History XanatosGambit / VideoGames

* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'': [[BigBad Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik]]'s entire plan is linked to this trope : he's after the [[McGuffin 7 Chaos Emeralds]]. If he gets them himself, it works for him. If Sonic or someone else gets them, he can always steal them. [[NearVillainVictory It almost works, as he obtains 6 Emeralds]].

* In ''Hyrule Warriors'', Ganondorf pulls one. [[spoiler: Prior to the events of the game, he corrupted Cia, and had her gather three of the four fragments of his spirit, then let her loose to wreck Hyrule. If Cia defeats the heroes, then the forces of good are extinguished, and Ganondorf can take Cia's Triforce to break the final seal on his spirit and overpower Cia to become Hyrule's true ruler. If Link and company defeat Cia, the final seal is broken when Link takes the Master Sword, and Ganondorf can use his full power to get the drop on a then-peaceful Hyrule and take the Triforce anyway.]]

* This seems to be the whole purpose behind the events of VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution. No matter what outcome Jensen chooses, it furthers the plans of the Illuminati at least slightly [[spoiler: and advances the agenda of Bob Page and Majestic 12 considerably.]]

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' opens with one, as the Joker is being taken to the title facility after Batman stopped him from attacking the Mayor. Being the Joker, he would have had a blast killing the mayor and every other crime he committed until Batman DID catch him - because of course he breaks his restraints and proceeds to start a takeover of Arkham.
* In ''Franchise/BlazBlue'', this is Hazama/Terumi's ace in the hole. Just about every plan of his ends up with him ahead no matter what. There's only one case in canon where his plans ended in abject failure: [[spoiler:it involved Makoto Nanaya falling from her timeline to an alternate one that occurred before hers did ([=BlazBlue=]'s [[TimeyWimeyBall weird like that]]) and interacting with people her native self had no business knowing in that timestream. To be fair to Hazama, [[DidntSeeThatComing there was no way he could have predicted this]]. To be fair to Makoto, however, [[UnderestimatingBadassery he should have better known the abilities]] of ''his own subordinate]]'']].

* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', this is Hazama/Terumi's ace in the hole. Just about every plan of his ends up with him ahead no matter what. There's only one case in canon where his plans ended in abject failure: [[spoiler:It involved Makoto Nanaya falling from her timeline to an alternate one that occurred before hers did ([=BlazBlue=]'s [[TimeyWimeyBall weird like that]]) and interacting with people her native self had no business knowing in that timestream. To be fair to Hazama, [[DidntSeeThatComing there was no way he could have predicted this.]] To be fair to Makoto, however, [[UnderestimatingBadassery he should have better known the abilities of ]]''[[UnderestimatingBadassery his own subordinate]]''.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'', [[spoiler:[[BigBad Super Hero Aurum]]'s]] gambit to [[spoiler:fight Mao at full power]] is one of these: He either obtains more power and rids the world of another 'monster', or obtains [[DeathSeeker a worthy honourable death]]. This gambit is foiled in several endings and backfires very badly in the Human World one. To expand:

* Surprisingly, Wily pulls this off in the first three entries of ''VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork'', but it only really becomes notable in three. He was revealed to have been TheManBehindTheMan of Gospel in three. He would have gotten what he wanted had Gospel succeeded in two, but even if they failed he would have gotten the attention of Bass who [[spoiler: became quite integral to his plot to awaken Alpha]].
* In ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 4'', [[spoiler:Dr. Weil's real plan is to shoot Area Zero from space]]; the Eight Warriors are [[spoiler:nothing but a diversion, so that the Resistance is stuck fighting the wrong battle.]] If the Eight Warriors' individual plans worked (acid rain generators, scorching the earth with an artificial sun, etc.), Area Zero is destroyed, and the Resistance with it; if they all fail, [[spoiler:there would still be time for Weil to fire his KillSat]], leaving Area Zero destroyed, and the Resistance with it. In either case, Weil becomes the undisputed ruler of all humanity by wiping out freedom's last hope. This surprisingly ends up being screwed over by [[spoiler: [[DragonWithAnAgenda Craft]], [[TheDragon Weil's Dragon]], who destroys Neo Arcadia with the KillSat that Weil was planning to use. Weil survives this, however, and because Zero [[HeroBall didn't think ahead to disable the Ragnarok while dealing with Craft]], Weil takes it over off-screen while everyone else presumed him to be dead and goes right back to Plan A. If he didn't [[VillainBall stop to gloat and fire a "warning shot,"]] he would have been unstoppable at that point.]]
* The ''Videogame/MentalOmega'' GameMod features a couple of these.

* This is attempted by the culprit in ''VideoGame/NancyDrew White Wolf of Icicle Creek'' after they discover Nancy is poking around. Nancy, while investigating all the bombing and sabotage, enters a place called "The Needle", and discovers a bomb in one of the suspects' backpacks. The culprit offers to stay while Nancy calls the police, or to call the police themselves while ''Nancy'' stays to "Guard" the evidence. [[spoiler: If Nancy had told Yanni to stay, Yanni would no doubt disarm the bomb and allow Lou to take the fall since he had Nancy convinced; but if Nancy told Yanni to contact the police, Yanni would detonate the bomb, kill the only other witness in the blast, and make Lou take the fall]]. Had the culprit ''not'' accidentally dropped the bomb timer, they would have even gotten away with it. Compared to a lot of other culprits in the ''Nancy Drew'' series, they actually thought out their plan ''quite'' well.
** Even before the final act, the culprit was able to plant evidence that would [[spoiler: try to steer Nancy ''towards'' the other two suspects, giving them a motive and the means]], so that no matter what Nancy would be given evidence pointing ''away'' from them.

* In ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur 3'''s mode "Chronicles of the Sword", Chester pulls off one of these. By enticing the factions to fighting each other, he manages to oust the king of one, taking his place. The truth of the matter is that he would have won, [[spoiler: having manipulated much more than just one faction, and managing to deprive you, the main advancing force who is one of the best, of reinforcements and rest from your own king without actually having him outright try to kill you,]] but because you were such a good fighter, you overcame EVERY enemy that he threw at you to prevent you from becoming a wrench in his plans, and he still manages to take the place of a king despite you being better than expected.
* ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'' is a rare case of a subversion. Its revealed that [[spoiler:the foundations of The Rebel Alliance]] were orchestrated by the person the group is dedicated to opposing. If creating this group failed, the planner benefits because they are weaker as individuals. If creating this group succeeded than the planner would know who all his remaining enemies are ''and'' be able to wipe them all out at once. Then it backfired because group's founder not only manages to save the rest via HeroicSacrifice but becomes an inspiring martyr. The first movie demonstrates the plan still worked pretty well regardless.

*** Just prior to the events of the game, [[RebelLeader Ulfric Stormcloak]] pulls one of these on the then current High King of Skyrim, Torygg. Ulfric challenges Torygg to a duel, using an archaic [[HornyVikings Nordic]] tradition. If declined, then Torygg would be shamed and would quickly lose power and influence, allowing Ulfric to step in. Torygg accepted the duel. Ulfric then used [[MakeMeWannaShout the Thu'um]] in order to ensure victory. Ulfric did not get the throne since many people viewed using the Thu'um in a duel as dishonorable, but he did gain a considerable following for his rebellion.

* Act has [[WellIntentionedExtremist Yuri]] turning this back on the Soviets. Teleporting himself to the previously-conquered Moscow, he bunkers down and waits for them to come after him, knowing the Soviets are gunning for him [[RevengeBeforeReason before anything else]]. If he does manage to repel the Soviets, then he's rid himself of potential threats to Epsilon's future rule and everything's all well and good. If they do kill him then it isn't an issue, [[spoiler:since he's delayed them long enough for the [[MindControlDevice Mental Omega Device]] to activate, mind controlling the Soviets along with the rest of the world and assuring Epsilon's victory.]]

** This concept is also associated withi Azura, the Daedric Prince of Dawn and Dusk and the "[[RedBaron Lady of Prophecy]]". As the "Lady of Prophecy", she [[TheChessmaster actively works]] (mostly) behind the scenes to ensure that her prophecies come to pass. Even if things don't go exactly according to her plans, they still tend to work out in ways that ultimately benefit her. Although she is never overtly deceitful, the way Azura always gets what she desires in the end, and how titanic events always follow her interventions, can be portrayed as disturbing. Behind her veil of [[BenevolentBoss benevolence]] and [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith pleasing female form]], there are hints that Azura may be something much more ''[[EldritchAbomination eldritch]]''. She may be a sort of 'cosmic force' of {{True Neutral}}ity, primarily concerned with maintaining a sort of metaphysical balance in the universe.

* The Nod Prophet [[DarkMessiah Kane]] is an uncontested master of these, and in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'' and ''Kane's Wrath'' pulls of an absolutely ''staggering'' one. Short version: [[spoiler: the ''entire'' Third Tiberium War was orchestrated start-to-finish to bring the Scrin aliens to Earth and allow Kane to steal their technology]]. Longer version: [[spoiler: Knowing there's a summit on a space station where all the [[UnitedNationsIsASuperpower Global Defense Initiative]] leaders will be attending, he raids the GDI treasury to ensure that only the treasury commissioner, who is a SlaveToPR, will stay behind to ascertain the damages, and thus remain alive when the station and the rest of the GDI leadership is nuked. The treasury commissioner will then be the highest in the chain of command alive and become the leader of GDI, and as a SlaveToPR he will want to give the media something to run with -- like a decisive victory by {{Kill Sat}}ing [[NGOSuperPower The Brotherhood of Nod's]] primary temple. So war is on! If Nod wins, great! But Nod is losing so he then sets the temple up with large amounts of [[RidiculouslyPotentExplosive Liquid Tiberium]] and leaves behind only a skeleton crew of fanatics for defense. GDI fires the KillSat, and the Liquid Tiberium, set off by the KillSat's power, creates a quarter-WorldWreckingWave -- which Kane ''knows'' will attract the attention of the alien [[PlanetLooters Scrin]], who are on the lookout for such explosions as they normally signal [[AlienKudzu Tiberium]] having reached the planet's mantle and thus is ready for harvesting. He knows the Scrin will perform their best AlienInvasion to distract from the fact that they only have a harvesting fleet and not an invasion force stationed near Earth, and once that happens he can have GDI and and the Scrin weaken each other and make both of them more vulnerable to Nod while he steals their technology and the two {{Macguffin}}. The Scrin, if they want to invade successfully, have to fight GDI, and if GDI doesn't fight back, that's more propaganda for Nod and its DarkMessiah. Either the world's population flocks to him, giving him the numbers and technology to win, or GDI and Scrin duke it out, leaving him able to do all the stealing he wants with surgical covert actions while PlayingBothSides -- which is [[StealthExpert Nod]]'s specialty, especially since they were just claimed 'decisively defeated'.]]

* In ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' [[spoiler:Hades]] pulls two of these off during the game.
** The first is in Chapter 10: The Wish Seed. [[spoiler:Firstly, he created a myth about an all-powerful wish-granting item under the protection of the Immortal Phoenix atop a great volcano long ago. Then he sends the Underworld Army to attack the Phoenix and 'retrieve' the wish seed, which prompt Palutena and Pit to counter them. By the time the heroes realize that the wish seed was a hoax, it is too late. If they leave the Underworld Army alone they will defeat the Phoenix, leading the humans to believe that the wish seed is now obtainable and triggering mass-warfare to get it. If they defeat the Underworld Army but leave the Phoenix alone, then it will go on a rampage because the Underworld Army provoked it and kill many innocent humans. If Pit defeats both the Underworld Army and the Phoenix, then it will be the same as if he let the Underworld Army kill the Phoenix. No matter how it ends up thousands of people will die and that is more business for Hades.]]
** The second gambit quite literally spreads across ''the rest of the game.'' [[spoiler:Hades' only true goal is to gather more souls for his realm to both make more monsters and to use as nourishment, which means people need to start killing each other off. Having sparked the massive wars over the Wish Seed, he lets [[MotherNature Viridi]] get so angry that she enters the war by [[GaiasVengeance nuking the battlefields and starts trying to slaughter humanity off for harming the planet with their petty wars]], which prompts Palutena and Pit to fight her as well and create a three-way war where the humans are caught in the cross-fire. The [[AlienInvasion Aurum invasion]] and [[SealedEvilInACan the Chaos Kin getting loose]] and [[DemonicPossession possessing Palutena]] were unexpected, but in the end they only contribute to the slaughter and serve his ends, as in the end it doesn't matter who kills the humans since they all go to the same place: his Underworld for his entertainment]].

* In the penultimate mission of ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', Ultor CEO Dane Vogel pulls off an excellent one: having been threatened by the board of directors with being fired (or worse) if he can't kill [[PlayerCharacter the Boss]] and break the Saints, he anonymously leaks the location of the board's upcoming gala fundraiser to the Boss, then tips off his security men that the Boss is coming. That way, if the Boss gets killed, he gets credit with the board for destroying the last major obstacle to their plan; and if the Boss wipes out the board, Vogel ascends to the chairmanship. Either way, he comes out ahead.

** Honorable Mention goes to Vault 11's [[spoiler: Katherine "Kate" Stone. After her husband Nate is unfairly targeted by the Justice Block to be elected as Overseer (a one year term that ends with death by gunfire, typically held by the worst ne'er do well the vault can muster that year), she wages a one-person assassination campaign against them. If she had gotten away with it, she could whittle down their numbers until they were no longer the dominant voting block, but by getting caught and revealed as a multiple murderer she becomes the shoe-in candidate for Overseer, which allows her the authority to abolish the election in favor of a lottery, also destroying the power of the Justice Block. Unfortunately, Justice Block's attempts to seize power in spite of the rule change kicks off a [[KillEmAll total party kill]] inducing civil war. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice job breaking it, Kate.]]]]

* ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' opens with one, as the Joker is being taken to the title facility after Batman stopped him from attacking the Mayor. Being the Joker, he would have had a blast killing the mayor and every other crime he comitted until Batman DID catch him - because of course he breaks his restraints and proceeds to start a takeover of Arkham.

*** Just prior to the events of the game, [[RebelLeader Ulfric Stormcloak]] pulls one of these on the then current High King of Skyrim, Torygg. Ulfric challenges Torygg to a duel, using an archaic [[HornyVikings Nordic]] tradition. If declined, the Torygg would be shamed and would quickly lose power and influence, allowing Ulfric to step in. Torygg accepted the duel. Ulfric then used [[MakeMeWannaShout the Thu'um]] in order to ensure victory. Ulfric did not get the throne since many people viewed using the Thu'um in a duel as dishonorable, but he did gain a considerable following for his rebellion.

* ''VideoGame/Portal2'': [[spoiler:Wheatley]] goes out of his way to anticipate every possible point of failure during the FinalBoss fight, having studied the FinalBoss fight of ''VideoGame/Portal1'' and taken appropriate countermeasures. Being an idiot, he [[BossArenaIdiocy exposes a whole new sets of weaknesses while doing so]], but what elevates it to a Xanatos Gambit is that he anticipates the possibility that Chell could ''win''. The only things that stop him from being victorious are Chell's status as a {{Determinator}} and a ChekhovsGun he could not possibly have known about.

** Darth Jadus in the Imperial Agent storyline sets up a pretty convoluted one; [[spoiler: Jadus has half the codes to his super weapon, and the Agent has the other half. If the Agent refuses to enter their codes, the weapons will fire randomly and kill millions. If the Agent [[WeCanRuleTogether goes along with his plan]] then [[TheBadGuyWins he gets everything he wanted]] with slightly less collateral damage than the alternative. If the Agent enters their codes to disarm the weapon, Jadus will then have the codes and simply kill the Agent and reactivate the weapon. Either way, Jadus wins, unless the Agent can figure out how to TakeAThirdOption (or fourth in this case). (And even then, he'll simply retreat from the known galaxy, implicitly intending to return later, ultimately making the Agent's triumph more of a setback than a real victory.]]

** Darth Malgus pulls one [[spoiler: during [[TheCoup his attempted takeover]] of the Empire. In the False Emperor flashpoint, if the group facing him is Imperial, he tells them that either outcome will serve his purposes: either he defeats them and remakes the Empire as he sees fit, or they defeat him but still forces the Empire to change. Indeed, in the Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion, it's shown that the Empire does seem to be embracing a number of Malgus' views, something that his ghost is surely laughing at]].
** It's revealed that the Vitatae (aka Valkorian/The Sith Emperor/whatever he's calling himself this week) set up the ''entire'' arc of all three games and change. Mandalorian War? Well, either his Mandalorian pawns win against the Republic, or the Jedi and Republic are forced into a PyrrhicVictory that divides them and leaves them open for a civil war where he can mop up the rest. Bit of a setback with his favorite pawn, Revan? Well, the Republic is still weak and his incarnation of the Sith Empire is merrily rebuilding in secret. Revan and Exile get the idea to kill him? Well, if they succeed, they're only FightingAShadow; he can play dead and still keep building the Eternal Empire. But he makes a deal with Scourge and gets one dead Exile and a new chew toy with Revan. He uses his Sith Empire to attack the Republic while embezzling the spoils of the Sith victories into his ''real'' project, the Eternal Empire. This keeps the Darths busy with war and internal power games, so they aren't looking too closely at his actions. Sith win over the Republic? Republic win over the Sith? Either way, they're weakened and the Eternal Empire can mop up the pieces. And with his offspring either dead or too batshit crazy to actually rule, he's pretty much assured that there's no one to challenge him while he siphons away all life in the galaxy to become a god.

* The [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Divine Crusaders War]] qualifies, due to the simple fact that, no matter who wins, Earth will be protected. If the player fails to defeat the DC, it's implied that the DC will defend Earth when the ''real'' threat (it depends on the timeline) arrives. If the player beats the DC, it's leader will mention that the heroes are strong enough to take over the defense of Earth (whether the ''player'' is skilled enough is another matter entirely...).
* In ''2nd Original Generations'', [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Euzeth Gozzo]]'s plan: Should Euzeth be defeated, all of his memories are immediately transferred to another Euzeth in one of the many existing alternate universes. This Euzeth then continues the scheme where the last one left it. This has happened a few times already, which is the reason why he knows so much about the people and events he manipulates to carry out his plan.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

*** The Skyrim {{Civil War}} itself is one for the [[AntiHumanAlliance Aldmeri Dominion]] under the leadership of the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]]. Their ideal result is for the civil war to drag on for as long as possible, exhausting both sides and weakening them for the inevitable second [[GreatOffscreenWar Great War]]. A victory for the Stormcloaks would result a further destabilizing of the [[VestigialEmpire vestigial 3rd Empire of Tamriel]], while an Imperial victory leaves the Thalmor with pawns throughout Skyrim who can continue to advance their agenda. A quick and decisive victory for either side is the least preferable outcome, and is precisely the outcome [[PlayerCharacter the Dragonborn]] can [[SpannerInTheWorks deliver for either side]].

* The [[MedievalStasis Symphony City]] cutscene of ''Videogame/HarmoKnight'': Either [[TheTeam Tempo and his partners]] [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny get distracted by the princess's song]], where a few seconds later, she gets kidnapped, or they run into the castle to tell her what's wrong. In the second case they are too slow, and by the time they get there, she is already kidnapped. Either way, [[BigBad Gargan]] succeeds in kidnapping the princess.

* [=GLaDOS=] did this in ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''. If she had killed you in the final fight, she would have been rid of the morality core and you. However even if you won, she is free of all the mind controlling cores, plus the data from your escape and her "death" furthers the cause of science... And, being a sentient computer program, it wouldn't stop her from coming back for a sequel anyway.
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'': [[spoiler:Wheatley]] goes out of his way to anticipate every possible point of failure during the FinalBoss fight, having studied the FinalBoss fight of ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' and taken appropriate countermeasures. Being an idiot, he [[BossArenaIdiocy exposes a whole new sets of weaknesses while doing so]], but what elevates it to a Xanatos Gambit is that he anticipates the possibility that Chell could ''win''. The only things that stop him from being victorious are Chell's status as a {{Determinator}} and a ChekhovsGun he could not possibly have known about.

* Yuri from ''RedAlert II'' could be seen as this. If the Soviets win, he gets to command the world from behind the throne of the puppet Premier. If the Allies prove victorious, then they have just taken the Soviet army out of the way, spreading their own forces thin in the process, allowing Yuri a good shot at taking charge directly. [[spoiler: In the Soviet campaign he is OutGambitted by the ThanatosGambit of his puppet Premier (apparently he is better at mind ''control'' than at mind ''reading'') and ends up defeated and executed by the Soviets' most talented field commander when on the brink of victory. Not even a XanatosGambit is immune to a SpannerInTheWorks.]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed.'' is a rare case of a subversion. Its revealed that [[spoiler:the foundations of The Rebel Alliance]] were orchestrated by the person the group is dedicated to opposing. If creating this group failed, the planner benefits because they are weaker as individuals. If creating this group succeeded than the planner would know who all his remaining enemies are ''and'' be able to wipe them all out at once. Then it backfired because group's founder not only manages to save the rest via HeroicSacrifice but becomes an inspiring martyr. The first movie demonstrates the plan still worked pretty well regardless.
* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' has the unusual Xanatos gambit maker of [[spoiler:[[HandsomeLech Zelos Wilder]]. Zelos wants to be free of his Chosen Status, so what does he do? Play Cruxis, the Renegades and Lloyd's group all against each other in their current conflict -- each of his actions based on which group he favors more at the time. No matter which group wins in the end, he can grab on and reap the benefits. And if they catch on and take him out? That's fine, because he was a [[DeathSeeker Death Seeker]] anyway!]] He ends up becoming less of a jerkass through [[CharacterDevelopment Character Development]] and [[ThePowerOfFriendship The Power of Friendship]], but even that works with his gambit as he still gets what he wants in the end.

* VideoGame/{{Touhou}}: Yukari Yakumo has a serious grudge against the Moon and its SpaceElves inhabitants, who have dealt her two major defeats: in the first, the youkai armies under her command were repulsed from the Lunar Capital, and in the second, her attempt to force the Lunarians' best strategist and warrior into a feint failed miserably when both Yukari and Remilia's group (who were acting as her decoys) were defeated and sent back to Earth before reaching the Capital. [[spoiler:''Except not''. Despite ostensibly losing both times, she gained more than the Lunarians did -- the first time, it didn't matter whether youkai succeeded in conquering the Moon or not. They win, they seize the Moon and its wondrous technology. They lose, they are taught a stern lesson on expansionism. Either way, Yukari has time to complete her true objective -- analyzing the barrier the Lunarians use to close the Capital to the outside reality, which certainly came in handy when constructing Gensokyo. And for the second? Well, if the Lunarians think there are ''only'' two simultaneous invasions and that Yukari's been defeated, they're not gonna start looking for a ''third'' invasion...]]

* ''Warcraft III'' sees a nice couple of these from the original Lich King, [[spoiler:Ner'zhul]]. In the first -- well, regardless of who takes Stratholme, he wins [[spoiler:since Arthas winning means his ideal knight's on the road to insane-o-ville and Mal'Ganis winning means the Scourge's army gets bigger and he can rez Aethas -- the latter is less ideal but still workable]]. The second is the more eerie one, since, well, [[spoiler: it's Death Knight Arthas who tells Illidan where to get his power-up; Illidan then cheerfully turns his newfound power on the Lich King with intent to smite, weakening both LK and Arthas and ''setting up the situation that leads to Arthas becoming the new Lich King''.]] While he probably didn't intend to lose mojo at the rate that he did, in the end it all worked out to his benefit.