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Read The Fine Print: 7 Times I Got Duped By Not Reading A Game’s Item Descriptions

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Items from various games in front of a Mission Failed screen.

We’ve all been there. Sprinting into battle, item in hand, fully confident, only to realize too late that we misunderstood what that item does. Maybe it was the vague name, perhaps it was blind optimism, or maybe, just maybe, I didn’t read the description. Skipping the fine print can turn an item into a personal disaster.

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Here is my lovingly compiled tribute to those tragic oversights. Seven times I got bamboozled by the very gear I thought would save me. These are the moments that prove one simple truth: reading is fundamental… and sometimes, it’s the only thing standing between me and a flaming squad wipe. Whoops.

Stardew Valley – Monster Musk

What Could Go Wrong With A Little Cologne?

Monster Musk from Stardew Valley in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

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Stardew Valley

Released
February 26, 2016

ESRB
E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)

Developer(s)
ConcernedApe

Publisher(s)
ConcernedApe

Engine
Proprietary

Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play
Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC

Cross Save
cross-progression is only available between the PC and mobile versions of the game

Number of Players
1-4

Split Screen Orientation
Vertical or Horizontal

Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified

Platform(s)
PC, Xbox One, Android, iOS, PS4, Switch

OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Local Co-Op Support
1-4 Players

X|S Optimized
No

File Size Xbox Series
1 GB (November 2023)

Metascore
89

Nothing says relaxing farm life like an unexpected monster party on your peaceful property.

Monster Musk sounds magical and mysterious, maybe something you’d wear to a quirky seasonal festival. What it actually does is crank the monster spawn rate through the roof. Super handy when I’m grinding in the mines… but an absolute nightmare when I click it right before bed and turn my peaceful crops into a boss arena. One moment I’m watering potatoes, the next I’m fighting for my life in my jammies.

Rainbow Six Siege – Breaching Charge

Turns Out Reinforced Walls Are Immune

A breach from R6 in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

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Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

To be fair, breaching sounds dramatic enough to work on anything. Turns out, Breaching Charges are very specifically for soft walls only. Try it on a reinforced wall, and you’re basically just slapping a fancy firecracker onto concrete and hoping it gets embarrassed into breaking.

If you’re lucky, your team won’t notice. If you’re unlucky, your team definitely noticed and they’re typing mean things in chat. Honestly, that was on me. And Ubisoft. But mostly me.

Rare Doesn’t Mean Right

A toolbox from DBD in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

mixcollage-07-dec-2024-06-49-pm-142.jpg

ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

Developer(s)
Behaviour Interactive

Publisher(s)
Behaviour Interactive

Engine
Unreal Engine 4

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Cross Save
yes

Franchise
Dead by Daylight

Number of Players
5

Steam Deck Compatibility
yes

Platform(s)
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Switch, Mobile

OpenCritic Rating
Fair

How Long To Beat
N/A

X|S Optimized
Yes

File Size Xbox Series
51 GB (October 2022)

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

Platforms That Support Crossplay
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Rare item and it boosts repair speed? Absolutely yes, slap it on that generator. Except… it’s actually designed for sabotage, like, really designed for it; +100 percent sabotage speed level of designed.

Some players, like myself, tragically, grab Alex’s Toolbox because it’s labeled ‘very rare’ and think they’ll be able to fix gens in seconds, but by using it to repair, you’re basically wasting one of the best sabotage tools in the game. It’s like using a flamethrower to light a candle. A tragic misuse of potential, both mine and the toolbox’s.

Project Zomboid – Dirty Bandage

A Little Dirty Never Hurt… Until It Did

A hurt menu from Project Zomboid in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

PROJECT ZOMBOID

Project Zomboid

Systems

Released
November 8, 2013

ESRB
m

Developer(s)
The Indie Stone

Publisher(s)
The Indie Stone

Engine
LWJGL

Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer

Platform(s)
PC

How Long To Beat
60 Hours

Steam User Rating
94% (November 2, 2023)

I’m bleeding, so I’m panicking. That means I slap a bandage on. Crisis averted, right? Couldn’t be more wrong. That bandage is now a festering Petri dish of regret. Dirty bandages in Zomboid are not just slightly icky, they’re infection magnets.

They quietly turn a manageable wound into a slow, miserable death sentence, and that tiny ‘Dirty’ label is way too easy to miss when I’m sprinting from a horde. I’ve learned the hard way that you’ve got to check your bandages like your life depends on it. Because, well… it actually does.

Helldivers 2 – Eagle Cluster Bomb

Technically Not Friendly Fire If Everyone’s Gone

A cluster bomb from Helldivers 2 in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

mixcollage-07-dec-2024-08-55-am-6495.jpg

Helldivers 2

Released
February 8, 2024

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Developer(s)
Arrowhead Game Studios

Publisher(s)
Sony

Engine
bitsquid

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op

Cross-Platform Play
PC & PS5

Franchise
Helldivers

Number of Players
1-4

Platform(s)
PC, PS5

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

PS Plus Availability
N/A

Metascore
83

Platforms That Support Crossplay
PC & PS5

If ‘cluster bomb’ didn’t already make it obvious that it would be a danger to everyone, including you, the item description tries to politely tell you that this thing covers a lot of ground, but did I listen? Of course not.

The Eagle Cluster Bomb looked like a standard airstrike… right up until it turned my entire squad into flaming confetti. I didn’t just take out the enemy, I redecorated the battlefield with what used to be my teammates. Turns out, ignoring the range details makes for a very effective team wipe. My team-kill ratio: immaculate. Next time, I’ll either aim farther away or just accept that friendly fire is part of the experience.

Phasmophobia – Crucifix

Holy Cross, Batman, It Did Nothing!

Crucifix from Phasmophobia in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

mixcollage-05-dec-2024-05-33-am-9262.jpg

Phasmophobia

Released
October 29, 2024

ESRB
T For Teen // Blood, Use of Drugs, Violence

Developer(s)
Kinetic Games

Publisher(s)
Kinetic Games

Engine
Unity

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op

Number of Players
4

Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified

Early Access Release
September 18, 2020

PC Release Date
September 18, 2020

Xbox Series X|S Release Date
October 29, 2024

PS5 Release Date
October 29, 2024

PSVR2 Release Date
October 29, 2024

Platform(s)
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

How Long To Beat
36.5 hours (solo) / 28 hours (co-op) / 33 hours (vs.)

How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
T For Teen // Blood, Use of Drugs, Violence

PS Plus Availability
N/A

Supported VR Headsets
PlayStation VR 2 Headset

Steam User Rating
96%

It’s supposed to stop the ghost from hunting. That’s the whole point, apparently, but only if you use it before the hunt starts.

Like many new players, I chucked it on the ground like it was holy garlic and expected instant divine protection. The fine print says the effect only works in a tiny radius and only if the ghost hasn’t already kicked off its murder hunt. Once it begins, that cross is nothing but spooky floor decor. So, I died. Maybe it was my fault… but also, maybe ghosts should respect my boundaries.

Sniper Elite: Resistance – Subsonic Ammo

Silently Underwhelming

Ammo from Sniper Elite: Resistance in front of an orange gradient backdrop.

mixcollage-07-feb-2025-01-19-am-4920.jpg

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Released
January 30, 2025

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

Developer(s)
Rebellion Developments

Publisher(s)
Rebellion Entertainment

Engine
Asura

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play
Yes, all platforms

Franchise
Sniper Elite

Number of Players
1-16

Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown

PC Release Date
January 30, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date
January 30, 2025

PS5 Release Date
January 30, 2025

Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

X|S Optimized
Yes

It’s quiet, it’s stealthy, it lets you live your dream of being a ghost with a sniper rifle. That’s the dream, am I right, gamers? The unfortunate problem is that this ammo hits like a wet noodle.

Subsonic Ammo sounds fantastic, but the game kind of forgets to yell at you about how weak it is. If you don’t read the description, you’ll spend an entire mission wondering why your enemies are shrugging off shots like they’re made of titanium. I spent a whole mission wondering why every shot felt like a gentle suggestion. Meanwhile, my targets were walking away like I had just mildly inconvenienced their afternoon.

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