8 RPGs With Permanent Consequences For Failure

Key Takeaways

Dark Souls 3: Losing Souls is a frustrating, yet fair part of the experience
Elden Ring: Players should spend Runes frequently to prevent losing them
Fable 2: Dying gives the Hero scars that are impossible to remove in the base game

As a long-time gamer who has spent countless hours navigating through various virtual worlds, I can attest to the fact that losing progress or items in games can be quite frustrating. However, there’s something almost poetic about it – it adds a layer of realism and consequence to our digital adventures.

In comparison to many games, the role-playing game (RPG) genre stands out by providing a vast array of options and diversity to its players. This is due to the fact that RPGs usually have numerous unique characters, extensive personalization for party members, weapons, armor, and character aesthetics, and also employs innovative mechanics that might not be feasible in other genres.

Success in a challenging video game isn’t always guaranteed, but it doesn’t lessen the impact when failures have significant repercussions. Beyond repeated attempts to conquer a boss or win a battle, certain games employ mechanics like Permadeath that escalate the importance of each move a player makes. Here are some standout RPGs featuring long-lasting effects from failure:

8 Darkest Dungeon

A Dungeon Crawler Pitting Players Against Many Obstacles

Players will have to face darkness, various enemies, disease, and famine
The Permadeath mechanic makes every failure feel serious and heavy

Darkest Dungeon” is an engaging game where you delve into different dungeons, guiding a team of four brave adventurers through the perils lurking in these isolated, damp locales. Apart from formidable and ruthless adversaries, you’ll also confront psychological pressure, as well as challenges such as hunger, sickness, and darkness that will test your limits like never before.

In the game known as Darkest Dungeon, you’ll encounter a challenge system called Permadeath, where mistakes and carelessness can have severe consequences. This adds an extra layer of tension and stress, making the gameplay all the more engaging. If you’ve already conquered the initial release of this series, give Darkest Dungeon 2 a try to continue your adventure!

7 Wasteland 2

Players Must Explore The World To Reach Beacons Of Great Importance

Set in the near future, following the story of a squad of rangers
Players will face Permadeath at every turn, which will force them to be very careful

In terms of eagerly anticipated sequels for video game franchises, not many took as long to arrive as Wasteland 2. The initial game, Wasteland, was launched back in 1988, and it wasn’t until 2013 that gamers could immerse themselves once more in its world. In Wasteland 2, players will follow a group of desert rangers, who are tasked with scouring the land to activate several radio beacons in order to track down a gang of criminals.

In the year 2102, I find myself immersed in the world of “Wasteland 2”, a sequel that continues the storyline of its predecessor. This game offers me an unparalleled challenge, as it employs Permadeath mechanics – a feature that ensures there’s no coming back from failure. It’s not just about playing this game; it’s about surviving it. I can’t afford to make mistakes or let my guard down, for every decision could mean the difference between success and a permanent game over. So, I meticulously plan each move, strategize, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of a post-apocalyptic world. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but then again, neither was surviving the apocalypse.

6 XCOM 2

Ironman Mode Is An Optional Challenge That Hardcore Gamers Should Try

The game takes place in a world where an alien invasion has taken over Earth
Ironman mode is very challenging and ready to punish players if they make a mistake

In the game XCOM 2, players find themselves immersed in a captivating narrative revolving around global conquest and mankind’s struggle against an extraterrestrial invasion. After the world’s rulers yield control of the planet to the invaders, and XCOM – Earth’s final defense force – is overpowered and eventually annihilated, it appears that humanity has lost all chances of reclaiming its freedom.

In XCOM 2, there’s an optional gameplay mode named Ironman Mode. This means that once you start a campaign, manual saves are not allowed. Instead, the game will automatically save your progress frequently. The advantage is that your game is secure, but the downside is that if you make a mistake, you can’t go back and fix it because there’s no option to revert to a previous save. Ironman Mode is designed to provide a tougher challenge and severely penalize any errors you might commit during gameplay.

5 Suikoden 2

A Game That Greatly Improves On Its Prequel

The game greatly improved on its prequel, adding new elements for a better experience
Permadeath makes combat feel more serious

In several aspects, Suikoden 2 shares similarities with its predecessor, but it also presents some significant differences. Although it maintains numerous game mechanics and aspects from Suikoden, the graphics have been significantly upgraded, utilizing the hardware capabilities of consoles more effectively compared to before.

In Suikoden 2, players experience a traditional bird’s-eye view while navigating through the diverse towns and locations on the game map. This game offers both enjoyment and difficulty, amplified by its Permadeath feature. Although the game occasionally shows leniency, if managed carefully,Permadeath can be difficult to trigger. However, it adds an extra layer of excitement to an already impressive game.

4 Valkyria Chronicles 4

A Story Of War, Where The Stakes Are High And Loss Is Inevitable

Various play modes that adapt to players’ preferences
Permadeath mechanics are wonderfully implemented

In the heart of the second European conflict, known as the Second Europan War, between the Autocratic Eastern Empire Alliance and the Atlantic Federation, the captivating narrative of Valkyria Chronicles 4 unfolds. This game revolves around warfare, friendship, and challenging choices. It offers four distinct playing styles: Aiming mode, Strategy (Command), Action, and Study (Book).

Every player will have a unique journey in Valkyria Chronicles 4, as the game’s experience can vary based on individual tastes and playstyle. Similar to other games mentioned, Valkyria Chronicles 4 includes challenging Permadeath mechanics, meaning that characters could be permanently lost if players do not succeed in battle at any given moment.

3 Fable 2

Dying Will Give The Hero Various Scars That Can’t Be Easily Removed

The Continent of Albion is diverse and vast
Players can buy anti-scar potions on Knothole Island

In anticipation of the upcoming release of the latest “Fable” game in 2025, fans of the series are buzzing with excitement about its new offerings, and some might even be revisiting the originals to refresh their memories of the enchanting realm of Albion. While the original “Fable” was a marvel, many gamers concur that “Fable 2” significantly expanded upon its predecessor, introducing innovative mechanics, spells, and other enhancements. With bustling locations like the Bowerstone Market and ominous, eerie spots such as Wraithmarsh, “Fable 2” consistently provided players with an engaging gaming experience.

In this game, when the Hero fails, one lasting impact is the acquisition of scars. Each death leaves a fresh scar on their character, modifying different aspects of their gameplay and interactions with Non-Player Characters (NPCs). The base game doesn’t allow players to remove these scars, but with the Knothole Island DLC, they can do so by purchasing anti-scar potions.

2 Dark Souls 3

Losing Souls Is A Frustrating Part Of The Experience

Upon death, players have a single chance to recover their lost Souls
Spending Souls frequently can help prevent losing a massive number of them

While many people would argue against the statement of Dark Souls 3 being an RPG, it has many elements that justify calling it so. For starters, the game features deep character customization in areas like appearance, weaponry and attire. Also, there’s Stat upgrading, which allows players to strengthen the attributes they’re interested in and create specific builds. While dying several times in Dark Souls 3 is expected, there are no real progress-wise consequences for it other than having to start over from the last bonfire. However, that’s not the case for the Souls players collect throughout the game.

When characters meet their demise, they forfeit all their Spirit Points; but, they get one opportunity to reclaim these by returning to where they last perished. If the characters die twice consecutively without retrieving their lost Spirit Points, those points will be permanently gone. A wise strategy to avoid this scenario is to regularly expend Spirit Points, whether it’s for character development or for purchasing gear, weapons, and armor.

1 Elden Ring

The Vastness Of The Lands Between Makes Losing Runes Fairly Common

Players should spend their Runes frequently to prevent their loss
Upon death, prioritizing the recovery of Runes above all else is key

In the world of Elden Ring, even those who found the Dark Souls series challenging may find themselves struggling even more. This game, like other titles from FromSoftware, operates on a system similar to currency using Runes. These Runes can be used to enhance player attributes, purchase items, armor, and weapons.

After passing away, gamers should focus on retrieving their misplaced Rune tokens at the location where they died last, prioritizing this task above all else – particularly if they drop them near a tough opponent who could easily defeat them again without much effort. If players don’t manage to reclaim their lost Runes before dying twice consecutively, those Runes will be permanently gone. This is a reasonable yet aggravating consequence for failing in The Lands Between.

2024-10-25 16:39