What’s the Point of Replaying Games?

Matt says, "Normally, I don’t replay games. It’s never anything against the game and most of the time the games are fun and enjoyable. However, I don’t really see the point of replaying an entire game. Keep in mind, I am talking about story driven games and not sports games or online shooters."

[uth11]

because you enjoyed it the first time?
Why do people re-watch movies?

[Metallox]

Not even mentioning that in times of poorness, it's your only alternative, even if you don't like to replay games.

[Roccetarius]

Not to mention the alternative in times where less and less games are worth the money.

[breakpad]

well said.. and not only in times of literal poorness but also in times of "good gaming poorness"

[Fro_xoxo]

There are various reasons..
and it's okay not to, if you don't want to.

[ArchangelMike]

Agree. I absolutly love Alien Isolation. But I really doubt that I'll ever replay that game, specifically the campaign. I might try the challenges though... if I ever get through my backlog!

[Alsybub]

Damn backlog. I've stopped buying games because of mine. The guilt is too much. Thing is, I then have a backlog of games that I intend to buy, at least they should be cheaper when I get round to buying them.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

idk what is but I find myself not re-playing 360/PS3/Wii gen games that much. But I will often go back to GC/PS2 era or N64. Also I guess it depends on the genre More often than not I replay Rpgs cause there is so much to do. Also depends on the series I suppose. Like I never get tired of Kingdom Hearts,3D Zelda's, Tales of series, Paper Mario(N64)/Thousand year door.

[Alsybub]

I totally get that, I'm the same and I've never really thought about it that way but the games that I go back to are from that era too.

If I do go back to an old game it'll generally be ICO (PS2), Shadow of the Colossus (PS2), Okami (PS2), REZ (DC), Ikaruga (DC) or Katamari Damacy (PS2). Obviously most of them have been remade on 360 or PS3 but they're still the same games from that era.

Of all the games I have ever played REZ is the one that I must have completed hundreds of times.

[Fizzler]

If a game doesn't have upgradable equipment or weapons and/or you can't change the outcome of anything then once is enough for me.

Take Uncharted for example, any of them, after one playthrough there is literally no reason to replay it unless you're a perfectionist and want to get all the treasures too, not even trolling, I just couldn't think of a better example, I've played all 3 Uncharted games and will play 4 as well once it releases.

[monkeyDzoro]

Please make me the only one to reply to this troll. Don't feed him.

[optimus]

I'm not understanding what makes him a troll? Because he finds no reason to play uncharted again? That makes no sense. Is he supposed to play it over and over?...

Anyhow, for the most part, i don't play games over unless i'm completely bored. The only game and that i find worth going back to because i find it can be very addicting is pinball fx2...

something about obtaining the highest score that keeps me going and going...maybe because i'm an old school player and most arcade games were driven simply by trying to achieve the highest score. Nowadays, it's all about the story and once it's over, it's over...until they come out with dlc's for it which i hardly ever buy.

[averagejoe26]

He's telling people there is "literally" no reason to replay uncharted.

So either he doesn't know the meaning of "literally," doesn't understand that enjoyment of video games is subjective, or is a troll.

The first two options are quite absurd so it would be safe to say he's trolling (or I guess, just not that smart).

[Clown_Syndr0me]

Not everyone with a different opinon from you is a troll.

Guess what, I played Mass Effect for 2 hrs then never touched it again. Wasn't for me. Am I troll?
I absolutely hate Fallout, but love the Elder Scrolls. I have no interest in Blood borne. Im really enjoying The Crew despite its poor reviews. I actually enjoyed Knack. Come on, tell me all about how I'm trolling for having personal opinions..

[telekineticmantis]

Funny, Uncharted 2 was gonna be my prime example of a game I replayed multiple times. Remember the train sequence? Well that sequence was so fun, I replayed it multiple times, the was just so many ways to attack it, and the platfoming was hilarious and fun.

I was gonna say when a game has fun, almost arcadey type of gameplay, and memorable sequences, that's when I replay. But if a game has a great/emotional story, I usually don't replay, no more than twice if I do, my heart just Can't take it, but the game will live with me like it was a real experience forever, kinda like the MGS series, or Shadow of the colossus.

[Godmars290]

Not much in modern times. Most are designed for one playthrough.

[Sokol]

If I really enjoy the game I will play it again, maybe not right away but months down the line.

If I don't after a long period of time then it's time to put it towards the purchase of the next game.

It's a personal preference, however I do agree compared to the older games PS1/PS2 era for example - I don't find myself re-playing the modern games as much.

[kratoz1209]

If I enjoyed it I will play it again.
If I like a movie I will rewatch it again

[46889337]

There are several reasons I enjoy playing through games a second time. Whether its trying out a different difficulty mode, unlocking new items in New Game+ or just learning something new about the game or story I may have missed on my first playthrough.

But really, as long as the game is enjoyable that's enough reason to play through it again. Same reason I enjoy rewatching movies or TV episodes.

[Jubez187]

I'm not a big replayer, but I am a trophy hunter. If the game asks for multiple playthroughs I'm okay with it. Usually I get a better grasp of the story, and maybe a new difficulty along with it. I know some people swear against replaying but oh well.

[totalrecoilzz]

that why i play story driven games when they cost about a fiver cause i know i wont be playing again.

[Roccetarius]

A prime example of a title i like to replay is Vanquish. That game is just crazyness.

[nix]

I can never play same game twice. I normally play games for their stories.. Unless it's racing games. Once I'm done with the story I'm done with the game as well.

[eightiesbaby]

I bought a ps3 off a mate to accompany my Wii u and with it I got far cry 1 2 and 3, the last of us, grand turismo and gta 5.

I'm addicted to gta 5 but I was excited for the last of us but only played it for about 15 mins and went back to gta 5.
Am I missing something? Does last of us get better? Because all Ive heard is good things about it.

[McGruff]

If or when you get tired of gta then you owe it to yourself to give TLoU another shot. It's a great game that demands your full attention. Give the game more than 15 minutes though.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Yeah, cut that 15 hours Pintheshadows mentioned down to about 8 more hours of gameplay.

I would recommend going through and playing it as it does get much better than the beginning suggest.

Overall it is a great game, just don't expect it to be the second coming.....will surely disappoint there.

[Spotie]

I dunno how Pintheshadows got marked for being immature. He's right on here.

It's extremely silly for someone to play 15 minutes into a game that lasts hours and then ask, "Am I missing something?" Especially a story and character driven title like TLOU.

[McGruff]

I just played through Dead Space for the 4th time. It's always good to dust off an old favorite after some time away.

[MilkMan]

Something like GTA? I would never play more than once (if that).
Something like Saints Row, I would play more than once, because I find it to be fun, ludicrous and light hearted.
Something like Bio Shock I would play more than once for the great story progression, but it wouldn't be back to back. Its like pulling out a good book. You'd read it, when you are in the mood.
Now NG+ encourages replay, because after you complete the game strictly by the rules, you now get a chance to play the game feeling stronger and better equipment and in some cases even overpowered.
This would absolutely make me play a game from beginning to finish once again, because now I can do basically whatever I want, rather than having to "play by the rules"
and games that give you NG+ but then make everyone 50 times harder than they where originally, is a mixed bag. You don't want the enemies to be to easy, but what's the point of making them so hard again that you lose your advantage like say with a game like Dark Souls.
So in my mind there is no clean cut answer.
Then there are some games that I never even wanted to play the first time. YUCK!

[kingdip90]

What's the point in re watching a movie?

[Knushwood Butt]

Don't do it so much these days, but I like to play through Uncharted from time to time.

[pkb79]

This is like asking why eat the same meal twice. Cause you enjoyed it the first time and want to repeat that experience. This author of this article must eat new meal every day, never watch a rerun, or even hang out with the same friends twice.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

Only replay if the game was really good. I've beaten the Halo games multiple times, never got old. Only talking strictly single player though.

[DoggyBiscuit]

When it comes to games like GTA and Zelda I replay them for a lifetime

[Hercules189]

In some games there is so many ways to experience the game that makes it feel fresh the second time. For example in halo games you get the option to run and gun or sit back and snipe or in splinter cell where there are many ways to get past the sections and for me I like to experience all the options the game gives me.

[Articuno76]

This does speak to a shifting consumer culture where there are two new types of consumers: Those that value disposable (short) single player games they can trade in whilst they maintain value, and those that look for value in multi-player (which can last hundreds of hours. Considerably longer than even most very long single-player modes).

For many people experiencing the same game again doesn't offer much new (especially if they are quite skilled in the genre) a second time around.

A single-player game is a considerably larger investment than a movie, and by nature solitary. This is different from films which are much shorter and tend to be re-watched socially - in which case it is the company that drives watching the film, not the film itself.

A closer example would be books. And indeed, many people don't re-read books they enjoyed for the reasons the author states (hard to recapture the feeling of experiencing it the first time/backlog of other stuff to get through).

Of course there's one difference with games: Skill level. A game can be more enjoyable the second time around if it wasn't that well designed because you know what to do and understand set-piece objectives better, as well as understanding how the game works mechanically which removes a lot of the trial and error that comes with the first few hours of the game.

[mochachino]

If I really like a movie, TV series, or game I replay it to experience it again. That's why people replay single player games.

[bigboss20]

I play and keep all of my games I've got some that I have played loads of times.like metal gear solid on ps1 I don't know how many times I've clocked that one over the years lol your not a true gamer if you don't reply your stuff often..

[Tzuno]

I replay a game only if it has grinding to really get something that would make the game more easy after.

[AstroCyborg]

because thats what real gamers do

[N4g_null]

Just reading the above makes me shutter and explains why you can release a broken game to the above gamer. We use to play a game to get a better score to just to see a story. That is a $60 movie. Skill based gaming is pretty much dead now it seems.

Its like if kids rode a bike some where and then just threw it away. That would be pretty wasteful. I really do see why certain games are no longer getting played. Some where movie gaming became more important than real games that take strategy and skill to play.

For example once a game is truly master then you get to understand why you would want to replay it.

Trading in bad games is good but trading in good games is bad some of these games can be played for years and you guys are getting one play thur only. I guess I would have to blame game designers for making throw away games. You really can't blame the gamer for trying to get some return on what he played if he doesn't enjoy it.

This also explains why fanboys are so angry. They arn't getting the full wealth of the game experience. So let's go online to argue about stuff that doesn't matter.

[zpoc]

a better question: what's the point of this article?

[kakashi81]

I still play the 1sttime final fantasy 13 to get all the ultimate weapons.

[ShaunCameron]

- Achievements I didn't get yet
- Unlocks to beat the game on the higher difficulties