perma-death
One life only
Perma-death is a video game mechanic where a character's death is permanent—no respawning, no reloading saves, no second chances.
The player must start over completely or lose that character forever.
The term combines "permanent" and "death": I lost my hundred-hour save to perma-death.
Games with perma-death stakes create intense emotional investment and careful play.
Irreversible character termination
- roguelikePermadeath procedural game genre
- hardcoreUncompromisingly devoted
- ironmanLong-distance triathlon competitor
- game-overArcade termination message
checkpoint · restart · procedural · reset · finality · consequence · wipe · elimination
Permadeath procedural game genre
Stretched or strained state
- riskPossibility of harm
- consequenceResult of an action
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- lossBeing without something
investment · attachment · dread · caution · anxiety · adrenaline · weight · gravity
State of being hard
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- replayabilityEnduring appeal for repetition
- randomizationIntroducing chance systematically
- progressionSequential forward movement
mastery · punishment · reward · challenge · engagement · unlockables · loop
permadeath
Irreversible character termination
- roguelikePermadeath procedural game genre
- hardcoreUncompromisingly devoted
- ironmanLong-distance triathlon competitor
game-over · checkpoint · restart · procedural · reset · finality · consequence · wipe · elimination · terminal
roguelike
Permadeath procedural game genre
tension
Stretched or strained state
- riskPossibility of harm
- consequenceResult of an action
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
loss · investment · attachment · dread · caution · anxiety · adrenaline · weight · gravity · meaningful
difficulty
State of being hard
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- replayabilityEnduring appeal for repetition
- randomizationIntroducing chance systematically
progression · mastery · punishment · reward · challenge · engagement · unlockables · loop
- game mechanicslevels, rules, cooldown, points, health points
- Nuzlockepermadeath, game over, hardcore mode, randomizer
- RPG mechanicsmin-maxing, level up, XP, HP, power leveling
perma-deathrespawn
Reappear after dying digitally
infinite lives · revival · resurrection · extra lives · continue
perma-deathcasual mode
Relaxed difficulty setting
easy mode · slap on the wrist · god mode · invincibility · safety net
perma, death, permanent, permanently, permanence, permanency, impermanent, impermanence, dead