History Main / UnlockableContent

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLayton'': The first game of the prequel trilogy, ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheLastSpecter'', has the bonus game ''Professor Layton's London Life,'' which is only available after the main game is completed. It has no connection to the main game; it's a sprite-animation style sim game which features characters from all of the games which existed to that point. (Sadly, it's not available in all regions.)

* In ''{{VideoGame/OFF}}'', [[spoiler: three of the five elements can be obtained by going through the purified zones, one from defeating [[BonusBoss Sugar]], and one can be bought from Zacharie in The Room. Giving all five to Zacharie in Zone 0 can give the player the opportunity to get the [[InfinityMinusOneSword Ashley Bat]] or the Aries-Card which unlocks the secret end.]]

Unlockable Content can simply be described as extraneous content that was not available to the player from the start. The hidden content can be anything from concept art galleries, to a [[SecretCharacter hidden character]], even the game's GoldenEnding. Methods of "unlocking" can be based on challenges, progress, [[FakeLongevity time spent]] or sometimes just plain money.

* Both the online and standalone versions of ''VideoGame/DinoRun'' have a large amount of content that can only be unlocked with eggs that are saved during missions. These include the soundtrack, concept art, wallpaper, [[CosmeticAward cosmetic hats]] and an early prototype of the game.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'', various features in the course maker (such as additional objects, game styles, etc.) are unlocked as you create and edit courses. Completing a run through the 100 Mario Challenge unlocks a random costume to use for the Mystery Mushroom. Completing the 10 Mario Challenge, meanwhile, unlocks the same courses Cosmo and John Numbers played through during the 2015 edition of ''VideoGame/NintendoWorldChampionships''. Completing those courses will allow you to shake the Super Mushroom and use the Luigi Mushroom, which otherwise appears randomly in place of the Super Mushroom.

Are you curious as to how you get the Unlockable Content out of Wiki/TVTropes? [[UrbanLegendOfZelda You just have to read every single page of the Wiki]]. Then it's unlocked! [[SchmuckBait I swear!]]

* In the original ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'', you started with just four out of ten CO's. You then had to complete the basic campaign once per character, while completing certain specific missions (or sets of missions) with particular characters - with nobody telling you who to use when.

* Getting all OneHundredAndEight characters in ''VideoGame/SuikodenTierkreis''.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':

** The early ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' installments are very humble as far as unlockables go (in the SNES version, the unlockables are the Special Cup and then the 150cc difficulty mode; in ''Mario Kart 64'', it is just Mirror Mode, known in the game as "Extra"; in ''Super Circuit'', it's the 20 SNES tracks). From ''Double Dash!!'' onward, however, the unlockable content increased in both quantity and variety within each installment, including characters, Cups (including the aforementioned Special), vehicles and, once again, Mirror Mode. The Wii game goes as far as rewarding players who score well not only in Grand Prix but also in Time Trial.

* ''Franchise/ProfessorLayton'': The third game of the original trilogy, ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheLastSpecter'', has the bonus game ''Professor Layton's London Life,'' which is only available after the main game is completed. It has no connection to the main game; it's a sprite-animation style sim game which features characters from all of the games which existed to that point. (Sadly, it's not available in all regions.)

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', completing each of the DLC add-ons (The Darkspawn Chronicles, Leliana's Song, The Golems of Amgarrak, and Witch Hunt) unlocks new weapons and equipment in the core game that's extremely powerful.

** The early ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' installments are very humble as far as unlockables go (in the SNES version, the unlockables are the Special Cup and then the 150cc difficulty mode; in ''Mario Kart 64'', it is just Mirror Mode, known in the game as "Extra"; in ''Super Circuit'', it's the 20 SNES tracks). From ''Double Dash!!'' onwards, however, the unlockable content increased in both quantity and variety within each installment, including characters, Cups (including the aforementioned Special), vehicles and, once again, Mirror Mode. The Wii game goes as far as rewarding players who score well not only in Grand Prix but also in Time Trial.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' started out with a mandatory handful of extra characters and a stage. As of ''Brawl'', there are so many things to unlock (stages, trophies, CD tracks, stickers, tools for custom stage building) that the game even has an extra menu to keep track of things (and show you what else to do to get more stuff unlocked). Thankfully, all of the characters can be unlocked either by playing through the ''Subspace Emissary'' mode or playing enough basic matches (the latter is also true for all secret ''Melee'' characters).
* ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'' had special codes you could purchase (or look up on the Internet...) that, when used, gave you certain armor sets, including a ninja outfit. Sadly they had level 30 requirements and definitely didn't provide appropriate bonuses for that level.

A SuperTrope to DoubleUnlock, PostEndGameContent, SecretCharacter, SecretLevel, AndYourRewardIsClothes.

* The ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' franchise offers much in the way of unlockable content; the first game offering not only [[SecretCharacter Jeanne]], but also several secret weapons and accessories. ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta 2}}'' continues this trend with Jeanne and most of the same accessories available to be unlocked (with a mix of new and old weapons), but also introduces Bayonetta's mother, Rosa, as a new unlockable character. The sequel also introduces Verse Cards which can be used in the online co-op mode, Tag Climax, which in turn can unlock two additional bonus characters, Balder and Rodin, although these two only be used in the aforementioned Tag Climax.

* ''VideoGame/{{AkaSeka}}'': All the Men of Tsukuyomi can be summoned using summoning tokens, moonstones and summoning tickets… except {{the chosen one}}s who are part of the company and play an important role in the main story. They can only be obtained after clearing the StoryArcs they are introduced in.[[note]]With the sole exception of Abe no Seimei who debuts at the very beginning of the story, yet is unlocked after the final arc is cleared.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/{{F-Zero}}'':

* ''{{VideoGame/Contra}} 4'' for UsefulNotes/NintendoDS features a lot of this.

Are you curious as to how you get the Unlockable Content out of TVTropes? [[UrbanLegendOfZelda You just have to read every single page of the Wiki]]. Then it's unlocked! [[SchmuckBait I swear!]]

* ''Music/TheBeatles'' ''RockBand'' features photographs and videos that can be unlocked during the campaign, which are accompanied by trivia and history about the band, song, etc.

* ''{{VideoGame/Contra}} 4'' for NintendoDS features a lot of this.

[[folder:General]]
* An emerging trend is to have the HarderThanHard difficulty levels blocked until the player has beaten the game on an easier difficulty, the idea being that if you can't beat the lower difficulty levels, you're not ready for the harder ones.
* On the other hand, some games offer the player overpowered goodies after completing the game, mostly so that they can take a leisurely stroll and explore the game without being at risk from the stronger enemies.
[[/folder]]