not plot relevant. They usually contain some of the [[BonusBoss bonus bosses]]. ''VideoGame/WildArms3'' is the exception, making the completion of the lowest tournament tier required to get a plot required item.

* The pod-racing in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. The prize money is needed to advance the plot, since Republic credits are no good on Tatooine.

** The Starry Nights tournament in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' is a rather large focal point of the game, as Terry has to rise through the ranks by winning multiple 3-round tourneys to represent the GreatTree Kingdom in said competition.

** The Starry Nights tournament in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' is a rather large focal point of the game.
** Notably ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', Alena has to do a solo fighting through a series of battle tournament fights in order to prevent a princess from marrying a male winner. You have to win the tournament to end her chapter.

-->-- '''[[http://www.mmhp.net/Commentaries/Musing07.html The MegaMaster]]''', on ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 3'' [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight Funnily enough]], [[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork4RedSunAndBlueMoon the fourth game]] revolved ''entirely'' around such tournaments.[[/note]]

[[folder:Action Adventure]]

* ''VideoGame/{{World of Warcraft}}'' in patch 3.2 added the Argent Tournament in Northrend where players fight in a coliseum type format in various challenges.

[[folder:Pinball]]
* The "Story" mode of ''VideoGame/SonicPinballParty'' requires Sonic the Hedgehog to challenge Dr. Robotnik in a pinball tournament to rescue his kidnapped and brainwashed friends.
[[/folder]]

* The Blackwater City hoverboard race tournament is briefly referred to toward the beginning of the original ''VideoGame/{{Ratchet and Clank|2002}}.'' The player, sure enough, is later forced to enter and win in order to acquire an item.
** Every ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' game since the first has an arena level, with at least one tournament being required to continue the game. "Deadlocked", the fourth game in the series, is nothing but one huge tournament.

[[folder:Role Playing Game]]
* The ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGUGames .hack//G.U.]]'' series has one of these in every game of the trilogy, as each game features a different level of the Arena's ranking structure for various level brackets. They are required for progress, and unless there's a pre-requisite to gaining a certain rank or fighting a number of battles first, all story fights are static. With enough LevelGrinding, you can end up in story matches that you can win by offing all three opponents in a single attack.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'': when the Illithids capture your entire party, you are set up to fight in a tournament for your new mind-controlling masters' amusement, however, you can break out and organize a gladiator uprising before the tournament even begins.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}'' one of the reputation tasks involved in joining the Old Camp was challenging a New Camp fighter in the camp's arena; you could win or lose and still earn the arena master's respect. Otherwise averted, despite the claim the next fight isn't for a couple of days, the area is never open proper (interviews have confirmed it was purposeful, rather than cut-content).

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' also has a combat tournament on the planet Taris which is related to the Bendak Starkiller sidequest players interested in picking up Dark Side points, but is otherwise optional. The game also features swoop races, where you have to compete to move the story forward.

* The elaborately titled N1 Grand Prix in ''[[VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork Megaman: Battle Network 3]]''.
** One of the main complaints against ''Megaman Battle Network 4'' is the fact that most of the game involves you participating in ''three'' of these... while the approaching of a potentially ''[[EarthShatteringKaboom world ending asteroid]]'' is treated as a ''B plot'' until you become involved in it ''at the very end of the game''.
*** It should be noted, however, that when you do get involved at the end, it turns out that [[spoiler:the two plots were connected all along--the asteroid is artificial and has an onboard computer, and they needed to find the best [=NetBattler=] to connect to it via a giant laser and stop it from hitting Earth, hence the tournament]]. However, it's not clear how far back this goes; it almost certainly doesn't apply to the first tournament (which was held before the scientists discovered this), and very likely only applies to the last one.
* This trope is subverted in ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 3''; around the beginning of the game, everybody is talking about a Wizard tournament at the mall. When you go there, however, you see that Ace has already finished it, after which the Noise Wizards attack. Considering how similar the plot of the third game was to that of Battle Network's fourth, this could arguably be construed as a TakeThat to its hated predecessor.

* The entire third chapter of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' is devoted to making one's way up the ranks in the Glitz Pit, a gladiatorial fighting arena. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope At least, it begins this way:]] the chapter [[CerebusSyndrome takes a darker turn]] [[HalfwayPlotSwitch when you have to solve the mystery of the disappearing fighters,]] and by the end you've thwarted a conspiracy to [[YourSoulIsMine steal]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext souls.]] It's considered by fans to be [[NightmareFuel the darkest chapter in the game.]]]] Once you've gotten to the top and beaten the chapter boss, Mario retires and his information is erased, [[PostEndGameContent letting you fight your way back to the top as a SideQuest]]-[[spoiler: and this time, ''without'' [[BitchInSheepsClothing Grubba]] getting in your way.]]

* There are a lot of these in ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'', as the name implies. There are several arenas around Orre and you can enter into short tournaments at each one. There's also Mt. Battle, which you have to enter as part of the plot but later opens up to free challenges- it's a 100-battle gauntlet!

** Played straight with the Pokémon World Tournament in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2/White 2]]'', where you must enter one Driftveil Tournament. Further tournaments are optional.

* In ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' the main character does ''not'' compete in the Sacred Games, a multi-layered fighting tournament meant to determine the future husband of the princess of Falena, despite its legendary status. Mainly this is because the main character is the prince of Falena and said princess is ''your little sister''. You ''are'' required to participate in a ceremonial opening match, though, which leads to a rather hilarious cutscene if you win when it turns out nobody told your sister that it was only ceremonial...
* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' almost always has an arena. It's rarely necessary to ''complete'' the tournament, though the BonusBoss therein often coughs up some sweet stuff if you beat it, but you are often required to participate in a fight or three when the plot calls.

* ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. The tournament and events surrounding it makes up an important chunk of the early game.
** There are actually two tournaments, one with humans and one as an actual "fighting game" minigame with Gears. Both are required, but you can go back to the second one later and get prizes.
** The human tournament is also played with- the purpose of fighting in it is to buy some time for another person. You don't have to win, but winning gives you more opportunities to stall. You can even get [[GuideDangIt a unique item]] from one of the bosses by [[SheatheYourSword constantly defending and healing instead of attacking him]].
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/YsVITheArkOfNapishtim'': one of the Rehda tells you about an upcoming competition wherein the village warriors test your strength, hinting that Adol will be asked to compete... [[spoiler:but then it gets called on account of the Romun Empire invading and abducting everyone]].

[[folder:Turn Based Strategy]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}'' has one of these spread across two chapters and the aftermath in its own chapter. Cutscenes show this was NotJustATournament: [[spoiler:The whole thing was just to lure out Etna and erase everyone else out to kill Zenon. It didn't go as planned.]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Name any sport anime, ''any'' sport anime.

* The Pokémon League of each region in the ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' anime.