Cheating in video games is nothing new, and as online multiplayer games continue to grow in popularity, so does the use of cheats, hacks, and exploits. While developers are committed to providing fair gaming experiences, many have found creative and often hilarious ways to punish cheaters, turning their own tactics against them. In this article, we’ll explore five memorable times when game developers trolled cheaters in the funniest ways.
Rockstar Games has long been notorious for its unique approach to handling cheaters in GTA Online, and one of the funniest examples happened when they decided to let the NPCs take matters into their own hands. In response to players who were caught cheating, Rockstar implemented a feature that made NPCs in the game world actively target and kill the cheaters. The irony here is that NPCs, known for being terrible drivers and having limited intelligence, would somehow manage to take down the cheater in the most random and absurd ways.
Players who used mods to spawn tanks or god-mode hacks would suddenly find themselves bombarded by random NPCs in the streets. They could be casually running errands in the game, only to have a pedestrian throw a grenade at them or get run over by an NPC who wasn’t even supposed to be near them. It was a hilarious twist on the standard punishment, making players realize that cheating may have its perks—but it’s also incredibly ridiculous.
In the battle royale world, PUBG quickly became known for its effective (and sometimes entertaining) methods of dealing with cheaters. One particularly funny instance occurred when cheaters in PUBG would be caught using aimbots or wallhacks to get the upper hand. Instead of an immediate ban, the developers would let the cheater continue playing, but with one significant twist—they were forced to play in Spectator Mode.
While they thought they were still part of the match, their screen would switch to the spectator view, where they could see all the other players but could no longer interact with the game. This meant they would still be in the game, but completely powerless. The worst part? They could watch their victims as they carried on playing without the cheater, who was left helpless, watching the chaos unfold around them. This troll had cheaters helplessly watching their foes carry on while they were banned from affecting the game.
Source: PUBG on Wikipedia
Blizzard is well-known for its approach to combating cheaters in Overwatch, but there’s one instance that stood out as particularly funny. When cheaters were caught using aimbots or wallhacks in Overwatch, Blizzard didn’t just ban them immediately; they gave them a taste of their own medicine, but in a very hilarious way.
Players who were caught cheating would find that their heroes had been “NERFed” in the most comical of ways. For example, if a cheater was using aimbots with Reaper, they would be suddenly unable to aim properly, or if they were using speed hacks, their movement speed would be drastically reduced to an almost comically slow pace. It was a fitting way for Blizzard to remind cheaters that their actions could be used against them, and they often couldn’t escape the developers’ trolling without becoming a joke in the game itself. Read about the best legal tools to improve your gaming skills without cheating in our article.
This method of trolling worked because it was both humiliating and a warning to the player that there was no easy escape from cheating in Overwatch.
Epic Games is no stranger to trolling cheaters, and in Fortnite, their creative punishment methods were designed to make cheaters’ lives much more difficult. In one instance, cheaters using aimbots to lock on to opponents were suddenly hit with an unpredictable twist. The game would trigger the Storm to close in faster than usual, giving cheaters no time to recover, heal, or even engage with players properly.
To add insult to injury, Fortnite would sometimes force cheaters to experience issues like falling through the map or getting stuck in objects, making it impossible for them to play normally. They were unable to escape the situation, and their victory became as elusive as the fair play they chose to ignore. Epic Games didn’t simply ban them—they created a unique punishment experience that was both frustrating and laughable for cheaters.
The beauty of this approach was that cheaters could continue to play, but they were essentially “punished” by the game’s mechanics, which made the entire situation feel less like a punishment and more like a cosmic joke.
Valve has always had a knack for dealing with cheaters in creative ways, and Team Fortress 2 provided one of the most humorous methods of trolling. In one memorable moment, cheaters who used aimbots to give themselves an unfair advantage were given a taste of their own medicine when Valve decided to turn them into disguised players.
Instead of immediately banning the cheater, Valve would let them play as usual, but with one hilarious twist: they were automatically disguised as another player. This meant the cheater, who thought they had complete control of the match, would find themselves playing as an enemy character while others had no idea they were the ones actually controlling them. This made it almost impossible for them to play normally, and cheaters often found themselves outed by other players who figured out the trick.
Valve’s disguise tactic served as both a punishment and a form of trolling, forcing cheaters to “blend in” while still being outplayed by legitimate players. It was an ingenious way to remind them that cheating can’t always be so easily hidden.
Cheating in video games has always been a controversial topic, and developers have found countless ways to punish players who choose to exploit unfair advantages. However, some of the most effective—and hilarious—punishments come from creative trolling. Whether it’s through making cheaters helpless in the game world, giving them an impossible task to complete, or forcing them to experience the same frustrations they impose on others, these trolls serve as both a lesson and a reminder that cheating often comes with more than just a ban. So, next time you’re tempted to cheat, remember that the developers might have something much more creative (and funny) in store for you!