History Main / SidelinedProtagonistCrossover

** In a case of a sidelined ''antagonist'' crossover, the game lacks Batman's most well-known archenemy, the Joker; his role is filled by Harley Quinn, who's normally an [[PerkyFemaleMinion evil sidekick]]-turned-[[AntiHero vigilante]].

* ''VideoGame/MarioHoops3On3'': The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' characters that are playable are three mooks (and one HelpfulMook) and a trio of regular class characters rather than using the more well-known characters.

* Both of the Creator/DreamWorksAnimation racing games produced by Creator/Activision - ''VideoGame/MadagascarKartz and ''VideoGame/DreamWorksSuperStarKartz'' - represent ''WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens'' with B.O.B., the comic-relief BreakoutCharacter. Likely due to difficulties making [[GiantWoman her size]] work, Ginormica - the actual main protagonist of the movie - is absent from the former game altogether and relegated to a background appearance in Gallaxhar's Spaceship in the latter game.

** The ''Uta Macross'' mobile rhythm game is a crossover between all the IdolSinger[=s=] in the franchise. Naturally, this meant that none of the main pilot characters are present with the exception of rock star [[Anime/Macross7 Basara Nekki]], who is TheOneGuy among the playable cast.

*** Hugh, the father of the titular character of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutron'' and FountainOfMemes, was added as a DLC fighter instead of Jimmy. Averted in the sequel, where Jimmy is playable while Hugh was demoted to a NPC in the single-player campaign mode.

* The Creator/DreamworksAnimation crossover game ''VideoGame/DreamworksUniverseOfLegends'' generally features the main heroes of each series represented, but for ''WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens'', [[PluckyComicRelief B.O.B.]] (who turned out to be the BreakoutCharacter of the movie) and [[BigBad Gallaxhar]] are playable heroes while main heroine Ginormica is nowhere to be seen.

* The modern ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' games, given the violence on display, have potential {{guest fighter}}s limited to those who the licensors will allow to be violent and be dismembered. As such, if they're not the protagonists of bloody and gory action franchises, then they're the headliners of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based franchises]] (to the point that ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''[='=]s guest cast is entirely the latter). The only case as of 2020 of a villain who is not part of such a franchise is ComicBook/TheJoker appearing in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' over his TechnicalPacifist foe Franchise/{{Batman}}.

*** Reptar, a character from a ShowWithinAShow in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'', as opposed to any of the lead baby ensemble cast.

** The game currently has both Shaggy and Velma as playable characters representing the ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' franchise, but as of current writings, the titular Great Dane is nowhere to be seen.
** In a case of a sidelined ''antagonist'' crossover, the game currently lacks Batman's most well-known archenemy, the Joker; his role is filled by Harley Quinn, who's normally an [[PerkyFemaleMinion evil sidekick]]-turned-[[AntiHero vigilante]].
** Like the ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' example above, ComicBook/BlackAdam has been announced without his arch-nemesis [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Billy Batson/Captain Marvel/Shazam]]. Though this time around, his inclusion is undoubtedly a tie-in with his [[Film/BlackAdam2022 solo film]].

* In many episodes of ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', the matchup does not involve the protagonist(s) of either work involved. Some episodes take it further by having certain works debut in ''Death Battle'' via their ''villains'' first, such as "Sauron vs. The Lich King" for both ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''Franchise/{{Warcraft|ExpandedUniverse}}''.

* In many episodes of ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', the matchup does not involve the protagonist(s) of either work involved. Some episodes take it further by having certain works debut in ''Death Battle'' via their ''villains'' first, such as "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]] vs. [[Franchise/WarcraftExpandedUniverse The Lich King]]".

* In many episodes of ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', the matchup does not involve the protagonist(s) of either work involved.

* ''Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'':

*** Hugh, the father of the titular character of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutron'' and FountainOfMemes, was added as a DLC fighter instead of Jimmy, though he would end up showing up in the sequel.

* ''Anime/MillionArthur: Arcana Blood'' has a GuestFighter from ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters''. Much like ''Xuan Dou Zhi Wang'', it is not main protagonist Kyo Kusanagi, but rather TheRival, Iori Yagami.

* Zig-zagged with ''VideoGame/XuanDouZhiWang'' regarding Creator/{{SNK}}'s two {{Guest Fighter}}s - ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' is represented by its protagonist Terry Bogard, yet instead of Kyo Kusanagi, it's his sidekick Benimaru Nikaido who represents ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''.