History Main / PromotedToUnlockable

* ''KingdomHearts'' has the entire Organization XIII [bosses] as playable characters for the first time in ''[[KingdomHearts358DaysOver2 358/2 Days]]'', along with Goofy, Donald and Riku ([=AI=]-controlled support party members) and Mickey (he would be playable but only briefly if you died in certain boss fights).
** Riku had an entire campaign to himself in ChainOfMemories.

** Earlier than that, Amy in ''SonicAdventure'', and Knuckles in ''SonicAndKnuckles''

** Akuma (aka Gouki) was originally the TrueFinalBoss in ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'', playable only via a cheat code. He became a regular playable character in ''StreetFighterAlpha 2'', with an alternate "Shin Akuma" version as a secret boss (who was only playable in the [=PS1=] and Saturn ports).

* The four Shadaloo Grand Masters (Balrog, Vega, Sagat, and M. Bison) from ''StreetFighterII'' were exclusively computer-controlled in the original game, but were promoted to playable characters in ''Champion Edition'' and onward.

* Any and all NPCs, minor characters, major characters, main characters, villains and supporting characters in the {{LEGO}} movie games can and will be unlocked some way or another. Even the ones who have no weapons and can't do anything. You can play as ''anybody''. Newer games let you create your own character using parts from unlocked characters.

* ''{{Darkstalkers}}'' made Pyron and Huitzel playable in the second game.

* ''Halo2'' makes the predecessor's main enemy, the Elites, a playable race in multiplayer. While they aren't technically more powerful, the altered hit-boxes has led to arguments on which model is superior and standardization in the MLG circuit.

* "HALO2" makes the predecessor's main enemy, the Elites, a playable race in multiplayer. While they aren't technically more powerful, the altered hit-boxes has led to arguments on which model is superior and standardization in the MLG circuit.

** Earlier than that, Amy in ''SonicAdventure'', and Kncukles in ''SonicAndKncukles''

** Wario, Meta Knight, Pit, Olimar, Squirtle (who doubles as the starting platform in Poké Floats) and King Dedede (who also appeared in the N64 installment as a background character in Kirby's stage) all appeared as trophies in ''Melee'' before becoming playable characters, and Charizard was one of the Pokémon summoned in the first two games before it became a playable character itself.

** Earlier than that, Amy in "SonicAdventure."

* Bowser, after being an antagonist in the two preceding games, becomes a playable character (and is in fact the driving force behind the plot rather than being a [[VillainDecay mere joke]]) in ''MarioAndLuigi: BowsersInsideStory''.

** Special note goes to Captain Falcon and Ness, who demonstrate a variant of this trope: They were unlockable characters in the first game, then ascended into default characters in ''Melee'' before being promoted back to unlockables in ''Brawl''.

* FinalFantasyDissidia made many villains of the series, including the incredibly popular [[FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], into playable characters.
** Dissidia 012 does it again, adding [[RunningGag Gilgamesh]] into the mix.
** Before Dissidia, Sephiroth was also a playable character in ''{{Ehrgeiz}}''.

** Special note goes to Captain Falcon and Ness, who demonstrate a variant of this trope: They were unlockable characters in the first game, then ascended into default characters in ''Melee'' before being premoted back to unlockables in ''Brawl''.

** Special note goes to Captain Falcon and Ness, who demonstrate a variant of this trope: They were unlockable characters in the first game, then ascended into default characters in ''Melee'' before being demoted back to unlockables in ''Brawl''.

** Way before either of those, Bowser actually [[strike:joined Mario's party]] let Mario join his party in ''SuperMarioRPG''.

** Bowser also starts becoming playable in the ''PaperMario'' series from the second game and onwards.

* ''CastlevaniaJudgment'' has Dracula and Death as unlockable characters.