History Main / FinalDungeonPreview

* ''[[VideoGame/ZeroNoKiseki The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero]]'' [[HowWeGotHere starts with]] Lloyd and the team entering the underground tomb where the mastermind of the recent crimes in Crossbell is waiting and begins to head in, though said introduction actually occurred in an entirely different AlternateTimeline.

** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': When you rest on the first day of arriving in Inaba, you awaken in a strange area. Upon moving forward and reaching a door, you are entered into a figh.t which ends in a few turns and you wake up for school. This is never brought up again until you reach the true ending, where it is revealed to be Yomotsu Hirasaka, the final dungeon of the game.

** ''VideoGame/Persona5Royal'': At the start of October, Joker and Morgana enter an unknown Palace to rescue Kasumi when she suddenly gets dragged into the Metaverse. After the rescue, the duo decide to ignore the area since it isn't related to their current target. It's not til the third semester when the Palace becomes the final level against the TrueFinalBoss.

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', there's a cave in the Lost Underworld that takes you to a small area in a void of black, with grassy jagged pathways out of reach and a reverberating brassy sound (in reality, it's the first few notes of the French National Anthem). This is actually the present-day version of The Cave of the Past, a barren area full of enemy robots but completely devoid of organic life aside from the final boss that you face at the end of the game.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'':

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you can potentially get captured and taken to the prison in Fort Drakon and have to sneak or fight your way out. The final dungeon is a return to Fork Drakon, which is now overrun by darkspawn.

** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': When you rest on the first day of arriving in Inaba, you awaken in a strange area. Upon moving forward and reaching a door, you are entered into a fight which ends in a few turns and you wake up for school. This is never brought up again until you reach the true ending, where it is revealed to be Yomotsu Hirasaka, the final dungeon of the game.

This trope can manifest itself in several variants. The first visit may be treated as a dungeon in of itself with its navigation, enemies and available items differing from the final trek. It may just be a bare-bones version of the dungeon with little to offer in terms of exploration or treasures, with only the scenery and architecture (and perhaps [[InterfaceSpoiler the game's interface]]) foreshadowing the complete dungeon. Maybe only a tiny part of the dungeon is accessible, [[NewWorldTease tantalising the player]] with a glimpse of what the rest of the level has to offer.

SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease, WhereItAllBegan, and SoNearYetSoFar. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however, as the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier, different ones.

* ''[[VideoGame/ZeroNoKiseki The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero]]'' [[HowWeGotHere starts with]] Lloyd and the team entering the underground tomb where the mastermind of the recent crimes in Crossbell is waiting and begins to head in. [[spoiler:Though, said introduction actually occurred in an entirely different AlternateTimeline.]]

If it is made clear by the game that the dungeon will be the final one, the preview can serve to make the player curious to explore the full place, increasing their sense of anticipation or foreboding for the endgame. On the other hand, keeping the last level as a mystery can surprise the player once they reach it and realise that they have been there before.

* Oddly enough, this winds up being the very first level in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII''. The Great Wall is the first China level, and it's actually very oddly difficult for a first level, but gives a bit of a prelude of things to come when you return to China for the final three levels at the end of the game since there's danger almost everywhere, requiring you to think fast and carefully if you're to get through.

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* ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' gives you a very brief few moments of playing in Omnitopia just as the opening sequence ends, culminating with a fight with several robots before you're shipped down to Evermore proper. Sure enough, Omnitopia is the final dungeon of the game. There's even a slight nod to the dog's robot form just before you travel to the surface.

* ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' does this with the very first chapter. Sebastian explores a sewer underneath Beacon Memorial Hospital and some of its basement level while trying to escape the Sadist, totally unarmed and severely wounded to the point he can only limp around. Later on, in the final chapter of the game, you return to the hospital and even some of the same rooms, significantly better equipped for the challenges ahead. It's no easier than the first time even with guns, unfortunately.

* ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'': In one mission, Jak will take control of a robot onboard the Dark Maker's ship to destroy the shield generator. He'll later be transported onto the ship to confront Errol.

* About midway through ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', you'll be taken by either Frampt or Kaathe to where you can place the Lordvessel after acquiring it in Anor Londo. Just behind where you put it is a large stone door that will only open once you have all the required souls from the main bosses, leading to the final area, the Kiln of the First Flame.

SisterTrope to FinalBossPreview, where one is given an early taste of an antagonist rather than a location. Compare NewWorldTease, WhereItAllBegan, and SoNearYetSoFar. Compare and contrast DiscOneFinalDungeon, where a level ''appears'' to be the final one only for the player to discover that the game is not yet complete; overlap between the two tropes is possible, however -- the player may initially visit the dungeon at a critical point in the middle of the game and later return for the true finale. Contrast AllTheWorldsAreAStage, where the final level takes elements from earlier, different ones.

** Optional in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI the NES game]]''; Link can enter the final dungeon any time after he gets bombs, but in the second room he'll be told he needs to have the full Triforce of Wisdom to go any further.

* ''[[VideoGame/ZeroNoKiseki The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero]]'' [[HowWeGotHere opens with]] Lloyd and the team entering the underground tomb where the mastermind of the recent crimes in Crossbell is waiting and begins to head in. [[spoiler:Though, said introduction actually occurred in an entirely different AlternateTimeline.]]

** Optional in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI''; Link can enter the final dungeon any time after he gets bombs, but in the second room he'll be told he needs to have the full Triforce of Wisdom to go any further.

* ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of L'howon'' has three alternate paths along the storyline leading to BadFuture versions of "Aye Mak Sicur", the final level, in which only a small section of the Jjaro space station is accessible.

* ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' does this with the very first chapter. Sebastian explores a sewer underneath Beacon Memorial Hospital and some of its basement level while trying to escape the Sadist, totally unarmed and severely wounded to the point he can only limp around. Later on, in the final chapter of the game, you return to the hospital and even some of the same rooms, significantly better equipped for the challenges ahead. It's no easier than the first time even WITH guns, unfortunately.

* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's Castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]]'', Link enters the Black Tower while it's under construction early on to get a shovel. After it's completed, it turns into the final dungeon of the game.
** Early in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', Wolf Link gets dragged to Hyrule Castle, where he is freed by Midna, traverses the high towers with her, and hears about Hyrule's plight from Princess Zelda before getting warped back to Ordon. He goes through the same area almost midway through the game to save an injured Midna. Link finally gets to storm Hyrule Castle as a proper dungeon at the end, though not the section he traversed as Wolf Link.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', because the player initially enters Lorule from Hyrule Castle, the first place they see in the other world is the castle's counterpart. They are sent away from Lorule Castle to rescue the Seven Sages and obtain the Triforce of Courage so that they can defeat Yuga, who is restrained by Princess Hilda in the throne room. Once they have done so, the barrier on the castle is removed and they can navigate the entire place, eventually returning to the throne room.
** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', since the player is free to make a beeline straight to Hyrule Castle to face Ganon from the moment they get the paraglider (though it isn't recommended since they will be severely under-equipped and the FinalBoss fight will be a lot tougher). They are, however, encouraged to make multiple trips to the castle, both for the sake of several side quests and to grab some high-level weaponry.

* ''{{VideoGame/Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of L'howon'' has three alternate paths along the storyline leading to BadFuture versions of "Aye Mak Sicur", the final level, in which only a small section of the Jjaro space station is accessible.

** ''VideoGame/PaperMario64'': After each Star Spirit chapter ends, you play through a brief segment where you control Peach and sneak through her occupied Castle to find out more about Bowser's plans. By the time Mario gets there at the very end, the only area you wouldn't have already been able to explore as Peach is the final boss arena.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck and Dimentio.
* ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'':

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The Thieves visit Mementos, the public's palace, early on to complete requests, train up, and collect Personas. In the final stage of the game, the Thieves infiltrate and steal its treasure to free all of Tokyo from its own apathy.

In most video games, the player will likely take it for granted that the last area, level or world will be a remote, inaccessible place that won't be available until the end of the game when the stakes are at their highest and there's nowhere else left to go. After all, only such a climactic stage in the campaign could be worthy of [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon this level's magnitude]]. Sometimes, however, the player gets to pay an early visit to the future site of their final confrontation.

Due to the nature of this trope, '''beware of spoilers'''.

* ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]'': About halfway through the game, Soma passes through the Top Floor of Dracula's Castle to get to the Inner Quarters. The Top Floor is the final area of the game, [[spoiler:though this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if the player unlocks the GoldenEnding]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'': You first approach the Citadel from a narrow, wooden bridge but are unable to enter its interior. You and Trico are then attacked by a large group of [[{{Mooks}} armoured guards]], which results in the bridge being destroyed and forces you to land onto another tower. After traversing through more ruins, you once again reach the Citadel's exterior [[spoiler:thanks to Trico's wings healing enough for him to make the journey]]. This time, you can enter inside and make your way up the tower in the hope that you will finally escape the Nest.

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', there's a cave in the Lost Underworld that takes you to a small area in a void of black, with grassy jagged pathways out of reach and a reverberating brassy sound (in reality, it's the first few notes of the French National Anthem). This is actually [[spoiler: the present-day version of The Cave of the Past, a barren area full of enemy robots but completely devoid of organic life aside from the final boss that you face at the end of the game.]]

** In the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', the first major fight in the game happens at an ancient temple, which ends up being the entryway to the final dungeon in the game, that same temple 2000 years in the past, [[spoiler: against the man who ends up being the final boss of the game.]]

* The final level of all three storylines of ''VideoGame/{{Nox}}'' is set in the [[PlanetHeck local equivalent of Hell]] -- however, the Wizard storyline sees you going there quite a bit earlier, when the BigBad Hecubah banishes you to it after [[spoiler:killing your master]], so you have to escape before you can return to your quest.

** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': After the first and second chapters, there are short segments featuring Peach and Luigi waking up at Castle Bleck, trying to escape, only to be tracked down and hypnotized by Bleck's assistant Nastasia. It is not till the final chapter where you actually travel to Castle Bleck for the final battle with Count Bleck [[spoiler:and Dimentio]].

** The [[WombLevel Bionis' Interior]]. The party passes briefly through it to make their way from Satorl Marsh to Makna Forest, with the location having seemingly little significance. However, the fact that it has a page in the Collectopaedia despite the apparent lack of available collectables as well as the presence of inaccessible Heart-to-Hearts and Ether Crystals on the map [[InterfaceSpoiler indicate]] that this is not the last time you will visit the place. Indeed, while making your second journey to Prison Island much later, you are finally able to explore the rest of the dungeon, which now contains collectables and enemies [[spoiler:as a result of the Bionis' body returning to life]].

* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', you can travel to two different secret levels of the final world, the Valley of Bowser, [[DisconnectedSideArea from Donut Plains and Chocolate Island]]. You are [[NewWorldTease unable to access any of the standard levels]] from these places and must reach the world via the Sunken Ghost Ship to play them.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': [[VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon The Last Way]], the only level in the game's [[SecretFinalCampaign Last]] [[GoldenEnding Story]], is a remixed version of [[NonIndicativeName Final]] [[DiscOneFinalDungeon Haunt]], the last level of the [[StoryBranching Pure Hero path]]. Since the Last Story unlocks after reaching all ten of the regular (non-canon) endings, and those endings can be reached in any order, this trope can be PlayedStraight , if the player does the Pure Hero endings early; [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]], [[FiveSecondForeshadowing if they save them for last]]; or [[ZigZaggedTrope both]], if they do one Pure Hero ending early on and save the other for last.

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The Thieves visit Mementos early on to complete requests, train up, and collect Personas. In the final stage of the game, it becomes ''everyone's'' Palace, forcing the Thieves to infiltrate and steal its treasure to free all of Tokyo from its own apathy.

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* In the original ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy|I}}'', the first major fight in the game happens at an ancient temple, which ends up being the entryway to the final dungeon in the game, that same temple 2000 years in the past, [[spoiler: against the man who ends up being the final boss of the game.]]
* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'': After defeating the Hydra boss in Lava Dome, a path opens up in the Focus Tower that leads to the lowest level of Doom Castle. You can only explore a small part of it that's walled off from the main part of the level, but you can fight some monsters and access a chest containing [[BlowYouAway the Aero spellbook]].

* At the beginning of ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestIIVohaulsRevenge'', when Roger is captured by Vohaul's goons, you get a sneak peak of his asteroid fortress. Similarly, in ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestIVRogerWilcoAndTheTimeRippers, the first trip to the Space Quest XII era allows you a preview of the entrance to its FinalDungeon.