When you’re fully immersed in your favorite video game, the last thing you want is for your gaming experience to take an unexpected turn. A glitch. But not just any glitch, one that makes you want to throw your controller across the room. We’ve all been there, and today, we’re counting down the top ten most frustrating in-game glitches that drive players insane.
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10 The Uninstallation Bug: Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor
The uninstallation bug in Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor is a glitch that tested gamers’ patience. In a time when RPG enthusiasts were eagerly immersing themselves in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, this game promised endless adventures.
However, players soon discovered that uninstalling it was an adventure in itself. They were greeted with a catastrophic error when attempting to remove the game from their systems. The glitch left files behind, causing system instability and, you guessed it, more frustration.
What made this glitch particularly maddening was its persistence. Gamers tried everything, from manual deletions to third-party uninstallers. But the game’s remnants clung stubbornly to their hard drives. It was like a digital ghost haunting your computer.
9 Game Erasure: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team
Glitches are often an inevitable annoyance in gaming, but some can drive players downright insane. And when we talk about frustrating in-game glitches, game erasure in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team certainly deserves a spot on that list.
Imagine spending countless hours exploring dungeons, leveling up your Pokémon, and forming an unbreakable bond with your in-game partner. Now, imagine all that progress vanishing into thin air. That’s the nightmare that Pokémon Mystery Dungeon players faced.
The glitch mainly affected the Game Boy Advance version. It had a habit of erasing your saved data. You could be hours deep into the game, and suddenly, your journey was wiped clean. The culprit? A save file corruption glitch that occurred randomly… with no warning.
Players were left frustrated, with some even having to restart the game multiple times due to this issue. The glitch could turn the most dedicated Pokémon trainers into emotional wrecks.
8 The Killer Doll: The Sims 3
The Sims 3 is a beloved life simulation game filled with quirky moments and characters. But one glitch drove players absolutely bonkers. The infamous killer doll glitch. Picture yourself peacefully building your dream Sim’s life when, suddenly, a seemingly harmless doll starts acting like a deranged psychopath.
This glitch turned the innocuous children’s toy into a menace. Instead of being a source of joy for your virtual toddlers, the doll would eerily come to life. It would move independently and even chase your Sims around the house. Imagine your Sim trying to relax, only to be pursued by a menacing toy. Nightmare fuel, right?
What made it even more frustrating was that there was no straightforward fix for this issue. Players would try everything from resetting the doll to replacing it, but the creepy antics continued. It was like the doll had a personal vendetta against your Sims.
7 The Sketch Bug: Final Fantasy VI
The infamous sketch bug in Final Fantasy VI—it’s a glitch that can drive even the most patient players up the wall. You’re in an epic battle, controlling the character Relm Arrowny, known for her unique sketch ability. But suddenly, the glitch strikes. Instead of copying the enemy’s attack with sketch, you end up with a game-crashing catastrophe.
This glitch occurs when Relm uses sketch on a specific enemy called the “Invisible” in the game. Instead of replicating the attack, it triggers catastrophic events, freezing your game or causing unpredictable errors. Talk about frustrating!
The sketch bug isn’t just annoying. It’s a reminder of the challenges faced by developers in the early days of gaming. It’s a testament to the complex coding that goes into these classic titles and the unexpected bugs that can emerge when players push the limits.
6 The Missingno Glitch: Pokemon Red and Blue
The missingno glitch in Pokémon Red and Blue is a classic in the memories of gamers everywhere. This glitch is like a time machine back to the late ’90s, and it drove players absolutely bonkers.
So, what’s missingno all about? Well, it’s short for “missing number.” A pixelated, blocky Pokémon appears in the game when you perform a series of actions. The glitch was notorious because it could mess up your game if you weren’t careful.
You’d surf along the edge of Cinnabar Island, and bam! You’d encounter missingno instead of the usual water Pokémon. Catching it was tempting, but it could cause some bizarre side effects. Your item inventory could multiply and even scramble your Hall of Fame data.
Why did it drive players insane? Well, partly because no one knew what missingno was or why it existed. Plus, there was the constant fear of corrupting your saved file.
5 The Shivering Isles Mega Glitch: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
The Shivering Isles mega glitch in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion was a true nightmare for gamers. Picture your character all geared up to dive into the mystical realm of Sheogorath’s domain. Suddenly, you’re faced with a game-breaking glitch that could make even the most patient player lose their cool.
This glitch affected the Shivering Isles expansion and caused NPCs to vanish into thin air. Quest-givers, merchants, guards—poof! Gone. It turned the once vibrant and bizarre realm into a ghost town, leaving players stranded and questlines unfinishable. And, trust me, when you’re stuck searching for someone who’s decided to play hide and seek indefinitely, it’s beyond frustrating.
What’s even more maddening is that Bethesda never officially patched this glitch. It left players to rely on mods or console commands to try and fix it. It’s like being handed a puzzle with missing pieces and no hope of completing it.
4 Too Many to Count: Assassin’s Creed: Unity
Assassin’s Creed: Unity, the 2014 installment in the beloved franchise, was notorious for its slew of in-game glitches. In fact, it’s often cited as a prime example of how glitches can mar an otherwise fantastic gaming experience.
One of the most annoying glitches was the floating face bug. The characters’ facial features would mysteriously detach from their heads, leaving players bewildered and horrified by the eerie faces that haunted the streets of Revolutionary Paris.
Players also had to contend with the falling through-the-world glitch. It would send Arno, the game’s protagonist, plummeting through the game’s beautifully recreated Parisian landscape, resulting in countless lost hours of progress.
And who could forget the endless crowds glitch? The streets would inexplicably become jam-packed with infinite NPCs, causing frame rate drops and gameplay slowdowns that made the game nearly unplayable.
3 boot.ini: EVE Online: Trinity
In the world of gaming glitches, some can be downright maddening. Take, for instance, the infamous boot.ini glitch in EVE Online: Trinity. This glitch catapulted players into a vortex of frustration that few could escape unscathed.
EVE Online, the sprawling space MMO, has always been a hotbed for player-driven drama and epic space battles. However, the boot.ini glitch took the chaos to a whole new level. It was a simple file error that had players pulling their hair out. boot.ini is a crucial system file in Windows, and when it starts causing problems in your favorite game, you know you’re in for a rough ride.
This glitch made headlines for all the wrong reasons, as it didn’t just disrupt gameplay. It crashed the entire party. Imagine meticulously planning a massive fleet battle, only to have it obliterated by a glitch that wasn’t your fault. That’s the sort of frustration this glitch delivered.
2 Jiggy Glitch: Banjo-Kazooie
The jiggy glitch in Banjo-Kazooie is a classic game with a not-so-classic frustration factor. You’re trying to collect all those precious Jiggies to save Tooty from the evil witch Gruntilda. You’ve been meticulous, exploring every nook and cranny of Spiral Mountain.
But suddenly, you encounter the jiggy glitch. This infuriating hiccup can make even the most patient gamer lose their cool.
Here’s the deal: In the Click Clock Wood level, a Jiggy is supposed to be hidden beneath a snowman. But, due to this glitch, it can sometimes be impossible to access. Players have reported trying everything, from ground pounds to beak busts, and still, that elusive Jiggy remains out of reach. It’s like a cruel joke from the game developers.
This glitch is particularly frustrating because it disrupts your quest for 100% completion. Completionists know the struggle all too well, and this glitch can leave you wondering if you’ll ever truly conquer the game.
1 The Doghouse Glitch: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
There’s an annoying Doghouse Glitch in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. It’s an annoying bug that has driven many players absolutely bonkers. Picture yourself strolling through Mabe Village, enjoying the charming world of Koholint Island. Suddenly, you spot a doghouse. Innocent enough, right?
This glitch has a knack for turning your leisurely quest into a frustrating ordeal. So, what’s the deal? Well, it all starts when you enter the doghouse. Normally, you’d expect to find a cute canine companion waiting inside. Instead, you get… nothing. An empty house. Baffling, right?
But wait, it gets worse. After you exit the doghouse, you’ll notice that the game world has morphed into a nightmarish hellscape, filled with distorted graphics, misplaced NPCs, and a general sense of chaos. Navigating this mess is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.
And here’s the real kicker—this glitch doesn’t have a straightforward fix. You might need to reset your game or, in some cases, start from scratch. It’s a cruel twist in an otherwise delightful Zelda adventure.
