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Evolving Title Screen - TV Tropes

  • ️Sun Jan 18 2015

Evolving Title Screen (trope)

The title screen of a video game welcomes the player after the game is loaded. Most frequently it exists outside of the game itself, serving as the place to start a new playthrough, load an existing one, or adjust some options. However, in some games the title screen reflects your in-game actions and achievements. The main variations are:

  1. Title screen changing to a different one after the player has beaten the game once and has seen the ending.
  2. Title screen itself doesn't change, but new elements are added, reflecting the endings the players has seen or some other achievements.
  3. The title screen changes to reflect the last level visited.

A Sub-Trope of Cosmetic Award, Macro Game and Post-End Game Content. Sometimes may be used for Breaking the Fourth Wall, when the game's characters use it to address the player. Materials on the screen can be either Nightmare Fuel or Tear Jerker, depending on the current situations of the game.

Compare Evolving Credits, which does a similar thing for a TV series, and Sequel Logo in Ruins. Progressive Instrumentation music may be used.

This is not only a video game trope though, other mediums have been known to change their title information. With books and film, it's usually through holographic/lenticular gimmicks, or releasing a Variant Cover after spoilers are out (this is ignoring reprints and regional covers though). Because of the way "title screen" is defined here as the book/movie cover, a TV series could theoretically have both Evolving Credits and a cover that changes.

Examples

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Action Adventure 

  • Alan Wake: There are six title screen themes, one for each episode. Each title screen shows scenery from the last episode played.
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum: the title screen features Batman standing on a building ledge looking over the island and as you progress through the game not only does his cape and armor become increasingly damaged as it does in-game but he also goes from clean-shaven to a five o' clock shadow.
  • Detroit: Become Human has an evolving menu screen as the AI android Chloe not only comments on what has been going on in the story, changes expression and mood depending on your answers to her questions and remarks on significant dates in the real world calendar (e.g. major holidays and dates like Alan Turing's birthday) but also can walk out at the end of the game and doesn't come back.
  • Devil May Cry 5:
    • Initially, the title screen just shows Nero. But as the player progresses through the game, the title screen is updated to include V and Dante as well.
    • ​If you were playing as Vergil in your last save (through the Special Edition or by buying the DLC), Vergil will replace Nero and the rest alone on the title screen and intro.
  • In Dragon Ball: Shenron no Nazo, wishing on the Dragon Balls to "Move Dragon Title" makes Shenlong animated on the title screen.
  • Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes initially shows Shez's and Byleth's swords crossed in a rock on a mountain overlooking Garreg Mach Monastery. As you complete each of the three storylines, the chosen lord's weapon will be placed alongside them, and if you finish any route after recruiting Byleth, the two swords are uncrossed, symbolizing Shez ending their vendetta against the Ashen Demon to work toward a common cause.
  • Ghost of Tsushima initially has Jin's katana embedded in the ground in a field of pampas grass. After the Act 2 finale, which is when Jin finally gets his Ghost Armor, Jin's Ghost mask will now dangle from the sword, indicating how Jin has embraced his Ghost persona. Hovering over the Legends mode option will cause the sky to turn red with talisman papers blowing in the wind, while starting the Iki Island DLC turns the sky purple with wisteria petals in the wind.
  • Grand Theft Auto V: The title screen displays one of the three main characters, and the displayed one is the character that was played as last session.
  • The Last of Us: There are two title screens for the game, the standard one and it changes slightly post-completion. The first one is a battered house window starting to be taken over by nature with a vine starting to creep in and then it changes after you beat the game to include Ellie's switchblade on the window sill. The screens both indicate Joel's journey in the game as well as other characters and the setting; at first, Joel's a stoic, yet broken man doing his best to keep his guard up and is resistant to change. Other characters and the Fireflies in mirror this, as as the planet undergoes major change and each do their best to fight against it and/or shut themselves from it, despite the impossibility (the green vine creeping in representing how futile it is as it makes it's way in despite the barrier). Ellie's switchblade being on the inside after you complete the game could represent Joel finally opening up to at least one person (Ellie) and her blade is at rest, showing their journey is over and they're safe and done fighting. At least for now.
    • The Last of Us Part II: There are two title screens, one for pre- and post-game completion. The former shows a small boat moored in shallow water during foggy weather, foreshadowing Seattle's grim atmosphere. The latter shows the boat's final destination, a sunny beach near Catalina Casino on Catalina Island. This serves as a stinger to the game's story, indicating that Abby and Lev made it to the supposed new home of the Fireflies, while the sun breaking through nearby fog shows us that Abby and Ellie have both let go of their pain and are on a path to healing.
  • The Legend of Zelda:
  • LEGO Dimensions adds an animation to the title screen after the completion of any Year 1 level except the Bonus Level and the final three levels. This includes Level Pack levels. It, however, can only show five animations at the same time. LEGO The Lord of the Rings, meanwhile, has a different title screen depending on what movie's levels you're in. The Fellowship of the Ring has the Shire, The Two Towers has Isengard, and The Return Of The King has Mordor. The game also has a special title screen upon being loaded up for the first time depicting the opening scenes of the movie, to tie into the prologue level.
  • Nine Sols: The regular title screen shows the Fusang roots near Peach Blossom Village. After achieving the true ending, where Yi blows up New Kunlun and helps the apemen return to Earth, the title screen changes to a human settlement, with the solarian spaceship nearby.
  • Princess Peach: Showtime! begins with the Grape-fied Sparkle Theater as the background for the title screen. By the end of the game, the Sparkle Theater, having been restored to its' original state through Super Radiant Peach's magic, is present with There's walking around outside.
  • Tomb Raider started having it once Crystal Dynamics took over, featuring the last level played in the title screen (and on Tomb Raider: Legend at least, Lara's costume in said level).
  • Toren: The season and the appearance of the Tower on the title screen changes depending on the last visited chapter.

Adventure Game 

  • In Dreamfall Chapters, items from Saga's life are added to the title screen as the story progresses.
  • This is something the Life Is Strange series loves to do:
    • In Life Is Strange, the menu depicts an overlook of Arcadia Bay, with the time and weather changing depending on the episode you are up to: Mid-morning for "Chrysalis", overcast for "Out of Time", night for "Chaos Theory", early morning for "Dark Room", and a devastating storm for "Polarized".
    • For Life Is Strange: Before the Storm, it depicts a view of Overlook Park. It is idyllic in "Awake", before being set ablaze for "Brave New Worlds", the aftermath of which is depicted in "Hell is Empty".
    • Life Is Strange 2, befitting its Road Trip Plot, shifts away from showing the evolution of a single location in favor of focusing on a major location in each episode. "Roads" has two menu screens, depicting the Diaz household in suburban Seattle for the prologue, and Mount Rainer National Park for the remainder of it. "Rules" features a snowy Willamette National Forest, "Wastelands" has Redwood National and State Parks, "Faith" has a stretch of the Nevada highway, and "Wolves" is the United States-Mexico border fence. After completing the game, the menu shows Sean, Daniel and Esteban relaxing in their home.
    • Returns to the series in Life is Strange: Double Exposure after its absence in Life Is Strange: True Colors. The title screen changes depending on which chapter is currently being played, showing off different parts of the Caledon University campus at different times of day: the statue of Thomas Caledon on a snowy morning for "Still Life"; the statue of the embracing couple in the daytime for "Penumbra"; an overlook of the entire campus at sunset for "Spin"; the Atlas statue near the observatory at night for "Diptych"; and returning to the Thomas Caledon statue (though from a different angle) on a snowy night for "Decoherence".
  • Lost Records: Bloom & Rage: The main menu depicts the scenic viewpoint overlooking the lake in the forest near Velvet Cove at sunset, with the girls' legs dangling from the overlook platform. As Tape 1 progresses, the time of day changes from afternoon to evening to night. After Tape 1 is complete, the time of day returns to sunset, and only Swann's legs remain.
  • The title screen of Unavowed changes as the player progresses through the game, showing all the members of the titular organisation as they are either met or recruited. That even includes the very first time the game is started up, where only Mandana and Eli are visible; the Player Character first appears once the prologue is completed. Of course, when a member of the Unavowed dies, they disappear from the title screen. In the bad or worst ending that includes all of them, except for the Player Character.
  • World's End Club starts with a shot of the underwater park in darkness and in ruins. After the first level is completed, the area becomes illuminated in sunshine and balloons.

Eastern RPG 

  • Axial Disc 2: The title screen artwork gains more characters as they're recruited in the story, depending on the most recent save.
  • Towards the end of Bravely Default, on certain paths (including the one for the true ending), it changes to show the true meaning of the subtitle: Where the Fairy Flies or Flying Fairy, making it Airy Lies or alternatively, Lying Airy.
    • Bravely Second once you get to a certain point the subtitle evolves to read as SEND PLAYER.
  • Devil Survivor adds characters' portraits to the title screen after the player beats the game to see corresponding characters' endings.
  • The title screen Digimon Survive will change as the story progresses, with characters showing up as they join the party... Or no longer being there if they die in the story.
  • Dragon's Dogma II: Throughout most of the game, the title screen just says "Dragon's Dogma" for some reason, with the II nowhere to be seen. Then, after you defy the Pathfinder's plans by using the Godsbane on yourself, thus breaking the cycle of the Arisen fighting the Dragon, the post-game is unlocked, and finally the II is added to the title screen.
  • The title screen in Dragon Quest XI changes its location depending on where you're currently at in the storyline. The first area is a panorama view of the Heliodor region, and as you go on the title screen will switch to other cities that you will visit over the course of the game. The last area the title screen can switch to is the Tower of Lost Time, just after going into Act Three.
  • Clearing the Final Singularity in Fate/Grand Order causes the splash screen to change from a glowing ring in a purple sky to a beam of light shooting towards the sky which is a Tree of Emptiness, the Cosmic Lynchpin of Arc 2.
    • The splash screen changes again after U-Olga Marie attacks the Wandering Sea with her gravity manipulation, now taking on the appearance of a blue, glowing orb surrounded by swirling, purple energy against a deep blue background.
  • The default title screen of Haven (2020) shows Kay and Yu lying down together on a grassy hill. They can be randomly replaced by Oink or the Daiko once they've been introduced in the story, and the time of day shown can change as well. The "Don't Look Back" ending changes the location of the title screen to the Nest's parking spot, with the couple sitting on top of it, while after the "Second Thoughts" ending the usual grassy hill is shown, but empty.
  • Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories: If you beat the game as Sora, the title screen will change from featuring Sora to featuring Riku. This is an indication for you to check the New Game option again, because a new Reverse/Rebirth story, which focuses on Riku, has been unlocked.
  • Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep shows a loading screen featuring either Terra, Ventus or Aqua depending on which character's story you most recently played. If you're just starting out, you'll see a screen with all three of them together and with Mickey on the right.
  • For Kingdom Hearts III, the normal title screen features an image of Sora alone standing on a beach from behind, eating a paopu fruit. After installing the Re Mind DLC expansion to the game, the screen changes to add Kairi sharing the fruit with him.
  • In Mega Man Battle Network 3: White and Blue, when player achieves a major milestone (such as collecting all the kinds of battle chips), they earn a star next to the Continue option. In 4 to 6, this is instead reflected as special icons for each milestone. The latter tradition is then carried over to Mega Man Star Force, where the icons form an outline of Geo Stelar's pendant in its first two games.
  • NieR adds a Lunar Tear to the regularly pitch-black title screen after the player sees the final ending, which involves Nier being erased from reality and leaving behind only said white flower as a memento of his existence.
    • The Updated Re-release includes a second new title screen, obtainable by playing the hidden Golden Ending in which Nier is brought back into existence by his friends, which in turn shows Nier, Kainé and Emil's weapons planted in the ground instead of the Lunar Tear.
  • NieR: Automata changes to title screen from the desert to the Lunar Tear field once certain story conditions are met, including finding the area in the first place. Return to the area as 9S after this change takes place, and his memorial to 2B is visible as well.
  • The Super Mario Bros. RPG games:
    • Super Mario RPG hides the sword in Bowser's keep until the early sword drop cutscene has happened.
    • Upon first starting Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door only Mario by himself appears on the main title screen. Each party member gets added to the screen when they properly join him in the story.
    • In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, the title screen initially only shows Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario standing together. Once the game starts and the paper characters are released from their book, this is replaced by a lengthy skit involving the main characters and their paper counterparts. The bottom screen also fills with Paper Toads on one side and paper minions on the other.
  • Persona 3 Reload has the party members in a classroom at night. Beat the game and it switches to day, with everyone having left to admire the cherry blossoms growing outside and there being an evoker and S.E.E.S. armband left on a desk. This version of the title screen also has music playing.
  • The title screen for Akiba's Trip has characters added onto it depending on which ending the player gets.
  • The title screen for Tales of Xillia 2 normally shows 2 of the main characters (and the team pet). If your last save was when one is not with the party, they don't show up on the title screen.
  • Final Fantasy:
    • Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light shows a picture of the world when you open the game. As you complete the story for each town, its icon is added. In the second half, portraits of the characters you help appear on top of their towns.
    • Final Fantasy XV changes the title's logo to include Noctis, changes the background to a clear sky rather than night, and changes the music after beating the game.
    • The loading screen of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, seen when the game is downloading additional data, initially only shows Lasswell and Rain, but progressing through the story will add Fina to this screen. The background of the main menu is also taken from the last battle attempted.
  • In Nocturne: Rebirth, the title screen initially only shows Reviel standing in a forest, but Luna will stand next to him after the main story is beaten.
  • In Blue Reflection, the title screen has a cluster of diamond shapes to the right. It starts off with nobody but protagonist Hinako Shirai filling one of those shapes. As the player progresses through the game, meets Yuzu and Lime, and unlocks more and more Supporters, the shapes get filled out more.
  • After beating the main story of Capella's Promise, the title screen will include the CG image of Velk hugging Shena.
  • The Legend of Heroes - Trails:
    • Trails to Azure's title screen changes each time depending on what point the game is currently at, with the final image after the game is finished being the SSS.
    • Trails of Cold Steel:
      • The first game shows the playable characters that have joined the party taking the train, with the background of the most recent field trip appearing in the windows as the train rolls by. The party loses their jackets in the summer levels, and puts them back on in the autumn. In a brief period of time during the school festival, the party is seen wearing their festival costumes.
      • Cold Steel II starts with Rean lying in the snow, then shifts to showing Class VII in Ymir. During the Intermission, the screen shows Valimar and Ordine on the Alliance flagship. In the second half of the game the party is shown on the deck of the Courageous, except when going through the final dungeon, when it shows Valimar standing at its entrance. The Divertissement shows Lloyd and Rixia in occupied Crossbell and the epilogue chapter shows the party at Thors minus Crow, whose ghost is briefly seen before disappearing.
      • Cold Steel III and IV also have the title screen change as each chapter progresses, although here they are only static artwork.
    • Both Reverie and Daybreak follow the style of Azure and Cold Steel's second half, having static artwork in the title screen that change depending on your story progress.
  • In Miitopia, the title screen shows the map screen where the player last saved. Each map also have their own title screen music.
  • Turovero: The Celestial Tower: The title screen initially depicts the four party members outside of Turovero. It changes after The Mole is exposed, depicting whoever turned traitor walking away from the other three.
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 1 only has one change when the game is finally beaten, the title screen changes from the Monado planted in a field, to the party sitting on a pier, watching the horizon and the ruins of the old world. Completing Future Connected in the Definitive Edition will also add Kino and Nene.
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 2: There are at least 10 different main menu scenes, each associated with the current chapter the player is on. There is also the scene shown when the player first starts the game (within the Cloud Sea), as well as the post-game scene.
  • In Bug Fables, more and more characters are added to the title screen—which depicts part of the Hub Level—as you progress through the game. It starts out empty, then adds the protagonists, then starts adding side characters as you meet them. The final character, added after you beat the game, is Queen Elizant herself.
  • Pokémon:
    • In Pokémon Stadium series, the initial title screens showcase the respective Generation's Pokémon. After you beat Round 1, it changes - Mewtwo and the version mascots in Stadium and the fully evolved Johto starters with the legendary beasts in Stadium 2. In Stadium 2 it changes a second time after clearing Round 2, with the third title screen showcasing Lugia and Ho-Oh.
    • Beating Pokémon Sword and Shield will show the player's Hall of Fame party on the title screen when they next boot up the game.
    • The title screen of Pokémon Legends: Arceus initially shows the Obsidian Fieldlands, but after the first time you visit each subsequent region, the title screen changes to show that region.
    • After completing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the audio changes from ambient sounds of the academy to the classic Pokémon theme, the Scarlet/Violet book and Poké Ball are no longer on the desk, and a previously closed window in the background is now open on the title screen. Similar to Legends: Arceus before it, completing the Pokédex will also add cheering and music to the screen as well. Completing The Indigo Disk expansion and watching the additional scene with Professor Sada/Turo at the Crystal Pool in Kitakami changes the title screen yet again- it is now sunset, the Scarlet/Violet book is back on the desk and the sounds are replaced by a solo piano rendition of the Pokémon theme.
  • Lies of P starts off with a shot of the entrance of the Grand Central Krat Station before it shifts to the view of a golden P-Organ resting on a table during a stormy night after arriving at Hotel Krat. It then changes to showing the Estella Opera House on fire following the King of Puppet's defeated post Chapter VI before finally displaying the beach on the Isle of the Alchemists as the player reaches the final chapter of the game.

Fighting Game 

  • Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 is so named because it has 22 fighters available at the start. When the other five fighters are all unlocked, the title changes to Ultimate Battle 27.
  • Super Smash Bros.:
    • In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the title screen has all the fighters in the game (except the Mii Fighters) scroll by on the touch screen, though the Secret Characters only show up when you unlock each of them.
    • In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the World of Light adventure mode start screen has Galeem's silhouette on the right side of the screen. Dharkon's silhouette gets added to the left side of the screen once you reach the part of the story where he shows up.
  • If you beat most Soul Series games with every character, you are awarded with a fancier title screen. Different characters will also announce the title.
  • When you unlock all of the 10 sub-bosses in Tekken 2, the title screen will have a blue light at the centre with Kazuya's eyes seen in the letters below the kanji.
    • Upon the game's initial launch, the main menu for Tekken 8 featured a model of series mainstay, Kazuya Mishima, which the image focusing on different angles of him as the player cycles the menu. Later on the model of Kazuya would be swapped out for a different character, Eddy Gordo, the game's first DLC character. As the game's lifecycle progresses, new DLC characters will take the place of the main menu character as they’re released, and eventually an update was added to manually change the menu character to whoever the player wishes.

First-Person Shooter 

  • Call of Duty has the title screen's depicted weapons and equipment change depending on the campaign the player is currently in. For the American campaign, a Thompson submachine gun is shown on the main menu, while the Brtish campaign gets a Lee-Enfield rifle, and finally the Soviet campaign gets a Mosin-Nagant.
  • In Far Cry 5, completing the "Resist" ending changes the idyllic Hope County menu diorama into a burned-up nuclear wasteland, while in Far Cry: New Dawn the scene changes from a field at sunrise to a lush, grassy hill at midday after the story is completed.
  • Half-Life 2 and its Episodes turn the title screen into a scene from the last level visited, as does Half-Life: Source and Black Mesa, the Fan Remake of the original game.
  • Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault has the weather and radio broadcasts change for each campaign finished. In the latter case, the broadcasts even correspond to the time period of the next campaign.
  • Team Fortress 2 has a new title screen for each major event, and a special screen for full moons.
    • The character shown also changes every time you load the game. If you aren't a paying player, they will have unique dialog telling you to buy a dang hat. You hatless fool.
  • Like Team Fortress 2, Overwatch has a screen for each event, usually one or more of the characters in their Legendary Event skins, posing on one of the special maps for the event (ie, Witch Mercy on the Junkenstien version of Eichenwalde, or Christmas Mei, Tracer, and Lucio on a snowy King's Row with Scrooge McCree sulking in the background).
    • When not during an event, the title screen will be a model of a randomly selected hero (with the skin you've equipped for them) in some map. During release of a new character or map, they will always be featured.

Grand Strategy 

  • Crusader Kings III: The main title screen shows your current character along with their spouse and heir in an audience chamber appropriate to the location of your capital. The character models evolve as your characters age and as you move on to new characters through inheritance or switching.

MMORPG 

  • The title screen of Final Fantasy XIV changes with each expansion pack. All of the old screens (except the one used in version 1.0) can be viewed by selecting "Movies & Title" on the main menu.
    • In version 1.0, a simple white background was used.
    • In A Realm Reborn, the aethereal sea is shown behind the title.
    • In Heavensward, there is heavy snowfall in the background.
    • In Stormblood, the title appears in a blaze of fire, with fire in the background as well.
    • In Shadowbringers, a glowing golden sky is separated to reveal a starry night sky behind it.
    • In Endwalker, the planet Hydaelyn's moon is shown eclipsing the sun from space, forming part of the title.
    • In Dawntrail, the city of Tuliyollal is seen in the distance reflected across the ocean.
  • The Secret World originally featured a title screen with key art of the three factions, when it seemed like the biggest conflict in the game was the war between them. In Issue 11, when the true enemy was revealed, the title screen changed to a dragon made of liquid Filth.
  • Star Wars: The Old Republic has a variant. Once you log into your character, your initial Loading Screen has a brief recap of where your character is in their adventure, written in the style of a classic Star Wars Opening Scroll
  • The login screen of World of Warcraft is updated with each expansion pack, as seen here.
    • In the core game the login screen showed the Dark Portal.
    • In The Burning Crusade, it was a different view of the Dark Portal, with more view on the Outland landscape.
    • In Wrath of the Lich King, it was a view on Icecrown Citadel, home of the eponymous Lich King.
    • In Cataclysm it was a city wall with Deathwing towering over it.
    • In The Mists of Pandaria, it shows two gigantic Mogu statues.
    • In Warlords of Draenor, it is, again, the Dark Portal, but with an eerie red glow inside.
    • In Legion (not seen in the above video), it shows a new portal being guarded by two Felguards.

Metroidvania 

  • In Bunny Must Die, the title screen starts out with a purple, dream-like background featuring Bunny. Unlocking Chelsea and the 7 Devils replaces Bunny with Chelsea and the background turns blue. After completing Chelsea and the 7 Devils, the title screens features both Bunny and Chelsea as well as the background becoming green.
  • In Cave Story, beating Sacred Ground and the True Final Boss quickly enough will change the cursor on the title screen (normally in the shape of the player character) into a different character, and also changes the music that plays. Interestingly, this is the only way to hear the songs "White" or "Toroko's Theme" in the game.
  • ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights: The title screen's black background is replaced by a picture of the graves Lily planted in memory of the purified souls who aided her throughout the game after obtaining Ending C.
  • Hollow Knight: There are six menu themes available by default, and several more can be unlocked by achieving various tasks: one for beating the game, one for beating the True Final Boss, one for beating the game on Steel Soul difficulty, and an additional secret theme unlocked by defeating 57 Zotelings in the secret Eternal Ordeal fight.
  • In Metroid: Samus Returns, beating the game will add the baby Metroid you acquired near the end of the game to your ship in the menu screen.

Miscellaneous 

  • Itsy & Bitsy: The title screen changes depending on which level and characters you've selected. The background will also scroll through your previous attempt, if you've done one.
  • For a rare hardware example, the startup intro for the Playstation 2 changes depending on how many games you've played and how often you launched them. The more games you played, the more towers are present, and their height increases as you play them often.

Party Game 

  • Mario Party: Each playable character has a unique title screen correlating to their own board; the game will display the screen belonging to whoever won the most recent board. There is, however, a "generic" title screen that only appears when you first start up the game (or delete your save data).
  • Mario Party Superstars: The title screen changes to reflect whichever of the five boards was played most recently. Each title screen depicts each of the ten playable characters doing different things around the board.

Platform Game 

  • In Crescent Pale Mist, the title screen is blue when you start a new game. However, as you slay more and more enemies, the title screen steadily turns red.
  • In Eversion, the title screen happy and cheery with bright colors and relaxing music. Once you completed the game with the true ending, the title screen turns into a black void with a single red eye staring at you, and the font in "Eversion" changes to something much more sinister while the same music still plays.
  • Kirby:
    • When you beat Kirby: Triple Deluxe, flowers will now appear on the Dreamstalk that Kirby climbs. If you beat the extra mode, King Dedede can be seen floating around in the background. If you get 100% Completion, Kirby will appear with the Hypernova ability.
    • Kirby: Planet Robobot does the same thing with its title screen. Beating the game once adds the Halberd to the title screen, beating Meta Knightmare Returns adds Meta Knight to the screen, and attaining 100% Completion changes the Halberd into the Robobot Armor mode present during the Star Dream battle.
    • Kirby Star Allies did this with its title screen every time the game got major updates, with the screen's background colors changing for each update.
    • Star Allies also does the evolving title screen with Heroes in Another Dimension (added to the game in Version 4.0.0.). Initially, the Divine Terminus (the level select for the mode) looks as it does in Story Mode. After beating Dimension I, its appearance changes to that in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! when playing as any of the Friends initially present in Version 1.0.0. After beating a second dimension, the area changes to resemble its appearance in Version 2.0.0. Beating three dimensions changes its appearance to that in Version 3.0.0.
    • Kirby Mass Attack: The background of the title screen changes depending on what world you are in.
  • Mega Man:
  • Super Mario Bros.:
    • All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.: You get a star on the title screen for beating the game. The maximum is twenty.
    • Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii initially starts out with all four of the playable characters riding hot air balloons with Princess Peach (à la the end of the original game). As you progress through the game, you get variations of the original title screen from New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Mario, Luigi, and the Toads just walking) based on the current world you're in. When you beat the game, you get a new title screen featuring all four characters riding Clown Cars (early prototype videos released by the development team show that Peach would have been with them). The title screen goes through one final change upon 100% Completion, showing Peach's castle at night with fireworks going off.
    • Yoshi's Island places flags on finished worlds, switches to the final world once reached and adds instruments to the music.
    • In the GBA remake of Super Mario Bros. 2, a Yoshi egg is added to the title screen after Wart has been defeated. And it hatches into a Yoshi if you collect every Yoshi egg.
  • In RosenkreuzStilette, the opening screen is normally a very bright sky with white clouds. However, when player enters the code for "RKS Grollscwert" (for playing as Grolla), the opening screen turns into a shot of Grolla's stage.
  • Sonic the Hedgehog:
    • In Sonic Unleashed, as Sonic progresses in getting parts of the planet back together, the title screen shows the Earth being restored with each level completed.
    • The title screen for Sonic Forces is a pan across the Resistance control room with "Theme of the Resistance" playing. Once you've beaten the game, the room changes to a much brighter white palette with an instrumental version of "The Light of Hope" playing instead.
    • In Sonic Origins, the title screens for Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will change depending on which playable character you played as last. Sonic 1 has the original title screen for Sonic as well as screens for Tails, Knuckles, and the cheat-code-exclusive Sonic & Tails duo, while Sonic 2 will just use the existing Knuckles in Sonic 2 title screen if Knuckles was the last character you played as.
    • Upon completing Sonic Superstars, Trip the Sungazer will poke her unmasked head in the suspiciously empty spot on the game's title logo to the right of Tails.
  • After beating Gamer 2, the final boss will appear on the main menu trapped in a cell.

Puzzle Game 

  • Ai to Yuuki to Kashiwa Mochi's title screen changes slightly after each playthrough. At first it's just Yuki inching closer to Ai to hold her hand while medical supplies begin to replace the sweets on the title screen. Then Ai's expression goes from happy to frightened as Yuki starts dragging her off the screen. Then Yuki transforms into a skeleton and he and Ai both disappear completely from the title screen, and the player needs to achieve a very high score to bring Ai back.
  • Angry Birds: In the original game and Seasons, the title screen will always be the background of the last episode you've played. Additionally, all the birds you've unlocked, as well as ornaments for completing episodes, will be flying in the background.
  • Chroma Zero: How Zero looks on the title screen depends on the current Phase of the game. In the Light Phase, they look normal, but in the Dark Phase, they appear weakened.
  • Cradle Series (2007): The title screen changes as new buildings and workers are added to the city.
  • The initial title screen of Help The Hero is a silhouette of Percival dragging a cart-riding Count Thrashwood. Beat the game, unlocking Hi-Score Mode, and it changes to Count Thrashwood being lifted by celebrating village maidens.
  • We Love Katamari has a title screen that changes if you manage to roll up 1,000,000 roses.
  • Love You to Bits has one where Nova joins Kosmo on their spaceship after rebuilding her.
  • After completing Portal, the player is returned to a title screen that shows the famous cake sitting in GLaDOS's chamber, instead of the Relaxation Vault where they start the game. After closing, it chooses between one of them at random after completing the game. The first screen gets majority though.
    • Portal 2's title screen changes depending on what chapter you're on. The screen for the first third of the game is the overgrown Aperture ruins, which change to a refurbished version after GLaDOS's awakening, then to old Aperture, then to the facility falling apart as the reactor overheats, and after beating the game to Wheatley floating in space.
  • The title screen of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney shows the court either dark for investigation / puzzle portions, or with the fires lit if you're in the midst of a trial. If you've gotten to the final trial, it'll show the outdoor court by the bell tower.
  • You Must Build A Boat: The title screen changes to the background color of whatever level you're on.

Rail Shooter 

  • Star Fox:
    • After collecting all medallions across all difficulty levels in Star Fox 2, Fox replaces Andross' face in the title screen background.
    • Star Fox 64 slightly changes its title screen after the game is completed. The change isn't significant, mostly just a change in the characters' poses.

Racing Game 

  • Race Driver GRID: Your garage will gradually evolved from dusty old small room into a large world-class garage with working crews and your teammate's vehicle as you progressed further in Grid World.
  • Every Mario Kart game since Mario Kart 64 changes the title screen after some point. In 64, this happens when you unlock Mirror Mode (rather than the racers rushing towards the camera, it becomes a view from the side), while in other games getting gold in every cup is the objective to get the new title screen.
  • Mario Kart: Double Dash!! gives a fancier title screen and different announcer depending on if the game is beaten, and who it was beaten with. There is also a special one for when lan mode is active.

Real-Time Strategy 

  • Pikmin 4: At first, the title screen only shows various shots of Sun Speckled Terrace. After unlocking Hero's Hideaway, there is a chance that the title screen could start by showing the original view of Sun Speckled Terrace, before the camera pans out to reveal it as a display on the television of Hero's Hideaway. From there, it shows a sleeping Oatchi on the table while various Pikmin walk across. The original title screen still has a 50/50 chance to appear.
  • StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void has a minor example: After clearing the mission "The Growing Shadow" and its accompanying cinematic Artanis can be seen wearing Zeratul's warp blade in the Legacy of the Void campaign selection screen.

Rhythm Game 

  • In Cytus II, the menu screen changes quite often as the player progresses through the story. Some of these screens only last for one opening and disappear upon playing the game again, but don't worry. The player can cycle through any of these title screens after they have finished the ending(s).
  • In Idolish 7, Completing certain story parts unlocks new title screens.
  • In Polyrhythm Mania, the menu music for story mode gets more instruments and sounds more triumphant the further you progress.

Roguelike 

  • The Binding of Isaac's title screen changes as you reach various milestones in the game, like killing Mom or collecting every item. Rebirth moved these to the save files, but the Repentance DLC reinstated one for collecting every item on all three save files - an incredibly obese Isaac, with the text "STOP PLAYING!" written under him.
  • Bounty of One: Every time you unlock a new playable character, they'll appear around the campfire in the title screen.
  • Dead Estate: The main menu gets more detailed and the menu music gets more elaborate the more of the story the player completes.
  • In Dicey Dungeons, as you unlock the various characters, they replace the plain dice Lady Luck is throwing out in front of her.
  • Dungeons of Dredmor unlocks new title screens when you download an Expansion Pack. Each expansion has its own title screen, and you can toggle between them.
  • After beating Rogue Legacy once, the colour of the sky on the title screen changes from red-dark to bright-blue.
  • Rogue Legacy 2: In New Game Plus playthroughs, the title screen will change into a closer view of the castle you've been building, and the environment being in broad daylight. This reflects the post-game scenario when you relocated your castle away from the flood. The letter R in the title logo will also "wear" a crown, with more crowns being stacked on it as you reach higher Threads.

Shoot 'em Up 

  • EXTRAPOWER: Star Resistance: The default title screen shows Sharkungo and Forcestar fighting a swarm of Clay Kids and Mensouma and Undata watch on. After all player characters are completed, the player is rewarded with a new title screen showcasing all the player characters.
  • Upgrade Complete makes the player buy the title screen as an upgrade.

Simulation Game 

  • Animal Crossing:
    • Animal Crossing (2001) shows a preview of the player's actual town, so the title screen is different for every save file.
    • In Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, the game at first only shows your four coworkers, as well as the unopened facilities. After starting a new game, your Player Character will appear with your coworkers, and as you progress though the game, the facilities will change depending on how you've designed them. Occasionally, Lottie will appear without her makeup.
  • I Was a Teenage Exocolonist: Getting the final friendship/romance event with any character with Relationship Values will add them to the title screen. The player character's avatar can be added by destroying the wormhole-induced time loop, then deciding to bring it back.
  • Littlewood: The title screen includes most of the town's residents. If the game is saved and quitted on the one day of the year on which everyone is wearing a costume, the residents will be in costume on the title screen, as well.
  • Happens in a more meta sense to the broadcast sim Not for Broadcast: since Episode 2 came out the title screen also plays snippets from the broadcasts of Episode 2.

Stealth Game 

  • Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, the loading screen evolves as you complete your assassinations of the cult members; by adding their bloody masks to the floor.
  • In Hitman: Blood Money the various targets of the game attend 47's funeral and disappear after they are killed off. In order to get them back you need to play the tutorial or the first mission and quit.
  • Metal Gear:
    • Upon completing the main story of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the image of Solid Snake on the title screen is swapped out with one of Raiden.
    • The title screen of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes depicts Big Boss seated inside his support chopper. Completing the main story mission will cause him to appear bloody, while completing "Intel Operative Rescue" makes the titular Intel Operative appear inside the chopper alongside him; finishing any other mission will simply change the time of day to reflect that of the mission you've just played.
    • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain initially uses Big Boss' hospital bed in Dhekelia as the backdrop for its title screen, but after the prologue is completed features a similar title screen to Ground Zeroes, wherein his appearance and the time of day change in accordance with your latest progress.
  • Murder Osana in the demo of Yandere Simulator and the title screen becomes Deliberately Monochrome, Ayano holds a knife behind her back, and Osana's corpse will be seen.

Survival Horror 

  • Gylt has the title screen shown in the most recent area the player reached.
  • Resident Evil:
    • Resident Evil 2 (Remake) has an evolving game over screen. The screen shows a dark floor with a pool of blood spreading across it; Said floor corresponds to the area you died in. There are different game over screens for the gas station (polished tiles), the streets (tarmac), the police station (dusty floorboards), the sewers (weathered stone), and NEST (white futuristic flooring).
    • In Resident Evil Village, the title screen's background changes to reflect the passage of time, or wherever Ethan is as the story progresses.
  • Silent Hill 2 (Remake) changes the title screen to Room 312 of Lakeside Hotel once you finish the game.
  • SOMA has the face on the main menu (Catherine's) become increasingly distorted and corrupted as you progress in the game. After completing the game, the face is uncorrupted and restored to normal.
  • At the beginning of STILL WAKES THE DEEP, the title screen depicts the Beira D rig off in the distance. By the conclusion, post explosion, the rig is gone, having sunk to the bottom of the North Sea.
  • The title screen of Yomawari: Midnight Shadows changes depending on which character you are currently playing as. Once you beat the game, the title screen changes into Yui's silhouette walking towards Haru's, only for Yui to fade to dust when they collide.

Third-Person Shooter 

  • Jet Force Gemini: Depending on how far you are in the game, the title screen changes in order - Juno running solo, Juno and Vela running, the whole team running, the whole team running in their upgrades, the whole team walking on the Federation homeworld in celebration.
  • The title screen for Just Cause 3 shows Rico indulging in some Rebel Relaxation somewhere in the region the game was last saved. Choosing "Continue" makes him stand up and get ready for action as the HUD appears.
  • Pictured above is Spec Ops: The Line, which changes the appearance of the character, the American flag and the city below on the title screen depending on the last level visited.
  • Uncharted: The Lost Legacy shows the table from the river boat scene. Starting off with just some books, a map and some post-it notes, it gradually gains various items as you hit specific story beats, as well as a completely optional item.

Tower Defense 

  • Arknights: Events can have changed title screens once the main story is cleared, to reflect the changes caused by the event story.
    • "Lingering Echoes" title screen starts with a scene of Ebenholz, Kreide and Czerny playing on stage, while Hibiscus the Purifier can be seen sitting in the audience. After clearing the main story, the title screen changes to a scene of Ebenholz alone on stage with the spotlight on him as a representative of his personal losses in the event.
    • "Lone Trail" initial lobby screen is a group shot of Saria, Muelsyse, Ho'olheyak and Kristen Wright standing in the Galleria Stellaria's observation bridge. Clearing the main story change the screen to a shot of said observation bridge now offline and surrounded by the stars, with only Kristen standing in the light at the end of the tunnel.
  • Plants vs. Zombies puts the earned trophies onto the title screen.

Turn-Based Strategy 

  • Conviction (SRPG): After beating the game once, the title screen art will change to include all playable characters, including the Abyss Empire generals.
  • When you start a fresh copy of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, you will see a shot of a perfectly normal Peach's Castle. Once you've started a game, the title screen changes to show the Rabbids trashing it. In addition, the Peach's Castle hub level (which the title screen pans through) gains background detritus from each world once you complete that world.
  • Fire Emblem:
    • Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem's first screen shows the Fire Emblem. Once Marth learns it's the Binding Shield and starts collecting the orbs, they fill in the sockets on the Shield.
    • Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia shows a young Alm and Celica running through the meadow where the prologue takes place. If the last save was made during the Playable Epilogue, it shows an adult Alm and Celica sitting there together instead, with more peaceful music.
    • Fire Emblem: Three Houses also updates the title screen once beaten. While the initial title screen just shows Sothis's throne, loading a beaten save file has Sothis sleeping on the throne.
    • In Fire Emblem Engage, the pillars on the Ring Chamber in the title screen light up as the story advances and you collect more of them.
  • In This Is the Police 2, the title screen goes from showing Lily staring at the previous sheriff's much-hated tapestry alone, to staring at it together with Jack. After Jack orchestrates Carter's death, Lily is alone again. In the end, after Lily is dead and Jack has cemented his power, it shows him and the other officers burning the tapestry in the parking lot.
  • XCOM 2's title screen shows one of the soldiers from your character pool overlooking an ADVENT patrol, and if you last saved during a mission, the scenery will be from the same tileset. The soldier's gear will be based on what they are/were wearing last: basic gear, mid-tier gear and advanced gear are all displayed accurately, including customization. If you have the Alien Hunters DLC, unique weapons and armor can be shown on the soldier as well, and if you have the Shen's Last Gift DLC, the SPARK unit can be the soldier depicted. The War of the Chosen expansion mixes things up, so that sometimes the screen will instead show one of the Chosen looking down on one of your unaware soldiers in their Ascension Chamber.

Visual Novel 

  • In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, the initial title screen is solely the school building, as the game is progressed, objects related to the talents of the students who died appear on top of the building.
  • Doki Doki Literature Club! has its title screen change significantly as the story progresses. After Sayori's death and deletion, she's replaced on the title screen throughout Act 2 by a glitched amalgamation of the other characters (with the "New Game" text being glitched as well when that point is first reached). Act 3, in which just Monika is left, skips the title screen entirely. Act 4, where Monika is gone but the others are restored, features only the three remaining girls on the title screen.
  • Upon starting up DRAMAtical Murder, the title screen shows 8-bit sprites of Aoba and Ren walking together. Finishing one of the four boyfriends' routes on a good ending will have him follow. When the four of them are gathered, Ren goes missing until you obtain his good ending.
    • If all possible endings in the original are obtained in re:code, Mizuki appears before being kidnapped by a pair of cloaked figures. Obtaining his good ending will have him be greeted by the other main characters before they all walk together.
  • After the player has reached all the endings, the title screen of Fate/stay night changes to an image of cherry blossoms with much more soothing background music.
  • After finishing fault - milestone one, the title screen adds Rune as she is now traveling with Ritona and Selphine.
  • CLANNAD has orbs of light gather on the title screen as the player collects them while playing through various routes. This is similarly reflected in its anime adaptation's title cards.
  • Gnosia's title screen takes on a space-like aesthetic after you learn about Day Zero. Similarly, after completing the game, the title screen becomes a wide scrollable wallpaper that shows everyone except Setsu, who doesn't show up until after the player rescues them from the loop.
  • The title screen of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles uses the location of your latest save as the background.
    • Likewise, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection changes the background of the title screen based on which chapter in the game the last save file was made, either using artwork of the location or an in-game artwork.
  • Homicipher's initial title screen features Mr. Crawling, your closest thing to a guardian in this hellhole you fell into. Both of the changed titles involve straying away from him and towards Mr. Scarletella upon the final chapter.
  • If My Heart Had Wings changes the title screen to a shot of the Morning Glory and plays the eponymous BGM once all routes have been completed.
  • Katawa Shoujo has the title screen update with small pieces of artwork progressively added as the player goes through different acts and routes.
  • Little Busters! opens with an image of the original five as children running in a line together. After the True Ending Refrain is completed, it is replaced with an image of a beach, reflecting the beach the characters all resolved to go to in the epilogue, and seen driving there in a van during the credits.
  • In Lotus Reverie, featuring a Dwindling Party, characters disappear from the title screen once they die.
  • Pizza Game: At the start of the game, the title screen shows the outlines of Kiane and most of the datable characters. When a datable character’s route is completed, their picture is colored in on the title screen. Completing the True Route will color in Kiane, completing the image. (Roobit was added late in the game’s development, and as such, isn’t featured in the title screen art. When her route is completed, a small image of her face will appear above the selectable options on the title screen.)
  • Magical Warrior Diamond Heart: The main menu initially starts off with the protagonist, Valerie surrounded by chibis of just Ethan, Sophie, and Zacharie, with the rest of the cast being DLC characters who appear once their routes are installed. (or in the case of Opal, when his route is unlocked for the first time)
  • After you finished Muv-Luv Alternative, the title screen will change to show all the heroines in the EXTRA world, including Kasumi and Yuuhi, with the music even changing to EXTRA's title screen to show that Takeru has succeeded in his mission.
  • Rewrite (2011) has its title screen change four times. The initial title screen has the five heroines; finishing any of the routes add Kagari to the mix. After finishing every single heroine routes, everyone disappears from the title screen, replaced by Kotarou sitting alone as you unlock Moon route; finishing the Moon route changes the title screen to a black screen with the moon shining in the background, unlocking the last route of the game, Terra; finishing that will have everyone now present on the title screen.
  • With each route of Tokyo Necro completed, the main menu starts to change little by little, first starting out as little more than a wireframe map of Tokyo before more and more detail gets added with each new clear.
  • When VA-11 HALL-A is completed, Gaby is now standing with Jill on the title screen.
  • While every title screen of Your Turn to Die depicts Sara Chidouin, her portrait changes depending on which half-chapter is the most recent.
  • The title screen of Zero Time Dilemma typically features one of the bracelets the Decision Game players wear, but if the player previously saved in an Escape Room segment, the title will instead show the room the player is currently in.

Western RPG 

  • Cyberpunk 2077:
    • The main game starts off with a nondescript title screen that changes after you reach certain points in the main story:
      • V's apartment after the prologue and introductory mission;
      • A landfill with an arm sticking out from the trash after the start of Act 2;
      • The wreckage of the downed Kang Tao AV after "Life During Wartime";
      • The Voodoo Boys' netrunning lair after "Transmission";
      • The Arasaka warehouse storing the dashi parade floats after completing Takemura's mission chain.
    • ​After starting the Phantom Liberty DLC and upon reaching certain points in it, the title screen will change yet again to reflect the events that happen:
      • The gate to Dogtown at night after meeting Songbird there;
      • The Heavy Hearts pyramid surrounded by burning debris after the Space Force One crash;
      • The Black Sapphire after V and Reed infiltrate it;
      • The Petrochem Stadium in ruins after "Firestarter";
      • Cynosure core after "Somewhat Damaged" if V chose to betray Songbird;
      • Night City spaceport after "The Killing Moon" if V chose to betray Reed.
  • After completing each chapter of Deltarune, the chapter's usual background is replaced by an image of the three heroes overlooking a pillar of light. Additionally, accessing a completed chapter will have the legend of Delta Rune replay before entering the save menu.
  • Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords starts with Darth Sion next to the main menu. Then it changes to Nihilus after seeing a cutscene with him. By the end of the game, it changes to a different Sith depending on your Karma Meter: it's Darth Traya for the light side, but for the dark side, the Sith on the title screen is you.
  • Steven Universe: Save The Light: Party members will be added to the title screen as they become available.
  • OMORI: The initial title screen is Omori in White Space, but the background will change depending on your current progress in the game. Once Omori reaches Black Space, the background turns completely dark. Upon reaching the final day, it changes to Red Space, with Omori occasionally glitching into Sunny before transforming back. Completing the game will change the title screen to a beautiful blue sky, with Sunny standing in front of it depending on whether or not you chose to try again against Omori.
  • If you follow the Pacifist or Neutral route in Undertale, the characters from the game's major boss fights appear in the titles if you spare and befriend them. The background music changes as well, becoming steadily more complex and cheerful and eventually becomes silent should you complete the True Pacifist route since everyone has left the Underground. If you follow a…different route instead, then only Flowey is on the title screen, until New Home where he vanishes.

Non-Video Game Examples 

  • A number of books and film covers at one point had holographic or lenticular covers.
    • Among these, one that comes to mind is the Jack Frost (1997) cover, which has three pictures in transition, a snowman plus title, snowman with teeth and subtitle "he's chillin'...", and a snowman with wide-open mouth and subtitle "and killin'".
    • The Blu-Ray cover of Man of Steel did this (shifting from Superman to Zod), as did The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (changing from Bilbo to Gollum).