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Some games that normally avoid this will design a deliberately ludicrous yet highly dangerous enemy/obstacle for [[Rule of Funny|comedic value]]. A [[Platform Hell]] game will often take this trope to ludicrous places for comedy. See also [[Malevolent Architecture]] and [[Death World]].
 
Compare: [[Animals Hate Him]]; [[Super-Persistent Predator]]; [[Damn, Nature! You Scary]]; and [[Books That Bite]].
 
{{examples}}
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*** On the first screen of the Land of the Dead in ''[[King's Quest VI Heir Today Gone Tomorrow]]'', there are two zombies that can come over and touch you to death in fewer seconds than the immediately preceding cutscene lasts.
** ''Nothing'' in ''[[Leisure Suit Larry]] 5'' can kill you. Nothing. Even if you try to electrocute yourself with a wall outlet. There is also exactly ''one'' [[Unwinnable]] situation in the game due to a bug.
* [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]], the other major publisher of [[Adventure Game|adventure games]], was kinder and gentler than [[Sierra]], and its games were more cartoonish. Character death was possible in its more realistic games, but it would take blatantly stupid actions. In general, [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]] believed that players should not be punished for experimenting with their games, seeing as most of the time puzzle solutions in adventure games in general had a tendency to be on the obscure side. This policy was adopted by [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]] during the development of ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island]]'', but dying was still frequent in their earlier titles such as ''[[Maniac Mansion]]'' and ''[[Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders]]''.
** Death was rare but possible in the ''[[Full Throttle]]'' adventure game. Each time Ben was killed, the game would automatically backtrack to the point where the fatal mistake was made, allowing you to try it again—with Ben saying quickly over the black screen, "Lemme try that again". This is because, similar to ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]'' (see below), because the game is being told in flashback by Ben (the opening monologue makes this clear).
*** Death only becomes possible in Full Throttle in the endgame, when it's made blatantly clear that you're in a life-or-death chase sequence.
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*** The same game has another sequence where Guybrush can walk off a cliff. A Sierra-style death screen comes up, followed moments later by Guybrush bouncing back onto the cliff's edge, with two words of explanation: "Rubber Tree".
*** Guybrush could also die in ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]'' if you took too long escaping the [[Death Trap]] in LeChuck's lair, but since the game was told in flashback form, Elaine (to whom Guybrush was telling the story) would point out that Guybrush couldn't have died if he was here talking to her, and Guybrush backtracks his story. In the easy mode play, it's impossible for Guybrush to die, and the [[Death Trap]] is solved automatically (via {{spoiler|an alternative bodily fluid}}).
*** In ''[[The Curse of Monkey Island]]'', Guybrush has to fake his death to progress in the game, prompting one character to comment "Funny, I didn't think you could die in [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]] adventure games." He fakes said death (at a later point in the game he states that he simply went into a temporary coma) by usage of combining medicine and alcohol, an act that he [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] by noting that if he wasn't a "lovably inept cartoon character with the potential for a few more sequels", he more than likely would have been killed by doing this. [http://youtube.com/watch?v=rREKIPsDi6g You can see the whole event here.]
*** In ''[[Escape from Monkey Island]],'' the one possibility of death is a brief time-traveling episode in a swamp. Future Guybrush would tell present Guybrush things and give him things in a specific order, and if that order was not replicated exactly by the player (when the player controls future Guybrush), a time vortex would open and swallow everything. (And that doesn't really end the game - you get another try to do the sequence right. For shocks, you can also try shooting your alter ego with the gun he had handed you...)
{{quote|'''Guybrush:''' Wow, I guess it's true that gun owners are nine times more likely to shoot themselves.}}
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* This is pretty much the entire plot of ''[[Gaia Online|zOMG]]'', which features enemies called "the Animated".
** Not to mention the cute pink balls of fluff that can kill you with ''one'' hit.
* The MUD ''[http://www.aardwolf.com/ Aardwolf]'' takes this trope to utterly ludicrous levels, as some magically enchanted areas have [[A Wizard Did It]] (literally) related creatures, from the traditional walking broom to irritated neck-ties, nightstands, gardening equipment, cabinets, violent cacti, and man-eating pot pies. ''[[Dungeons and& Dragons|D&D]]'' wishes it had gotten this crazy with mimics and evil sorcerer aides. To make matters worse (read: funnier), a generic [[NPC]] creator was used in the construction of this MUD. So it's not uncommon to see people walking around with Boots skinned from A Lampshade or A Helm skinned from A Shovel.
* In ''[[EVE Online]]'', the safest way to play is to assume that everyone who isn't a close friend of yours will try to kill you if you have something valuable that will drop when you die. Many players don't even care about gain and do it simply [[For the Evulz]]. The central part of the galaxy you live in is usually safe to fly around in because the npc police are guaranteed to charge in and kill an attacker in 30 seconds or less (although that leaves the attacker a tiny window to successfully kill YOU). If you move out to the low security zone, it is literally full of roving pirate players looking for an easy target to dogpile and kill. If you make it out to zero security space, you'll run into the player alliances (who usually war with each other) who will shoot you on sight for tresspassing. Joining one of those alliances and working hard to support them and fight in their wars is often considered a way to become much safer from random hostility than staying in low security or high security space.
* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' seems to have this in spades. You'll realise this as you count up the hours you spend running away from increasingly violent and aggressive deer, flowers, and moths - on top of the demons, dragons, and old gods (aka Faceless Ones), of course.
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** Incidentally, at one point the only way to survive a certain jump is to [[Soft Water|land in a pool of water]]. Making it one of the rare games where the [[Super Drowning Skills|water DOESN'T kill you]] (particularly odd given that that would have been one of the deaths that made sense in real life if it had killed you).
** The [[Fan Sequel]]s are just as ridiculous. The [[Final Boss]] of ''[[I Wanna Be the Fangame]]'' is {{spoiler|1=the StickyKeys dialog box}}.
* Nearly everything in the [[The Problem with Licensed Games|video game movie]] ''[[Warlock (comics)|Warlock]]'' could harm you, including water dripping from the ceiling and ''otherwise harmless birds if they fly into you''. Even worse, there's one stationary hazard, a thorn vine trap, that will damage you ''even if you cheated and used a [[Game Shark|Game Genie]] to give your character unlimited life and/or gave you unlimited [[Mercy Invincibility]]''. Then again, you could also be killed with those cheats on through [[Super Drowning Skills]] and [[Convection, Schmonvection|staying immersed in lava]].
* ''Jumping Flash''. Killer mosquitoes, dragonflies, strange creatures with cannons for mouths that launch missiles, a diversity of frogs, giant mechanical scorpions... just about the only thing in the game that isn't trying to kill you are [[Space Whale|the air whales]].
* ''Jumping Flash 2'' has a reverse of this trope in both regular and Extra world 6-1, where you can actually safely stand on one of the many rotating spike balls in the level.
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** This game was a 'Christianized' [[Retool]] of earlier title ''Menace Beach''. All they did was change the storyline ('rescue your girlfriend' is now 'get to Sunday School') and the sprites (from somewhat more acceptably threatening ninjas, evil clowns etc. to more innocuous yet equally threatening enemies).
* Beautifully inverted in indie game ''[[Karoshi]]''. Absolutely nothing is trying to kill you, and some things will even prevent your death. Unfortunately, the point of the game is to die...
* In ''[[Jackie ChansChan's Action Kung Fu]]'', besides encountering goons, you'll encounter and beat the life out of wide variety of enemies including, but not limited to tigers, crab under a rice bowl, river kappas, gameras, Surprise Fish and so on. Animated Buddha statue too!
* ''Impossamole''. Any object or animal can be a [[Goddamned Bats|God-damned Bat]] or [[Demonic Spider]]. Even innocent little penguins. And origami birds. And rolling barrels. And ceiling tiles even after they've fallen.
* The extremely [[Nintendo Hard]] ''[[Bubsy]] The Bobcat'' games, as demonstrated in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM0G4rWKSCs this] [[Let's Play]].
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* ''[[Back to the Future: The Game|Back to The Future]] II and III''. Enemies include giant snails, fish, mutant frogs, birds, bouncing balls, dinosaurs, bullet-shooting clouds, pipe monsters, ghosts, walking trashcans and in certain areas, books, test tubes, teddy bears, heart symbols, graduation hats and screwdrivers. The list goes on.
* The NES ''[[Hook]]'' game has obviously pirates. However, besides these, you also have [[Giant Spider]]s, [[Bedsheet Ghost]]s, levitating yogas, bees, giant acorns, penguins, dragons, innocent-looking fish, dynamite sticks on balloons, boulders out of nowhere and parrots for whatever reason.
* The SNES ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' game had pretty interesting things attacking you ranging from ants and dinosaurs to mechs.
* In ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'', the [[Minecart Madness]] levels are bad enough, and the [[Rocket Ride]] levels crank this right on [[Up to Eleven]].
* ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' video game had some strange enemies attacking you. When you're in the dreamworld, getting attacked by skeletons and spiders with a human head is [[Justified Trope|justified]]. However, it doesn't explain why in non-dream world [[Giant Spider]]s, [[Rodents of Unusual Size|Giant Rats]], rocks falling from the sky, bats (some of which drop stones), snakes, Frankenstein monsters and jutting spikes are after you.
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== [[Role -Playing Game]] ==
* The original [[Shin Megami Tensei]] games will makes you paranoid, because not only are demons of all stripes trying to kill you, most humans are split into one of two factions, and even joining one or the other will not guarantee that members of your own faction won't still try to kill you. In fact, if you elect to pick the Neutral path in most games, you just wind up pissing off EVERYONE.
* In ''[[Drakkhen]]'', an old Amiga game, sometimes the ''stars'' would randomly turn into crazy monsters which would fly down and kill you very quickly.
* In the original ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'', the way the faction system was set up some modules created with the toolset would have everything in an area turn hostile as soon as you attack one thing.
* In the SNES RPG ''[[EarthboundEarthBound]]'', all manner of unlikely enemies are out to kill the party, in keeping with the absurd tone of the game. These include dogs, crows, mice, bears, cups of hot coffee, robots, [[When Trees Attack|trees]] that [[Made of Explodium|explode]], fire hydrants, ''abstract art'', trash cans, dinosaurs, oversized single-celled organisms, and the infamous [[New Age Retro Hippie]].
** The game sort of jokes about this: there's an [[NPC]] who claims she got badly wounded by a mouse. It's a legit warning: Rowdy Mice have a high chance of dealing [[Critical Hit|SMAAAASH!!]] attacks.
** Cavemen, street signs, seedlings, little [[Flying Saucers|UFOs]], mushrooms, zombies, and even a circus tent want to crush you.
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== Tabletop Games ==
* ''[[Dungeons and& Dragons]]'' was all over this trope like [[Exclusively Evil|chaotic evil]] jam on toast that hungers for your brains. The old [http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article73.htm Monster] [http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article95.htm Manuals] are full of seemingly innocuous objects that are actually monsters waiting to eat you. Examples include the Roper (a stalagmite that sprouts a mouth and tentacles), the Piercer (a stalactite that falls on you in an attempt to stab you), the Cloaker (looks like an old cloak but is actually a levitating manta-ray-like thing), along with its undead equivalent the Sheet Ghoul, the Mimic (can look like ''any'' innocuous object but canonically resembles a treasure chest), the Green Slime (an corrosive amoeboid mass that looks like typical dungeon muck), the Crystal Ooze (a corrosive amoeboid blob that lurks invisibly in pools of water), the [[Cute but Cacophonic|Shrieker]] (a giant mushroom that screams when you approach it; it isn't trying to kill you but the curious monsters investigating the screaming might), the Bowler (sentient mobile boulder) the Galeb Duhr (sentient spellcasting boulder with legs), not to mention the ''three different monsters'' (Caryatid Column, Gargoyle, and Stone Golem) that can all be summed up as "stone statue that comes to life and tries to kill you."
** And let's not forget the [[Malevolent Architecture|Doomy Room]] [[Doomy Dooms of Doom|Of Doom]]: the Lurker (looks like a cave ceiling), the Trapper (looks like a cave ''floor''), the Stunjelly (looks like the wall), and the Gelatinous Cube (perfectly square transparent [[The Blob|ooze]], so '''the space inside the room''' can kill you!)'
*** And the Greater Mimic, which can imitate larger objects, like a ''room''. The Lurker, Trapper, and Stunjelly in one.
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* A well-protected facility can be like this in ''[[Shadowrun]]'', but Australia in the sixth world really takes the cake. The native wildlife have now gained magic abilities, creating such wonders as vampire koalas, giant wombats and bunyips. Australia is notable for having a ridiculously high concentration of angry spirits and manastorms (basically magic going amok). It seems that magic itself is out to get you in Australia.
* [[New Horizon]]. Well, okay, it's more accurate to say ''almost'' everything is trying to kill you, and quite a few of those things are really freaking good at it. Tellingly, almost every major city has tall, thick walls...
* [[Warhammer 4000040,000]] is an example where ''everything in the setting'' is trying to kill each other.
* If you're a [[Promethean: The Created|Promethean]], your very existence ''pisses off reality''. No, seriously - the universe quite literally hates Prometheans, and makes it impossible for them to live peacefully. Spend more than a few minutes around humans? [[Hate Plague|Good chance they'll try to kill you.]] Try to pet a dog? [[Evil-Detecting Dog|It tries to take your hand off.]] That odd-shaped rock? Good chance it's actually the results of your kind's generative act gone wrong, forced into dormancy and waiting to be awakened by your presence, and the only way it can survive is by eating your viscera. Stay in one place more than a day? ''[[Walking Wasteland|The land itself wants you dead.]]'' Hang around your own species? Some of them are okay, but others have decided that this whole "Pilgrimage" business is a waste of time, and they ''like'' the powers being a horrid excuse for a living being can bring, and they can gain more power by doing unspeakable things to you. The entire world and everything in it is out for the fluid that passes for blood in your veins. [[To Become Human|There's a way out.]] [[Earn Your Happy Ending|Good luck.]]
 
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== [[Wide Open Sandbox]] ==
* Due to a glitch in ''[[Grand Theft Auto Vice City]]'', Tommy would sometimes take damage by walking off an ordinary street curb- apparently the mechanism that causes him to be damaged by falls sometimes misjudges the height of the curb, triggering a hit. Fans called this "stubbed toe damage". Getting a steroid power up causes a sort of [[Bullet Time]] that enhances Tommy's speed, dramatically increasing the damage this causes, meaning Tommy can ''get killed by running over a street curb''.
** Similarly, there's a couple of cheats for ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' where C.J. can jump really, really high, but the cheat does nothing for his ability to land. So basically you can jump two stories, but unless there's something a story high for you to land on, you're going to take damage when you land. Further, the cheat is only useful ''at all'' in the suburban areas or country towns. out in the country or parks, there's nothing to land on but the ground. In the city, everything's too high. So you can't jump on anything ''and'' you hurt when you land.
* In ''[[The Godfather (video game)|The Godfather]]: The Game'', it's possible to anger the police into going after you and at just over two out of five Vendetta "boxes" filled, enemy gangsters of the relevant Family will open fire as you get near enough, whether in a car or on foot. If you're spectacularly bloodthirsty, masochistic or unfortunate, you can be fired on by all four enemy Families and the police, making it very difficult to get anywhere. Combined with your character's near-realistic squishiness and you get this trope.
* ''[[STALKER]]'' is set in a nuclear wasteland where you never more the one hundred metres from a killer human, mutant, patch of radioactivity or anomaly that with decorate the countryside with your entrails. Its also one of the few [[First-Person Shooter|First Person Shooters]] where you can die of starvation.
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== Real Life -- Australia ==
* Yes, [[Australia (continentcountry)||Australia]] has so much dangerous stuff we had to give it its own section. This quote is quite typical of most people's opinions on the place.
{{quote|"Every creature [in Australia] is bigger and angrier than anywhere else in the world. ...[[Insane Troll Logic|spiders and snakes and the like normally hide under rocks. The Earth is one big rock, Australia is at the bottom of the big rock, and so they're trying to hide under it.]]"
'''[[The Ricky Gervais Show|Karl Pilkington]]''' - ''Happyslapped by a Jellyfish.'' }}
* Even the geological chemistry of Oz is trying to kill you. [[wikipedia:Wittenoom, Western Australia|Proof]]. [[Midnight Oil]] sang about the workers who had to suffer for it.
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* To elucidate a little further, it's not just NT ground that can kill you (although honestly, living in Alice Springs is almost a death wish, and you only live in Darwin if you have a love affair with bipolar weather and cyclones), but nearly all ground ''everywhere'' that can kill you. Apart from some of the most perilous mountain ranges anywhere (with sharp drops, deceptive rock formations, crumbling earth, nexus of underground caves which you ''won't'' find your way out of without a very experienced guide, and narrow winding paths that you only can travel with immense preparation (and these are mountain ranges with absolutely ''tiny'' mountains compared to the rest of the world, just look up the Flinder's Ranges)), you have wide vast expanses of ridiculously dry desert in Western Australia that you ''will'' die in if you don't have someone who knows how to find the water hidden deep beneath the ground, a coastline with so many abrupt cliffs that if you're not careful you can drive right off, and marsh land and estuaries in NSW and Queensland that will either suck you into their swampy extremes, or leave you wandering lost for days in sand dunes. Even the ''bushes'' will try to poison you and paralyse you! ... Oh god, why do I live here again?
* Continuing on from even the ground trying to kill you, everyone growing up in Darwin knows not to dig during the wet season if you have any cuts or injuries. The bacteria, Melioidosis, more commonly known as Nightcliff Gardener's Disease lives deep in the soil, but comes to the surface when it rains. It's has a nearly 90% mortality rate when untreated and there's no known vaccine.
* Even the things that ''aren't native'' are happy to join the party. Just give them a little evolving time. [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/17/gang-cats-size-dogs-threatens-aussie-neighborhood/ This article], about felines that take [[Cats Are Mean]] [[Up to Eleven]], takes place in, you guessed it, [[Australia (2008 film)||Brisbane]].
** Yes, even things only introduced to the Australian environment 100 years ago can now kick the ass of its counterparts in Europe and America. And they tend to be more sadistic too.
*** [[Australian Rules Football|Especially the sports]].
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