Basic Trope: A third World War, often with nuclear weapons involved.
- Straight: It's the year 2042, and the world has entered its third World War; the planet is divided between the Western powers (United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) and the Eastern powers (China, Russia and North Korea). The war eventually ends with either side launching nuclear weapons, leading to the others' surrender.
- Exaggerated:
- EVERY country in the world, even neutral countries such as Switzerland, Nepal, Palau and Sealand get involved in the nuclear conflict.
- To exaggerate it even further, there are multiple sides to the conflict, not just the Western powers and Eastern powers. Even the Second American Civil War is just an episode of them.
- … to the point that it's every nation for itself.
- A war between multiple planets; a literal World War.
- Downplayed: A second Cold War where there's many minor conflicts, with countries choosing sides, but not a "major" conflict.
- Justified:
- A Neo Soviet Union decided to attack Poland to rebuild themselves and a new Eastern Bloc, which other countries jumped to the defense of; meanwhile, China tries to annex Taiwan, and North Korea tries to take over the entire Korean peninsula.
- America Takes Over the World met with negative responses.
- Inverted:
- World War -III
- There's a rather massive war before World War I would even began.
- Subverted: It seems like the war will come, but they sign a peace agreement before it occurs.
- Double Subverted: One of the powers continues invading anyways.
- Parodied: Silly Reason for War
- Averted: None of the major-power countries start conflict each other and the third World War didn't occur.
- Enforced: It's a propaganda film against war.
- Lampshaded: "Oh, Crap! Not another World War! Who started this?"
Side A: We would provide a link to the Main Page, but the other side has taken over it.Side B: Here it is!
