History Main / PlayableMenu

** ''IWannaBeTheFangame'' starts the player out in a difficulty selection room. The harder the difficulty, the more SpikesOfDoom you have to jump over to get there.
* ''Takeshi's Challenge'', [[HeAlsoDid from the creator of]] [[TakeshisCastle Takeshi's Castle]]. Moreover, you don't even have to leave the menu in order to get an ending! Just punch the title screen '''20000''' times and you're done.

* The bar/starship in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' guiding you through missions, upgrades and story.

* ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'''s menu is a large cave chamber... with only two doors (and the HubLevel, if you unlocked the shortcut), a flare you can toss around and logo you can jump on and off (you can't die this way, no matter how much you try).

* ''The Time Warp of DoctorBrain'' had a ''VideoGame/SpaceInvaders'' clone for its main menu. Occasionally two different rocket ships would cross the top of the screen; shooting one got you the main game's high scores, while shooting the other got the game's credits.

* ''VideoGame/{{Earth 2140}}'' uses fully panoramic menus, mission selection and briefing screens, all scrollable and clickable with the mouse. Emphasis on ''scrollable''. Well, you know, scrolling the area and clicking on units is exactly what you do during the gameplay.
* ''SuperCosplayWarUltra'', partially as the result of being programmed on ''Fighter Maker 2002'' engine, allows you to choose one of the four singleplayer modes... [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential by hitting cosplayers that represent these modes.]] Oh yeah.
** A bland ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighter Street Fighter 1]]'' [[ShoddyKnockoffProduct knockoff]] on the [=NES made by ASDER=], called ''Fighting Hero'' also has a [[HubLevel similar feature]] for the country selection. [[HitboxDissonance Only this time, it didn't work]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' has this for the main menu, in the form of the brain with several doors.
* The pause menu of ''VideoGame/FableIII'' is an extradimensional space (complete with butler). The player character moves around inside to manage inventory, check quests, and examine the map.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'''s file select screen has Mario on a 2-D plane, with the files selected by hitting blocks. Mario can use all his regular platforming moves to play around the blocks.
* ''[[VideoGame/BitTrip BIT.TRIP BEAT, CORE, VOID, and FLUX.]]''
* ''{{Mc|Donalds}}Kids'' allows you to control the character on the main menu this way also.
* ''[[TimeTraveler If this is your first adventure, select "Learn"!]]''
** Or, if you won't move him left to the above mentioned tutorial, Marshal will automatically enter the "Play" portal.
* The first ''{{VideoGame/Quake|I}}'' is one of the earliest examples of using this trope, combined with HubLevel: first, you choose the difficulty level by entering one of the portals. After that, when you're inside the episode select part, it starts acting more like a HubLevel... [[spoiler:Although it's the only part where you can access the secret Nightmare difficulty.]]
** With this game's multiplayer support, it can be taken to the next level by allowing you to play the Hub Level ''in deathmatch mode.''
* ''[[SpyroTheDragon Spyro The Dragon 2]]'' consists mainly of level selection hubs and has nothing to do with this trope. Nothing, except this curious example: in the home of the first world, Hunter may propose you to switch the camera from active to passive and vice versa.
** Likewise, Zoe will do the same in the first homeworld of the third game.
* Used in a little Game Maker fangame, ''Bowser Jr.'', where the protagonist cracks the menu options with his head, exactly like Mario did with bricks.
* Latest versions of ''[[CubeEngine Sauerbraten]]'' do throw you into the "multiplayer map by default", should only you run the executable, but the catch is this: press ESC to summon the options menu, and you not only may point the menu buttons with your crosshair... you may actually '''freely walk''' around them.
** Remember, though, like in ''VideoGame/{{Cube}}'', TimeKeepsOnTicking.
** If you have "2D menus" on, then this trope is not valid.

* Sachen's NES games that require lightgun tend to do this for the game selection screens.

* ''MagiNation'' uses it. You can even reach the NewGamePlus option by a secret area that you need a later-game item to access.
* ''VideoGame/SystemShock 2'' has character creation/background chosen by several stages of walking into one of 3 exits. Complete with specific cutscenes.
* The bar/starship in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'' guiding you through missions, upgrades and story.
* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' has a playable difficulty selection screen.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' - the main menu actually has the player strapped to a chair, with the options appearing on a TV nearby, though it acts more like a traditional menu once you select one of the options. [[spoiler:You can also repeatedly hit a button to break out of the chair and explore the room you're in.]]
* The menu of ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}'' doubles as a sandbox mode.

* The iPhone-based VideoGame/{{Portal}} clone ''VideoGame/{{Wormholes}}'' has this for a level select screen. You spawn in a room with doors along every wall, each of which lead to a different level. Open doors indicate levels you have unlocked, while closed doors block access to levels you haven't legitimately reached. A BottomlessPit in the center leads to the first level.

* ''[[DoctorBrain The Time Warp of Dr. Brain]]'' had the Space Invaders section.

* ZigZagged in ''VideoGame/HardReset''. The [[PointBuildSystem upgrade]] interface has you control the PlayerCharacter...while he uses a point-and-click menu.

* ''Earth 2140'' uses fully panoramic menus, mission selection and briefing screens, all scrollable and clickable with the mouse. Emphasis on ''scrollable''. Well, you know, scrolling the area and clicking on units is exactly what you do during the gameplay.

* The iPhone-based VideoGame/{{Portal}} clone ''Wormholes'' has this for a level select screen. You spawn in a room with doors along every wall, each of which lead to a different level. Open doors indicate levels you have unlocked, while closed doors block access to levels you haven't legitimately reached. A BottomlessPit in the center leads to the first level.

* AttractMode: Demo gameplay that proceeds automatically, even if it takes place in the background while the player navigates a traditional menu overlay. Note that the player character representing the menu cursor but still working as one also falls under this category (''[[{{Pitfall}} Pitfall 3D]]'').

* HubLevel / WorldMap: An actual level used to connect other levels via pathways, warps, or portals (possibly with a SavePoint for good measure). Please describe the hybrids between main menu and the HubLevel only if it's indeed something special (and not just save/load screen).

* The iPhone-based {{Portal}} clone ''Wormholes'' has this for a level select screen. You spawn in a room with doors along every wall, each of which lead to a different level. Open doors indicate levels you have unlocked, while closed doors block access to levels you haven't legitimately reached. A BottomlessPit in the center leads to the first level.

* The iPhone-based ''VideoGame/Portal'' clone ''Wormholes'' has this for a level select screen. You spawn in a room with doors along every wall, each of which lead to a different level. Open doors indicate levels you have unlocked, while closed doors block access to levels you haven't legitimately reached. A BottomlessPit in the center leads to the first level.

* ''Earth 2140'' uses fully panoramic menus, mission selection and briefing screens, all scrollable and clickable with the mouse. Emphasis on ''scrollable'' You know, exactly what you do during the gameplay process.

* The first ''{{VideoGame/Quake|I}}'' is one of the earliest examples of using this trope, combined with HubLevel. Reason? Well, you choose the difficulty level by entering one of the portals. After that, when you're inside the episode select part, it starts acting more like a HubLevel... [[spoiler:Although it's the only part where you can access the Nightmare difficulty.]]
** ''Quake'' takes it to the next level by allowing you to play the Hub Level ''in deathmatch mode.''

* Used in a little Game Maker fangame, ''Bowser Jr.''.

* AttractMode: Demo gameplay that proceeds automatically, even if it takes place in the background while the player navigates a traditional menu overlay (''[[{{Pitfall}} Pitfall 3D]]'').

* ''Earth 2140'' uses fully panoramic menus ''and'' briefing screens, all movable with mouse. Yes, of course, you still use your mouse to pan the camera and press these "heavy concrete panels", but you sure get into the skin of commander already, huh?
* ''SuperCosplayWarUltra'', partially as the result of being programmed on ''Fighter Maker 2002'' engine, allows you to choose one of the four singleplayer modes... by hitting cosplayers that represent these modes. Oh yeah.

** If you have "2D menus" on, then it's simply averted.

** ''I Wanna Be The Better Er- Engine'' has got a regular Load Game menu, but, at the same time, allows its' users to have difficulty selection passages, as well as the point where you may redefine the controls "on fly".

* JustifiedSavePoint: Checkpoints and/or {{Save Point}}s manifested as in-universe objects, like using a typewriter to save your game in ''ResidentEvil''.

An infrequent method for PaintingTheFourthWall in video games is to disguise a menu interface as a level unto itself, which the player can navigate using their game character and actual gameplay controls.

Also note that the following tropes, while related to the concept of PaintingTheFourthWall, are not considered examples of a PlayableMenu:

* ''[[McDonalds McKids]]'' allows you to control the character on the main menu this way also.

An infrequent method for PaintingTheFourthWall in video games is to disguise a menu interface as a level unto itself, which the player can navigates using their game character and actual gameplay controls.

* MiniGameCredits: Playable credits (''[[HouseOfTheDead The Typing Of The Dead]]''), which are an interactive form of '''CreditsGag'''.

* ''[[BitTrip BIT.TRIP BEAT, CORE, VOID, and FLUX.]]''

* The first ''{{VideoGame/Quake}}'' is one of the earliest examples of using this trope, combined with HubLevel. Reason? Well, you choose the difficulty level by entering one of the portals. After that, when you're inside the episode select part, it starts acting more like a HubLevel... [[spoiler:Although it's the only part where you can access the Nightmare difficulty.]]

* Several ''IWannaBeTheGuy'' fangames that use ''I Wanna Be The Engine'' or [[FollowTheLeader its variations]] as a base. But not those that throw you into the game DIRECTLY after the game starts running.

* ''{{Spelunky}}'''s menu is a large cave chamber... with only two doors (and the HubLevel, if you unlocked the shortcut), a flare you can toss around and logo you can jump on and off (you can't die this way, no matter how much you try).

* ''SystemShock 2'' has character creation/background chosen by several stages of walking into one of 3 exits. Complete with specific cutscenes.
* The bar/starship in ''{{Starcraft II}}'' guiding you through missions, upgrades and story.
* ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' has a playable difficulty selection screen.
* ''KatamariDamacy'' to some extent: the save game select screen uses the in-game controls; and while the Level/Character/Operation select system (Select Meadow, Space Mushroom, etc.) do not, they are playable in their own way.

* The menu of ''{{Scribblenauts}}'' doubles as a sandbox mode.

* ''CallOfDutyBlackOps'' - the main menu actually has the player strapped to a chair, with the options appearing on a TV nearby, though it acts more like a traditional menu once you select one of the options. [[spoiler:You can also repeatedly hit a button to break out of the chair and explore the room you're in.]]

* The bar/starship in {{Starcraft II}} guiding you through missions, upgrades and story.

* KatamariDamacy to some extent: the save game select screen uses the in-game controls; and while the Level/Character/Operation select system (Select Meadow, Space Mushroom, etc.) do not, they are playable in their own way.

* ''{{Psychonauts}}'' has this for the main menu, in the form of the brain with several doors.

** Remember, though, like in ''{{Game/Cube}}'', TimeKeepsOnTicking.