Video games have the power to teach real-world lessons to their players. Whether they are found in the dialogue, mechanics, or even the bosses, lessons can be taught through video games. Many topics can be learned about in games, but among the most powerful and relatable is that failure is inevitable.
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In most games, rapid skill gain is rewarded -- but these titles seek to make things harder for players the better they get.
While that truth can be grim, video games can also offer a positive twist on that lesson, one that inspires hope in the player. In addition, games that teach about failure also have the opportunity to teach about persistence and adaptability, which is often the only way to overcome challenges, both in video games and in real life.
The Witness
Players Must Apply What They Learn
The Witness
- Released
- January 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- Thekla Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
In this incredible philosophical puzzle game, the player explores a beautiful yet desolate island by solving various compex puzzles and trusting their comprehension skills.
The Witness does not provide instructions to the player at any point in the game, all but guaranteeing failure from the start. The only way to progress is to keep seeking new solutions to increasingly complex puzzles. However, players are rewarded for their persistence and ability to remember and apply prior knowledge during their playthrough with a sense of achievement every time they complete a puzzle.
Disco Elysium
Failure Is Etched In The Narrative
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Genre(s)
- RPG
One of the best RPGs for beginners, Disco Elysium puts players in the shoes of an amnesiac detective with no memory of hs past life or the previous night, as he awakes with a severe hangover. The game allows the player to build their detective's personality and skillset in order to solve cases in their own style.
Disco Elysium gives the players so many choices, many of which can lead to failure. However, the game does not end when players make a mistake or fail a skill check, therefore allowing them to either learn from their failures or embrace them. Regardless of which they choose, the narrative will carry on, opening up a new branching path for every misstep.
Cuphead
Teaches Persistence And Failure
Cuphead
- Released
- September 29, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
In Cuphead, brothers Cuphead and Mugman must travel a uniquely styled world to purchase the contracts of those who made deals with the Devil, just like they did. This isn't easy, as the enemies in the game are notoriously difficult, and failure is so common that a character even counts each death in the game.
It's tough to beat any boss or run-and-gun level on the first try, but with each failure, players begin to see the attack patterns and can apply them to their fresh approach. It's also easy to retry a boss fight or level after losing, keeping the player motivated and teaching them persistence in the face of failure.
Super Mario Bros.
An Iconic Lesson About Failure
Super Mario Bros.
- Released
- November 17, 1985
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D4
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
A staple in the world of games that teach failure, Super Mario Bros. Stars the renowned Italian plumber, Mario, leaping through levels to save Princess Toadstool from King Bowser.
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In most games, rapid skill gain is rewarded -- but these titles seek to make things harder for players the better they get.
Failure can come quickly for Mario, but the game is very encouraging when pushing players to try again, and it makes that process easy to adapt to. This gentle approach to failure makes the game's lessons easier to absorb for players and reduces the likelihood of them giving up on the game.
Stardew Valley
Teaches Real-World Applications
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
A cozy game with plenty of romance options, Stardew Valley places the main character on their grandfather's old farm in the titular town. Players are expected to maintain and develop the farm, build connections with the town's NPCs, and take part in other activities like mining, fishing, and more.
Though a game like Stardew Valley seems hard to fail at, it has several mechanics where failure can occur. Crops can die, investments may fail, and enemies can knock the player out. Yet Stardew Valley doesn't have any harsh or lasting punishments and encourages the player to try again, making it a great lesson about failure for all kinds of players.
Outer Wilds
The Time-Loop Mechanic Is A Brilliant Teacher
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- Mobius Digital
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Set in a unique open-world solar system, Outer Wilds chronicles the adventures of a fledgling space explorer who is researching a mysterious alien species known as the Nomai. The catch? The game resets after 22 minutes of gameplay when the local sun goes supernova, at which point the players learns that they are stuck in a time loop.
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These games offer little to no hand-holding, trusting players to figure things out for themselves, making progress all the more rewarding.
While failure doesn't have a set schedule in real life, Outer Wilds shows gamers that failure is inevitable. However, it also teaches players to learn what they can from each failure, using the opportunity of a reset to expand their understanding and progress a little further the next time around. While death doesn't have a real-life reset, Outer Wilds still teaches that a single failure doesn't have to mean the end, and that it's often better to examine where things went wrong and take steps to make a better attempt the next time.
Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy
Starting Over Isn't The End
Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy
- Released
- December 6, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
A game where moving around is half the challenge, Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy is a daunting experience. The player must pilot a man in a cauldron to the top of an oddly-shaped mountain made up of various materials using only a hammer to guie their movement. There are also a variety of challenging obstacles and distractions, and no checkpoints to secure their progress.
It is clear that a game like Getting Over It sets the player up for failure with its grueling mechanics and unforgiving lack of checkpoints or saves. However, life can be grueling and unforgiving as well. While the average person may not find themselves using a cauldron and hammer to ascend a pile of junk, they will face many difficulties in their life. Perhaps Getting Over It is the game they need to play to prepare for how to overcome them.
Hades
The Cycle Of Death Is Like The Cycle Of Failure
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
In an effort to meet his mother and escape the Underworld, Zagreus, son of Hades, must crawl through various dungeons and slay enemies to earn his freedom. However, the rooms of the Underworld are ever-changing, and every time Zagreus is defeated, he must start over from the beginning.
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These RPGs test patience and planning skills. Every choice matters, and one mistake can turn triumph into disaster in unforgiving worlds.
The unpredictability of each room in Hades and the complexity of the boss fights ensure that the player will inevitably fail. However, being able to start over and acquire boons to help Zagreus on his next escape attempt motivates the player in the face of failure to try to escape the realm of the dead again.
Celeste
Where Failure Is Part Of Personal Growth
Celeste
- Released
- January 25, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Extremely OK Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
In Celeste, the player controls a young woman named Madeline who is struggling with anxiety and depression. She seeks to climb to the top of Celeste Mountain, but encounters various obstacles, including a personification of her darkness and struggles named "Badeline."
Not only does Celeste create failure through its difficult gameplay, where defeat can happen repeatedly in the same room, but failure can also be found in the narrative. Madeline's mental health struggles make her feel like she is failing, but as she ascends the mountain and defies Badeline's attempts to stop her, she perseveres in the face of failure. Given how Celeste is a great game to help ease depression, many players can see how Madeline overcomes her failures and apply that to their own personal battles.
Dark Souls
The Ultimate Teacher Of Failure
Dark Souls
- Released
- September 22, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Adventure
Perhaps the final boss of difficult games, Dark Souls is all about challenging enemies that are known to be some of the hardest battles in video game history. Today, many games are described as "Soulslikes" to imply the severe difficulty of their gameplay and bosses. However, beneath that difficulty lies a complex system that forces players to learn from their failures.
Given the excruciating difficulty of the enemies encountered and the requirement to defeat them in order to progress, it's up to little debate that Dark Souls teaches failure. The only way to defeat the game's toughest encounters is to learn enemy movesets and, in doing so, uncover a way of dodging or blocking their attacks to survive just a little longer, and eventually, emerge victorious. Players who can say that they cleared one of the most difficult video games of all time know it is definitely an accomplishment, and regardless of how many walkthroughs or tutorials they look up, it will be a success they ultimately achieve all on their own.
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