Softlock
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
The game does not crash, the screen is still moving, and the music is still playing, but the player cannot perform any actions or advance the plot, and can only force a restart.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Identify deadlock. Has your project or life entered a softlock? On the surface, it is still running (punching in to work every day), but in reality, there is no possibility of advancement (no promotion, no learning new knowledge). At this point, do not waste time; the only solution is a "forced restart" (changing jobs, changing careers).
Anchor fast decisions
Refers to a design or state that non-forcibly but strongly guides/limits user choices. Its mechanism uses guidance, rewards, or process constraints to converge paths, without directly blocking with errors.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/2Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_video_game_termsverified
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