Permadeath

Permadeath, short for permanent death, is a game mechanism in which the death of the player's character is final for that run. When a character dies, the player cannot reload a previous save or resurrect that same character to continue the same progress. In many games with permadeath, progress can still persist between runs through unlocks, seeds, or other meta-progression, but the immediate character and session end with death.

Originating in early roguelike titles, the concept has been a defining feature of that genre. The term permadeath is commonly used in the roguelike and roguelite communities to distinguish it from conventional games that allow reloading saved progress after death. Over time, many games offer permadeath as an optional mode or implement it in a softened form, such as ironman modes or hardcore settings, to preserve tension while providing alternative pathways or safeguards.

Variants of permadeath range from strict to soft. Strict permadeath eliminates any possibility of revival within a run and often removes save-and-reload options entirely. Soft or gradual permadeath may permit limited revival or checkpoints, with the core rule that the player must start a new run after death. Other approaches include temporary death with persistent world states, or optional modes that require a new character but retain unlocked content from prior runs.

Design and player impact: permadeath changes risk assessment, pacing, and experimentation. It tends to raise tension and encourage cautious exploration, but can deter casual players or learning by punishing frequent mistakes. Developers balance permadeath with learning curves, reward structures, and optional accommodations to broaden appeal.

Examples of games known for permadeath include traditional roguelikes and roguelites such as NetHack, Spelunky, and The Binding of Isaac, as well as titles like FTL: Faster Than Light that apply the mechanic within broader progression systems.