Everyone comes to a point in their gaming life in which they have to run from a fight, or just in general. There aren’t many people who proudly proclaim that they’ve done so, but everyone can admit to doing it with enough prodding. While it can be a bit demoralizing, there are more than a few games in which running away is actually a pretty solid strategy.

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Everyone has rushed into a fight that they just weren’t prepared for or that offered far more enemies than they initially thought. Things get even trickier when those fights are quite difficult, so rather than going back to your last save or losing important items, the best bet is to get in those all-important daily steps by fleeing.

10 Dark Souls

The chosen undead standing near a lit bonfire in  Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls

To some, the newest iterations of the Souls series haven’t managed to capture the same level of difficulty as the first Dark Souls. Many players are confident enough to stand their ground and take on the toughest of bosses, even if they’re likely to lose.

The thing about Dark Souls is that the design is incredibly tricky, and bonfire layout can make progression tough. Sometimes, it's worth it to simply rush past waves of enemies to make it to the next bonfire before taking a death. It’s not the proudest strategy in the world, but it is one that works.

9 The Witcher 3

The-Witcher-3-Is-The-Perfect-Allegory-For-Otherness-2-1

Unlike most games, there really is no shame in fleeing from a fight that you aren’t ready for in The Witcher 3. A big part of the lore of Witchers is needing to brew potions, oils, and bombs before ever diving into combat with some tough creatures. If you haven’t done so, you made need to run to avoid a brutal death.

In a way, it’s almost more rewarding to flee from a fight you weren’t ready for. After a little preparation, you can track that beast back down and show it what Geralt is made of. Worst comes to worst, you can always flee from fights to make travel a bit faster as well.

8 Breath Of The Wild

a wide angle shot of Link holding up his shield at an incoming Lynel wielding a giant hammer

Pretty much everyone who played through Breath Of The Wild when it was initially released came across a group of enemies with next to no weapons in their inventory. That sort of thing might not be an issue with multiple Divine Beasts defeated, but it certainly is toward the beginning of the game.

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It’s the worst to be locked in a fight with a group, only to break your last weapon. At that point, your only real option is to flex those stamina wheels and get out of trouble. Just make sure you get back there to finish those Moblins off once and for all.

7 Pokemon Sword And Shield

Pokemon Sword and Shield, thrown Pokeball to catch a Pokemon

While running from fights is a viable option in Pokemon Sword And Shield, it should be said that it is a viable option in just about every Pokemon game in existence. Sometimes, you just don’t have time to deal with lower-level critters as you backtrack through the world.

Unlike many other games, most people flee from Pokemon battles thanks to the encounter rate forcing them into pointless fights. There are, though, some instances where you may be down to your last Pokemon and have to run to avoid getting wiped.

6 Grand Theft Auto 5

Michael, Franklin and Trevor looking down at Devin Weston in Grand Theft Auto 5

While most games provide you with the option to run from fights, it’s essentially a built-in mechanic in the Grand Theft Auto universe thanks to the Wanted system from the series. If you want to survive the cops after a big heist, you’re going to have to avoid them.

There may be more than a few different ways to handle the high-octane police chases, but it does all come down to running for your life. The more you fight back against the cops, the worse things are bound to get.

5 Resident Evil

Resident Evil Screenshot Of Wesker Stopping Jill From Leaving Mansion

Most early video games taught players to bash their way through pretty much every enemy that steps into their path. Games like the original Resident Evil decided to go a different direction and actually made it beneficial to avoid fights altogether.

While not every zombie can be avoided easily, and not every enemy is as scary as the last, it is often better to save your ammo for the tougher creatures in the game. Those that don’t conserve their best ammo may find themselves having to start over from the beginning at multiple points.

4 Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 Infinity Pistol firing at Dash Commando

Every Borderlands game offers its fair share of forced combat sections, but they also all have plenty of sections in which you can avoid fights altogether. It’s generally better to take on enemies for precious experience points, but sometimes running is the best option.

There can be a whole host of reasons why running might be best. Sometimes you need to rush across the map to save a fellow player, and sometimes you just need to make it to your next objective. Whatever the reason, the characters in-game might only make fun of you a little bit for running.

3 Red Dead Redemption 2

A player riding a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2

Much like the Grand Theft Auto games, the Red Dead Redemption series has implemented its own unique version of the Wanted system. Red Dead Redemption 2 actually put its own little twist on it by including a witness pop-up that tells you someone has seen your dastardly deed.

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If things go south for too long, the law will be on your back in no time. Often, the best option is to simply flee from the area, only to come back later to pay off your crimes. It adds a nice level of realism to a game that strived for that very thing in many aspects.

2 Skyrim

One of Skyrim's Nords fighting a Dragon in the snow.

While most players who took on Skyrim on the normal or even easier difficulties likely never struggled all that much in combat, some players are a bit more hardcore. Some players crank the difficulty to make the experience as true-to-life as possible.

Not being totally prepared with potions, spells, food everyone wishes they could try, weapons, and armor for every single encounter might mean certain death. Recognizing when to flee from a rough situation at the right time is an important skill for those looking to take Skyrim to its maximum difficulty.

1 Persona 5 Royal

There are actually quite a few reasons to run from the various fights you’ll find yourself embroiled in throughout the Persona series. In the most recent games, it can be a great idea to flee from fights in order to preserve what precious SP you have in order to make it to the end of a dungeon.

There is a more dangerous situation, though. Sometimes you’ll come across deadly enemies that you won’t have the perfect Persona to deal with. If that’s the case, the safest option can often be to run, especially if you haven’t saved in a while.

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