Videogame Tropes - Television Tropes & Idioms

alt title(s): Video Game

An article in this index will be about these things:

Gameplay mechanics—including mechanics borrowed from Tabletop Games.
Characterization and setting tropes specific to game characters and settings.
Setting tropes that aren't necessarily specific to games but are used in games to the degree they are pretty much stock elements, or without which many games would be irrecognizable/unplayable.

NOTE: Please do not add tropes to this index if they can instead be put in one of the sub-categories.

Tropes related to technical aspects of video games:

Ambidextrous Sprite
An asymmetric sprite will be perfectly mirrored—meaning it will "switch sides" depending on what side is visible.
Back That Light Up
Handheld game consoles can be lit in several ways.
Delusional With Reality
When Ruleof Fun is ignored in favor of Realism.
Dialogue Tree
Dialogue which proceeds by selecting options from a list.
Digital Avatar
Your custom persona inside the game (and elsewhere in cyberspace).
Dynamic Loading
Techniques used to hide Loads And Loads Of Loading.
Event Flag
Something that happens that triggers something else (possibly totally unrelated) to occur.
Every Bullet Is A Tracer
Graphical aspect wherein bullets and other projectiles are of visible types.
Fight Woosh
Graphic effect that happens when you go into a Random Encounter.
First Person Ghost
In First Person Shooter games, you can never see any part of your body other than perhaps your arms.
For The Cel Of It
Cel shading, a kind of rendering process that makes 3D models look like cartoons.
Freeware Games
Games which have either been created for free distribution, or are formerly commercial titles that have been released from their copyright obligations.
Going Through The Motions
3D games have a recognizable set of animations for each character which are repeated throughout the game.
Graphics Induced Super Deformed
Video game characters have big heads in-game due to the low pixel count they take up.
Instant 180 Degree Turn
A character or an object the player is controlling, can turn 180 (different number in 3D games) degrees in an instant.
Invisible Grid
A mainly 3D game mechanic that limits where you can move, jump, and/or land so that you are always on an invisible grid.
Isometric Projection
A form of graphical projection that fakes a third dimension when only 2D graphics are available.
Jiggle Physics
That amazing programming breakthrough that gives breasts realistic bouncing animation.
Jump Physics
It's very different in a Platform Game than it is in real life.
Kill Screen
When an older game gets played so far past expectations, it throws up a screen filled with garbage.
Ladder Physics
Ladders in games act strangely, like letting you climb them while having both arms free.
Loading Screen
Please wait, your trope description is loading.
Magnet Hands
Characters in Platform Games will always be holding their weapon, no matter what kind of crazy acrobatics they're engaged in.
Multi Platform
Any software program, particularly a Video Game, that is simultaneously developed and (usually) simultaneously released for more than one system.
Real Time With Pause
The ability to affect gameplay while it's paused.
Point Build System
The opposite type of Game System to the Class And Level System, you spend points to buy stats & skills.
Post Processing Video Effects
Common visual effects that are applied after the scene is rendered by the game engine.
Ragdoll Physics
Games that use increasingly realistic physics for all objects, especially dead enemies.
Ratchet Scrolling
Scrolling controlled by the player but only operating one-way.
Respawn Point
When you die, there's a designated place your new pody pops out.
Scripted Event
Events in video games which are programmed to unfold in the same way each time.
Shareware
A popular form of game distribution, especially during the 1990s.
Side View
A video game perspective in which all objects are viewed strictly from the side, with little or no amount of their tops or bottoms visible.
Skybox
A graphical representation of the sky that "wraps around" a computer game-world, and is used to simulate the "sky" of a game-world.
Soft Reset
The ability to restart just the game, without having to reboot the system.
Sprite Polygon Mix
Fifth-generation systems often used fully 3D backgrounds with sprite characters, or static backgrounds with polygonal characters.
ThreeQuartersView (3/4ths View)
A method of portraying three dimensional space in a two-dimensional plane. Basically, it's a tilted bird's eye view perspective in which both the top and front of an object is seen at the same time, and the vertical axis indicates both height and depth.
Vector Game
Any game that uses a vector graphics display.
Video Game Geography
The consequences of making maps fit to a game instead of the other way around.
Waggle
The dev team feels required to use unique features of a platform in awkward ways, or places it clearly doesn't belong.
Wrap Around
A mechanic where the edges of the screen are hyperspatially connected: move past the left side, and you appear on the right.
Wreaking Havok
Where the coolness of the physics engine conspicuously draws attention to itself rather than meshing with the rest of the gaming experience.

Common gameplay tropes:

Action Commands
The player must execute a command within a small window of time.
All In A Row
The party follows behind the leader like a lot of little ducklings.
Amateur Photographer
A gameplay element that requires you to take pictures of things.
And Now For Someone Completely Different
After getting used to one hero, you suddenly find yourself controlling a different character.
An Interior Designer Is You
A video game that lets you decorate a room.
Artificial Atmospheric Actions
NPC actions which are programmed but turn up in inappropriate ways or circumstances.
Beating A Dead Player
You just died... so why are those dudes still attacking your corpse?
Beat Them At Their Own Game
The most effective tactic against the enemy is the enemy's own tactics.
Beef Gate
The game prevents you from going to places out of order by putting very tough enemies in the way.
Betting Mini Game
Let's pause our quest to play craps!
Black And White Magic
Hmm, do I get to roast the bad guys or heal the good guys?
Body Armor As Hit Points
Rather than protecting bodily areas, body armor just gives you bonus Hit Points.
But Thou Must
A dialogue tree that refuses to continue until you pick the "correct" option.
Call A Hit Point A Smeerp
A common video game convention that is given a different name in an attempt at immersion.
Can't Drop The Hero
The main hero of an RPG can never be taken out of the active party.
Capture The Flag
Common video game mode where two teams try to capture each other's flag. And kill lots of them while they're at it, usually.
Character Customization
Altering the statistics of your character in relation to the game the character is in.
Character Level
You level up as you gain Experience Points.
Character Portrait
Important characters in some RPGs may have pictures of them, usually done in portrait style. For playable characters, these are usually displayed in the menu, though some games have portraits next to text boxes to indicate expressions as well.
Check Point
A point to which the player can return after play has been interrupted, especially by player character death.
Civil Warcraft
A contrived battle in Real Time Strategy games where you fight your own side.
Class And Level System
The classic RPG formula - pick a class and a race, and gain Experience Points as you play.
Color Coded Multiplayer
Identical P Cs can be told apart by their color.
Com Mons
The monster (in monster battlers) or card (in card battlers) for beginners, which quickly becomes useless.
Construct Additional Pylons
In Real Time Strategy games, having to build a base to churn out units right on the battlefield.
Controllable Helplessness
Video games that allow you to control your character (somewhat) even while helpless.
Corridor Cubbyhole Run
A corridor with a constant hazard you have to avoid by utilizing "safe zones".
Cosmetically Different Sides
Although both sides in a battle may be from vastly different technologies, their statistics and attacks will be exactly the same.
Cranium Ride
Jumping on an enemy's head and riding him, often across hazards.
Crippling Overspecialization
Units are so specialized that they are completely useless against units that fall outside their specialty.
Damage Is Fire
Whenever a structure is damaged, it's shown as being on fire.
Design-It-Yourself Equipment
Games that let you create your own tools, often by use of an editor.
Die Chair Die
In-game props which can be destroyed, sometimes resulting in a reward.
Diminishing Returns For Balance
As you increase your stats, each increase has less effect, forcing you to balance your stats more.
Do Not Drop Your Weapon
Heroes and enemies will never drop their gun—until they die.
Do Not Run With A Gun
Only the player can move and shoot at the same time; everyone else has to stop if they want to attack.
Dronejam
When annoying NPCs get in your way and prevent you from getting where you need to go.
Dual Mode Unit
A Real Time Strategy unit that has two different functions that can be switched between.
Endless Game
A game that never ends; you just keep going to more and more levels.
Enemy Detecting Radar
Blip! Blip! Blip... VRRRRP!?
Enemy Exchange Program
Capture an enemy base, and churn out your own enemy units!
An Entrepreneur Is You
A game where you run a business of some sort.
Escort Mission
You escort one or more NP Cs from A to B.
Everything Breaks
It's like as soon as you touch it, it crumbles into dust!
Everything Is Smashable Area
A confined space in a videogame where every object surrounding you is smashable, usually for collecting points.
Experience Points
You get them by killing enemies, and when you get enough your stats and abilities increase.
- Tech Points
  Like Experience Points, but they're only good for unlocking abilities.
Exploding Barrels
Because barrels full of gunpowder are an essential element in any interior or exterior furnishing.
Exponential Potential
As you level up, you get so many spells that gameplay starts getting confusing.
Extended Gameplay
A bonus story or challenge that begins after you beat the Final Boss.
Extra Turn
Take one step, and then again!
Faction Calculus
Describing the different dynamics of a strategy game depending on the number of factions involved.
- A Commander Is You
  Describing the different types of factions that appear in strategy games.
Fairy Battle
Something that looks like a normal Role Playing Game random encounter, but isn't.
Fake Ultimate Mook
A massive monster of terrifying appearance that's no real threat.
Fishing Minigame
Take a break from fighting the bad guys and catch some bass!
Fission Mailed
When it looks like you've lost the game, but the plot still continues.
Flawless Victory
When you beat a match in a Fighting Game without getting damaged.
Fog Of War
In Real Time Strategy games, you can only see the parts of the map where you have units.
Follow The Money
Ubiquitous, small, often shiny collectible items, usually in Platform Games.
For Massive Damage
When a match just won't work... go for a flamethrower!
Game Within A Game
Playing a different game inside a game.
Garrisonable Structures
Structures in strategy games that allow units to take cover.
Geo Effects
Where the terrain can affect battles, such as stats or effectiveness of elemental abilities.
Goomba Stomp
Enemies in Platform Games can be defeated just by landing on top of them.
- Goomba Springboard
  Games where you can stomp on an enemy to end up higher than where you started from.
Gravity Barrier
A huge cliff or vertical drop that acts as a "fence" keeping the player from passing it.
Grimy Water
Water with a tainted color that harms or kills the character upon contact.
Grind Boots
Characters can grind a rail without a skateboard—just with their shoes.
Guns Are Worthless
In RPG systems, guns are generally weaker than swords.
Hacking Minigame
A minigame where you hack a computer system.
Healing Spring
A body of water that heals bathers.
Hit Points
A number attributed to your health that indicates how close to death you are.
Homing Boulders
Where any projectile homes into its target—even things like arrows and boulders.
Hot Coffee Minigame
A minigame where characters have sex.
Human Cannonball
Launching yourself out of a cannon is a useful form of transportation.
In Vehicle Invulnerability
Vehicle crashes doesn't seem to affect its driver in any way, as long as the vehicle itself survives.
Law Of One Hundred
All Platform Games will have at least one type of common item that will give you an extra life if you collect one hundred of them.
Level Editor
Make your own levels—ridiculously easy or fiendishly difficult? You decide!
Level Goal
The way to mark a definitive end to a videogame level without a Boss Battle.
Level Up At Intimacy 5
When you have an emotional or sexual relationship in a game, your character gets physically stronger or gains skills because of it.
- Mambo Intimacy 5
  Games where the best result can be gotten by seducing or wooing every single person who seems remotely interested in you.
Level Up Fill Up
Go up a level, and your HP fills back up to the max.
Lift Of Doom
A Floating Platform that ascends, and as it does it passes through everything but the player character.
Linear Warriors Quadratic Wizards
Melee classes are better at lower levels, while wizards are better at higher ones.
Loads And Loads Of Loading
A game that takes fricking longer to load than to play GRAHHH
Locked Door
You need a key to open the door. No, you can't just knock it down.
Low Level Advantage
Don't level up as much as possible for optimal advantage.
Luck Stat
A vaguely described statistic used as a catch-all for various effects.
Match Maker Quest
The hero enters a romantic subplot.
Mini Game Credits
When you can play a Mini Game during the credits sequence.
Minigame Game
A game that consists of nothing but a series of puzzles, challenges and games with very different requirements for defeating them.
Mirror Match
Where a character fights himself.
Multi Mook Melee
Where you have to fight a seemingly endless stream of Mooks who slowly become tougher.
No Campaign For The Wicked
In games with two large forces, you can only play as the "good guys" in single-player mode.
Musical Gameplay
Games where the background music is immediately affected by what happens on the screen.
New Game Plus
Way of starting a new game by accessing a previous finished game, allowing you to start with improved stats, new costumes or items won beforehand.
Old And Busted New Hotness
A character who is supplanted by someone who does everything they do, but better.
One Hit Polykill
When a bullet goes through its target and can continue to hit more targets.
One Man Party
An RPG where one character can easily become far stronger than the rest of his party.
Only Smart People May Pass
Any barrier that requires the heroes to solve some kind of puzzle or riddle in order to pass.
Opening The Sandbox
The point in a game, especially an RPG, where you're finally able to do all the sidequests, go anywhere on the map, and so on.
Overheating
Your gun will overheat if you use it for too long, even if you have unlimited ammo.
Overly Long Fighting Animation
An animation attack in which the Rule Of Cool is applied in excess, making it just too long.
Palette Swap
Two sprites (characters, monsters etc.) that are identical except for their color scheme.
Parabolic Power Curve
A situation where, as your character gains levels, they begin getting less effective in certain tasks.
Party In My Pocket
Only the main character is shown walking around; other party members will appear when needed, or even walk out of his body.
Pass Through The Rings
The player must pass through a certain number of rings or other objects within a limited time period.
Path Of Most Resistance
When you are presented with multiple paths or options, you should always take the most difficult looking one.
Perpetually Static
Rules in an MMORPG that prevents the game from being changed unduly by the players.
Player Versus Player
A type of video game mode in which the enemies are other players of the game.
Plot Lock
Something which you should easily be able to pass through, given your abilities, but the plot decrees you can't.
Point Of No Return
A place in the story where it becomes impossible to revisit earlier points.
Pop Quiz
A sudden general knowledge quiz regarding obscure facts about the events, characters and monsters in the game universe.
Pop Up Video Games
A simple game, often for children, where clicking on items in the background causes cute animations to happen.
Power Up Motif
An auditory cue that a powerup is in play.
Preexisting Encounters
Encounters with enemies which you can see coming (as opposed to Random Encounters).
Pressure Plate
A door that's powered by a floor plate that trips when stood upon.
Press X To Not Die
During a cinematic event, you are instructed to press a button to trigger events or dodge attacks etc.
Prestige Class
A character can choose to advance from a basic starting class to a more powerful, but more specialised class.
Previous Player Character Cameo
In a sequel, the Player Character from a previous game in the series shows up.
Purely Aesthetic Gender
Character sex (where it can be chosen) makes no difference in player stats.
PVP Balanced
In games where players can fight each other, classes must be balanced so one type of character is not overpowered.
Quicksand Box
An Wide Open Sandbox game that fails to give you any indication about what to do next.
Random Encounters
Encounters with monsters that occur randomly as the player travels.
Refining Resources
In strategy games, you need to use "basic" resources to create "advanced" ones.
Relationship Values
A usually hidden meter that measures the depth of your relationship to other characters.
Restart At Level One
When a powerful character is given a plot-powered "level down" so he isn't statistically overpowered.
Ring Out
To win a match held in a bounded area by throwing, forcing, or tricking the enemy into stepping out of bounds.
Risk Style Map
A strategy game map which shows you delineated areas so you can choose which campaigns to wage.
Road Runner PC
You are always one of the fastest things in the game world.
RPG Elements
Where a non-RPG is given some aspects of one (menu battles, equipment, levels).
RPGs Equal Combat
The only way to get equipment, skills and levels is to fight things.
Run Don't Walk
Modern games have characters run by default; walking is more difficult to do.
Save Point
A specific spot where the player is allowed to save.
- Justified Save Point
  Use this computer terminal to record your progress? (Yes/No)
Scoring Points
It's all about the points, baby! Rack up those zeroes!
- Pinball Scoring
  Games that award points in extremely ridonkulous amounts.
Scratch Damage
You are never invincible - even enemies much weaker than you will still do 1 Hit Point of damage with their attacks.
Send A Boy
Set A Mook To Kill A Mook
Games that offer some way to control, trick, or override enemies and make them attack other enemies.
Silliness Switch
A game option that raises the game to significantly elevated stupidity levels.
Sliding Scale Of Turn Realism
How games simulate the passage of time.
Smashing Survival
In order to break free of an enemy's grip or shake loose from a trap, you have to smash the buttons, frantically spin the analog stick, or a combo of both.
Sniping Mission
When the player is tasked with using a long-range weapon to attack far-away targets.
Springs Springs Everywhere
Video games are full of springboards and other bouncy things.
Soup Cans
Bizarre and disconnected elements included in a game purely to serve as an obstacle to the player.
- Alphabet Soup Cans
  Educational obstacles that are bizarre and disconnected.
Stance System
The ability to switch to a new set of abilities or attack styles, designed to open up more strategies and combo opportunities.
Starting Units
In strategy games, you sometimes have units at the start that you can't train or create more of.
Stat Grinding
As you do specific actions, your statistics related to those actions will increase.
Stop Poking Me
Clicking too often on a unit will make them insult or nag you.
Story Driven Invulnerability
Even if you interact with the bad guy while chasing after him, you can't actually damage him until the Boss Battle officially begins.
Strong Flesh Weak Steel
It's easier to destroy something made of armored steel, like a tank, than to destroy an ostensibly flesh and blood character.
Subsystem Damage
When individual body parts can be targeted or damaged, or when physical effects impede your character, such as limping or shaky aim.
Swiss Army Hero
Sometimes you get many heroes in one.
Sword Of Not Hurting People
A weapon that ignores non-enemy characters.
Tactical Rock Paper Scissors
Strategy games divide your units into three types, each of which is strong and weak against each of the other types.
Talk To Everyone
It's the only way to get that sneaky clue about the dinosaurs!
A Taste Of Power
Where you are given a strong character or ability early on, but lose it quickly.
Tech Tree
Strategy games let you research new abilities for your units.
- You Have Researched Breathing
  Where you have to spend time researching things that should be patently obvious.
Ten Second Flashlight
Your flashlight only lasts a few seconds. Stupid cheap Taiwanese knockoffs.
Test Of Character
A quiz during character creation that determines your alignment or statistics.
Time Keeps On Slipping
Time passes, generally on a day/night cycle.
Unexpected Shmup Level
Whoa, my trusty steed! Forsooth, we must pause to do a Shoot Em Up level!
Video Game Setpiece
An occurrence that is not part of the game's typical gameplay/engine mechanics (e.g. monsters suddenly smashing down doors).
Walk It Off
To restore health, just find somewhere to hide for a bit.
Warp Zone
A secret area of a video game that allows you to magically teleport to another level, possibly offering you a choice of levels.
The Yoshi
An animal the main character can ride on, granting various benefits.

Common non-gameplay-related tropes:

Adam Smith Hates Your Guts
The farther you get in a game, the more expensive stuff will be.
Already Done For You
Another character in the story has already accomplished one of your objectives.
Announcer Chatter
Announcers in video games can be funny, but also annoying.
Another Side Another Story
After beating the game, you get to play a parallel storyline with another character or plotline.
Anyone You Know
Once you enter your name, the game brings it back later as part of the plot or gameplay.
Back From The Brink
The story begins with the enemy about to kill off the players, then you have to fight back.
Backtracking
Having to return to an area you've already been to.
Battle Theme Music
Feel those awesome riffs, man!
Black Mesa Commute
The game starts with exploration of a small part of the setting while getting a tour of the level.
Canon Name
A character which is named by the player is given a "real" name in subsequent adaptations.
Character Roster Global Warming
50 light guys, 2 heavy guys.
Convenient Questing
Your next destination will be the closest area that you haven't been able to get to before.
Coup De Grace Cutscene
After you defeat a boss, a cutscene shows you delivering the final blow.
Crate Expectations
Crates are everywhere in video games and serve all kinds of different purposes.
Cutscene
Non-interactive sequences inserted into the action of a game.
Death Cry Echo
When a character is killed, they give off a dying scream, which is repeated (getting fainter) like an echo.
Defeat Means Playable
Once you defeat a character, you can then play as said character.
Dude, Where's My Respect?
You've saved the world, but durnit, you're not too good to deliver my apples to the baker!
Easing Into The Adventure
Before you start the adventure properly, you'll be shown cavorting around your tiny home town.
Empty Room Psych
What do you mean this room really is empty?
Enemy Chatter
Random or scripted lines which enemy soldiers or Mooks speak amongst themselves.
Excuse Plot
A bare-bones plot that's only there as a justification for the gameplay.
Exposition Break
A break in the gameplay to provide you with exposition.
Fackler Scale Of FPS Realism
A scale that measures how close First Person Shooter games are to real-world shooting and combat.
Fetch Quest
A subquest unimportant to the actual plot which must be completed to continue.
- Broken Bridge
  An arbitrary obstacle that blocks your progress until you finish a Fetch Quest or something.
Foreboding Architecture
Games which allow you to predict when enemies will appear based on the room or visuals you're seeing.
Gameplay Guided Amnesia
Because the character knows things the player doesn't, sometimes the character gets amnesia to excuse the explanation to the player.
Gay Option
A game that allows the character to pursue romantic ties with a same-sex character.
Get On The Boat
In an RPG, at some point you will have to go to the next continent. In a boat.
Girly Run
A quite inefficient gait particular to female characters in video games.
Global Airship
A mode of transport that lets you reach any part of the world map easily.
Global Currency
A single form of currency is accepted worldwide.
Golden Ending
The only "real" ending; the rest just tell you how you screwed up.
Good Morning Crono
The main character starts the game in bed, as his mother or friend wakes him up.
Go Wait Outside
In RP Gs, you are asked to wait outside while something is finished; even if you come back in immediately, it's already done.
Heroes Prefer Swords
In an RPG, the main character always uses a sword.
Hide Your Children
In violent video games, there will be no children at all anywhere in the game, or they will be impervious to harm.
I Can't Use These Things Together
Main characters in video games talk to themselves.
I Cant Reach It
Characters refuse to do or "can't" do something due to some personality or bodily defect, or for no reason at all.
Inevitable Tournament
If there is a tournament held somewhere in the game, you will compete in it.
Infallible Babble
Whenever you are given information, it is always correct.
In Game Novel
A full-length novel which can be read inside the game.
In Game TV
An actual TV show which the player can watch inside a game.
Inn Security
Whenever the plot dictates a stay at the inn, you will always wake up in the middle of the night for a plot event.
Irrelevant Importance
An important object that's already been used and hence irrelevant is still prevented from being destroyed or lost by the game.
It's Up To You
It's the main character's job to do absolutely every task of any significance.
Joined Your Party
You now have 18 party members! Good luck figuring out which ones to use.
Journey To Find Oneself
After the end of a game, one character goes off on his own to wander the world.
Kyu And Dan Ranks
A Japanese ranking system originating with the game Go and martial arts.
Late To The Party
The main character arrives after something horrible has happened, and while he escapes or investigates, he inevitably learns the whole story.
Lets Split Up Gang
In an RPG, at some point you will be split up into two or more groups.
Ludicrous Gibs
Ridiculously overemphasized blood and gore.
Mad Libs Dialogue
The practice of recording lines with blanks in it, which can be filled in later.
Misaimed Realism
An element of the gameplay that is supposed to make the game realistic, but eventually makes it laughably unrealistic.
Multiple Endings
Let's see, there's the Bad End, the Good End, the Sort Of Better Than The Bad End But Still Not That Great End...
Musical Spoiler
A change in background music is an early indication that something is about to happen.
New World Tease
You are given a glimpse of a new world, but can't do anything there yet.
No Canon For The Wicked
The "good ending" is always the canonical one.
Now Where Was I Going Again
OK, I saved my place three months ago and I'm picking the game up again... so where was I supposed to go?
Omnicidal Neutral
Games that let you be not good nor evil but to take on everybody.
Only Idiots May Pass
The game assumes you've never played it before, and requires you to "find out" about things you may already know.
Optional Sexual Encounter
Look at those pixels go at it!
Parasol Parachute
An umbrella or parasol used as a parachute. Plus it keeps the rain off!
Paused Interrupt
When one character is "interrupted" by another, sometimes there is a pause before the second character actually starts talking.
Playable Epilogue
Erm... it's an epilogue... but you can play it.
Player Punch
Where the game kills or hurts someone or something that the player has come to feel emotion for.
Puzzle Pan
Where the game's camera pans across the correct route in a puzzle before you begin.
Random Event
Things that can happen, but where, when, or if they will happen are determined purely by chance.
Real Is Brown
Games that try to be more "realistic" often seem to paint everything in shades of brown or gray.
Right Handed Left Handed Guns
A weapon used in the right hand, but which seems to be designed for left-hand use.
Romance Sidequest
A sidequest which has the player character enter a romantic relationship with one of their party members.
Save The Princess
Typical early video game plot.
Saving The World
Typical modern video game plot.
Scenery As You Go
As you walk along a bridge or walkway, it creates itself, allowing you to continue.
Schrödinger's Gun
Where several story possibilities exist, but the one that will actually happen depends on the player's actions and choices.
Schrödinger's Question
You determine reality by answering a question whose answer you don't know.
Sidequest
Any part of a video game that is not required to complete the game.
Sorry I'm Late
When you're separated from your RPG party, they will join up with you in the course of one or more random encounters.
Sorting Algorithm Of Evil
Villains must appear in strictly ascending order by menace.
Space Filling Path
Rooms always have to have stuff in them, or twist or turn or generally make you spend more time in them than necessary.
A Space Marine Is You
In sci-fi First Person Shooters, starring a member of the military, you will be a mute Space Marine.
Speaking Simlish
A language, generally for NPCs, made up of nonsense sounds strung together like actual words.
Stalactite Spite
Inanimate cones of limestone can see players coming and fall appropriately.
Story To Gameplay Ratio
On one side, Hotel Dusk. On the other, Tetris.
Stronger Sibling
In most games, if the Big Bad has a sibling, it will be even stronger than the Big Bad itself.
Stupidity Is The Only Option
Sometimes the plot makes the main character do stupid things, even if the player knows not to do them.
Subtitles Are Superfluous
Some games do not have any subtitles for fully voiced scenes.
Suicidal Overconfidence
No matter how much stronger you are than the enemy, they will always attack you.
Super Move Portrait Attack
Whenever a video game character uses his Limit Break, a portrait of him or close-up of his face is flashed on the screen just before he proceeds to beat the crap out of his enemy.
The Three Trials
The hero must achieve three goals to advance the plot.
This Is The Final Battle
Stock Phrase spoken just before the battle with the Final Boss.
Title Theme Drop
When the Title Screen theme for a game is played in a certain context within the game itself.
Urban Segregation
Cities are split into two or three "districts" based on economic or social levels.
Variable Mix
The running background music has parallel parts that fade in and out with the rising and falling action level, rather than a set track.
Victory Pose
YATTA!
Victory Quote
In a Fighting Game, the winner gives a badass quote to the loser.
Video Game Historical Revisionism
The practice of misrepresenting facts in an historical setting, even when it would make no change to gameplay to be true to history.
Villain Shoes
A part of the story where you get to control the villain.
Violation Of Common Sense
Where the game allows you to do something that would be really stupid in the real world.
Visible Silence
... ... ...!
Voice Grunting
Games that either have audible "beeps" while text is scrolling, or short voice clips rather than full voice acting.
The Wandering You
Games that make you walk around a lot just so you'll fight a lot of battles.
War Has Never Been So Much Fun
It's a war game, but it stars cute, colorful characters and there's no blood.
Warring Without Weapons
A level or piece of the plot where you've been stripped of your weapons and/or equipment.
The War Sequence
Stage of a game where the enemies begin to come out in huge droves, usually near the climax.
Wasted Song
This is the best music ev—HEY! Where'd it go?
Waste Of Time Story
A story that the company obviously spent a lot of time and effort on, but which ends up being annoying and silly and gamers just want to get to the gameplay already!
Welcome To Corneria
NPCs keep saying the same thing over and over again.
What The Hell, Player?
When the player does something weird or cruel, another character will call him out on it.
Who Forgot The Lights?
They made it dark for atmosphere. Pity you can't see anything.
A Winner Is You
An ending sequence that's little more than a single line and a pixelly picture.
You Must Be This Tall To Enter
Once you receive a particular item that lets you enter a previously inaccessible area, you will need it all over the place to simply continue on your journey.
Your Money Is No Good Here
A place in an RPG where your money doesn't work, and you often need different trading items.