RPGs are a lot of fun, and the very essence of the genre is the link between choice and consequence. But what happens when you save scum? Does the essence of an RPG dilute? Does it make it easier for players to reach the desired outcome? Be it as it may, there are RPGs where Saving won't spare players from disaster, and that's one of the defining factors of a hardcore RPG. In this list, there are five tittles with a challenging proposal: To reach the endgame without quicksave-quickload.
From Honor Runs where choices become ironclad and the game quicksaves immediately, to games that detect when you try to save scum, and twist everything to ensure nothing helps players if they take the 'wrong' path. Here's a list of five games where choices permanently lock you out of content, no reloading, no do-overs, and no amount of save scumming to save you from causality.
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Baldur's Gate 3 (Honor Mode Run)
In This Game Mode, Choices Can Be As Lethal As Combat
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
Baldur's Gate 3 is a wonderful RPG where there are multiple outcomes depending on players' choices and actions. A certain number of those actions leads, inevitably, to death. So, it is no surprise save scumming plays a fundamental role in normal runs. But, here's where Honor Mode enters the field, with a single, very limited, save file that automatically saves all the major choices and consequences throughout the gameplay.
They say the harderst playthrough is to pick the Dark Urge in Honor Mode, and there's no doubt about it: It's absolutely hardcore. In Honor Mode, the death of the main character and of its companions during battle will truly mean the end. Taking the wrong choice, or failing to help Gale control his 'magical bomb problem,' wiill cause absolute mayhem and obliteration of all living things. Plus, the bosses have more power, Legendary Actions, and are even more vicious than in regular runs, so players need to think their builds carefully. Good luck surviving until the end!
Neverwinter Nights Classic (Darkness Over Daggerford Hardcore Mode)
One Of The Hardest Campaigns Ever Created For A D&D-based Game
Neverwinter Nights
- Released
- June 18, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
Before Baldur's Gate 3 was even a distant dream, a game was made to satisfy even the most hardcore fan of D&D videogames, and that game was called Neverwinter Nights Classic (Not the Enhanced Edition). This masterpiece that came out of the Bioware factory during its Golden Age, was a tremendous success. With a tremendously hardcore main module (campaign) the base game also included the possibility for players to make their own modules. That's when a former Bioware employee created Darkness Over Daggerford, one of the most popular modules that ended up becoming officially recognized as a DLC.
But, there's a version of Darkness Over Daggerford wich is significantly harder, forcing players to commit with certain choices they make, and being extremely punishing. In a sord of Pseudo-Honor Mode, Darkness Over Daggerford Hardcore Mode was as obscure and difficult as the original campaign, with the addition that the module limited when and where to save the game. Plus, as it was set on the highest levels of difficulty, certain effects (like petrification) were considered lethal, and if the playing character died, that was it. A lovely module, but sadly, unavailable for the Enhanced Edition.
Wildermyth
The Very Essence Of The Game Is Watching The Consequences Unfold
Wildermyth
- Released
- June 15, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- Worldwalker Games
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Wildermyth is a procedural turn-based RPG with a lot of interesting quirks. For starters, every playthrough of all its main campaigns are different from the previous ones. Characters go from peasants wielding pitchforks, clubs, and other improvised weapons, to heroes of renown, with all that implies. Characters fall in love, fight with each other, make everlasting bonds of friendship, marry, have children, train their children as successors.
Each turn, players need to travel across the lands fighting invaders from other realms, monsters, and sinister creatures, all while unraveling the mysteries of the world and its primal magic. Some of those mysteries might have unforeseen consequences for those who dabble with it, and that's where the causality element kicks in real hard. Players can make the choice of being disrespectful to a forest deity, and that character will forever be cursed. Or choose to embrace the power given, and become terianthropes. Some characters will make a heroic last stand during battle and forever be crippled turning to teaching the newer generations of heroes. Some others, won't survive the ordeal. It's an incredible game, to say the least, one that even has a cooperative mode, so it's perfect to enjoy with friends.
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
No Save During Combat, And That's Okay
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
- Released
- April 30, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- 6 Eyes Studio
- Publisher(s)
- 1C Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Fell Seal Arbiter's Mark walks a thin line between a hardcore Final Fantasy Tactics and Darkest Dungeon where combat is as challeneing as it's punishing for those who fail. This game doesn't allow second chances, nor quicksave during combat, and despite the pleads of players to add this feature into the game, the devs have rejected adding it. The reason is simple: To avoid save scumming.
For a game as big as this with a New Game+ Feature, and DLCs, this is a big deal. There are many important choices to make during the adventure, most of which lead to encoutners with characters, and other content that gets locked if players don't take certain routes. Story Events are also important for Unique Classes, since certain characters have a 'unlock through progression' special class that is really worth the trouble (or the AP grind). Nevertheless, Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is an awesome and difficult RPG.
Undertale
A Game With A Cool An Unusual Way To Punish Saving Scummers
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Toby Fox
- Genre(s)
- RPG
No matter if you go for the Pacifist Run, or the Genocide Run, Undertale is going to recognize players that attempt to save and reload a lot, and it will alter the ending they are aiming for. In Undertale, there's only one save file per player, so attempting to reset will only erase certain information of the save file, while other things will be permanent.
The only way to unlock a True Resetis after players complete a True Pacifist Run, and even then the game 'remembers' (or more like, stores) the consequences of previous Genocide Runs. So, it's a rather complicated game for those who enjoy 'save scumming.' The dev explained this is a feature purposely included in the game to encourage choice and consequences, which is basically the essence of this singular RPG. However, Deltarune (which is not a sequel of the first game) does have some differences, namely, three saving files instead of a singular one. It is, arguably, a little more lenient on players in that sense.
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