History SpannerInTheWorks / VideoGames

*** It's heavily implied by an off-hand line from Caspar and the prologue of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes'' that the Flame Emperor's plan wasn't to kill Dimitri and Claude (which, if Claude hadn't run off, would have almost certainly failed due to the protection of the [[BadassArmy Knights of Seiros]] and [[ExperiencedProtagonist the combat credentials of all three Lords]]) but to scare off the new professor so a puppet [[spoiler:(Jeritza)]] would be appointed in his place. While Claude would have actually ended up putting them in more danger, it's this almost fatal mistake that leads to Byleth being appointed as Professor. So even if this is true, Claude still plays this trope straight.

*** It's heavily implied by an off-hand line from Caspar and the prologue of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes'' that the Flame Emperor's plan wasn't to kill Dimitri and Claude (which, if Claude hadn't run off, would have almost certainly failed due to the protection of the [[BadassArmy Knights of Seiros]] and [[ExperiencedProtagonist the combat credentials of all three Lords]]) but to scare off the new professor so a puppet [[spoiler:(Jeritza)]] would be appointed in his place. While Claude would have actually ended up putting them in more danger, it's this almost fatal mistake that leads to Byleth being appointed as professor. So even if this is true, Claude still plays this trope straight.

*** It's heavily implied by an off-hand line from Caspar and the prologue of VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes that the Flame Emperor's plan wasn't to kill Dimitri and Claude (which, if Claude hadn't run off, would have almost certainly failed due to the protection of the [[BadassArmy Knights of Seiros]] and [[ExperiencedProtagonist the combat credentials of all three Lords]]) but to scare off the new professor so a puppet [[spoiler:(Jeritza)]] would be appointed in his place. While Claude would have actually ended up putting them in more danger, it's this almost fatal mistake that leads to Byleth being appointed as professor. So even if this is true, Claude still plays this trope straight.

** Hell, even the BigBad of ''Inquisition'' takes a turn.[[spoiler: The [=MacGuffin=] he was using originally belonged to Solas. Solas wanted to unlock its power but knew that whoever did that would probably die, so he lent it out to Corypheus so that he could get the orb while [[KickTheSonOfABitch the world had one less powerful asshole in it]]. Problem is, Corypheus happened to be immortal, [[SpringtimeForHitler so he was able to survive the backlash and use the thing himself]]. Which meant that Solas had to join your party to stop Corypheus from destroying the world before he could.]]

* In ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'', Lujei Piche apparently is stated to have ruined the effort involved [[spoiler:in banishing Sulfur of ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'', sending him back to Ivoire as a BonusBoss.]]

* The Alien protagonist in ''VideoGame/AliensVsPredator2''.

** Vaan from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' is the only one besides Ashe to [[spoiler:see a loved one's image projected by the Occuria, in this case, his brother Reks. This implies that he would be a suitable and effective 'Plan B' to become the weapon which would destroy the Archadian Empire in revenge should Ashe falter]]. Probably due to his being both Dalmascan, and for, at the start of the game, harbouring resentment towards Archadia for the death of his brother. Instead, Vaan actually overcomes [[spoiler:the illusions much more quickly than Ashe]], ultimately providing a more virtuous role model, as seen when he refuses to take revenge on Gabranth for killing his brother. [[FridgeBrilliance He may just have been the push Ashe needed to reject revenge at the story's climax]].

* In ''[[VideoGame/NintendoWars Advance Wars 2]]'', despite Andy having a spanner himself, [[spoiler: It's Hawke's turn against Sturm that really destroys his plans.]]

* [[spoiler:General Shepherd]] didn't expect one thing in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Modern Warfare 2]]'': [[spoiler:SAS Captain John Price. Price firing the nuke at Washington caused Shepherd to resort to some XanatosSpeedChess and move up his timetable for TF 141's disposal, but Price's willingness to [[EnemyMine co-operate with Makarov]] pushed him on to the defensive and gave him a [[EyeScream knife through the eye]].]]

* The modern day ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games seem to have given Dr. Eggman these moments as he'd be close to victory, then something happens that turns everything on its head.

* As of ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlue BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend]]'', Terumi's master {{gambit pileup}} for his goals remained untouched up until [[spoiler:Makoto Nanaya fell into one particular timeline by accident and interfered with events key to his schemes -- the end result being utter annulment of all of his plans in that timeline, and she got away with it with help from Rachel Alucard. As a result, from ''Continuum Shift'' proper onward, Terumi's plans for Makoto have changed from "keep away from Tsubaki and Noel" to "outsource to Relius or kill on sight".]]

* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'', the schemes of the GreaterScopeVillain [[spoiler:fallen Xel'naga Amon]] were derailed by a few ships carrying tens of thousands of human prisoners/colonists that overshot their target destination and crash-landed in the Koprulu Sector. This accident introduced a race of stubborn idiots who quickly became a power rivaling the Protoss and the Zerg [[spoiler:and the only ones who Amon wasn't able to control en masse through some psychic leash like the Khala and the Zerg Overmind.]] The schemes that [[spoiler:Amon and Duran]] tried to exploit them had some short-term success but ultimately resulted in nothing more than [[spoiler:the creation of the very beings who would kill them. Kerrigan slays Amon, while Stukov slays Duran.]]

* ''The Case of the Golden Idol'', being a mystery game with plenty of schemes and {{Gambit Pileup}}s, has a few plans go awry for unexpected reasons:
** Edmund Cloudsley has intercepted [[AncientArtifact a golden Lemurian idol]] which was promised to [[MysteryCult the Brotherhood]]. After he ignores their threats to return the Idol, the Brotherhood sends an agent to deal with the matter. The agent [[spoiler:bribes a disgruntled servant to poison Edmund's tonic]] at a dinner party at Edmund's manor, but [[spoiler:one of the other guests, Edmund's sister Rose, takes a sip of tonic first and dies instead.]]
** Years later, [[spoiler:VillainProtagonist Lazarus Herst controls both the Idol and the Brotherhood, and has used their power and influence to quickly ascend the ranks of society, [[TyrantTakesTheHelm seize control of civilian government, and install a totalitarian regime]]. Lazarus and his Order Party are mere hours away from overthrowing the monarchy and securing his power indefinitely, up until Lazarus (actually Edmund Cloudsley under a new identity) takes a brief detour to abduct Mary and make her his bride as he intended to do years ago. Peter is his undoing: he [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill fires a cannon at the intruder]] in a drunken panic, reducing Lazarus to a charred corpse, reducing the Idol to scrap metal, and unraveling the Order Party's takeover.]]

* [[spoiler:General Shepherd]] didn't expect one thing in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Modern Warfare 2]]''. [[spoiler:SAS Captain John Price. Price firing the nuke at Washington caused Shepherd to resort to some XanatosSpeedChess and move up his timetable for TF 141's disposal, but Price's willingness to [[EnemyMine co-operate with Makarov]] pushed him on to the defensive and gave him a [[EyeScream knife through the eye]].]]

* In the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' series, the titular pink blob often plays this role if he's not being an UnwittingPawn; something will disturb his usual peace, he'll go out to find out why, only to run into the BigBad or their minions, and promptly derail or outright foil their plans entirely. His tendency to do so is even criticized by [[AliensAreBastards Fecto Forgo/Elfilis]] in [[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand Forgotten Land]].

*** Despite being a mere StarterVillain with no connection to [[spoiler:Shido]], Suguru Kamoshida's horrendous crimes start a snowball effect that leads to the rest of the villains' downfall one after another. His conflicts with Joker and Ryuji cause them to discover his Palace and meet Morgana, and his rape of Shiho is what causes not only Joker and Ryuji to realize he has to be stopped no matter the cost but Ann, Shiho's best friend, to join them. In short, he's responsible for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts forming in the first place, and by extension, their conflicts with the [[spoiler:Antisocial Force]].

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': [[spoiler:Akechi]] ends up being the fatal flaw in [[spoiler:Shido]]'s chain of operations once the team recalls he overheard a specific part of a conversation that he shouldn't have been able to hear. Which was [[spoiler:Morgana's ability to be heard by humans after being in the Metaverse]], allowing the team to outmaneuver his plans and trick him into revealing the name of his employer. [[spoiler:Ironically, his real goal was to bring down Shido himself from within, [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou and felt the team was getting in his way.]]]]

** Years later, VillainProtagonist Lazarus Herst controls both the Idol and the Brotherhood, and has used their power and influence to quickly ascend the ranks of society, [[TyrantTakesTheHelm seize control of civilian government, and install a totalitarian regime]]. Lazarus and his Order Party are mere hours away from overthrowing the monarchy and securing his power indefinitely, up until [[spoiler:Lazarus (actually Edmund Cloudsley under a new identity) takes a brief detour to abduct Mary and make her his bride as he intended to do years ago. Peter is his undoing: he [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill fires a cannon at the intruder]] in a drunken panic, reducing Lazarus to a charred corpse, reducing the Idol to scrap metal, and unraveling the Order Party's takeover.]]

** Years later, VillainProtagonist Lazarus Herst controls both the Idol and the Brotherhood, and has used their power and influence to quickly ascend the ranks of society, [[TyrantTakesTheHelm seize control of civilian government, and install a totalitarian regime]]. Lazarus and his Order Party are mere hours away from overthrowing the monarchy and securing his power indefinitely, up until [[spoiler:Lazarus (actually Edmund Cloudsley under a new identity) takes a brief detour to abduct Mary and make her his bride as he intended to do years ago. Peter is his undoing: he [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill fires a cannon at the intruder]] in a drunken panic, reducing Lazarus to a charred corpse, reducing the Idol to scrap metal, and unraveling the Order Party's takeover.

** Years later, VillainProtagonist Lazarus Herst controls both the Idol and the Brotherhood, and has used their power and influence to quickly ascend the ranks of society, [[TyrantTakesTheHelm seize control of civilian government, and install a totalitarian regime]]. Lazarus and his Order Party are mere hours away from overthrowing the monarchy and securing his power indefinitely, up until [[spoiler:Lazarus (actually Edmund Cloudsley under a new identity) takes a brief detour to abduct Mary and make her his bride as he intended to do years ago. Peter is once again his undoing: he [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill fires a cannon at the intruder]] in a drunken panic, reducing Lazarus to a charred corpse, reducing the Idol to scrap metal, and unraveling the Order Party's takeover by complete accident. Since this ultimately resulted from Peter's actions at the party, his innocuous stunt ''saved the world.'']]

** A [[ChekhovsGun seemingly innocuous]] spanner is thrown at that same dinner party: Edmund instructed one of his servants to slip a dose of LovePotion to wealthy heiress Mary so she'd fall for him. However, [[spoiler:his half-wit nephew Peter is a rival for Mary's affections, and bribed another servant to rearrange the seats so that Mary would sit next to him instead. In a later chapter, it's shown that Mary fell in love with Peter, and it's implied that Edmund's potion may have caused it.]]