softlock

English

Etymology

From soft +‎ lock.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

softlock (plural softlocks)

1. (video games) A situation where a game remains apparently playable, but further progress is impossible, typically due to a design flaw or glitch.

   Synonyms: gay baby jail, walking dead (Adjective), unwinnable (Adjective)

   I defeated the boss, but got hit at the exact same time; now I'm stuck in a softlock and can't exit the level.

   • 2026 January 23, “Update #2”, in Pathologic 3 Events‎^[1], Ice-Pick Lodge, via Steam Community:

     Fixed a softlock where Concentration in the interrogation room wouldn’t turn off and wouldn’t let you start the interrogation.

Verb

softlock (third-person singular simple present softlocks, present participle softlocking, simple past and past participle softlocked)

1. (video games, transitive or intransitive) To be in or cause a softlock; to remain playable but unable to progress.

See also

• hardlock
• anti-softlock

References

• What Does Softlock and Hardlock Mean in Video Games? MakeUseOf, March 24, 2022