Cryptic crossword clue
Gripped by sudden fear, topless opponents in game lacking vital element 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word ANOXIC

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
N
O
X
I
C

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "lacking vital element" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case lacking vital element = anoxic.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

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