Bugs and glitches are a common part of the gaming world. Developers usually try to fix them as quickly as possible, but sometimes they leave them in intentionally.
There are pros and cons to both leaving and removing intentional glitches and purposeful bugs. On the one hand, they can spoil gameplay; on the other, they can add character to the game.
If you’re interested in seeing what intentional bugs in games look like, check out the following list of the best games with them!
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | Video | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Stanley Parable | 2013-10-17 | Adventure | Galactic Cafe | |
 | Undertale | 2015-09-15 | Puzzle & Indie | tobyfox | |
 | Pony Island | 2016-01-04 | Indie & Adventure | Daniel Mullins Games | |
 | Doki Doki Literature Club Plus | 2021-06-30 | Visual Novel & Indie | Team Salvato | |
 | Goat Simulator 3 | 2022-11-17 | Simulator & Adventure | Coffee Stain Studios | |
 | Bugsnax | 2022-04-28 | Indie & Adventure | Young Horses | |
 | Inscryption | 2021-10-19 | Indie & Adventure | Daniel Mullins Games | |
 | Untitled Goose Game | 2020-09-23 | Indie & Adventure | House House |
The Stanley Parable
| Release date: | 2013-10-17 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Galactic Cafe |
This narrative first-person perspective (FPP) adventure game gives players free will and the ability to influence the course of the game. You play a corporate employee who must uncover why no new orders are coming in.
Although the game appears tidy, there is no shortage of bugs. It is possible to get stuck in a broom cupboard or behind a chair, hit an invisible door, or fall off the map through a window. All of these issues often result in having to resume the game from the beginning.
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Undertale
| Release date: | 2015-09-15 |
| Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Turn-based strategy (TBS) & Adventure & Indie & Puzzle |
| Developer: | tobyfox |
This is another independent RPG in which plot and player choices play an important role. You play a child who finds itself in an underground world of monsters and must find a way out.
In this game, bugs can disrupt the gameplay experience by blocking access to certain areas, preventing damage from being dealt, or spoiling the jump mechanics. However, some bugs can be beneficial. For example, you might avoid taking damage by standing still, or use a character who is already in the lobby to bypass specific challenges.
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Pony Island
| Release date: | 2016-01-04 |
| Genre: | Puzzle & Simulator & Adventure & Indie |
| Developer: | Daniel Mullins Games |
This unusual puzzle and arcade game sees you trapped inside a broken computer system. Your task is to solve puzzles and avoid traps in order to help you and the other characters find a way out.
The game features intentional glitches and bugs, such as disappearing menus, fake messages and alterations to the game code. These purposeful glitches and bugs are designed to create the impression of a faulty system from which you must escape.
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Doki Doki Literature Club
| Release date: | 2021-06-30 |
| Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Simulator |
| Developer: | Team Salvato |
This game is a visual novel in which you take on the role of a member of the school’s literary club and get to know its members, and the plot. Over time, this romantic mood turns into a dark thriller. Your task is to make decisions that affect the development of the story and uncover hidden, disturbing secrets.
The game is full of intentional glitches, such as interfering with the game code, deleting dialogue, freezing text, and sudden changes to graphics and sound. These glitches cause the game to behave unpredictably, thereby enhancing its psychological horror and surprising the player.
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Goat Simulator
| Release date: | 2014-04-01 |
| Genre: | Simulator & Adventure & Indie |
| Developer: | Coffee Stain Studios |
This humorous arcade game is perfect for anyone looking for an enjoyable gaming experience. You play as a goat causing chaos in an open world. Your task in this crazy game is to cause as much chaos as possible using the various gameplay options available.
Goat Simulator contains many intentional glitches and bugs which add to the fun. The fact that a goat can fly through the air, get lost under the map, or get stuck in strange places is a perfect illustration of the game’s character.
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Bugsnax
| Release date: | 2022-04-28 |
| Genre: | Puzzle & Adventure & Indie |
| Developer: | Young Horses |
This is another action-adventure game full of humor. You play as an explorer on a mysterious island full of animals.
In Bugsnax, there are bugs that can cancel missions, but the players keep the creatures they have captured. However, this has a positive effect, as you can repeat certain actions and use them to increase the size of your collection.
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Inscryption
| Release date: | 2021-10-19 |
| Genre: | Puzzle & Strategy & Adventure & Indie & Card & Board Game |
| Developer: | Daniel Mullins Games |
Our list closes with a dark card game with adventure and roguelike elements. In it, you take on the role of a mysterious hero who gets stuck in a certain cabin. Your task is to get out of there by winning a series of dangerous card battles.
In this game, gameplay glitches are simulated as part of the narrative. Changes in gameplay style, image distortions and false messages are intended to build an atmosphere of unease and emphasise the unusual nature of the storyline.
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Conclusion
This is everything you need to know about intentional glitches and purposeful bugs in games. While they may not always be a good thing, they can add interesting variety to gameplay.
If you enjoy this type of content, we invite you to visit our website, where you will find lots of other interesting articles about the world of gaming!