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** Shingo Yabuki was sidelined after ''XI'' thanks to being almost killed by a feral Iori, but returned as a DLC character in ''XV''.
** Hinako Shijo also returns in ''XV'''s DLC lineup, after not having been playable since ''2003''.
** Hinako Shijo also returns in ''XV'''s DLC lineup, after not having been playable since ''2003''.
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** For all of the series’ notoriety for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, including joke characters like Tiger and Dr. Boskonovitch.
** For a mainline example, after almost ''thirty'' years of being absent from the main games since her debut in ''2'', Jun Kazama finally makes her grand return in ''8''.
** For a mainline example, after almost ''thirty'' years of being absent from the main games since her debut in ''2'', Jun Kazama finally makes her grand return in ''8''.
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** For all of ''VideoGame/Tekken4'' sees the series’ notoriety for [[PutOnABus putting its return of Kazuya Mishima and Lee Chaolan, who are absent in ''VideoGame/Tekken3''. Kazuya's return is especially a surprise, since ''3'' establishes that he is dead, having been thrown into a volcano by Heihachi. Also, while there is a Law character in ''3'', it's Forest Law, not his father, Marshall Law, who makes his return in ''4'' (while Forest [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse just sort of disappears from the plot afterward]]).
** ''VideoGame/Tekken5'' brings back characterson a bus]], for ''Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, missing in ''4'', including joke Anna Williams, Baek Doo San, Bruce Irvin, Ganryu, Mokujin, and Wang Jinrei, while Ogre returns as a non-playable boss in Devil Within. Other absent characters like Tiger return in spirit; there is Jack-5 (the robots' fifth iteration), Jun Kazama's fighting style is inherited by her relative Asuka Kazama, and Dr. Boskonovitch.
Roger's wife and son take over his stint as fighter. Even Jin Kazama's old fighting style makes a return; since Jin is effectively a new character in ''4'', the old one is instead repurposed by [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Devil Jin]]. The ''Dark Resurrection'' update adds Armor King, though the following game reveals that he is actually the original's younger brother.
**For a mainline example, after almost ''thirty'' years of being absent from ''VideoGame/Tekken8'' is notable for bringing back Jun Kazama, who hasn't been seen in the main games since for nearly ''thirty years'' (the last one was her debut in ''2'', Jun Kazama finally makes her grand game, ''Tekken 2''). Azazel and Raven also return after having been absent in ''8''.''VideoGame/Tekken7''.
** ''VideoGame/Tekken5'' brings back characters
**
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* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'':
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
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* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'':
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
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** ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
*** Its UpdatedRerelease ''Sonic X Shadow Generations'' has Black Doom show up for the first time since ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' as the antagonist of the new Shadow campaign.
*** Its UpdatedRerelease ''Sonic X Shadow Generations'' has Black Doom show up for the first time since ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' as the antagonist of the new Shadow campaign.
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It happening "earlier" doesn't validate misindentation
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* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
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* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'':
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
**Earlier than that was the The unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** The game brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
**
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** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
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** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Gold Rathian, Silver Rathalos, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
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*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
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*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.3rd'' (despite the latter having their respective Rare Species).
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** VideoGame/SuperKirbyClash brings back Nightmare of all enemies with a variation of his boss moveset from Kirby's Adventure. Sure, it's an alternate universe version called ''Parallel'' Nightmare, but it's still the same general design, attacks, and even uses the voice actor from the [[Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa Hoshi no Kaabii]] japanese anime dub.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':
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* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'':
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* For all that ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is notorious for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, including joke characters like Tiger and Dr. Boskonovitch.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':
** For allthat ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is notorious of the series’ notoriety for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tekken Tag ''Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, including joke characters like Tiger and Dr. Boskonovitch.Boskonovitch.
** For a mainline example, after almost ''thirty'' years of being absent from the main games since her debut in ''2'', Jun Kazama finally makes her grand return in ''8''.
** For all
** For a mainline example, after almost ''thirty'' years of being absent from the main games since her debut in ''2'', Jun Kazama finally makes her grand return in ''8''.
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** [[VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} Alleria Windrunner and Turalyon]] were announced to be returning in the ''Legion'' expansion. This is one of the more egregious examples, as their last appearance was ''Warcraft II: Beyond The Dark Portal'', which came out in ''1996''. Nineteen years, and the only WordOfGod on them was that they were still alive. To say the fans were pleased by this would be an understatement.
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** [[VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} Alleria Algeria Windrunner and Turalyon]] were announced to be returning in the ''Legion'' expansion. This is one of the more egregious examples, as their last appearance was ''Warcraft II: Beyond The Dark Portal'', which came out in ''1996''. Nineteen years, and the only WordOfGod on them was that they were still alive. To say the fans were pleased by this would be an understatement.
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** ''Resident Evil: Dead Island'' to the shock and joy of fans finally brings Jill Valentine back into the story. While she did appear in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' (reimagining of a 1999 game) three years prior, Jill actually hasn't been in a new ''RE'' title since 2012's ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' a whole decade and year ago. InUniverse she's had even longer bus ride, with Jill's last chronological appearance being ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' in 2009, so she's been gone from the canon for 14 years.
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** ''Resident Evil: Dead Island'' ''Anime/ResidentEvilDeathIsland'' to the shock and joy of fans finally brings Jill Valentine back into the story. While she did appear in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' (reimagining of a 1999 game) three years prior, Jill actually hasn't been in a new ''RE'' title since 2012's ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' a whole decade and year ago. InUniverse she's had even longer bus ride, with Jill's last chronological appearance being ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' in 2009, so she's been gone from the canon for 14 years.
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* Quite common among the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' franchise for any characters not named Chris, Leon, Jill, Claire (as of now), Ada and Wesker:
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* Quite common among the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' franchise for any characters not named Chris, Leon, Jill, Claire (as of now), Claire, Ada and Wesker:
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** Like Rebecca, [[EnsembleDarkhorse Barry Burton]] has been missing for almost 16 years before returning in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2''. Likewise, the game also marks the first time Claire is playable since ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' (although she stars alongside Leon in the first CGI film).
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** Like Rebecca, [[EnsembleDarkhorse Barry Burton]] has been missing for almost 16 19 years before returning in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations2''. Likewise, the game also marks the first time Claire is playable since ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' (although she stars alongside Leon in the first CGI film).
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** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
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** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' ''VideoGame/WarioWareIncMegaMicrogames'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
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** The ''Dragonflight'' expansion continues the tradition by bringing the black dragon Sabellian - who hadn't been seen since ''Burning Crusade'' fifteen real-world years previously - back to centre stage. A few other characters who hadn't been seen for a few expansions also reappeared, such as Senegos and his brood from ''Legion'', but Sabellian is definitely the stand-out for length of absence.
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** ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' features the return of Fang the Sniper, a character almost as obscure as Mighty and Ray, whose only appearances before disappearing were in ''VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble'', ''VideoGame/SonicDrift2'', and ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters''[[note]]though he put in a few small cameos in the meantime, most notably as one of Heavy Magician's disguises in ''VideoGame/SonicMania''[[/note]].
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Crosswicking
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* In ''[[VideoGame/Onmyoji2016 Onmyōji]]'''s story mode, the bus that Ibaraki-dōji and Shuten-dōji are on (debut in ep. 10 and also appear in ep. 11) returns in ep. 17 (6 episodes later). The one Kappa and Koi-no-sei (appear once in ep. 7) are on returns in the same episode (10 episodes later), while the one Ame-onna and Jiki-gaeru (appear once in ep. 4) are on also comes back for this episode (13 episodes later). The longest bus trip belongs to Hōōka (appears once in ep. 3) which ''also comes back in this episode'' (14 episodes later). Episode 17 should have been titled The Returning Buses.
** Oguna and Dōjo are PutOnABus after episode 12, their debut episode, and return very briefly in episode 21 (9 episodes later).
** Oguna and Dōjo are PutOnABus after episode 12, their debut episode, and return very briefly in episode 21 (9 episodes later).
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* In ''[[VideoGame/Onmyoji2016 Onmyōji]]'''s story mode, the bus that Ibaraki-dōji and Shuten-dōji are on (debut in ep. 10 and also appear in ep. 11) returns in ep. 17 (6 episodes later). The one Kappa and Koi-no-sei (appear once in ep. 7) are on returns in the same episode (10 episodes later), while the one Ame-onna and Jiki-gaeru (appear once in ep. 4) are on also comes back for this episode (13 episodes later). The longest bus trip belongs to Hōōka (appears once in ep. 3) which ''also comes back in this episode'' (14 episodes later). Episode 17 should have been titled The Returning Buses.
**Buses. Oguna and Dōjo are PutOnABus after episode 12, their debut episode, and return very briefly in episode 21 (9 episodes later).
**
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** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
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** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
***well. The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
***
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*** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' brings back the Superball Flower and the Superball ability after ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand 30 whole years]]''.
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** ''VideoGame/MarioPartySuperstars'': Birdo returns to the ''VideoGame/MarioParty'' series as a playable character for the first time since ''VideoGame/MarioParty9''.
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** ''Resident Evil: Dead Island'' to the shock and joy of fans finally brings Jill Valentine back into the story. While she did appear in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' (reimagining of a 1999 game) three years prior, Jill actually hasn't been in a new ''RE'' title since 2012's ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' a whole decade ago. InUniverse she's had even longer bus ride, with Jill's last chronological appearance being ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' in 2009, so she's been gone from the canon for 14 years.
to:
** ''Resident Evil: Dead Island'' to the shock and joy of fans finally brings Jill Valentine back into the story. While she did appear in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' (reimagining of a 1999 game) three years prior, Jill actually hasn't been in a new ''RE'' title since 2012's ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' a whole decade and year ago. InUniverse she's had even longer bus ride, with Jill's last chronological appearance being ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' in 2009, so she's been gone from the canon for 14 years.
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** ''Resident Evil: Dead Island'' to the shock and joy of fans finally brings Jill Valentine back into the story. While she did appear in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'' (reimagining of a 1999 game) three years prior, Jill actually hasn't been in a new ''RE'' title since 2012's ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' a whole decade ago. InUniverse she's had even longer bus ride, with Jill's last chronological appearance being ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' in 2009, so she's been gone from the canon for 14 years.
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* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}} Onmyōji]]'''s story mode, the bus that Ibaraki-dōji and Shuten-dōji are on (debut in ep. 10 and also appear in ep. 11) returns in ep. 17 (6 episodes later). The one Kappa and Koi-no-sei (appear once in ep. 7) are on returns in the same episode (10 episodes later), while the one Ame-onna and Jiki-gaeru (appear once in ep. 4) are on also comes back for this episode (13 episodes later). The longest bus trip belongs to Hōōka (appears once in ep. 3) which ''also comes back in this episode'' (14 episodes later). Episode 17 should have been titled The Returning Buses.
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* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}} ''[[VideoGame/Onmyoji2016 Onmyōji]]'''s story mode, the bus that Ibaraki-dōji and Shuten-dōji are on (debut in ep. 10 and also appear in ep. 11) returns in ep. 17 (6 episodes later). The one Kappa and Koi-no-sei (appear once in ep. 7) are on returns in the same episode (10 episodes later), while the one Ame-onna and Jiki-gaeru (appear once in ep. 4) are on also comes back for this episode (13 episodes later). The longest bus trip belongs to Hōōka (appears once in ep. 3) which ''also comes back in this episode'' (14 episodes later). Episode 17 should have been titled The Returning Buses.
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For this trope take effect, the character had to show up beforehand. Awakening is Nathaniel Howe's first appereance in the franchise.
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* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
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* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' introduces the character [[spoiler:G'raha Tia]] during a line of sidequests in A Realm Reborn. At the conclusion of the questline, [[spoiler:he seals himself away for a seemingly indefinite amount of time. After being absent for the entirety of Heavensward and all of Stormblood save the very end, he is promoted to one of the main NPCs in Shadowbringers]].
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* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' introduces the character [[spoiler:G'raha Tia]] during a line of sidequests in A Realm Reborn. At the conclusion of the questline, [[spoiler:he seals himself away for a seemingly indefinite amount of time. After being absent for the entirety of Heavensward and all of Stormblood save the very end, he is promoted to one of the main NPCs characters in Shadowbringers]].
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* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' introduces the character [[spoiler:G'raha Tia]] during a line of sidequests in A Realm Reborn. At the conclusion of the questline, [[spoiler:he seals himself away for a seemingly indefinite amount of time. After being absent for the entirety of Heavensward and all of Stormblood save the very end, he is promoted to one of the main NPCs in Shadowbringers]].
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alphabetizing and adding Love And Pies entry
* After a massive TimeSkip in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series with a [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney game]] that replaces almost all the old characters with new ones, [[spoiler: Miles Edgeworth and Pearl Fey]] unexpectedly show up in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' for the finale.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' has done this since ''City Folk''. ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing: Happy Home Designer'' also brought back [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/b93b97f64b8d25538ea96b646738f0ac/tumblr_nzgp91I7dC1sojdvio1_1280.jpg Louie, Maddie, Claude, and Carrie]], all of whom previously only appearing in the very first game of the series. Carrie in particular shows up on the seventh day, with a special request for a children's playroom. The rest can only be found in distributions through Nintendo Zones and Spotpass, all with special requests -- Louie with a 30th anniversary celebration of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Claude with a video game exhibit, and Maddie with special school supplies. There are even more villagers absent since the first game (Plus 2 from the Japan-exclusive update) found in the data, but they haven't been released yet.
** These characters plus 46 others (making it 50 in total) were all brought back for the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''New Leaf''. Unlike other villagers who can appear in the campsite, these villages will camp in the new RV campground when invited via special amiibo cards. All these characters first appeared in the updated version of the first Animal Crossing game and had not been seen since.
** The 2.0. update for ''New Horizons'' brought back four villagers that only showed up in the original [=GameCube=] game, with these being Faith, Ace, Zoe, and Rio, and other four villagers that only appeared in the Japan exclusive ''Dobustu no Mori e+'', these being Shanpan, Nobuo, Petunia, and Pironkon (receiving the localized names of Frett, Chabwick, Azalea, and Roswell respectively).
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'':
** When ''Crash Bandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
** ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' brought back quite a huge amount of characters of the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' Franchise.
*** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
*** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
*** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
**** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
*** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
*** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortex and Dr. N. Brio's last appearances were in 2008 in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' (11 years). Komodo Moe on the other hand, hasn't been seen since ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' back in 2000 ('''19 years ago''') unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake of course.
*** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
*** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
*** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* Dixie Kong joined Donkey and Diddy on their quest in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', making her first main game appearance since ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble''.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' left the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' drifting in space with no FTL drive. It wasn't until eight real-life years later that they finally appeared again in ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'', which reveals that they've been drifting for twenty-eight years and have somehow found themselves ''outside of the galaxy''.
* ''[[VideoGame/IceAge Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'': Carl and Frank from the [[WesternAnimation/IceAge first film]] appear early in the game as something of a mini-boss.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Many newer ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games have had a habit of bringing back old characters that were either one-offs or abandoned as the series evolved:
** After her initial appearance in the very first game, Kabula became relegated to spin-off appearances before being dropped from the franchise. That is, until the remake of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', when she was reintroduced in Revenge of the King and has made more appearances since then.
** Blocky, a mini-boss from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' and ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'', finally reappeared in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with an updated design. RecurringBoss Kracko also reappeared in the same game after being mysteriously absent from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'', and [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight from ''Kirby and the Amazing Mirror'' appears as a secret boss and is hinted to have a large role in the backstory]].
** ♪It is also apparent that [[spoiler:Masked Dedede]] makes a return in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' as a boss and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStEdivU9JE he brings his theme tune back with him!♪]]
** The Kirby Fighters sub-game from ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' brought back Lololo and Lalala, Rick, Coo, Kine, the factory robots from ''Kirby 64'', and Ghost Kirby.
** The sub-games of ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' bring back a lot of previous one-off villains as final bosses, including [[VideoGame/KirbysAdventure Nightmare]], [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark Matter]], and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Marx]].
** ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' either brings back tons of characters or at least gives them a major nod, some who have never been seen in a platformer for decades:
*** After not making a platforming appearance since ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', the Meta-Knights (Axe Knight, Mace Knight, Trident Knight, and Javelin Knight) reappear as part of Meta Knight's special move, officially called ''Meta Knightmares''.
*** The second boss, Holo Defense API, sends out a copy of the Ice Dragon from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2''.
*** Kabula, after only cameoing since ''Super Star Ultra'', is back as a special boss in Gigabyte Grounds.
*** [[spoiler:Star Dream, the Final Boss, is a clockwork star like Nova from ''Super Star'', and its Soul form recolors it to look just like Nova]].
*** Two of the three final bosses for Meta Knight are [[spoiler:Dark Matter from ''Dream Land 2'' and Galacta Knight from ''Super Star Ultra'' and ''Return to Dream Land'']].
*** The last two battles of ''Team Kirby Clash'' are against Landia from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' and their EX form.
** ''VideoGame/TeamKirbyClashDeluxe'' features [[spoiler:a fusion of Shadow Dedede from ''Triple Deluxe'' and Dark Mind from ''Amazing Mirror'']] as its FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
* The lore for the champions Kassadin and Malzahar in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' involves Malzahar sending Kassadin's daughter to the void. As of 2018, she's grown up and is a champion in her own right- Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' has done this since ''City Folk''. ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing: Happy Home Designer'' also brought back [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/b93b97f64b8d25538ea96b646738f0ac/tumblr_nzgp91I7dC1sojdvio1_1280.jpg Louie, Maddie, Claude, and Carrie]], all of whom previously only appearing in the very first game of the series. Carrie in particular shows up on the seventh day, with a special request for a children's playroom. The rest can only be found in distributions through Nintendo Zones and Spotpass, all with special requests -- Louie with a 30th anniversary celebration of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Claude with a video game exhibit, and Maddie with special school supplies. There are even more villagers absent since the first game (Plus 2 from the Japan-exclusive update) found in the data, but they haven't been released yet.
** These characters plus 46 others (making it 50 in total) were all brought back for the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''New Leaf''. Unlike other villagers who can appear in the campsite, these villages will camp in the new RV campground when invited via special amiibo cards. All these characters first appeared in the updated version of the first Animal Crossing game and had not been seen since.
** The 2.0. update for ''New Horizons'' brought back four villagers that only showed up in the original [=GameCube=] game, with these being Faith, Ace, Zoe, and Rio, and other four villagers that only appeared in the Japan exclusive ''Dobustu no Mori e+'', these being Shanpan, Nobuo, Petunia, and Pironkon (receiving the localized names of Frett, Chabwick, Azalea, and Roswell respectively).
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'':
** When ''Crash Bandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
** ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' brought back quite a huge amount of characters of the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' Franchise.
*** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
*** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
*** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
**** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
*** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
*** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortex and Dr. N. Brio's last appearances were in 2008 in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' (11 years). Komodo Moe on the other hand, hasn't been seen since ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' back in 2000 ('''19 years ago''') unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake of course.
*** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
*** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
*** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* Dixie Kong joined Donkey and Diddy on their quest in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', making her first main game appearance since ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble''.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' left the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' drifting in space with no FTL drive. It wasn't until eight real-life years later that they finally appeared again in ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'', which reveals that they've been drifting for twenty-eight years and have somehow found themselves ''outside of the galaxy''.
* ''[[VideoGame/IceAge Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'': Carl and Frank from the [[WesternAnimation/IceAge first film]] appear early in the game as something of a mini-boss.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Many newer ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games have had a habit of bringing back old characters that were either one-offs or abandoned as the series evolved:
** After her initial appearance in the very first game, Kabula became relegated to spin-off appearances before being dropped from the franchise. That is, until the remake of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', when she was reintroduced in Revenge of the King and has made more appearances since then.
** Blocky, a mini-boss from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' and ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'', finally reappeared in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with an updated design. RecurringBoss Kracko also reappeared in the same game after being mysteriously absent from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'', and [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight from ''Kirby and the Amazing Mirror'' appears as a secret boss and is hinted to have a large role in the backstory]].
** ♪It is also apparent that [[spoiler:Masked Dedede]] makes a return in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' as a boss and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStEdivU9JE he brings his theme tune back with him!♪]]
** The Kirby Fighters sub-game from ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' brought back Lololo and Lalala, Rick, Coo, Kine, the factory robots from ''Kirby 64'', and Ghost Kirby.
** The sub-games of ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' bring back a lot of previous one-off villains as final bosses, including [[VideoGame/KirbysAdventure Nightmare]], [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark Matter]], and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Marx]].
** ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' either brings back tons of characters or at least gives them a major nod, some who have never been seen in a platformer for decades:
*** After not making a platforming appearance since ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', the Meta-Knights (Axe Knight, Mace Knight, Trident Knight, and Javelin Knight) reappear as part of Meta Knight's special move, officially called ''Meta Knightmares''.
*** The second boss, Holo Defense API, sends out a copy of the Ice Dragon from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2''.
*** Kabula, after only cameoing since ''Super Star Ultra'', is back as a special boss in Gigabyte Grounds.
*** [[spoiler:Star Dream, the Final Boss, is a clockwork star like Nova from ''Super Star'', and its Soul form recolors it to look just like Nova]].
*** Two of the three final bosses for Meta Knight are [[spoiler:Dark Matter from ''Dream Land 2'' and Galacta Knight from ''Super Star Ultra'' and ''Return to Dream Land'']].
*** The last two battles of ''Team Kirby Clash'' are against Landia from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' and their EX form.
** ''VideoGame/TeamKirbyClashDeluxe'' features [[spoiler:a fusion of Shadow Dedede from ''Triple Deluxe'' and Dark Mind from ''Amazing Mirror'']] as its FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
* The lore for the champions Kassadin and Malzahar in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' involves Malzahar sending Kassadin's daughter to the void. As of 2018, she's grown up and is a champion in her own right- Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void.
Changed line(s) 5,7 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'':
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time and Space]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxTheDevilsPlayhouse The Devil's Playhouse]]'', returns in the fourth episode to deliver a note about how Bosco is stuck in Vegas paying off a debt.
** And then Sybil comes back from her honeymoon one episode later.
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time and Space]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxTheDevilsPlayhouse The Devil's Playhouse]]'', returns in the fourth episode to deliver a note about how Bosco is stuck in Vegas paying off a debt.
** And then Sybil comes back from her honeymoon one episode later.
to:
* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'':
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' brings back many forgotten Looney Tunes characters that hasn't made any appearances in several decades, such as Giovanni Jones, Casper Caveman, Michigan J. Frog and Space]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxTheDevilsPlayhouse The Devil's Playhouse]]'', returns in Melissa Duck.
* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': On Day 12, Joe leaves for thefourth episode to deliver a note about how Bosco is stuck in Vegas paying off a debt.
** And then Sybiltwo-day baker's retreat, but comes back the following day earlier than expected because he didn't like it. [[spoiler:The trope gets double-subverted because while it was actually [[TwinSwitch his twin brother Sam masquerading as him]], the real Joe returns as scheduled, just in time to see Sam about to kiss the former's LoveInterest, Amelia.]]
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', [[spoiler:the High School Sweetheart Ending pairs the protagonist with Isabella, who hasn’t been in the story since Week 5.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' brought back Adam, [[spoiler: Nightmare, the Metroid Queen, Mother Brain (to an extent), and Phantoon.]]
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate'' brings back the monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in 2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while herhoneymoon one episode later.mate Teostra would appear in all fourth-generation games, but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time
* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': On Day 12, Joe leaves for the
** And then Sybil
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', [[spoiler:the High School Sweetheart Ending pairs the protagonist with Isabella, who hasn’t been in the story since Week 5.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' brought back Adam, [[spoiler: Nightmare, the Metroid Queen, Mother Brain (to an extent), and Phantoon.]]
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate'' brings back the monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in 2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
* Samanosuke Akechi, the PlayerCharacter from the first ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' game ''[[VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords Warlords]]'', was totally MIA from ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', which featured a different lead character and an entirely new supporting cast. He made his triumphant return for ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'' as 1 of 2 Player Characters. ''VideoGame/OnimushaDawnOfDreams'' once again appears to lack his presence, but [[spoiler:it's heavily implied, then fully revealed during the end credits, that the key supporting character Tenkai Nankobo is in fact a very old Samanosuke.]]
Changed line(s) 11,15 (click to see context) from:
* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'' game, Elora was an important character. She's missing for most of the [[VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon third game]] due to plot reasons, but appears in a cutscene toward the end. However, she [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome doesn't appear in any other games outside of the original trilogy]], though the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'' brings her and everyone else back due to said games being remade.
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' saw the return of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], the former having not made a physical appearance since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2's'' battle mode, and the latter having never reappeared since his debut game at all[[note]]Outside of a blink-and-you'll-miss it screenshot of him during the credits of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos, an orca whale, the Tornado 2,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 King Boom Boo, a Chao walker,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes a Gold Cameron,]] [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Caliburn, Merlina, King Arthur's Ghost, the Dark Queen,]] [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip, some Gaia minions,]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors the Mother Wisp]] all reappear as Buddy characters after a long absence from the series as well.
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mighty last appeared in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. Ray? All the way back in ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''.
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' saw the return of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], the former having not made a physical appearance since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2's'' battle mode, and the latter having never reappeared since his debut game at all[[note]]Outside of a blink-and-you'll-miss it screenshot of him during the credits of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos, an orca whale, the Tornado 2,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 King Boom Boo, a Chao walker,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes a Gold Cameron,]] [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Caliburn, Merlina, King Arthur's Ghost, the Dark Queen,]] [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip, some Gaia minions,]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors the Mother Wisp]] all reappear as Buddy characters after a long absence from the series as well.
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mighty last appeared in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. Ray? All the way back in ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''.
to:
* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'' game, Elora was an important character. She's missing for most Due to the number of contractors available in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', some of them could be considered 'on the bus'. So far, the two that have made it back ''off'' the bus are The Elephant (due to The Biker Heist) and The Butcher (due to the Scarface Mansion heist).
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' marks the triumphant return to the franchise of the[[VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon third game]] due to plot reasons, female protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'', who hadn't been seen since 2009.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a special post-game event where not only does [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Team]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Rocket]] return, butappears in a cutscene toward the end. However, she [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome doesn't appear in any other games outside of the original trilogy]], though the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'' brings her also every villainous team leader [[note]][[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Giovanni]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Maxie, Archie]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ghetsis]], and everyone else back due to said games being remade.
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA)[[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre]][[/note]] from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
previous generations.
**Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', After having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had not appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' sawthe series since ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', Shadow Pokémon make a return in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' as part of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], the former having not made Team GO Rocket update.
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from aphysical appearance since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2's'' battle mode, and the latter having never reappeared since his debut game at all[[note]]Outside ton of a blink-and-you'll-miss it screenshot of him during the credits of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos, an orca whale, the Tornado 2,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 King Boom Boo, a Chao walker,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes a Gold Cameron,]] [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Caliburn, Merlina, King Arthur's Ghost, the Dark Queen,]] [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip, some Gaia minions,]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors the Mother Wisp]] all reappear as Buddy characters after a long absence from previous installments – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the series as well.
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mightylast appeared in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. Ray? All the way back in ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''.time they showed up.
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' marks the triumphant return to the franchise of the
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a special post-game event where not only does [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Team]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Rocket]] return, but
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA)
**
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' saw
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from a
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mighty
Deleted line(s) 20,60 (click to see context) :
* Many newer ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games have had a habit of bringing back old characters that were either one-offs or abandoned as the series evolved:
** After her initial appearance in the very first game, Kabula became relegated to spin-off appearances before being dropped from the franchise. That is, until the remake of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', when she was reintroduced in Revenge of the King and has made more appearances since then.
** Blocky, a mini-boss from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' and ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'', finally reappeared in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with an updated design. RecurringBoss Kracko also reappeared in the same game after being mysteriously absent from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'', and [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight from ''Kirby and the Amazing Mirror'' appears as a secret boss and is hinted to have a large role in the backstory]].
** ♪It is also apparent that [[spoiler:Masked Dedede]] makes a return in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' as a boss and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStEdivU9JE he brings his theme tune back with him!♪]]
** The Kirby Fighters sub-game from ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' brought back Lololo and Lalala, Rick, Coo, Kine, the factory robots from ''Kirby 64'', and Ghost Kirby.
** The sub-games of ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' bring back a lot of previous one-off villains as final bosses, including [[VideoGame/KirbysAdventure Nightmare]], [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark Matter]], and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Marx]].
** ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' either brings back tons of characters or at least gives them a major nod, some who have never been seen in a platformer for decades:
*** After not making a platforming appearance since ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', the Meta-Knights (Axe Knight, Mace Knight, Trident Knight, and Javelin Knight) reappear as part of Meta Knight's special move, officially called ''Meta Knightmares''.
*** The second boss, Holo Defense API, sends out a copy of the Ice Dragon from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2''.
*** Kabula, after only cameoing since ''Super Star Ultra'', is back as a special boss in Gigabyte Grounds.
*** [[spoiler:Star Dream, the Final Boss, is a clockwork star like Nova from ''Super Star'', and its Soul form recolors it to look just like Nova]].
*** Two of the three final bosses for Meta Knight are [[spoiler:Dark Matter from ''Dream Land 2'' and Galacta Knight from ''Super Star Ultra'' and ''Return to Dream Land'']].
*** The last two battles of ''Team Kirby Clash'' are against Landia from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' and their EX form.
** ''VideoGame/TeamKirbyClashDeluxe'' features [[spoiler:a fusion of Shadow Dedede from ''Triple Deluxe'' and Dark Mind from ''Amazing Mirror'']] as its FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
* The lore for the champions Kassadin and Malzahar in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' involves Malzahar sending Kassadin's daughter to the void. As of 2018, she's grown up and is a champion in her own right- Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void.
* The [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario franchise]] seems to love this trope.
** Pauline, the damsel in distress in Mario and Donkey Kong's first game, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', had last appeared in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong94'', a remake of the original. Then there was a gap of 12 years until she made another appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioVsDonkeyKong: March of the Minis'', then it was another 11 years until she appeared for the first time in the main series as the mayor of New Donk City in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', and has been making playable appearences in ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' and various sports games since then.
** Princess Daisy first appeared in 1989 in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' for the Gameboy. She made an appearance as Luigi's caddy in ''NES Open Tournament Golf'' in 1991, and then disappeared for 9 years until ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'' in 2000. Also, she returned to the main Mario series in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' in the December 2017 update.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Urchin and Torpedo Ted]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' was this for the Koopalings, and they are now the main bosses of the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series. Before that, they had returned in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', though that was a spin-off game.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Boom Boom]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Reznor]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Sumo Bro and Bony Beetle]] (though the latter appeared in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', released around the same time).
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' sees the return of Popple as well as Beanish and Hoohooligan civilians, who hadn't been seen in a ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' game since ''Superstar Saga''.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' brings back the Chargin' Chucks from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' after about 20 years of them not being in new Mario games. Also, the round Goombas from the same game returns alongside the traditional ones[[note]]albeit, renamed to the Galoombas to distinguish the former from the latter[[/note]], complete with behaving the same as other Goombas, but being flipped over instead of defeated when they're jumped on (as in their original game).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' brings back [[KidnappingBirdOfPrey Klepto]] and [[StockNessMonster Dorrie]], neither of whom had appeared in a ''Mario'' platformer since ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' (and its remake) and ''[[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 New Super Mario Bros.]]'' respectively.
** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' is chock-full of these.
** The famous Goomba's Shoe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', an absence of ''25 years''.
** Several references to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint'', including the Undodog, Mr. Eraser, Robot, and even the Gnat Attack minigame.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' brings back the Superball Flower and the Superball ability after ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand 30 whole years]]''.
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', [[spoiler:the High School Sweetheart Ending pairs the protagonist with Isabella, who hasn’t been in the story since Week 5.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' brought back Adam, [[spoiler: Nightmare, the Metroid Queen, Mother Brain (to an extent), and Phantoon.]]
* Dixie Kong joined Donkey and Diddy on their quest in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', making her first main game appearance since ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble''
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' characters [[spoiler:Sophitia]] and Taki make their return in ''Soulcalibur: Lost Swords''.
** Edge Master debuted in ''SC'' and would only appear again in ''V'', being the only DittoFighter of the series to be playable in more than one game.
** Hwang makes his return as the final Season 2 DLC character in ''VI'', being mostly absent from the series since ''SC'' (not counting his not-so-canon appearance as an extra character in ''III'').
* For all that ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is notorious for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, including joke characters like Tiger and Dr. Boskonovitch.
** After her initial appearance in the very first game, Kabula became relegated to spin-off appearances before being dropped from the franchise. That is, until the remake of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', when she was reintroduced in Revenge of the King and has made more appearances since then.
** Blocky, a mini-boss from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' and ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3'', finally reappeared in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with an updated design. RecurringBoss Kracko also reappeared in the same game after being mysteriously absent from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'', and [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight from ''Kirby and the Amazing Mirror'' appears as a secret boss and is hinted to have a large role in the backstory]].
** ♪It is also apparent that [[spoiler:Masked Dedede]] makes a return in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' as a boss and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStEdivU9JE he brings his theme tune back with him!♪]]
** The Kirby Fighters sub-game from ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' brought back Lololo and Lalala, Rick, Coo, Kine, the factory robots from ''Kirby 64'', and Ghost Kirby.
** The sub-games of ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' bring back a lot of previous one-off villains as final bosses, including [[VideoGame/KirbysAdventure Nightmare]], [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark Matter]], and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Marx]].
** ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' either brings back tons of characters or at least gives them a major nod, some who have never been seen in a platformer for decades:
*** After not making a platforming appearance since ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', the Meta-Knights (Axe Knight, Mace Knight, Trident Knight, and Javelin Knight) reappear as part of Meta Knight's special move, officially called ''Meta Knightmares''.
*** The second boss, Holo Defense API, sends out a copy of the Ice Dragon from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2''.
*** Kabula, after only cameoing since ''Super Star Ultra'', is back as a special boss in Gigabyte Grounds.
*** [[spoiler:Star Dream, the Final Boss, is a clockwork star like Nova from ''Super Star'', and its Soul form recolors it to look just like Nova]].
*** Two of the three final bosses for Meta Knight are [[spoiler:Dark Matter from ''Dream Land 2'' and Galacta Knight from ''Super Star Ultra'' and ''Return to Dream Land'']].
*** The last two battles of ''Team Kirby Clash'' are against Landia from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' and their EX form.
** ''VideoGame/TeamKirbyClashDeluxe'' features [[spoiler:a fusion of Shadow Dedede from ''Triple Deluxe'' and Dark Mind from ''Amazing Mirror'']] as its FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
* The lore for the champions Kassadin and Malzahar in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' involves Malzahar sending Kassadin's daughter to the void. As of 2018, she's grown up and is a champion in her own right- Kai'Sa, the Daughter of the Void.
* The [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario franchise]] seems to love this trope.
** Pauline, the damsel in distress in Mario and Donkey Kong's first game, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', had last appeared in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong94'', a remake of the original. Then there was a gap of 12 years until she made another appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioVsDonkeyKong: March of the Minis'', then it was another 11 years until she appeared for the first time in the main series as the mayor of New Donk City in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', and has been making playable appearences in ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' and various sports games since then.
** Princess Daisy first appeared in 1989 in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' for the Gameboy. She made an appearance as Luigi's caddy in ''NES Open Tournament Golf'' in 1991, and then disappeared for 9 years until ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'' in 2000. Also, she returned to the main Mario series in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' in the December 2017 update.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Urchin and Torpedo Ted]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' was this for the Koopalings, and they are now the main bosses of the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series. Before that, they had returned in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', though that was a spin-off game.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Boom Boom]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Reznor]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Sumo Bro and Bony Beetle]] (though the latter appeared in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', released around the same time).
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' sees the return of Popple as well as Beanish and Hoohooligan civilians, who hadn't been seen in a ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' game since ''Superstar Saga''.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' brings back the Chargin' Chucks from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' after about 20 years of them not being in new Mario games. Also, the round Goombas from the same game returns alongside the traditional ones[[note]]albeit, renamed to the Galoombas to distinguish the former from the latter[[/note]], complete with behaving the same as other Goombas, but being flipped over instead of defeated when they're jumped on (as in their original game).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' brings back [[KidnappingBirdOfPrey Klepto]] and [[StockNessMonster Dorrie]], neither of whom had appeared in a ''Mario'' platformer since ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' (and its remake) and ''[[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 New Super Mario Bros.]]'' respectively.
** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' is chock-full of these.
** The famous Goomba's Shoe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', an absence of ''25 years''.
** Several references to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint'', including the Undodog, Mr. Eraser, Robot, and even the Gnat Attack minigame.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' brings back the Superball Flower and the Superball ability after ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand 30 whole years]]''.
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'', [[spoiler:the High School Sweetheart Ending pairs the protagonist with Isabella, who hasn’t been in the story since Week 5.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' brought back Adam, [[spoiler: Nightmare, the Metroid Queen, Mother Brain (to an extent), and Phantoon.]]
* Dixie Kong joined Donkey and Diddy on their quest in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', making her first main game appearance since ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble''
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' characters [[spoiler:Sophitia]] and Taki make their return in ''Soulcalibur: Lost Swords''.
** Edge Master debuted in ''SC'' and would only appear again in ''V'', being the only DittoFighter of the series to be playable in more than one game.
** Hwang makes his return as the final Season 2 DLC character in ''VI'', being mostly absent from the series since ''SC'' (not counting his not-so-canon appearance as an extra character in ''III'').
* For all that ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is notorious for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back EVERYONE, including joke characters like Tiger and Dr. Boskonovitch.
* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'':
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time and Space]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxTheDevilsPlayhouse The Devil's Playhouse]]'', returns in the fourth episode to deliver a note about how Bosco is stuck in Vegas paying off a debt.
** And then Sybil comes back from her honeymoon one episode later.
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' brings back many characters that haven't been seen in over a decade:
** [[spoiler:YHVH hasn't had a prominent role in a game since ''II''. He finally returns as a Final Boss in this game]].
** [[spoiler:The penultimate boss of the game is Satan, who also hasn't been seen in the main series since ''II'']].
** [[spoiler:En no Ozuno, an ally from ''I'' and ''II'' and a boss from ''if...'' appears as the strongest Fiend in the game]].
** [[spoiler:The Hero, Aleph, and the Demi-fiend all appear in DLC as allies in an awesome Previous Player-Character Cameo. This is particularly notable in Aleph's case, as unlike the Hero or the Demi-fiend, he only ever appeared in his original game and its remakes]].
* ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''
** Little Red from ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' is a playable racer.
** Humpty Dumpty from ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' is a playable racer.
** After being absent from the ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' film and the previous games, Thelonious appears as a playable racer here.
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' saw the return of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], the former having not made a physical appearance since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2's'' battle mode, and the latter having never reappeared since his debut game at all[[note]]Outside of a blink-and-you'll-miss it screenshot of him during the credits of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos, an orca whale, the Tornado 2,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 King Boom Boo, a Chao walker,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes a Gold Cameron,]] [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Caliburn, Merlina, King Arthur's Ghost, the Dark Queen,]] [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip, some Gaia minions,]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors the Mother Wisp]] all reappear as Buddy characters after a long absence from the series as well.
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mighty last appeared in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. Ray? All the way back in ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''.
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' characters [[spoiler:Sophitia]] and Taki make their return in ''Soulcalibur: Lost Swords''.
** Edge Master debuted in ''SC'' and would only appear again in ''V'', being the only DittoFighter of the series to be playable in more than one game.
** Hwang makes his return as the final Season 2 DLC character in ''VI'', being mostly absent from the series since ''SC'' (not counting his not-so-canon appearance as an extra character in ''III'').
* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'' game, Elora was an important character. She's missing for most of the [[VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon third game]] due to plot reasons, but appears in a cutscene toward the end. However, she [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome doesn't appear in any other games outside of the original trilogy]], though the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'' brings her and everyone else back due to said games being remade.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' had two of its faction captains, Va'Kel Shon of the ''Enterprise''-F and Koren of the ''Bortasqu[='=]'', MIA throughout the entirety of the ''Delta Rising'' expansion and most of the "Iconian War" season, which worried players after the revelation of Cryptic becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Thankfully, the "Iconian War" finale, "Midnight", brought the two back along with their voice actors.
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
** Nash (AKA Charlie), Birdie, R. Mika, and Karin haven't been seen in the series since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Street Fighter Alpha 3]]'', but all 4 have returned to the roster in ''[=SFV=]''.
** Alex and Urien have returned to the series as playable characters since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]''. Several ''[=SFIII=]'' characters who weren't in any version of ''[=SFIV=]'' show up as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]] as well, such as Oro, Sean, and Gill. Later on as a part of Season 4 DLC, Gill became playable once more since his appearance in ''3rd Strike''. Oro will also return as an upcoming playable character for Season 5.
** Season 2 DLC released 4 characters for the roster that were originally minor [=NPCs=]. Ed[[labelnote:*]]the little boy seen in Balrog and Rose's ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' endings and the former's ''Super [=SFIV=]'' ending, who is now a [[RapidAging grown man]][[/labelnote]] may have not been too surprising, but Kolin (AKA Helen, Gill's assistant) was very unexpected, mainly because she had such a minor role in the ''[=SFIII=]'' games. Abigail, the 5th boss of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', comes across as a throwaway character, yet here he is. And then, there's Zeku, Guy's former master as seen in the latter's ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' ending. Having been gone for so long, who would ever think he'd show up again?
** To help promote ''[=SFV=]'', Capcom developed the [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/ Shadaloo C.R.I. website]]. The Character Guides section for the Activity Reports page goes out of its way to release character bios for nearly every single character that has ever been seen in the series. This extends to characters from the original ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Street Fighter]]'', ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'', and of all games, ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010''. Even the 2 guys from the original intro of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130285 have]] [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130286 bios]]!
** The Season 4 DLC revealed a ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' character that no one ever thought would come back in ''any'' Capcom game, let alone a ''[=SF=]'' entry: Lucia, the heroine of ''Final Fight 3''.
** While some ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' characters already appeared as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]], Akira was brought back as an actual playable character for Season 5, making this the first time in decades that her series had any direct relevance to ''Street Fighter''.
* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise seems to love this trope.
** Pauline, the damsel in distress in Mario and Donkey Kong's first game, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', had last appeared in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong94'', a remake of the original. Then there was a gap of 12 years until she made another appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioVsDonkeyKong: March of the Minis'', then it was another 11 years until she appeared for the first time in the main series as the mayor of New Donk City in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', and has been making playable appearences in ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' and various sports games since then.
** Princess Daisy first appeared in 1989 in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' for the Gameboy. She made an appearance as Luigi's caddy in ''NES Open Tournament Golf'' in 1991, and then disappeared for 9 years until ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'' in 2000. Also, she returned to the main Mario series in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' in the December 2017 update.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Urchin and Torpedo Ted]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' was this for the Koopalings, and they are now the main bosses of the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series. Before that, they had returned in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', though that was a spin-off game.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Boom Boom]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Reznor]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Sumo Bro and Bony Beetle]] (though the latter appeared in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', released around the same time).
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' sees the return of Popple as well as Beanish and Hoohooligan civilians, who hadn't been seen in a ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' game since ''Superstar Saga''.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' brings back the Chargin' Chucks from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' after about 20 years of them not being in new Mario games. Also, the round Goombas from the same game returns alongside the traditional ones[[note]]albeit, renamed to the Galoombas to distinguish the former from the latter[[/note]], complete with behaving the same as other Goombas, but being flipped over instead of defeated when they're jumped on (as in their original game).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' brings back [[KidnappingBirdOfPrey Klepto]] and [[StockNessMonster Dorrie]], neither of whom had appeared in a ''Mario'' platformer since ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' (and its remake) and ''[[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 New Super Mario Bros.]]'' respectively.
** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' is chock-full of these.
*** The famous Goomba's Shoe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', an absence of ''25 years''.
*** Several references to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint'', including the Undodog, Mr. Eraser, Robot, and even the Gnat Attack minigame.
*** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' brings back the Superball Flower and the Superball ability after ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand 30 whole years]]''.
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' brings back ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' after a 13-year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 2]]''. Oh, and it brings back ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' and ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Nadesico: Prince of Darkness]]'' too. Even further, this game marks the first time that both the Huckebein and the Grungust are featured in a licensed Super Robot Wars game since [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 1]].
** Earlier than that, ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsBX BX]]'' brought back ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' and ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGar GaoGaiGar]]'' after both had a 8 year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW W]]''.
** ''Beltorchika’s Children'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'' and the original ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' return in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' after last being featured in the ''Alpha'' saga.
** Bluster Blaster, who left to Vegas with Bosco between ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxBeyondTimeAndSpace Beyond Time and Space]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxTheDevilsPlayhouse The Devil's Playhouse]]'', returns in the fourth episode to deliver a note about how Bosco is stuck in Vegas paying off a debt.
** And then Sybil comes back from her honeymoon one episode later.
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' brings back many characters that haven't been seen in over a decade:
** [[spoiler:YHVH hasn't had a prominent role in a game since ''II''. He finally returns as a Final Boss in this game]].
** [[spoiler:The penultimate boss of the game is Satan, who also hasn't been seen in the main series since ''II'']].
** [[spoiler:En no Ozuno, an ally from ''I'' and ''II'' and a boss from ''if...'' appears as the strongest Fiend in the game]].
** [[spoiler:The Hero, Aleph, and the Demi-fiend all appear in DLC as allies in an awesome Previous Player-Character Cameo. This is particularly notable in Aleph's case, as unlike the Hero or the Demi-fiend, he only ever appeared in his original game and its remakes]].
* ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''
** Little Red from ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' is a playable racer.
** Humpty Dumpty from ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' is a playable racer.
** After being absent from the ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' film and the previous games, Thelonious appears as a playable racer here.
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' large cast.
** Earlier than that was the unexpected return of Espio, Charmy, and Vector in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', having been previously featured in [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix only one game]] that had come out almost a decade ago.[[note]]Although Espio had appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters'' in 1996 as well.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' saw the return of [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Tikal]] and [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], the former having not made a physical appearance since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2's'' battle mode, and the latter having never reappeared since his debut game at all[[note]]Outside of a blink-and-you'll-miss it screenshot of him during the credits of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''[[/note]]. [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos, an orca whale, the Tornado 2,]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 King Boom Boo, a Chao walker,]] [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes a Gold Cameron,]] [[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Caliburn, Merlina, King Arthur's Ghost, the Dark Queen,]] [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip, some Gaia minions,]] and [[VideoGame/SonicColors the Mother Wisp]] all reappear as Buddy characters after a long absence from the series as well.
** The UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', ''Sonic Mania Plus'' brings back Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Mighty last appeared in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. Ray? All the way back in ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''.
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' characters [[spoiler:Sophitia]] and Taki make their return in ''Soulcalibur: Lost Swords''.
** Edge Master debuted in ''SC'' and would only appear again in ''V'', being the only DittoFighter of the series to be playable in more than one game.
** Hwang makes his return as the final Season 2 DLC character in ''VI'', being mostly absent from the series since ''SC'' (not counting his not-so-canon appearance as an extra character in ''III'').
* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'' game, Elora was an important character. She's missing for most of the [[VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon third game]] due to plot reasons, but appears in a cutscene toward the end. However, she [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome doesn't appear in any other games outside of the original trilogy]], though the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'' brings her and everyone else back due to said games being remade.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' had two of its faction captains, Va'Kel Shon of the ''Enterprise''-F and Koren of the ''Bortasqu[='=]'', MIA throughout the entirety of the ''Delta Rising'' expansion and most of the "Iconian War" season, which worried players after the revelation of Cryptic becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Thankfully, the "Iconian War" finale, "Midnight", brought the two back along with their voice actors.
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
** Nash (AKA Charlie), Birdie, R. Mika, and Karin haven't been seen in the series since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Street Fighter Alpha 3]]'', but all 4 have returned to the roster in ''[=SFV=]''.
** Alex and Urien have returned to the series as playable characters since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]''. Several ''[=SFIII=]'' characters who weren't in any version of ''[=SFIV=]'' show up as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]] as well, such as Oro, Sean, and Gill. Later on as a part of Season 4 DLC, Gill became playable once more since his appearance in ''3rd Strike''. Oro will also return as an upcoming playable character for Season 5.
** Season 2 DLC released 4 characters for the roster that were originally minor [=NPCs=]. Ed[[labelnote:*]]the little boy seen in Balrog and Rose's ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' endings and the former's ''Super [=SFIV=]'' ending, who is now a [[RapidAging grown man]][[/labelnote]] may have not been too surprising, but Kolin (AKA Helen, Gill's assistant) was very unexpected, mainly because she had such a minor role in the ''[=SFIII=]'' games. Abigail, the 5th boss of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', comes across as a throwaway character, yet here he is. And then, there's Zeku, Guy's former master as seen in the latter's ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' ending. Having been gone for so long, who would ever think he'd show up again?
** To help promote ''[=SFV=]'', Capcom developed the [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/ Shadaloo C.R.I. website]]. The Character Guides section for the Activity Reports page goes out of its way to release character bios for nearly every single character that has ever been seen in the series. This extends to characters from the original ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Street Fighter]]'', ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'', and of all games, ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010''. Even the 2 guys from the original intro of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130285 have]] [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130286 bios]]!
** The Season 4 DLC revealed a ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' character that no one ever thought would come back in ''any'' Capcom game, let alone a ''[=SF=]'' entry: Lucia, the heroine of ''Final Fight 3''.
** While some ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' characters already appeared as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]], Akira was brought back as an actual playable character for Season 5, making this the first time in decades that her series had any direct relevance to ''Street Fighter''.
* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise seems to love this trope.
** Pauline, the damsel in distress in Mario and Donkey Kong's first game, ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'', had last appeared in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong94'', a remake of the original. Then there was a gap of 12 years until she made another appearance in ''VideoGame/MarioVsDonkeyKong: March of the Minis'', then it was another 11 years until she appeared for the first time in the main series as the mayor of New Donk City in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', and has been making playable appearences in ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' and various sports games since then.
** Princess Daisy first appeared in 1989 in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' for the Gameboy. She made an appearance as Luigi's caddy in ''NES Open Tournament Golf'' in 1991, and then disappeared for 9 years until ''VideoGame/MarioTennis'' in 2000. Also, she returned to the main Mario series in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' in the December 2017 update.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Urchin and Torpedo Ted]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' was this for the Koopalings, and they are now the main bosses of the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series. Before that, they had returned in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', though that was a spin-off game.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Boom Boom]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Reznor]].
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' was this for [[VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld Sumo Bro and Bony Beetle]] (though the latter appeared in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'', released around the same time).
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' sees the return of Popple as well as Beanish and Hoohooligan civilians, who hadn't been seen in a ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' game since ''Superstar Saga''.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' brings back the Chargin' Chucks from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' after about 20 years of them not being in new Mario games. Also, the round Goombas from the same game returns alongside the traditional ones[[note]]albeit, renamed to the Galoombas to distinguish the former from the latter[[/note]], complete with behaving the same as other Goombas, but being flipped over instead of defeated when they're jumped on (as in their original game).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRun'' brought back Ninjis as enemies, who hadn't appeared in this capacity since ''Super Mario World'' as well.
*** The game also brought back Fishing Boo, who'd last appeared in a major Mario platformer back in ''Super Mario World'' (and whose previous appearance was in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'').
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' brings back [[KidnappingBirdOfPrey Klepto]] and [[StockNessMonster Dorrie]], neither of whom had appeared in a ''Mario'' platformer since ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' (and its remake) and ''[[VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1 New Super Mario Bros.]]'' respectively.
** ''[[VideoGame/DrMario Dr. Mario World]]'' featured plenty of regular enemies [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg (And King Bob-Omb)]] as Assistants at launch. One of these enemies was Crowber, who hadn't been in a ''Mario'' game since ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' seven years prior. As a ''Dr. Mario'' title, an update of ''World'' also brought back Wario who was last playable in ''Dr. Mario 64'', with his Dr Wario outfit from ''VideoGame/WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$'' getting a new design. Then it brought the forgotten about Baby Wario back, previously a ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''-exclusive character (for those keeping track, that's 14 years prior!).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' is chock-full of these.
*** The famous Goomba's Shoe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', an absence of ''25 years''.
*** Several references to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint'', including the Undodog, Mr. Eraser, Robot, and even the Gnat Attack minigame.
*** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' brings back the Superball Flower and the Superball ability after ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand 30 whole years]]''.
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' brings back ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' after a 13-year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 2]]''. Oh, and it brings back ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' and ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Nadesico: Prince of Darkness]]'' too. Even further, this game marks the first time that both the Huckebein and the Grungust are featured in a licensed Super Robot Wars game since [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 1]].
** Earlier than that, ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsBX BX]]'' brought back ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' and ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGar GaoGaiGar]]'' after both had a 8 year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW W]]''.
** ''Beltorchika’s Children'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'' and the original ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' return in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' after last being featured in the ''Alpha'' saga.
Changed line(s) 67,97 (click to see context) from:
* ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' brought back quite a huge amount of characters of the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' Franchise.
** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
*** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortex and Dr. N. Brio's last appearances were in 2008 in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' (11 years). Komodo Moe on the other hand, hasn't been seen since ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' back in 2000 ('''19 years ago''') unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake of course.
** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* When ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
* After a massive TimeSkip in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series with a [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney game]] that replaces almost all the old characters with new ones, [[spoiler: Miles Edgeworth and Pearl Fey]] unexpectedly show up in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' for the finale.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.
** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
*** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortex and Dr. N. Brio's last appearances were in 2008 in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' (11 years). Komodo Moe on the other hand, hasn't been seen since ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' back in 2000 ('''19 years ago''') unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake of course.
** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* When ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
* After a massive TimeSkip in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series with a [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney game]] that replaces almost all the old characters with new ones, [[spoiler: Miles Edgeworth and Pearl Fey]] unexpectedly show up in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' for the finale.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.
to:
* ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' For all that ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is notorious for [[PutOnABus putting its characters on a bus]], for ''Tekken Tag Tournament 2'', they brought back quite a huge amount of EVERYONE, including joke characters of the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' Franchise.
** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
*** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortexlike Tiger and Dr. N. Brio's last appearances were in 2008 in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' (11 years). Komodo Moe on the other hand, hasn't been seen since ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' back in 2000 ('''19 years ago''') unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake of course.
** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* When ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
* After a massive TimeSkip in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series with a [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney game]] that replaces almost all the old characters with new ones, [[spoiler: Miles Edgeworth and Pearl Fey]] unexpectedly show up in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' for the finale.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.Boskonovitch.
** In the base game, you have all the characters introduced in both the console and handheld versions of ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'', those being Crunch Bandicoot, Geary, Velo[[note]]Specifically his Real Velo form -- his appearance as Emperor Velo wasn't part of the game until the Gasmoxia Grand Prix[[/note]], N. Trance, Krunk, Small Norm, Big Norm, Zem and Zam. All of them, with the exception of Crunch who was last present in ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' released in 2008 (11 years), haven't been seen since 2003. (16 years)
** The anouncers from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', Chick and Stew, haven't been seen since 2005 (14 years). Not only they were brought back to announce each month's Grand Prix, but they were later PromotedToPlayable.
** The Nitro Tour Grand Prix, the very first Grand Prix of the game, brought back Tawna Bandicoot, who without counting [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy the N. Sane Trilogy remake]] hasn't appeared in a game since ''Crash Boom Bang!'' in 2006 (13 years)
*** Alongside Tawna, the Trophy Girls from the original ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' (Ami, Megumi, Liz and Isabella) also made their comeback and the five of them team up as one racing team known as [[AmazonBrigade The Nitro Squad]]. For your information, the original ''Crash Team Racing'' was released in 1999 (no more and no less than '''20 years''' before ''Nitro-Fueled'' was released).
** Baby T, whose last appearance, unless you count the ''N. Sane Trilogy'' remake, was in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex'' released in 2001 ('''18 years''') was added to the game's roster during the Back N. Time Grand Prix.
** The characters added in the Spooky Grand Prix are also worth talking about. Both Nina Cortex
** Moving on to the Neon Circus Grand Prix, we have both Pasadena O'Possum and Ebenezer Von Clutch from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'', marking the first time they have both appeared in a game since 2005 (14 years). Regarding Koala Kong, without counting the remakes his last appearance was a cameo in ''VideoGame/CrashTwinsanity'' back in 2004 (15 years).
** In the Winter Festival Grand Prix, we have Rilla Roo, whose last appearance was '''19 years''' ago back in 2000 with ''VideoGame/CrashBash'' and Yaya Panda from the obscure mobile game ''Crash Nitro Kart 2'' released in 2010 (9 years).
** The Rustland Grand Prix, which is also the first Grand Prix of 2020, marked the return of Megamix, who had its first and last appearance (until the Grand Prix that is) in ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootTheHugeAdventure'' released in 2002 ('''18 years ago''').
* When ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot On The Run'' soft-launched in 2020, it had three boss villains: Doctor N. Brio, Dingodile, and Scorporilla. While the former two are major recurring villains, the latter is a Titan who was not seen since ''VideoGame/CrashMindOverMutant'' back in 2008, 12 years prior. The game then revealed the return of two more villains- the Elementals, previously seen in ''Wrath of Cortex'', and the ghost Mr. Crumb, seen in the Tiger Electronic game ''Crash 99X''.
* After a massive TimeSkip in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series with a [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney game]] that replaces almost all the old characters with new ones, [[spoiler: Miles Edgeworth and Pearl Fey]] unexpectedly show up in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' for the finale.
** Happens fairly frequently in the ''Investigations'' series as well, with minor supporting characters [[spoiler: such as Missile, Frank Sahwit, Penny Nichols, Will Powers, and Lotta Hart]] reappearing since their appearances in the original trilogy.
** Maya Fey finally returns in ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice Spirit of Justice]]'' after being absent since ''Trials & Tribulations''. And we mean ACTUALLY returns, not just appearing [[VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsAceAttorney in a]] [[VideoGame/ProjectXZone crossover]]. To a lesser extant, Ema Skye returns as well after skipping ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]''.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Eiji Kisaragi, a ninja from the ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' series, would appear in ''[='95=]''. Then he dropped out of the series until he reappeared in ''XI'', nearly 10 games after his debut.
** Geese Howard made his KOF debut in ''[='96=]'', then later in ''XI'' as a secret character in the home version and ''then'' in ''XIV'', as a canonical, fully playable role again. His original team member Mr. Big also was a secret character in ''XI'', thus fitting this trope.
** Chizuru Kagura returned in ''2003'' after last being playable in ''[='98=]''. Her last canon appearance was in ''[='97=]'', 6 games before.
** The dream matches (''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and ''XII'') tend to do this. We have the American Sports Team (''[='94=]'', then ''[='98=]''); Heidern, Takuma Sakazaki and Saisyu Kusanagi (previously in ''[='95=]''); the New Faces Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); the '97 Special Team (''[='97=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002''); Mature and Vice (''[='96=]'', ''[='98=]'', ''2002'' and canon returns in ''XIII'' and ''XIV'') and Rugal Bernstein (''[='94=]'', ''[='95=]'', ''[='98=]'' and then ''2002'')
*** Of the '97 Special Team, Yamazaki and Billy would return in ''2003''. Then Billy reappeared as a secret character in the home versions of ''XIII'' and is now fully playable in ''XIV''. Yamazaki returns a DLC character for ''XIV'', bringing him back from ''2003''.
*** Heidern canonically participated in ''2001'', after his previous canon role in ''[='95=]''.
*** Takuma reappeared through the NESTS saga (''[='99=]''-''2002''). Then he would participate again in ''XIII''.
** Kasumi Todoh also goes in and out frequently. Debuted in ''[='96=]'', returned for ''[='99=]'', ''2000'' and then ''XI''.
** Jhun Hoon debuted in ''[='99=]'', participates in ''2000'' and then would only return in ''2003''.
** Ramon is now playable in ''XIV'', after his last appearance in ''XI''. His now teammate Angel was last seen in ''2002'' with her last canonical appearance being her debut in ''2001''.
** Andy Bogard came back in ''XII'' after his last time in ''2002''. Canonically, he went from ''2001'' to ''XIII''.
** Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge return in ''XIV''. Chang was previously in ''2003'' and Choi in ''2002''. Canonically, Choi comes back from ''2001''.
** Whip is now a DLC character in ''XIV'', being her first appearance since ''XI''.
** Tung Fu Rue plays with this trope. He debuted in ''XI'' as secret character and reappears in ''XIV'', making that his canon debut.
** Although it is through the PaperThinDisguise of Krohnen, none other than K9999 makes his grand return in ''XV'', having not been seen since ''2002''. What makes it even more surprising was that he was widely presumed to have been ExiledFromContinuity over his [[CaptainErsatz heavy resemblance]] to ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima.
* Scarecrow in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' was one of the highlights of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and then strangely sat out the next [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity two]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins games]]. [[TookALevelInBadass He more than made up for his absence]] when he finally returned as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''.
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* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' had two of its faction captains, Va'Kel Shon of the ''Enterprise''-F and Koren of the ''Bortasqu[='=]'', MIA throughout the entirety of the ''Delta Rising'' expansion and most of the "Iconian War" season, which worried players after the revelation of Cryptic becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Thankfully, the "Iconian War" finale, "Midnight", brought the two back along with their voice actors.
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' has done this since ''City Folk''. ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing: Happy Home Designer'' also brought back [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/b93b97f64b8d25538ea96b646738f0ac/tumblr_nzgp91I7dC1sojdvio1_1280.jpg Louie, Maddie, Claude, and Carrie]], all of whom previously only appearing in the very first game of the series. Carrie in particular shows up on the seventh day, with a special request for a children's playroom. The rest can only be found in distributions through Nintendo Zones and Spotpass, all with special requests -- Louie with a 30th anniversary celebration of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Claude with a video game exhibit, and Maddie with special school supplies. There are even more villagers absent since the first game (Plus 2 from the Japan-exclusive update) found in the data, but they haven't been released yet.
** These characters plus 46 others (making it 50 in total) were all brought back for the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''New Leaf''. Unlike other villagers who can appear in the campsite, these villages will camp in the new RV campground when invited via special amiibo cards. All these characters first appeared in the updated version of the first Animal Crossing game and had not been seen since.
** The 2.0. update for ''New Horizons'' brought back four villagers that only showed up in the original [=GameCube=] game, with these being Faith, Ace, Zoe, and Rio, and other four villagers that only appeared in the Japan exclusive ''Dobustu no Mori e+'', these being Shanpan, Nobuo, Petunia, and Pironkon (receiving the localized names of Frett, Chabwick, Azalea, and Roswell respectively).
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' brings back many characters that haven't been seen in over a decade:
** [[spoiler:YHVH hasn't had a prominent role in a game since ''II''. He finally returns as a Final Boss in this game]].
** [[spoiler:The penultimate boss of the game is Satan, who also hasn't been seen in the main series since ''II'']].
** [[spoiler:En no Ozuno, an ally from ''I'' and ''II'' and a boss from ''if...'' appears as the strongest Fiend in the game]].
** [[spoiler:The Hero, Aleph, and the Demi-fiend all appear in DLC as allies in an awesome Previous Player-Character Cameo. This is particularly notable in Aleph's case, as unlike the Hero or the Demi-fiend, he only ever appeared in his original game and its remakes]].
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' brings back ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' after a 13-year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 2]]''. Oh, and it brings back ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' and ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Nadesico: Prince of Darkness]]'' too. Even further, this game marks the first time that both the Huckebein and the Grungust are featured in a licensed Super Robot Wars game since [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 1]].
** Earlier than that, ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsBX BX]]'' brought back ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' and ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGar GaoGaiGar]]'' after both had a 8 year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW W]]''.
** ''Beltorchika’s Children'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'' and the original ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' return in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' after last being featured in the ''Alpha'' saga.
* Due to the number of contractors available in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', some of them could be considered 'on the bus'. So far, the two that have made it back ''off'' the bus are The Elephant (due to The Biker Heist) and The Butcher (due to the Scarface Mansion heist).
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' left the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' drifting in space with no FTL drive. It wasn't until eight real-life years later that they finally appeared again in ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'', which reveals that they've been drifting for twenty-eight years and have somehow found themselves ''outside of the galaxy''.
* Samanosuke Akechi, the PlayerCharacter from the first ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' game ''[[VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords Warlords]]'', was totally MIA from ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', which featured a different lead character and an entirely new supporting cast. He made his triumphant return for ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'' as 1 of 2 Player Characters. ''VideoGame/OnimushaDawnOfDreams'' once again appears to lack his presence, but [[spoiler:it's heavily implied, then fully revealed during the end credits, that the key supporting character Tenkai Nankobo is in fact a very old Samanosuke.]]
* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'': The third and final entry in the trilogy sees a lot of characters from the first game and the books make an appearance after their conspicuous absence from ''Assassin of Kings'', including [[ApocalypseMaiden Ciri]], [[VainSorceress Yennefer]], [[DeadpanSnarker Lambert]], [[ByTheBookCop Eskel]], Vesimir, Keira, [[EvilOverlord Emperor Emhyr]] and [[TheSpymaster Dijkstra]]. The ''Hearts of Stone'' expansion also sees LoveInterest [[TheMedic Shani]] making a comeback.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
** Nash (AKA Charlie), Birdie, R. Mika, and Karin haven't been seen in the series since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Street Fighter Alpha 3]]'', but all 4 have returned to the roster in ''[=SFV=]''.
** Alex and Urien have returned to the series as playable characters since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]''. Several ''[=SFIII=]'' characters who weren't in any version of ''[=SFIV=]'' show up as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]] as well, such as Oro, Sean, and Gill. Later on as a part of Season 4 DLC, Gill became playable once more since his appearance in ''3rd Strike''. Oro will also return as an upcoming playable character for Season 5.
** Season 2 DLC released 4 characters for the roster that were originally minor [=NPCs=]. Ed[[labelnote:*]]the little boy seen in Balrog and Rose's ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' endings and the former's ''Super [=SFIV=]'' ending, who is now a [[RapidAging grown man]][[/labelnote]] may have not been too surprising, but Kolin (AKA Helen, Gill's assistant) was very unexpected, mainly because she had such a minor role in the ''[=SFIII=]'' games. Abigail, the 5th boss of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', comes across as a throwaway character, yet here he is. And then, there's Zeku, Guy's former master as seen in the latter's ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' ending. Having been gone for so long, who would ever think he'd show up again?
** To help promote ''[=SFV=]'', Capcom developed the [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/ Shadaloo C.R.I. website]]. The Character Guides section for the Activity Reports page goes out of its way to release character bios for nearly every single character that has ever been seen in the series. This extends to characters from the original ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Street Fighter]]'', ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'', and of all games, ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010''. Even the 2 guys from the original intro of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130285 have]] [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130286 bios]]!
** The Season 4 DLC revealed a ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' character that no one ever thought would come back in ''any'' Capcom game, let alone a ''[=SF=]'' entry: Lucia, the heroine of ''Final Fight 3''.
** While some ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' characters already appeared as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]], Akira was brought back as an actual playable character for Season 5, making this the first time in decades that her series had any direct relevance to ''Street Fighter''.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a special post-game event where not only does [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Team]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Rocket]] return, but also every villainous team leader [[note]][[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Giovanni]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Maxie, Archie]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ghetsis]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre]][[/note]] from previous generations.
* After having not appeared in the series since ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', Shadow Pokémon make a return in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' as part of the Team GO Rocket update.
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' marks the triumphant return to the franchise of the female protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'', who hadn't been seen since 2009.
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate'' brings back the monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in 2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in all fourth-generation games, but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
* ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' brings back many forgotten Looney Tunes characters that hasn't made any appearances in several decades, such as Giovanni Jones, Casper Caveman, Michigan J. Frog and Melissa Duck.
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from a ton of characters from previous installments – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the last time they showed up.
* ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''
** Little Red from ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' is a playable racer.
** Humpty Dumpty from ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' is a playable racer.
** After being absent from the ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' film and the previous games, Thelonious appears as a playable racer here.
* ''[[VideoGame/IceAge Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'': Carl and Frank from the [[WesternAnimation/IceAge first film]] appear early in the game as something of a mini-boss.
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' has done this since ''City Folk''. ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing: Happy Home Designer'' also brought back [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/b93b97f64b8d25538ea96b646738f0ac/tumblr_nzgp91I7dC1sojdvio1_1280.jpg Louie, Maddie, Claude, and Carrie]], all of whom previously only appearing in the very first game of the series. Carrie in particular shows up on the seventh day, with a special request for a children's playroom. The rest can only be found in distributions through Nintendo Zones and Spotpass, all with special requests -- Louie with a 30th anniversary celebration of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Claude with a video game exhibit, and Maddie with special school supplies. There are even more villagers absent since the first game (Plus 2 from the Japan-exclusive update) found in the data, but they haven't been released yet.
** These characters plus 46 others (making it 50 in total) were all brought back for the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''New Leaf''. Unlike other villagers who can appear in the campsite, these villages will camp in the new RV campground when invited via special amiibo cards. All these characters first appeared in the updated version of the first Animal Crossing game and had not been seen since.
** The 2.0. update for ''New Horizons'' brought back four villagers that only showed up in the original [=GameCube=] game, with these being Faith, Ace, Zoe, and Rio, and other four villagers that only appeared in the Japan exclusive ''Dobustu no Mori e+'', these being Shanpan, Nobuo, Petunia, and Pironkon (receiving the localized names of Frett, Chabwick, Azalea, and Roswell respectively).
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' brings back many characters that haven't been seen in over a decade:
** [[spoiler:YHVH hasn't had a prominent role in a game since ''II''. He finally returns as a Final Boss in this game]].
** [[spoiler:The penultimate boss of the game is Satan, who also hasn't been seen in the main series since ''II'']].
** [[spoiler:En no Ozuno, an ally from ''I'' and ''II'' and a boss from ''if...'' appears as the strongest Fiend in the game]].
** [[spoiler:The Hero, Aleph, and the Demi-fiend all appear in DLC as allies in an awesome Previous Player-Character Cameo. This is particularly notable in Aleph's case, as unlike the Hero or the Demi-fiend, he only ever appeared in his original game and its remakes]].
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' brings back ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' after a 13-year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 2]]''. Oh, and it brings back ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' and ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Nadesico: Prince of Darkness]]'' too. Even further, this game marks the first time that both the Huckebein and the Grungust are featured in a licensed Super Robot Wars game since [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 1]].
** Earlier than that, ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsBX BX]]'' brought back ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' and ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGar GaoGaiGar]]'' after both had a 8 year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW W]]''.
** ''Beltorchika’s Children'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'' and the original ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' return in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' after last being featured in the ''Alpha'' saga.
* Due to the number of contractors available in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', some of them could be considered 'on the bus'. So far, the two that have made it back ''off'' the bus are The Elephant (due to The Biker Heist) and The Butcher (due to the Scarface Mansion heist).
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' left the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' drifting in space with no FTL drive. It wasn't until eight real-life years later that they finally appeared again in ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'', which reveals that they've been drifting for twenty-eight years and have somehow found themselves ''outside of the galaxy''.
* Samanosuke Akechi, the PlayerCharacter from the first ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' game ''[[VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords Warlords]]'', was totally MIA from ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', which featured a different lead character and an entirely new supporting cast. He made his triumphant return for ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'' as 1 of 2 Player Characters. ''VideoGame/OnimushaDawnOfDreams'' once again appears to lack his presence, but [[spoiler:it's heavily implied, then fully revealed during the end credits, that the key supporting character Tenkai Nankobo is in fact a very old Samanosuke.]]
* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'': The third and final entry in the trilogy sees a lot of characters from the first game and the books make an appearance after their conspicuous absence from ''Assassin of Kings'', including [[ApocalypseMaiden Ciri]], [[VainSorceress Yennefer]], [[DeadpanSnarker Lambert]], [[ByTheBookCop Eskel]], Vesimir, Keira, [[EvilOverlord Emperor Emhyr]] and [[TheSpymaster Dijkstra]]. The ''Hearts of Stone'' expansion also sees LoveInterest [[TheMedic Shani]] making a comeback.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
** Nash (AKA Charlie), Birdie, R. Mika, and Karin haven't been seen in the series since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Street Fighter Alpha 3]]'', but all 4 have returned to the roster in ''[=SFV=]''.
** Alex and Urien have returned to the series as playable characters since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]''. Several ''[=SFIII=]'' characters who weren't in any version of ''[=SFIV=]'' show up as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]] as well, such as Oro, Sean, and Gill. Later on as a part of Season 4 DLC, Gill became playable once more since his appearance in ''3rd Strike''. Oro will also return as an upcoming playable character for Season 5.
** Season 2 DLC released 4 characters for the roster that were originally minor [=NPCs=]. Ed[[labelnote:*]]the little boy seen in Balrog and Rose's ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' endings and the former's ''Super [=SFIV=]'' ending, who is now a [[RapidAging grown man]][[/labelnote]] may have not been too surprising, but Kolin (AKA Helen, Gill's assistant) was very unexpected, mainly because she had such a minor role in the ''[=SFIII=]'' games. Abigail, the 5th boss of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', comes across as a throwaway character, yet here he is. And then, there's Zeku, Guy's former master as seen in the latter's ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' ending. Having been gone for so long, who would ever think he'd show up again?
** To help promote ''[=SFV=]'', Capcom developed the [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/ Shadaloo C.R.I. website]]. The Character Guides section for the Activity Reports page goes out of its way to release character bios for nearly every single character that has ever been seen in the series. This extends to characters from the original ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Street Fighter]]'', ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'', and of all games, ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010''. Even the 2 guys from the original intro of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130285 have]] [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130286 bios]]!
** The Season 4 DLC revealed a ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' character that no one ever thought would come back in ''any'' Capcom game, let alone a ''[=SF=]'' entry: Lucia, the heroine of ''Final Fight 3''.
** While some ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' characters already appeared as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]], Akira was brought back as an actual playable character for Season 5, making this the first time in decades that her series had any direct relevance to ''Street Fighter''.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a special post-game event where not only does [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Team]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Rocket]] return, but also every villainous team leader [[note]][[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Giovanni]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Maxie, Archie]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ghetsis]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre]][[/note]] from previous generations.
* After having not appeared in the series since ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', Shadow Pokémon make a return in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' as part of the Team GO Rocket update.
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' marks the triumphant return to the franchise of the female protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'', who hadn't been seen since 2009.
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate'' brings back the monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in 2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in all fourth-generation games, but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
* ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' brings back many forgotten Looney Tunes characters that hasn't made any appearances in several decades, such as Giovanni Jones, Casper Caveman, Michigan J. Frog and Melissa Duck.
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from a ton of characters from previous installments – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the last time they showed up.
* ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''
** Little Red from ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' is a playable racer.
** Humpty Dumpty from ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' is a playable racer.
** After being absent from the ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' film and the previous games, Thelonious appears as a playable racer here.
* ''[[VideoGame/IceAge Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'': Carl and Frank from the [[WesternAnimation/IceAge first film]] appear early in the game as something of a mini-boss.
to:
* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' has done this since ''City Folk''. ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing: Happy Home Designer'' also brought back [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/b93b97f64b8d25538ea96b646738f0ac/tumblr_nzgp91I7dC1sojdvio1_1280.jpg Louie, Maddie, Claude, and Carrie]], all of whom previously only appearing in the very first game of the series. Carrie in particular shows up on the seventh day, with a special request for a children's playroom. The rest can only be found in distributions through Nintendo Zones and Spotpass, all with special requests -- Louie with a 30th anniversary celebration of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Claude with a video game exhibit, and Maddie with special school supplies. There are even more villagers absent since the first game (Plus 2 from the Japan-exclusive update) found in the data, but they haven't been released yet.
** These characters plus 46 others (making it 50 in total) were all brought back for the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''New Leaf''. Unlike other villagers who can appear in the campsite, these villages will camp in the new RV campground when invited via special amiibo cards. All these characters first appeared in the updated version of the first Animal Crossing game and had not been seen since.
** The 2.0. update for ''New Horizons'' brought back four villagers that only showed up in the original [=GameCube=] game, with these being Faith, Ace, Zoe, and Rio, and other four villagers that only appeared in the Japan exclusive ''Dobustu no Mori e+'', these being Shanpan, Nobuo, Petunia, and Pironkon (receiving the localized names of Frett, Chabwick, Azalea, and Roswell respectively).
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' brings back many characters that haven't been seen in over a decade:
** [[spoiler:YHVH hasn't had a prominent role in a game since ''II''. He finally returns as a Final Boss in this game]].
** [[spoiler:The penultimate boss of the game is Satan, who also hasn't been seen in the main series since ''II'']].
** [[spoiler:En no Ozuno, an ally from ''I'' and ''II'' and a boss from ''if...'' appears as the strongest Fiend in the game]].
** [[spoiler:The Hero, Aleph, and the Demi-fiend all appear in DLC as allies in an awesome Previous Player-Character Cameo. This is particularly notable in Aleph's case, as unlike the Hero or the Demi-fiend, he only ever appeared in his original game and its remakes]].
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV'' brings back ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' after a 13-year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 2]]''. Oh, and it brings back ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]'' and ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Nadesico: Prince of Darkness]]'' too. Even further, this game marks the first time that both the Huckebein and the Grungust are featured in a licensed Super Robot Wars game since [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha 1]].
** Earlier than that, ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsBX BX]]'' brought back ''[[Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' and ''[[Anime/GaoGaiGar GaoGaiGar]]'' after both had a 8 year absence since ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW W]]''.
** ''Beltorchika’s Children'', ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'' and the original ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' return in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'' after last being featured in the ''Alpha'' saga.
* Due to the number of contractors available in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'', some of them could be considered 'on the bus'. So far, the two that have made it back ''off'' the bus are The Elephant (due to The Biker Heist) and The Butcher (due to the Scarface Mansion heist).
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' left the crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' drifting in space with no FTL drive. It wasn't until eight real-life years later that they finally appeared again in ''VideoGame/HaloWars2'', which reveals that they've been drifting for twenty-eight years and have somehow found themselves ''outside of the galaxy''.
* Samanosuke Akechi, the PlayerCharacter from the first ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' game ''[[VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords Warlords]]'', was totally MIA from ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', which featured a different lead character and an entirely new supporting cast. He made his triumphant return for ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege'' as 1 of 2 Player Characters. ''VideoGame/OnimushaDawnOfDreams'' once again appears to lack his presence, but [[spoiler:it's heavily implied, then fully revealed during the end credits, that the key supporting character Tenkai Nankobo is in fact a very old Samanosuke.]]
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', one of the earliest things the Warden-Commander must do is decide the fate of Nathaniel Howe, who was imprisoned when he sneaked into Vigil's Keep - formerly his family's estate - and took a few items. He can either be executed, forced to join the Grey Wardens, or [[PutOnABus set free]]. If the third option is chosen, he returns after some time has passed and volunteers to become a Warden.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
** Nash (AKA Charlie), Birdie, R. Mika, and Karin haven't been seen in the series since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Street Fighter Alpha 3]]'', but all 4 have returned to the roster in ''[=SFV=]''.
** Alex and Urien have returned to the series as playable characters since ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]''. Several ''[=SFIII=]'' characters who weren't in any version of ''[=SFIV=]'' show up as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]] as well, such as Oro, Sean, and Gill. Later on as a part of Season 4 DLC, Gill became playable once more since his appearance in ''3rd Strike''. Oro will also return as an upcoming playable character for Season 5.
** Season 2 DLC released 4 characters for the roster that were originally minor [=NPCs=]. Ed[[labelnote:*]]the little boy seen in Balrog and Rose's ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' endings and the former's ''Super [=SFIV=]'' ending, who is now a [[RapidAging grown man]][[/labelnote]] may have not been too surprising, but Kolin (AKA Helen, Gill's assistant) was very unexpected, mainly because she had such a minor role in the ''[=SFIII=]'' games. Abigail, the 5th boss of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFight'', comes across as a throwaway character, yet here he is. And then, there's Zeku, Guy's former master as seen in the latter's ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' ending. Having been gone for so long, who would ever think he'd show up again?
** To help promote ''[=SFV=]'', Capcom developed the [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/ Shadaloo C.R.I. website]]. The Character Guides section for the Activity Reports page goes out of its way to release character bios for nearly every single character that has ever been seen in the series. This extends to characters from the original ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Street Fighter]]'', ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'', and of all games, ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2010''. Even the 2 guys from the original intro of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130285 have]] [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column/130286 bios]]!
** The Season 4 DLC revealed a ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' character that no one ever thought would come back in ''any'' Capcom game, let alone a ''[=SF=]'' entry: Lucia, the heroine of ''Final Fight 3''.
** While some ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' characters already appeared as [[NonPlayerCharacter [=NPCs=]]], Akira was brought back as an actual playable character for Season 5, making this the first time in decades that her series had any direct relevance to ''Street Fighter''.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' has a special post-game event where not only does [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Team]] [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Rocket]] return, but also every villainous team leader [[note]][[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Giovanni]], [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Maxie, Archie]], [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]], [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ghetsis]], and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre]][[/note]] from previous generations.
* After having not appeared in the series since ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', Shadow Pokémon make a return in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' as part of the Team GO Rocket update.
* ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' marks the triumphant return to the franchise of the female protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'', who hadn't been seen since 2009.
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate'' brings back the monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in 2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in all fourth-generation games, but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
* ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' brings back many forgotten Looney Tunes characters that hasn't made any appearances in several decades, such as Giovanni Jones, Casper Caveman, Michigan J. Frog and Melissa Duck.
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from a ton of characters from previous installments – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the last time they showed up.
* ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing''
** Little Red from ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' is a playable racer.
** Humpty Dumpty from ''VideoGame/ShrekSuperSlam'' is a playable racer.
** After being absent from the ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' film and the previous games, Thelonious appears as a playable racer here.
* ''[[VideoGame/IceAge Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs]]'': Carl and Frank from the [[WesternAnimation/IceAge first film]] appear early in the game as something of a mini-boss.
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* ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' brings back many forgotten Looney Tunes characters that hasn't made any appearances in several decades, such as Giovanni Jones, Casper Caveman, Michigan J. Frog and Melissa Duck.
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* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}} Hubologists]]]].
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[UpToEleven as possible]]:
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore [[UpToEleven as possible]]:
to:
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' sees the return of [[spoiler:Dr. Madison Li from VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} as a key figure in the Institute]] and Mayor [=MacCready=], now a grown man and a gunslinger for hire. It also sees the return of [[spoiler:'''LIBERTY MOTHERFUCKING PRIME, REPAIRED AND READY TO DESTROY ANY AND ALL RED CHINESE COMMUNISTS''']]. ''Nuka World'' sees the return of [[spoiler:kooky Nuka Cola girl Sierra Petrovita, as well as the [[VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}} [[VideoGame/Fallout2 Hubologists]]]].
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore[[UpToEleven [[ExaggeratedTrope as possible]]:
* It seems that one of the goals of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' is to bring back as many characters from the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' lore
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** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyandtheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
to:
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' brings back a whole host of enemy/helper characters not seen in years, among them Bio Spark, Gim, Burning Leo, whose last appearances were in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'' back in 2008; Marx, who was last seen as a pinball boss in 2011's ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch, who last appeared as cameos in ''Kirby 64''; Pon and Con, a throwaway DualBoss from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' who previously held the distinction of being the only boss character(s) from that game to not reappear in any other installment; Gooey, whose ''only'' prior appearances are ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'' (in an bit role) and ''3'' (as the co-op character), an extremely obscure friend of Kirby's thought long forgotten; Adeleine and Ribbon, supporting characters in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' who have not appeared since; Dark Meta Knight, a major antagonist in both ''[[VideoGame/KirbyandtheAmazingMirror ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & The Amazing Mirror]]'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''; and Daroach and the other Squeaks, who were major antagonists in ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' and minor characters in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack''.
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** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' brought back VideoGame/DrMario, who appeared in ''Melee'' but was cut from ''Brawl''. Joining him in this regard are fellow ''Melee'' veterans [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Mewtwo]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Roy]], though they are only availiable as DownloadableContent. Roy's return in particular is shocking after being considered all but permanently gone from the cast.
to:
** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' brought back VideoGame/DrMario, who appeared in ''Melee'' but was cut from ''Brawl''. Joining him in this regard are fellow ''Melee'' veterans [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Mewtwo]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Roy]], though they are only availiable as DownloadableContent. Roy's return in particular is shocking after being considered all but permanently gone from the cast.
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Loads And Loads Of Characters is no longer a trope
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* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters large cast]].
to:
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' brought back most of the supporting cast (Big, Omega, Jet, and Chip have hidden trophies depicting them, but are otherwise still MIA) from the mid-2000's era, who had been absent from ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''[[note]]Except for the DS version[[/note]] due to Sonic Team's attempts to shove them aside to appease those who didn't like the series' [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters large cast]].cast.
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* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a ton of characters from previous installments]] – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the last time they showed up.
to:
* ''VideoGame/PowerBomberman'' features playable appearances from [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a ton of characters from previous installments]] installments – regardless of how obscure they were, whether they'd been playable before or not, or how many years it's been since the last time they showed up.
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** ''VideoGame/Mon
to:
** ''VideoGame/Mon''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'': Two of the monsters added to the game via post-release updates are Chameleos (which was absent in ''World'' and ''Iceborne'' despite them featuring fellow second-generation Elder Dragons Teostra, Lunastra and Kushala Daora) and Valstrax (which had only appeared in ''Generations Ultimate'' until then).
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Crosswicked examples from other pages, and added new ones
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* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
** ''Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate'' (2017 Japan, 2018 elsewhere) marks the return of Lao-Shan Lung, who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years (''Monster Hunter Freedom Unite'' in 2008 for Japan and 2009 elsewhere).
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' (2018 worldwide) not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in ''Monster Hunter 4'', ''4 Ultimate'', and ''Generations'', but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
** ''Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate'' (2017 Japan, 2018 elsewhere) marks the return of Lao-Shan Lung, who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years (''Monster Hunter Freedom Unite'' in 2008 for Japan and 2009 elsewhere).
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' (2018 worldwide) not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in ''Monster Hunter 4'', ''4 Ultimate'', and ''Generations'', but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.
to:
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
''VideoGame/MonsterHunter''. Due to the series' enormous bestiary, some monsters are omitted in one or more installments in a row, but are eventually brought back:
**''Monster ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunterFreedom2 Monster Hunter Generations Freedom Unite]]'': After having debuted in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'' but not appearing in the original ''Freedom 2'', Yama Tsukami makes a return in the expansion, being now one of the Urgent Quest monsters in G Rank.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate''(2017 Japan, 2018 elsewhere) marks brings back the return monsters Cephadrome, Daimyo Hermitaur and its Plum subspecies, Monoblos and its White subspecies, Diablos and its Black subspecies, Rusted Kushala Daora, Ukanlos, Chameleos, and White Fatalis.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-ShanLung, who Lung (who hadn't appeared in a ''[=MonHun=]'' game in 9 years (''Monster Hunter Freedom Unite'' years, namely since ''Freedom Unite'').
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in2008 for Japan and 2009 elsewhere).
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' (2018 worldwide)2018 worldwide, not only brings back Lunastra, who also had been absent since ''Freedom Unite'' while her mate Teostra would appear in ''Monster Hunter 4'', ''4 Ultimate'', and ''Generations'', all fourth-generation games, but also gives her a big dose of [[DivergentCharacterEvolution differentiation from Teostra]] to give her a reason to come back.back.
** ''VideoGame/Mon
**
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPortable3rd'': Anteka, Bulldrome, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Ukanlos and Akantor all return after being absent in ''Tri''. Tigrex and Nargacuga even receive subspecies. The Palico class of Felynes returns from ''Freedom Unite'' as well.
** ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate]]'':
*** Plesioth and its subspecies, Green Plesioth return after their abscense following ''Freedom Unite''.
*** Epioth, Fish, Gobul, Lagiacrus and Ceadeus all return as well after being absent in ''Portable 3rd'' due to the return of underwater combat.
*** The subspecies Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian also return, being absent in ''Tri'' and ''Portable 3rd''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'':
*** A lot of first and second generation monsters that sat out during the third generation come back, such as the Dromes (except Giadrome), Yian Kut-Ku, Gypceros, Gravios, Congalala, Kushala Daora, Teostra, etc. Along with their weapons and armor, of course. Also, one of the monsters that debuted in the third generation but had missed out the final installment (Brute Tigrex) also returns, thanks to the return of the standard Tigrex (and both are also accompained by a brand-new Rare Species, Molten Tigrex).
*** The UpdatedRerelease ''4 Ultimate''
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'': Being a MegamixGame, the game brings back a wide array of monsters from all previous games in the series, including monsters that hadn't been seen for a while until then (such as Shogun Ceanataur and Blangonga from the second generation of games, or Amatsu from the third). The UpdatedRerelease ''Generatons Ultimate'' brings more old monsters to the mix, including the first-generation Lao-Shan
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', released in
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' (2018 worldwide)
** ''VideoGame/Mon
