History Main / FinalDeathMode

* Creator/ParadoxInteractive in-house games since ''VideoGame/CrusaderKingsII'' (the others so far being ''VideoGame/EuropaUniversalis IV'', ''VideoGame/HeartsOfIron IV'', and ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'') require the use of "Ironman" mode to earn {{achievement}}s. Meeting the game over condition(s) (e.g. losing your last primary title above baronies or [[HeirClubForMen dying without an heir of your dynasty]] in ''CKII'') means the game is no longer playable. This requires a connection to Paradox's server and an [[GameMod unmodded game]] (outside of minor cosmetic or text changes); failing either condition even once means achievements can no longer be earned on that save.

Often considered a trait of NintendoHard. SubTrope of CheckPointStarvation. For specific conditions that can cause FinalDeath, even if you didn't sign up for it, see DeletionAsPunishment. Related to FinalDeath, which is when non-Player Characters only have one life.

* In 2014, ''VideoGame/{{RuneScape}}'' released two new variants of its standard game as complete modes: Ironman, and Hardcore Ironman. The former prevents you from trading with other players, picking up any of their loot or dropped items, and essentially means that the player is on their own - pretty much turning the game into a single player game. Certain minigames that require teamwork are disabled, and several abilities have their group benefits removed. HC Ironman takes this UpToEleven by only giving you one life; if you die, you cannot respawn; except with certain consumable items, of which you can only get 2 of (three lives maximum).
** The version of rules was originally used in a [[SelfImposedChallenge challenge]] for Old School (OSRS) players who wanted to give themselves a handicap, and would frequently post progress on blogs or in videos.

* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' has a ''FinalDeath DLC'' called ''Justine''. Not only is the player character limited to one life, saves are not allowed at anytime and, if the player character gets killed, ''[[UpToEleven the game will quit and you will be sent back to your desktop.]]'' Talk about a good reason not to die...

* Inverted in most mainline ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' games starting with ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'': as with the rest of the series, FinalDeath is considered the standard, Casual Mode (allies whose HP goes to 0 come back after a chapter is over) is something you specifically turn on. Neither mode prohibits saving (or even SaveScumming), however.

* ''VideoGame/GhostReconWildlands'' has Ghost Mode, in which your character is deleted if they are killed in action, and your NPC teammates also die permanently if KO'ed and not [[CombatResuscitation]] revived in time.

* ''VideoGame/GhostReconWildlands'' has Ghost Mode, in which your character is deleted if they are killed in action, and NPC teammates also die permanently if KO'ed and not revived in time.

* ''VideoGame/GhostReconWildlands'' has Ghost Mode, in which your character is deleted if they are killed in action.

->''Game over!\\
'''(Spectate world)```

->''You died!\\
You cannot respawn in hardcore mode!\\
'''(Delete world)''' ''

* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' has a Hardcore Mode which freezes the difficulty level of a world to Hard and put evil expressions onto the LifeMeter. Once the player dies, the world has to be deleted, or in multiplayer they're banned from the server. Downplayed in 1.9, as it allow player to spectate their world after they killed.

* {{Downplayed|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' and ''[[VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII Original Sin II]] with Honour Mode: there's one save file, which is deleted if [[TotalPartyKill the entire party is killed]], and the game auto-saves whenever a party member dies. However, in-game resurrection abilities still work.

* {{Downplayed|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' and ''[[VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII Original Sin II]] with Honour Mode: there's one save file, which is deleted if [[TotalPartyKills the entire party dies]], and the game auto-saves whenever a party member dies. However, in-game resurrection abilities still work.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has the near-universally-recognized [[SelfImposedChallenge Nuzlocke Challenge]], which forces the player to release any pokémon who [[NeverSayDie faints]].

* Hardcore Mode in the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series allows only one life to your character -- if you die, your character needs to be deleted. Blizzard even gives you a warning before choosing this mode that they will not revive a dead character for any reason.
-->''"You have but one life, eager hero. If you should die, though your deeds will be remembered, you shall not return again.\\\
Customer Service will not revive a fallen Hardcore hero for any reason."''

* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' has a Hardcore Mode which freezes the difficulty level of a world to Hard and put evil expressions onto the LifeMeter. Once the player dies, the world has to be deleted, or in multiplayer they're banned from the server.

* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' has a difficulty system that increases the penalty for death the higher up you go. In softcore, you drop half your money. In mediumcore, you drop items. In hardcore, you die permanently, meaning if you had any items on you at the time, they're gone for good unless you're playing multiplayer or you had some stuff stashed in a chest.

* ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'' has a difficulty known as "I Never Asked For This" -- you can ''save'', but when you die, you have to restart the game from the beginning. The actual difficulty is the same as the game's hard mode, "Give me Deus Ex", but, to quote the game's difficulty select screen, "...but just like in real life, you only live once." This unlocks after completing the game once, on any difficulty.

* ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'' has a difficulty known as "I Never Asked For This" -- you can ''save'', but when you die, you have to restart the game from the beginning. The actual difficulty is the same as the game's hard mode, "Give me Deus Ex", but, to quote the game's difficulty select screen, "...but just like in real life, you only live once."

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* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' campaigns from ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' onward allow players to activate the "Iron" skull, which has this effect in solo campaigns.

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* ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' has the ''Desolation of Mordor'' DLC, where you play a BadassNormal character without the ResurrectiveImmortality of Talion or Eltariel and as such death will cause you to lose all your loot and reset the gameworld. It's more generous than other versions since you will still retain your story progress as well as any skill upgrades you obtained.

* ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' has "elusive targets", missions that are only available for a limited time. Saving is disabled and the mission cannot be repeated, regardless of success or failure; final death rules are imposed on you ''and'' your target.

* ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' and ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'' have "Ultra-Nightmare" mode, which forces you to restart from the beginning of the campaign if you die. If you manage to make it back to where you died, a tombstone memorializing your previous death will be waiting for you.

* ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' has "Ultra-Nightmare" mode, which forces you to play from the beginning if you die. If you manage to make it back to where you died, a tombstone memorializing your previous death will be waiting for you.

* Beating ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' for the first time unlocks Steel Soul mode, where you cannot respawn as normal, and death will make the save file unplayable until it is reset.

[[caption-width-right:350:Just remember... [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid there are no continues.]]]]