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

10 July 2025

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read-the-fine-print:-7-times-i-got-duped-by-not-reading-a-game’s-item-descriptions — Read The Fine Print: 7 Times I Got Duped By Not Reading A Game’s Item Descriptions

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

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.