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There are plenty of frustrating things that can happen to you in your favorite game. Buggy levels, unfriendly players, and annoying missions are just a few examples, but sometimes the game is frustrating simply due to its design. One of the most frustrating things that happens to all players is the Game Over screen.
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Some are harsh, some are simple, and others are just plain weird. Whether to rile you up, or by bad design, here are some of the most frustrating Game Over screens in gaming history. Don’t worry, though, you still have some lives left. We hope so.
8 Balatro
A Real Joker
Balatro is a pretty frustrating game by nature, something that may be surprising considering it’s just about cards. However, the simplest games get under your skin the fastest.
The Game Over screen doesn’t help this. The music warping before stopping, the screen twisting to black, and the joker card mascot coming around to mock you in some way or another, all before asking if you want to try again. It’s simple, but it has a surprising effect that can be so, so annoying.
Snaaaaaake!
Metal Gear Solid
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Metal Gear Solid is a classic series full of memorable moments and some pretty tough challenges. Which means players will remember how iconic and infuriating the first game’s Game Over screen is.
Snake’s Codec system was a way for him and his crew to communicate on the frontlines. It was also a way for them to show their disapproval and sadness at your death. The iconic line of “Snake? Snaaaaaaaake” is a good touch, but one that quickly got annoying for those who weren’t keen on the stealth gameplay.
6 Fallout
An Unforgiving World
Fallout
- Released
- October 10, 1997
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Interplay
- Publisher(s)
- Interplay
- Engine
- Creation Engine
- Platform(s)
- PC
The original Fallout may have been forgotten by some in the wake of the newer Fallout series, but it had plenty to bring to the table. For example, one of the more epicly frustrating Game Over screens out there.
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The developers took their time with this one. Any time the Vault Dweller’s time was cut short, a skeleton was shown baking in the sun, and then a bit of text would fill the screen detailing how the world around you changed and was mostly indifferent to the death of your character. A harsh and annoying reminder about the tone of the series.
5 Shadow Of The Colossus
0-0
One of the more mysterious games of the past few decades, Shadow of the Colossus was a simple game with some giant enemies to face. Often times, those enemies get the best of the normal-sized adventurer.
When a Colossus did end up smashing you down, the game would simply show a black screen with the boss you were currently facing up close, like a portrait. Staring directly into the face of the monster that has probably killed you multiple times now surely didn’t improve anyone’s mood.
4 Grand Theft Auto 5
That’ll be $500
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
A classic infuriating Game Over screen, enough to even inspire the name of this article. That’s quite impressive considering how new Grand Theft Auto 5 is in comparison to some of these other games.
GTA 5’s simplistic “WASTED” and the *thunk* noise that goes along with it have cemented themselves in the minds of millions across the globe. It doesn’t matter if you were online or in the story mode; seeing those red letters pop up meant a lot of frustration and probably a good chunk of cash gone.
3 Dark Souls
Those Two Words
There are so many soulslike games that deserve a spot on this list for the sheer amount of times that the Game Over screen shows up while trying to play the game. But, you might as well pay homage to the originator of the genre.
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Dark Souls is a difficult one. The most difficult, though, is an opinion greatly argued over. Regardless, the number of times players saw the “YOU DIED” screen cements it on this list for the simplicity. It drove many of us to the edge. Even now, as new players are discovering the genre through later games, the legacy lives on.
2 Halo
Wort Wort Wort
Halo: Combat Evolved
- Released
- November 15, 2001
The Halo series is an epic of the FPS genre, and the first game has one of the most interesting and annoying Game Over screens in gaming, and it does so in a dynamic nature.
When Master Chief dies before his time during a legendary playthrough, the game first ragdolls your body like only the first Halo does. But then the AI around your body will continue to move around, speaking, acting, and shooting as though everything was normal. The worst were the elites, who would laugh their unique laugh as they stared down at you.
1 Batman Arkham City
Tough Luck Bats
Batman: Arkham Asylum
The Batman Arkham games saw the Caped Crusader against a whole host of villains from the comic books. If Batman was brought low against one of them, figures like The Joker, Clayface, or The Penguin would show up and give you a little encouragement.
It was a fun idea, one that let you see a bit more of the games’ antagonists, but one that got pretty frustrating when you saw the same character say the same lines over and over again at a particularly difficult part. Some players used it as fuel, while others found it more frustrating than driving.
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