History Main / VideoGameCaringPotential

* It's not a video game, but being nice saved the players' bacon in ''Roleplay/RubyQuest''. Had they not tranquilized Stitches and left him a portrait of the Metal Glen's patients happy together (from before everything went to hell in a handbasket), then [[spoiler:He wouldn't have pulled an AndroclesLion and saved them from [[ImplacableMan Ace]]. They also managed to make the ending just that much sweeter by saving another patient, Jay, who was trapped in the water filtration system by hooks]]. It's notable that they weren't ''supposed'' to do this, as they were only able to take Stitches down non-lethally because they [[CuttingTheKnot bashed open]] a cabinet with tranquilizer inside instead of getting the key, [[spoiler:and Weaver had never even considered that they would try to save Jay, and allowed it because he couldn't see any reason why they ''couldn't'' do it.]]

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'' probably takes it UpToEleven. Literally ALL Confidants are extremely troubled people and pursuing their stories will bring great relief to them. Even better, the protagonist pretty much invokes this trope because a lot of the people are tormented by real assholes but you can get their names and kick their Shadow's ass in Mementos. The guys need the relief that action brings them.

** ''Webcomic/AliceAndKev'' is an example of just how powerful this can be in The Sims.

-->-- '''LetsPlay/{{Markiplier}}''' talking to [[CanineCompanion Bullet]], ''VideoGame/BlairWitch'' [[https://youtu.be/ZW-f_btEmoU?t=271 playthrough]]

** ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' continues the tradition, with extra dividends. [[spoiler: At the story's conclusion, the player character, Joker, willingly turns himself over to the authorities to ensure Shido's arrest. Everyone whom has a maxed-out Confidant Link will do their absolute best to see that vouch for Joker.]]

** Fusing Kinstones with a man who lives in the town in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'' will result in a portal appearing that takes you to the bedroom of an old man you've never met before. There's a ghost circling around him that only you can see, slowly killing him. You can use your Gust Jar to remove the ghost and heal the old man. Later in the game, you learn that the old man is a member of the Wind Tribe, and he'll give you a new weapon as thanks for saving his life.

* Occasionally in ''VideoGame/MadMax'', you'll come across helpless survivors that are stranded in the dunes without wheels (which, given the world of Mad Max, means they're as good as dead). While you can't give them a ride to the nearest settlement, you can give them some of your precious water. While it's not completely selfless, as it's mainly done to get information, considering Max's [[JerkAss usual attitude towards his fellow man]], it's still pretty nice of him.

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' starts out as a romance game where you can get closer to some cute young women, so of course it's natural to care about them. That would be barely worth mentioning since it's so standard, but this is another case where it makes it hit you harder when [[SurpriseCreepy the story takes a turn]] and bad things happen to the characters. This itself has the potential to make you care even more. It's a perfect chance to indulge your masochism.

* In the ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' games, your partner Maya may be an annoyingly naive, [[BigEater burger demolishing]] [[GenkiGirl bundle of energy]], but it still feels like a punch in the gut ''every time'' she's accused of murder and/or kidnapped. [[DistressedDamsel Which happens an awful lot.]]

** The game's most infamous emotional gut-punch comes in the WhamEpisode quest "While Guthix Sleeps," in which a whole bunch of the players allies from previous quests and skill training are unceremoniously slaughtered by the BigBad, with you powerless to do anything about it. Particularly mourned is the wise old gnome Hazelmere, who is the first to die; he's burned to ashes by a bolt of lightning, leaving [[DeadHatShot only his hat behind]].

** Torrent can be fed Rowa Raisins to heal him- or, if you hav extra, just to give your faithful horse a treat.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' puts Calca and Brina (raised out of the UncannyValley territory they resided in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'') in the player's team and has them [[spoiler:rescue Rydia and Luca from an attack. After this, they malfunction and Luca is [[PlayerPunch forced to deactivate them.]] Later, under normal circumstances, Luca is forced to scrap them for parts in order to get her airship off the ground. This can be skipped, actually. The way to skip it is a complete GuideDangIt that involves [[RandomlyDrops random drops]] in a game where the drop rate is simply inexcusably low, but let's be honest, who ''wouldn't'' do it?]]

* ''VideoGame/{{MUGEN}}'' has a rare and odd Fighting Game example with [[Wiki/SCPFoundation SCP-999]]. Its "attacks" deal no damage nor even flinch the opponent, and consist of heartwarming acts like hugging them to ''make them happy''. If the opponent's happiness bar fills up, they do a HappyDance for the rest of the fight, essentially [=KOing=] them in a friendly and non-harmful manner.

** It can very tempting to overwork the idols in an attempt to make up for previous bad financial decisions. If the agency continues running in the red despite doing just that, the player may get a visit from their investor, who who used to run a brothel, and basically be told "Hey, if you'd be willing to have the girls sent out on CompensatedDating and get a cut of the profits, I can make arrangements". Both accepting and refusing are options.

** For instance, there are some events involving an idol that can be turned into opportunities for free publicity, but said events can be either something negative that is best forgotten frome the perspective the idol involved or a genuine feel-good story that might lose that quality if the player does anything other than let it play out.
** It can very tempting to overwork the idols in an attempt to make up for previous bad financial decisions. If the agency continues running in the red despite doing just that, the player may get a visit from their investor, who who used to run a brothel, and basically be told "Hey, if you'd be willing to have the girls sent out on CompensatedDating and get a cut of the profits, I can make arrangements". Both accepting and refusing are options

** It can very tempting to overwork the idols in an attempt to make up for previous bad financial decisions. If the agency continues running in the red despite doing just that, the player may get a visit from Fujimoto and basically be told "Hey, if you'd be willing to have the girls sent out on CompensatedDating and get a cut of the profits, I can make arrangements". Both accepting and refusing are options.

** It can very tempting to overwork the idols in an attempt to make up for previous bad financial decisions. If this doesn't work, the player may get a visit from their investor, who who used to run a brothel, and basically be told "Hey, if you'd be willing to have the girls sent out on CompensatedDating and get a cut of the profits, I can make arrangements". Both accepting and refusing are options.

* ''VideoGame/MyChildLebensborn'' is very much a StrugglingSingleMother simulator in its RaisingSim aspect. The resource and time managment is built in such a way that meeting one of the child's need all too often results in neglecting another. Doing one's best to care for the child as well as possible remains the caring way to play the game.

** Saving the Etecoons and Dachora in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' is a completely optional and easily missable event. Once you learn that it exists, though, good luck finding the urge to ignore their plight unless you're specifically doing a speedrun. ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' reveals that this is canon in the ending, even if you choose not to. You'd feel pretty damn sorry if you didn't rescue them, though, since the ending to ''Fusion'' shows that they pilot Samus' ship during the escape sequence, effectively saving her life.

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' allows the player, in their role as a [[AllLovingHero benevolent goddess]], to perform good deeds ranging from making trees and flowers bloom to finding water for reservoirs to battling demons. One good deed was to buy some charcoal for a little girl to play with.

*** In fact, Okami ''breathes'' this trope. As a benevolent goddess, you earn Praise (for leveling up) not just by heroic deeds and beating the bad guys, but by feeding those animals, making trees bloom, turning dead land into fertile ground, and taking other totally non-violent actions to simply improve people's lives. It restores life ''and'' a sense of wonder to the world, enhancing your divine strength.

* ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' can enter into this at times -- your Minions are ultra-expendable, but the basic (brown) ones can pick up pieces of equipment from fallen enemies... (actually, they all can, but while the other variants just get generic graphical upgrades that reflect how good their equipment is, you can actually SEE what the Browns are carrying). Since certain pieces of equipment are unique, gained from defeating specific bosses or one-time-only encounters -- or just plain rare -- you can easily end up wanting to protect the one who's wearing a golden crown and wielding a giant fondue fork, partially because they're unique and powerful items (which will be [[PermanentlyMissableContent lost for good]] if he dies) and partially because they serve as souvenirs of an interesting boss fight.
** Of course, some of them can also become valued simply for comedic value, such as the one wearing a tophat and wielding a [[NerfArm bouquet of flowers]], or the one wearing a full beard (the previous owner didn't need it anymore).

*** Course in the sequel if you really care about your favorite Minion you can bring him back to life. At a cost, to save a level 10 Minion for example will require you to kill 20 in trade.

** Losing Pikmin can cause players to feel bad. Something about their screams is upsetting, and then there are those water vapour ghosts to remind you how badly you let them all down. It's even worse if you just leave some behind after dark. Not to mention they're basically dying for capitalism in the second game. Which makes the massive Pikmin carnage in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' somewhat of a PlayerPunch for those who also played ''Pikmin''.