History Main / RewardingInactivity

* ''VideoGame/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' has a few points where you pass out, wake up in a dark void, and need to 'wait' until your total sensory deprivation becomes less than total, [[ControllableHelplessness then focus on whichever sense did register something after all]].
* One of the achievements in ''VideoGame/{{Calendula}}'', “Sorry”, requires the player to not solve a puzzle for fifteen to thirty minutes.

Contrast GuiltBasedGaming, in which the game tries to make you feel bad for being idle or gone for a while. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Despite the title]], this is ''not'' WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing, as the latter case does not happen on purpose.

** No small surprise, but [[spoiler:Daemon Prince Sindrii]], though incapable of flight, is not nearly as stupid (considering that [[spoiler:he was a ManipulativeBastard even when he was a mere mortal]]), and will lash out with various area-of-effect attacks if you try to pull that crap on him. ''[[AGodAmI "PATHETIC]] [[LargeHam CREATURES!!!"]]''

* In the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', the game had a fatigue system that reduced your EXP gains if you played a long time. It was possible to play enough to the point where you got ''no'' experience points. The intent was to discourage people from playing the game without taking a break, but it wasn't well received. WHen the game got rebooted, the fatigue system was inverted; instead of reducing experience gains, you would get a boost in experience points if you logged out while in a sanctuary. The system was basically the same, but it rewarded players for taking a break rather than trying to push them to do it

* ''Landstalker'' has this for a crypt puzzle. A bunch of monsters drop down and the way to solve the puzzle is to just stand there. The monsters won't attack you if you don't move. It can be a very frustrating puzzle as the player is pretty much trained to attack all monsters on sight and not to let them approach you.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' does this. At one point you're locked in a cell, awaiting execution. You can bait the guards into attacking you, beat them (they were stupid enough to leave you your weapon), and escape by fighting your way though the dungeon. Alternatively, you can wait in your cell quietly until the time for your scheduled execution arrives and be escorted to a guillotine. At which point one of your friends comes to bust you out, which means you have two characters to explore the dungeon with. Or if you feel that you don't need any of the items you can find there, you can just pretty much walk to the exit that's literally 2 rooms away and fight the next boss.
* This is how you get one of the Secret Stars in ''VideoGame/{{Braid}}''. You have to spend [[ScrappyLevel two hours]] waiting for a cloud to move across the level.

* Required in one part of ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]].'' You have to simply wait until Bowser's back is healed before proceeding. The game even suggests that you enjoy a cup of tea while doing so.
** Subverted in that there's a cheat code you can input to greatly speed up the process but finding it or even knowing it exists is another matter entirely.

* In ''Mario Adventure'', a notable hack of VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3, a few of the levels in Desert Dares (World 7) asks you to survive for about 30 seconds in a single-screen level with a Wakitu (a Lakitu that drops bombs instead of spines). One in particular seems impossible, until...

* A ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' mod ''Half Quake Amen'' had a part where you have to wait in some place that's supposed to be a train station of sorts for about ''20 minutes''. Appropriately enough, the said part is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Patience]]''.

* One quest in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' requires you to prove that you're peaceful by not fighting a giant bear that appears to you. You may need to run from it for a bit, though.

* A common SecretTestOfCharacter in some games involves the hero being given a morally dubious task. If he refuses to do it, he passes the test.

* A ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' mod ''VideoGame/HalfQuake Amen'' had a part where you have to wait in some place that's supposed to be a train station of sorts for about ''20 minutes''. Appropriately enough, the said part is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Patience]]''.

* In VideoGame/HarvestMoon: Magical Melody, you acquire the Stationary Note by simply standing still for a minute.

* A ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' mod ''HalfQuake Amen'' had a part where you have to wait in some place that's supposed to be a train station of sorts for about ''20 minutes''. Appropriately enough, the said part is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Patience]]''.

* One of the earliest tasks in ''VideoGame/FableTheLostChapters'' is scraping together coins to buy your sister a gift, and one way to do it is by helping a farmer with watching his storehouse. A younger boy tries to tempt you into smashing the farmer's stuff, which [[RewardingVandalism will net you a coin]], or you can simply stand on the spot and wait for the farmer to get back, [[SweetAndSourGrapes which will get you the same result]] but with better karma.

* One of the earliest tasks in ''VideoGame/Fable1'' is scraping together coins to buy your sister a gift, and one way to do it is by helping a farmer with watching his storehouse. A younger boy tries to tempt you into smashing the farmer's stuff, which [[RewardingVandalism will net you a coin]], or you can simply stand on the spot and wait for the farmer to get back, [[SweetAndSourGrapes which will get you the same result]] but with better karma.

** Subverted in that there's a ClassicCheatCode you can input to greatly speed up the process but finding it or even knowing it exists is another matter entirely.

Contrast GuiltBasedGaming, in which the game tries to make you feel bad for being idle or gone for a while. [[IThoughtItMeant Despite the title]], this is ''not'' WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing, as the latter case does not happen on purpose.

* ''VideoGame/{{Uru}}: Path of the Shell'' takes this trope to an {{egregious}} level; you have to stand your character in a particular light, unmoving, for 15 minutes.

** There s also the part when you first get Poo where you have to meditate on a mountain for a short period of time to proceed with the story. A number of [=NPCs=] will keep distracting you with urgent news, but you need to ignore all of them or you have to start over from the beginning.

* In ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryII'', if you pass the test to get into the Wizard's Institute of Technology, the game will ask you if you accept the invitation to become a member. If you accept, you get a game over because you have ignored your duties as a hero. If you decline, Erasmus rewards you by giving you the Reversal spell.
* There was a brilliant ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' comic a while back in which Jason was trying to figure out how to beat this huge boss in a video game, and it turned out all that was necessary was to ''walk past it''. Hilarity ensued.
** The ''really'' hilarious thing was that PAIGE had "beaten" it when he was away and he spent several strips begging her to tell him how.