If there's one universal truth in video games, it's that we'll pick up absolutely everything we see. It doesn't matter if it's a legendary sword or a rusty spoon - if it has a "loot" option, we'll take it. But the problem arises when we realize that half of these things are completely useless... but we collect them anyway. Why? Because maybe one day they will be needed. Of course, you never need them.
In this special, we bring you the top 5 most useless items that we all neatly stuff into our inventory - for no reason at all.
5. "Random junk" - things that exist just to exist
Almost every open-world game has a category of items that literally serve no purpose other than to take up space. Old cans, broken glasses, rusty screws, pieces of paper... the list is endless.
And of course, we collect them.
The problem is that games train us that everything can have value. Once you learn that some "junk" item can be key to crafting, you start taking absolutely everything. Result? An inventory full of junk that you will never use, but you keep it anyway "just in case".
4. The collectibles you never finish
Figures, cards, diaries, audio tracks, hidden symbols... you know what we're talking about. The games are full of collectibles that promise a reward if you collect them all.
Reality? You collect 23 out of 100 and give up.
What makes them useless is not the idea itself, but the fact that most players never finish the collection. And without completion - no reward. However, every time you see one of those objects, the brain says: "Come on, maybe you'll finish this time." Spoiler: you won't.
3. Potions that we "save for later"
One of the biggest paradoxes of gaming – you have dozens of health potions, but you don't use them. Why? Because you might need it later. And so the game ends... and the inventory is full.
This especially applies to RPG games where we collect all possible buffs, elixirs and rare potions that we never use. Instead of making the fight easier, we play "hard" - because "we don't want to spend a rare item".
Ironically, these same items often remain completely unused.
2. Weapons we never use
How many times have you found a new weapon and thought, "This looks great, but I won't use it - maybe later"? And then you never touch it again.
Inventory full of swords, guns or magic wands that you never use because you already have "your" weapon. Habit is stronger than statistics.
It's even worse when the game keeps giving new weapons, so we collect them out of sheer habit. We end up with an arsenal that could start a war… but we've been using the same one since the beginning of the game.
1. Crafting materials we have too many
Wood, stone, leather, metal, plants... crafting systems have become standard in modern games. Problem? We always collect more than we need.
In the beginning, everything makes sense - you need resources to craft equipment. But as the game progresses, the inventory becomes full of materials that you will never use again. You have 500 pieces of something... and you need 10.
And of course, you continue to collect.
Why? Because he might need it. (He won't.)
Why do we do this?
In the end, the real question is not why these objects are useless - but why we continue to collect them. The answer lies in game design. Loot systems activate a sense of reward, even when the item has no real value.
Each pickup gives a small "dopamine hit". The game trains us to collect, even when it doesn't make sense. Add to that the fear of missing out on something important (FOMO), and you get the perfect recipe for an inventory full of useless things.
