[[SuperMarioBros http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mario_Cunning_Plan.jpg]]
[-[[caption-width:279: This, but you only have one life and you've probably already saved. And you just used up the only available savestate.]]-]

->''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny "Ethel! I-I think we're fighting a losing game!"]]''
-->-- '''Lucy''', ''ILoveLucy''

->In your head voices mocking every prayer
->Now you're lost forever!
-->-- "LostForever" by '''BlackSabbath'''

'Unwinnable' is a gameplay state in which it is completely impossible for the player to finish the game. Players who have reached this point have only two options: reload a previous save--in the fortunate situations where this is possible, or start the game anew--for the much more unfortunate situations where it is not.

{{Unwinnable}} comes in two flavors. The first is UnwinnableByMistake, where bad design oversights or bug-filled programming stop the player from progressing, prevent the player from accessing needed equipment, or otherwise make the game impossible to beat. The second is UnwinnableByDesign, where [[AlwaysChaoticEvil chaotic evil]] programmers [[KaizoTrap deliberately create traps]] for people to stumble into. Either type has been known to prompt a BigNo from frustrated gamers, and if the instance is the result of particularly [[TVTropesDrinkingGame egregiously]] [[TheyJustDidntCare bad programming]], it may result in an InternetBacklash.

Compare LuckBasedMission and ControllableHelplessness. See also WakeUpCallBoss.

!Examples go on the subpages, UnwinnableByDesign and UnwinnableByMistake.
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