History RuleOfThree / VideoGames

* In the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series, a trial in the courthouse for a particular case can only last up to a maximum of 3 times before the judge passes the final verdict to the accused. In the third game, ''Trials and Tribulations'', the character Dahlia Hawthorne appeared exactly 3 times in the courthouse for 3 different cases as a witness before she is "permanently retired" for good. The main protagonist also faced Godot in a courthouse battle up to 3 cases in total. The series was originally a trilogy, before the focus shifted briefly to Apollo Justice before settling back on Phoenix.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', the various gangs that are featured in the game all have three in-game models. Averted with the Italian Mafia, who have four models.

** Still at the beginning of the game, you learn you will have to fight three powerful enemies that are shades of evil, of good and of neutrality, given life and twisted by the laws of the planes.

** The rule is explicitly named and explained by Morte at the beginning of the game when the protagonist observes a zombie walking in a large triangular pattern. Morte is of the opinion that it is all nonsense, since you can always spot any pattern you'd like if you look hard enough and cherry-pick examples.
** You get the Rule-of-Three Earring from the interaction with the corpse, which gives you 33 coppers three times.

*** You get the Rule-of-Three Earring from the interaction with the corpse, which gives you 33 coppers three times.

** The trope is explicitly named and explained by Morte at the beginning of the game when the protagonist observes a zombie walking in a large triangular pattern. Morte is of the opinion that the rule is nonsense, since you can always spot any pattern you'd like if you look hard enough and cherry-pick what you want.

** The trope is explicitly named and explained by Morte at the beginning of the game when the protagonist observes a zombie walking in a large triangular pattern. Morte is of the opinion that the rule is nonsense, since you can always spot the pattern somewhere if you want.

%%* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''

* Most of the tasks and boss fights in ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' involve doing something three times, to a point where it begins to feel like padding. The inside of the dung beetles' hive takes this to the next level -- both summoning the Great Mighty Poo and fighting him involve doing something once, then twice again, then three more times.

** In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', each level setting is used exactly three times.
** Each of the playable Kongs in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' can learn up to three skills from Cranky Kong's potions: A traditional move that can be performed with an easy combination of button presses, a special move involving the use of a Kong-identified floor pad, and another special move involving the use of a Kong-identified barrel which uses Crystal Coconuts as fuel. In turn, Cranky is one of the three non-playable Kongs who teach abilities to the playable ones; the other two are Funky Kong (who specializes in weaponry) and Candy Kong (who specializes in musical instruments).
** In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'':

* In ''[[CompilationRerelease Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection]]'', there's an achievement for clearing the first level of ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage1'' with all three characters.

* ''VideoGame/AwayJourneyToTheUnexpected'': In at least the first two areas, you have to pull three levers to gain access to the Labiworks facility.
** You have three hearts in your LifeMeter at the start of the game.

** You have three hearts in your LifeMeter.

* ''VideoGame/RaccooVenture'': [[PlayerCharacter Raccoo]] has three hit points in the game.

* ''RadRodgers'': At the beginning of the game, [[PlayerCharacter Rad]] has three heart containers, and three lives.

* ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'':

** By the end of each generation, there are three non-remake games: [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red, Blue, and Yellow]] in Generation I (in Japan, Yellow is the TrilogyCreep, because there's already Red, Green and Blue); [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gold, Silver, and Crystal]] in Generation II; [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald]] in Generation III; and [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum]] in Generation IV. Though with Generation V, they've finally broken this chain by creating [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2 and White 2]].

** There are also three parts to the [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Miracle Toadley Cure]].

** Generation I has Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. The second generation has Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Generation III has Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, as well as Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza. Generation IV has Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina as a trio, as well as Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit. The fifth generation has ''three'' trios: The Tao, Kami and Musketeer trios.