Power Bombcast: The Skin Doesn't Quite Fit
Giant Bomb Presents
Game Mess Mornings 05/03/24
GrubbSnax
The Community Spotlight 2024.05.04
The Community Spotlight 2024.04.27
The Community Spotlight 2024.04.20
Franchise »
Foreshadowing is a plot device that allows the creators to leave subtle (or not-so-subtle) hints about future events in the game.
A frog is a small and usually green amphibian that can swim, hop, and ribbit. Sadly, most of them aren't princes.
Game Over originally appeared in pinball machines, and later, arcade machines. When players lose at a game, it is game over.
A glitch is an action performed within the bounds of a game engine that was not intended by the game's developers. Glitches are often performed by the player, though they can also occur independently.
A characteristic many game characters share when their eyes emit a colored light instead of what a regular eye should look like. This is often evident in robots and characters possessed by some evil force.
A three dimensional image or transmission commonly used in science fiction. May or may not be interacted with.
Games with characters known for wearing hoods over their heads, whether they be cloaked cultists, assassins, or just guys that keep their hoodies in the upright-and-locked position.
The expression of care and love, an act performed in many games.
A plot device where innocent characters are killed. Sometimes players forced to watch it happen and can do nothing to prevent it.
Usually found in adventure games, when players combine two or more items to create one or more new items.
Horror games influenced predominantly by the look, feel, and themes of Japanese horror cinema, or non-horror games that allude to the cultural horror aesthetic. J-Horror, or psychological horror, is sometimes classified as a sub-genre of survival horror.
Kidnapping is often used in videogames as a motivation for the protagonist to venture into unknown worlds and fight seemingly hopeless battles.
Puzzles where light beams must be manipulated in certain ways, usually with a series of mirrors. Popular in action-adventure games.
This concept is for games in which at least one of the main characters is male.
A game where you eventually receive a map of an area. Like in Metroid Prime you have map download stations to get a map outline of the area. This is the same concept in the exploring Castlevania games.
Somebody wrote or drew a message on the wall, maybe it was in blood, maybe they had a marker handy; but now here you are, reading it.
These are often a departure from the conventional gameplay of a game. There have also been compilations; games including only minigames. The Mario Party series has a lot of minigames, too!
Moral dilemmas presented to the player that often have a significant effect on the story or other characters.
Two or more characters are featured on the game's box art.
Multiple endings is a term used to describe different outcomes or conclusions to a game based on the previous actions of the player.
Murder is the act of ending the life of another living thing against its will without the sanction of a higher governmental authority, such as the casualties that result from acts of war. It is generally intentional, at least in a legal meaning, but not necessarily.
A mode that allows a game to be replayed after a first completion, carrying over items, experience, weapons, and other elements from the first playthrough.
This is when the events of a story are not in chronological order. Often, the end comes at the beginning, and the remaining story explains how things came to be the way they are.
A central concept in the Zero Escape series, the Nonary Game is a deadly competition that revolves around the use of the number 9.
Optional conversation-based cutscenes that are unrelated to the main narrative. These conversations are often humorous or provide insight into the game's setting.
Objectives that aren't required in order to win a scenario or mission. Completing optional objectives may, however, grant the player benefits such as items, shortcuts or additional assistance.
Games that have had an Original Soundtrack album released.
A narrative that takes an unexpected turn. Commonly, plot twists come in the form of revealing that the player character is not actually who they thought.
Simulating the effects of a great variety of poisons, toxins, venoms and nerve agents can lead to many unique and interesting mechanics. A classic trope in games, Poison usually deals small amounts of damage to health over time.
Who needs 2D when we've got 3D? 3D, or 3 dimensions, is what we're used to seeing in almost every game these days, letting us do all sorts of awesome stuff like run in circles!
This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:
Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.
Use your keyboard!
Log in to comment
Log in to comment