Definition of «soft-lock»

"Soft-lock" refers to a state in a video game where progress becomes permanently impossible due to a glitch or oversight without the program actually crashing. Unlike a hard crash that closes the application, the player remains trapped in an unwinnable situation—such as being stuck behind a closed door or lacking a required quest trigger—forcing them to reload a previous save. The term is widely used across gaming culture, speedrunning communities, and quality assurance discussions to describe frustrating design bugs that stall gameplay progression. Its emotional tone is typically annoyed or critical when encountered during casual play, though it is discussed analytically in technical bug-hunting contexts.