Editing Story within a story (section)

=== Nested video games ===
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The first example of a video game within a video game is almost certainly [[Tim Stryker]]'s 1980s era{{vague|reason=Surely we can give this a precise year|date=January 2025}} text-only game ''Fazuul'' (also the world's first online multiplayer game), in which one of the objects that the player can create is a minigame. Another early use of this trope was in [[Cliff Johnson (game designer)|Cliff Johnson]]'s 1987 hit ''[[The Fool's Errand]]'', a thematically linked narrative puzzle game, in which several of the puzzles were semi-independent games played against NPCs.

[[Power Factor (video game)|''Power Factor'']] has been cited as a rare example of a video game in which the entire concept is a video game within a video game: The player takes on the role of a character who is playing a "Virtual Reality Simulator", in which he in turn takes on the role of the hero Redd Ace.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Power Factor |magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=55|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=April 1993 |page=164}}</ref> The ''[[.hack]]'' franchise also gives the concept a central role. It features a narrative in which internet advancements have created an MMORPG franchise called The World. Protagonists Kite and [[Haseo]] try to uncover the mysteries of the events surrounding The World. Characters in ''.hack'' are aware that they are video game characters.

More commonly, however, the video game within a video game device takes the form of mini-games that are non-plot-oriented, and optional to the completion of the game. For example, in the [[Yakuza (franchise)|''Yakuza'']] and ''[[Shenmue]]'' franchises, there are playable arcade machines featuring other Sega games that are scattered throughout the game world.

In ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' there are several video games that can be played in an arcade in the Gold Saucer theme park. In ''[[Animal Crossing]]'', the player can acquire individual NES emulations through various means and place them within their house, where they are playable in their entirety. When placed in the house, the games take the form of a [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. In ''[[Fallout 4]]'' and ''[[Fallout 76]]'', the protagonist can find several cartridges throughout the wasteland that can be played on their pip-boy (an electronic device that exists only in the world of the game) or any terminal computer. In ''[[Celeste (video game)|Celeste]]'', there is a hidden room in which the protagonist can play the original [[PICO-8]] prototype of the game.

==== TV show within a video game ====
In the [[Remedy Entertainment|Remedy]] video game titled [[Max Payne (video game)|''Max Payne'']], players can chance upon a number of ongoing television shows when activating or happening upon various television sets within the game environs, depending on where they are within the unfolding game narrative. Among them are ''Lords & Ladies'', ''Captain Baseball Bat Boy'', ''[[Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne|Dick Justice]]'' and the pinnacle television serial [[Max Payne (video game)|''Address Unknown'']] – heavily inspired by [[David Lynch]]-style film narrative, particularly ''[[Twin Peaks]]'', ''Address Unknown'' sometimes prophesies events or character motives yet to occur in the Max Payne narrative.

In ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'', the player can watch several TV channels which include many programs: reality shows, cartoons, and even game shows.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Baker |first=Chris |title=Grand Theft Auto IV Shifts Into Media Overdrive |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/04/watching-tv-and/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>