The first one that comes to mind for me is GTA2. Stand around for 30 seconds and Claude will take out a cigarette and start smoking.
Sonic’s foot tapping one has gotta be up there. Bonus points for streight up throwing himself off the stage if you wait too long in Sonic CD.
1 Like
When you pause in La-Mulana, your little dude starts going hard on what looks like a bowl of noodles. It’s not technically an idle animation, but it’s the first thing that came to mind.
Diddy Kong juggling coins in DKC2 is cute.
2 Likes
That reminded me that I love the sound effect that accompanies Donkey Kong’s idle animation in the first game when he beats his chest. It has a really cool echo effect on it.
1 Like
In Rise of the Tomb Raider, whenever Lara gets out of the water she takes a second to wring out her wet ponytail. Just a really nice, subtle, human touch.
1 Like
THA BEST
2 Likes
Jak and Daxter has a great idle animation of Jak just tossing Daxter around for fun.
Bubsy knocking on your TV screen! Man, Bubsy was so good.
Sonic is my favorite!
Meryl’s bashful slapping of the gun on her thigh after staring at her in Metal Gear Solid. It’s the first thing I thought of and it made me in love with her when I was young.
I’ve always been a fan of
3 Likes
Which shooter is it again that makes your character inspect their gun? I can’t for the life it remember XD They start checking if they attachment is on properly, clean the scope with their thumb, etc.
I remembered! 
Metro Last Light!
Artjom also toys and fiddles, cleans the muzzle or inspects the chamber.
2 Likes
I think Metro has this? I feel bad not knowing because I was playing Metro not two months ago. (EDIT: Lol, you found it while I was typing the response)
There are some fun parts in MLB The Show where if you wait around 30 seconds while you’re pitching, various animations will happen (The umpire taking the bat from the batter, infielders walking up and talking to each other, etc)
Reboot Tomb Raider is when I first noticed idle animations, mainly because I enjoyed watching Lara turn her head and check her surroundings. Not making her stare dead eyed standing still was real effective for me, especially since they were going for more grounded game and it made her feel human.
1 Like
Earthworm Jim was the first game where I noticed or cared about the idle animations.
In Yakuza 0 is on that next level idle animation tip. Not only will Kiryu spark up a cigarette if you leave him alone for a few seconds, there is even a chance an NPC will stop to light one for him.
(replying to my own topic because I remembered how much I love Hyper Light Drifter’s resting animation)
6 Likes
Crysis also does this
1 Like
Some of Halo 5’s more esoteric weapons have really cool idle animations attached. My favourite’s gotta be the Boltshot:
Followed by the Gravity Hammer:
5 Likes
man, I will eternally be bummed about how much I love the looks of the Promethean weapons but hated actually using them
1 Like
