softlock
Progress becomes impossible
A softlock is a situation in a video game where progress becomes impossible without restarting, though the game hasn't technically crashed.
Unlike a hard lock or freeze, the game keeps running—you just can't advance: I saved right before an unwinnable boss fight and softlocked myself.
The term extends to any frustrating dead end caused by poor design or player choices.
Unable to move
- trappedUnable to escape
- strandedLeft without means to leave
- helplessUnable to act independently
- softlockedUnwinnable due to oversight
bricked · unwinnable · hopeless · dead-end · unrecoverable · despair · defeat · setback
Become solid from cold
Minor system fault
- skipTo deliberately exclude
- clipCut or attach
- out-of-boundsBeyond permitted boundaries
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
desync · unintended · tool-assisted · routing · category · tech · strat
stuck
Unable to move
softlocked · bricked · unwinnable · hopeless · dead-end · unrecoverable · despair · defeat · setback · roadblock
freeze
Become solid from cold
glitch
Minor system fault
- skipTo deliberately exclude
- clipCut or attach
- out-of-boundsBeyond permitted boundaries
manipulation · desync · unintended · tool-assisted · routing · category · tech · strat
checkpoint
Inspection station on route
quicksave · autosave · restart · walkthrough · workaround · patch · speedrun · game-over · continue · retry
softlockhardlock
Complete system unresponsiveness
crash · freeze · system crash · blue screen · fatal error
softlockfree play
Self-directed recreational time
open world · soft reset · checkpoint · save state · save point
soft, lock, softer, softest, softly, softness, soften, softened, softening