Role-playing games, or RPGs, are enjoyable because your decisions truly matter. But what happens when players repeatedly load earlier saves to avoid bad outcomes – a practice called ‘save scumming’? Does it change what makes an RPG special, or just make it easier to get the ending you want? Some RPGs prevent this by making sure saving and reloading won’t save you from disaster, and that’s a key feature of ‘hardcore’ RPGs. Here are five games that offer a real challenge: reaching the end without constantly saving and reloading.
Some games are pushing the boundaries of player choice, making decisions truly permanent. Whether it’s through ‘Honor Runs’ that instantly save your progress, or systems that actively prevent you from reloading to undo mistakes, these games punish players for taking the ‘wrong’ path. Here are five titles where your choices have lasting consequences – there are no take-backs, do-overs, or ways to save-scum your way out of the repercussions.
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Honor Mode Run)
In This Game Mode, Choices Can Be As Lethal As Combat
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fantastic role-playing game where your decisions truly matter, leading to different endings—and sometimes, character death. Because of this, many players like to frequently save their progress. However, Honor Mode changes things up by offering just one save file that automatically records key moments and consequences as you play.
Many players agree that the most challenging way to play is choosing the Dark Urge character in Honor Mode, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. In this mode, if your main character or any of your companions fall in battle, that’s game over. A single wrong decision, or failing to help Gale with his dangerous magical problem, can lead to total destruction. The bosses are also significantly stronger, with extra abilities and attacks, so you’ll need a well-planned strategy to survive. You’ll need all the luck you can get to reach the end!
Neverwinter Nights Classic (Darkness Over Daggerford Hardcore Mode)
One Of The Hardest Campaigns Ever Created For A D&D-based Game
Before I even started thinking about Baldur’s Gate 3, there was this game that really scratched my D&D itch – Neverwinter Nights Classic (not the Enhanced Edition, mind you!). It came out when BioWare was at their absolute peak, and it was huge. The main campaign was seriously challenging, but the coolest part was how much freedom it gave you to create your own adventures. Actually, a former BioWare dev made this module called Darkness Over Daggerford that got so popular, they ended up releasing it as official DLC! It was a big deal back then.
So, there was this super tough version of Darkness Over Daggerford – it really made you think about your choices because it was seriously punishing. It was kind of like a ‘Pseudo-Honor Mode’ they called ‘Darkness Over Daggerford Hardcore Mode’. It was already a hard campaign, but they added restrictions on when and where you could save. Plus, cranked up to the highest difficulty, things like being petrified were instantly fatal. If your character died, that was game over, permanently. It was a great challenge, but unfortunately, you can’t play it in the Enhanced Edition anymore.
Wildermyth
The Very Essence Of The Game Is Watching The Consequences Unfold
Wildermyth is a unique turn-based RPG where every campaign plays out differently. You start with ordinary villagers armed with whatever they can find, and guide them as they become legendary heroes. Along the way, characters form relationships – they fall in love, build friendships, marry, and even raise families, with their children potentially carrying on their legacies.
In this game, players journey across a vast world, battling invaders, monsters, and dangerous creatures. Along the way, they’ll uncover the secrets of the land and its ancient magic. But be warned: messing with these forces can have unexpected and lasting effects. For example, disrespecting a forest spirit could curse your character, while embracing powerful magic might transform them. Choices have real consequences – a brave sacrifice in battle could lead to a permanent injury and a new role as a teacher, or a character might not survive at all. It’s a truly remarkable game, and even better when played with friends in the cooperative mode.
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
No Save During Combat, And That’s Okay
Fell Seal Arbiter’s Mark is a demanding strategy game that blends the difficulty of Final Fantasy Tactics with the unforgiving nature of Darkest Dungeon. Combat is incredibly challenging, and mistakes are heavily penalized – there are no second chances or quicksaves allowed, even though players have repeatedly asked for them. The developers have intentionally avoided adding quicksave functionality to prevent players from repeatedly reloading saves to avoid unfavorable outcomes, a practice known as ‘save scumming’.
With its New Game+ and downloadable content, this is a significant update for such a large game. The adventure features many crucial decisions that impact character interactions and unlockable content, meaning players need to explore different paths to experience everything. Story events are especially important for unlocking unique classes – some characters have special classes that require progress and effort to obtain, but are well worth it. Overall, Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark is a fantastic, yet challenging, RPG.
Undertale
A Game With A Cool An Unusual Way To Punish Saving Scummers
Whether you’re trying to complete a Pacifist or Genocide run in Undertale, the game keeps track of how often you save and reload. This affects the ending you’ll ultimately receive. Because Undertale only has one save file, resetting doesn’t start everything over completely; some information persists, influencing the game’s outcome.
To achieve a completely fresh start in the game, players must first finish a Pacifist Run. Even then, the game retains information from previous Genocide Runs, making it complex for those who like to repeatedly save and reload. The developer intentionally designed it this way to emphasize that choices have lasting consequences – a core element of this unique RPG. However, Deltarune (which isn’t a continuation of the original game) offers a bit more flexibility with three save files, making it slightly more forgiving.
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2025-12-27 22:08