History Main / DeathIsNotPermanent

* The pioneering cross-platform UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}/Windows FirstPersonShooter ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' uses magic to respawn dead combatants. OK, it's magic, but the original Shadowrun tabletop {{RPG}} is one of the few magic-heavy settings where resurrection is stated to be flat-out impossible.

** Spirit healers can send souls back to the world of the living, and their existence is canon.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' has a very creative system: a frame tale, in which you are Desmond Miles, living several hundred years into the future and being forced to relive [[GeneticMemory Genetic Memories]] through a machine called the Animus. "Dying" in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' is basically becoming completely desynchronized with your genetic ancestor, forcing you to restart.

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'', aside from being able to rewind out of most deaths, invokes this trope when you do die for good as [[NoNameGiven The Prince]] is literally telling the story. He'll say "That's not how it happened" or some other line and you respawn at the beginning of the room or puzzle.

In real life, death is forever ([[{{Reincarnation}} possibly]]). However, this simply won't do for video games. In video games, either you might get a limited number of lives or continues, or you might "respawn" after a short period of time has passed. Most early games [[GameplayAndStorySegregation didn't try to explain it]], but this trope is about more recent ones that try and contrive a reason for it anyway, such as magic or AppliedPhlebotinum. Like an extremely easy version of OnlyMostlyDead.

See also DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist and OneUp.

* Parodied in the webcomic ''{{Webcomic/Supermegatopia}}'', where it seems to be an established fact in several comics that most heroes and villains don't stay dead.
** Also, in the sub-comic ''Crushed: The Doomed Kitty Adventures'', Crushed and other heroes have the Temple of Infinite Lives, which brings slain adventurers with brand new bodies. They are, however, sans the equipment (and clothes) they had at the time of death. This is good, as Crushed tends to live up to her name.
* Utilized to a ridiculous extent in ''{{ComicStrip/Nodwick}}'', where the title character has been killed (mainly by his colleagues) and resurrected over five hundred times. In one particular blatant incident he managed to get decapitated ''nine times on the same page''.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'', granting the ability to respawn is implied to be the function of large crystals called Home Points (which are also how you choose ''where'' you respawn). The game does not, however, explain why only adventurers can use them...

* In regular ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', being brought back from death is a (relatively) rare event that involves a considerable sacrifice of a level and a rare diamond. In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', you just wake up in the temple of Tyr when their magic detects that you are about to die.

* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. Makes sense, since you ''are'' immortal.
** It's possible to die permanently, but most of the time you have to go out of your way to do so (like pissing off an incredibly powerful wizard, or getting petrified.)

** [[HilarityEnsues "Cannot perform this action while dead."]]
** My faction actually had an argument on exactly how you come back to life.

** Also averted in {{Roguelike}} games, where [[FinalDeath your save file is deleted]] when your character dies.

** [[FullThrottle "Let me try that again."]]

* ''DayOfDefeat: Source'' implies you're just another red-shirted guy, sent [[ZergRush wave after wave after wave]] at the enemy.

* In MattHowarth's assorted comic books (''ComicBook/ThoseAnnoyingPostBros'', ''ComicBook/SavageHenry''...), the alternate reality level of {{Bugtown}} has this as a law of physics -- due to the CityOfAdventure's warped entropy, dead people spontaneously regenerate over time.

* In VideoGame/FallenLondon, people can come back from most causes of death, unless they are dismembered, poisoned with a magical venom, or die of disease or old age. Though some people end up sufficiently mangled that they end up sent off to the [[LeperColony Tomb Colonies.]]

In real life, [[CaptainObvious death is forever]] ([[{{Reincarnation}} possibly]]). However, this simply won't do for video games. In video games, either you might get a limited number of lives or continues, or you might "respawn" after a short period of time has passed. Most early games [[GameplayAndStorySegregation didn't try to explain it]], but this trope is about more recent ones that try and contrive a reason for it anyway, such as magic or AppliedPhlebotinum. Like an extremely easy version of OnlyMostlyDead.

* In ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', your character never ''actually'' dies - no matter how much punishment he takes. Being caught in the explosion of a damaged car, falling hundreds of feet onto solid concrete, or collapsing in a pool of blood after being shot or stabbed multiple times never costs him anything more than a trip to the hospital. He simply respawns in front of the hospital several hours later, good as new, though unfortunately stripped of all his weapons (unless he is currently dating the nurse).

* Parodied in the webcomic {{Supermegatopia}}, where it seems to be an established fact in several comics that most heroes and villains don't stay dead.

See also DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist.

* The pioneering cross-platform {{Xbox 360}}/Windows FirstPersonShooter ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' uses magic to respawn dead combatants. OK, it's magic, but the original Shadowrun tabletop {{RPG}} is one of the few magic-heavy settings where resurrection is stated to be flat-out impossible.

* Possible to be inverted in the shareware space top-down shooter game ''VideoGame/EscapeVelocity''. It is possible for the player, at the start of the game, to chose the "Strict" game play mode, which limits the player to only a single death. Unless the player quickly upgrades their starter ship or buys an escape pod, an encounter with a single stray missile means having to start all over again.

* Perfect World does this in three different ways. When you die, the screen goes DeliberatelyMonochrome and you get 3 options - teleport back to the city, use a ressurection scroll, or resurrect. Obviously, option 2 cannot be used unless you ''have'' a scroll, and option 3 can only be used if a cleric revives you. That leaves [[FridgeLogic your dead carcass spontaneously vanishing into nowhere and a living body appearing back in town]], with [[ContinuingIsPainful tiny amounts of health and mana in your bars]] and probably hours of grinding experience knocked off. If you've been killing players, your KarmaMeter will kick in and you will drop items, too.