Summary
In its forty-year lifespan, gaming has picked upand droppedits own subset of tropes unique to the medium. Some tropes, like the infamous water level, are universally hated, but many more have become beloved staples of the medium. Some are so well-liked that they become synonymous with video games of their genre, and it becomes a surprise — even a disappointment — not to see them appear.
The best tropes are the ones that almost always enhance the game, whether it’s because they enrich the story, gameplay, or whether the trope is just plain fun. These tropes are presented in the chronology in which they tend to show up, revealing what types of tropes a player might expect to find from the beginning to the game’s end.
1The Title Drop
The Moment The Game Truly Begins
Usually arriving at the end of the tutorial, a game’s title drop can set the tone of the rest of the game whilst punctuating the scene before it. Most often used to generate excitement for the game that’s about to start, players are normally unleashed onto the wider world after the title drops.
Some of the most famous examples includeMass Effect’stitle after an introductory text crawl, andBreath of the Wild’siconic opening, revealing the world before Link. Both of these create a sense of awe and wonderment. Another special mention goes toKingdom Hearts 2,where a solemn title drop marks the beginning of one story, and the end of another.
2The Silent Protagonist
“…”
This trope originally started because of the limitations of the medium, but has now become one of themost anticipated parts of gaming. The silent protagonist is used as a vehicle for immersing the player in their avatar’s story, helping them become an extension of the player. TheMarioseries' titular player character is a classic example.
This trope has seen so much use, and now, it’s been playfully subverted as often as it’s been embraced.Portal 2,for example, implies that Chell’s inability to speak is thanks to brain damage. Despite this, almost all of Valve’s protags are mutes, taking after the plumber in red. And after criticism forFallout 4’svoiced protagonist, RPGs have quietly agreed that it’s best to keep protags silent if players want to identify with them.
3The Party
They’re Sworn To Carry Your Burdens
Perhaps the most universal trope of this list, a player’s party is foundational to enjoying the game. Sometimes, as in many RPGs, their stories areintertwined with the main plotand slowly come to light throughout the game as their character develops. These characters are treated with care and dignity, like companions inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Other times, the party is humorously disposable, nothing more than a backpack to carry the player’s horde of items whilst they explore the open-world. It’s often theBethesda companionswho get the worst of it, like those inSkyrim. But their fate is still better than the customizable parties ofXCOMorDarkest Dungeon. It’s recommended players don’t get attached to them.
4Snow Levels
For Those Who Love Christmas
Questionable ice physics aside, everybody loves snow levels — or their relaxing winter aesthetics, at the very least. Most often found in children’s platformers, the cheery, festive music accompanying these sequences encourages players to kick back, relax, and take in the level’s atmosphere.
Since precious few gamesdirectly revolve around Christmas, the snow levels are often the next best thing. The best snow levels are often exquisitely serene and are usually a highlight of their respective games. Levels likeMario 64’sCool Cool Mountain andBanjo Kazooie’sFreezeezy Peakare best enjoyed near a cozy fire and with a cup of hot chocolate.
5Sudden Horror Level
For Those Who Love Halloween
The sudden horror level is a welcome surprise every time it rears its head. It’s often an excuse for game designers to flex their creative talents in a genre that usually wouldn’t allow for such scares. These sudden horror levels can range from tongue-in-cheek spookiness, to downright terrifying. And for some bizarre reason, the trope is unexpectedly common in children’s games. From classics likeBanjo-Kazooieto modern revivals likeA Hat In Time, it’s a curious staple of the genre.
Even Winnie the Pooh got in on the trend, withPiglet’s Big Gamesecretly being a giantSilent Hillhomage. That homage came full circle once theSilent Hill 2remake sampled an ambient track from said game.
6Endgame Warning Screen
Warning: You Are Nearing A Turning Point
Perhaps the most niche pick on the list, the endgame warning screen never fails to generate hype once it pops up. As a trope, it breaks the sacred rule of maintaining a player’s immersion. However, it does this out of necessity. Its first purpose is to warn players to create a save before entering, since it’s possible their choices could result in a bad ending. Secondly, it reminds them to finish up any remaining side quests.
Lastly, it’s just exciting. Upon reading that message, players know some of the game’s best and most challenging content is on the other side of that screen, and all that stands between them and the game’s ending is the final few quests. CD Projekt Red understand the power of it, using it in both their biggest titles:The Witcher 3andCyberpunk 2077.
7Fighting God At The End
Or Talking Him Down
The most popular interpretation of this trope is the ending of almost any JRPG, where the player’s party bands together to use the power of friendship to murder God. Listing which JRPGs do this would be redundant, as it would be quicker to list the JRPGs that don’t. The one to do it best, however, isPersona 3. Nyx is an epic final boss with at least ten phases and a final form (more on that trope in a moment.)
It’s worth noting that western RPGs are no slouch on this trope either. If players aren’t talking to a high-ranking official that embodies the game’s themes, they are likely talking to God instead. Best of all, there’s a trope within this trope. Often, if players have their charisma stats high enough, they get the opportunity to talk God down from whatever world-shattering event they were planning to unleash. This is why many RPG veterans understandthe value of charisma builds.
8The Boss Has A Second Phase
And Maybe A Third… And A Fourth
Frankly, gamers are so familiar with this trope nowadays, it’s almost a disappointment when the final boss doesn’t have a second phase. Special credit should go toHades, which had one of the most exciting variations of this trope.
Not only doesHades’incredible soundtrackkick into high-gear for the second phase, the OST is timed with the boss' refilling health bar and the music drops once the bar is full. Players slowly realize that the final boss has a death defy, just like Zagreus. And, on top of that, there’s a secret third phase that can be activated with extreme measures. (Extreme Measures inHadesacts as a sort of New Game+. Speaking of which…)
9New Game Plus
You Can Now Play as Luigi
The best types of games are ones that, after beating them, the player wants to go through all over again. And, thevery best of these gamesdeliver. Sometimes these new games allow players to carry over their old stats, letting them demolish enemies they once had trouble with in the early game. Others unlock a super-hard mode for gamers looking for a challenge.
The most interesting variation of this trope is unlocking a new character after the end of the game. Playing as Luigi adds a whole new layer of replayability to the already wonderfulSuper Mario Galaxy,keeping the game’s content evergreen.
