Poll of the Day > Can a game be one of your favorites if you don't care to ever play it again?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I think this is an interesting question. I think a key indicator of a game's quality is replayability. Not artificial replayability for different endings or because of DLC, just purely the exact same game over again. It's happened to me a lot in recent years that I find I don't care to play a game again, even though I loved it. For example, I loved the Mass Effect series and Red Dead Redemption, and at the time that I was playing them, I thought they would definitely end up as some of my favorite games. But after about 100 hours in the Mass Effect universe and about 35 hours in the Red Dead universe, I don't care to spend any more time in those worlds or hear the same story told again.
My top 8 (I can only name a definitive 8) games are all gameplay-centric experiences that I can play over and over again. Okami is the only game on the list that has story, characters, and world of any real consequence. I've played through Okami twice, and I'll play it again in December when it rereleases.
I'm probably not alone in thinking this, but I'm curious if anybody counts games they only played through once as some of their absolute favorites.
---

Yes, if you don't like replaying any games.
---

While I doubt I'd ever have a game I only played once in my top games list, I think it can be possible for other people.
---

Yes, I rarely replay games. But they can be in my top10 anyway. Replayability is a factor,but for me a minor one.

Pokmon for instance is basically the same game every release. And you build up a collection and a team. I've never played any pokmon game more than once. Doesn't mean they can't be in my top 10.

I love Linear Story Driven action games, like Uncharted and The Last of Us, but I don't feel the need to play them more than once. After that I know the story and the plot twist. I try the hardest difficulty as soon as possible and use level select for the collectibles. I want the story one time and then it's shelved. Doesn't mean the experience can't make it into my top10 games.

I've played Resident Evil 4 more than once, but most, almost all, horror games get one playthrough. Like Dead Space or Outlast. After a thorough playthrough I know the story, the twists and the jump scares. If the game was great it could go into my top10 games, even if I never touch it again.

I think a key indicator of a game's quality is replayability

quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read all week/month
---

spooky96 posted...

I think a key indicator of a game's quality is replayability

quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read all week/month

I thought it was legitimate.
---

RedPixel posted...

spooky96 posted...

I think a key indicator of a game's quality is replayability

quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read all week/month

I thought it was legitimate.

Same here.
---

Sure, diablo 2 is probably my all time favourite game but that game is dead. Try and join a pvp game and its 5 people afk and that hdin still modding.
---

It can, but I tend to think of my favorite games as the ones I can go back to again and again. I also think there's a distinction between favorite games and the ones you acknowledge as "best". Take BotW for example. I'd consider it the best Zelda game I've played, but my "favorite" is OoT. I still get something out of replaying that frequently, but I have a hard time seeing myself wanting to replay BotW.

Replayability is an entirely different thing to me now than it was when I was a kid.

When I was a kid, I had a significantly limited number of games compared to now, a lot more time to play games compared to now, and I was a lot more easily entertained back then. I would replay my favorite games dozens of times both because I was easily amused and because I had nothing to do but replay games after a certain point.

Now I have more games than I have time to play, and I'm just not as easily amused as I used to be. I can absolutely adore a game and never play it again because I have other games to play, don't have time for it, and can't get past the boredom of doing certain parts over again.

There are exceptions where I still replay them, but far fewer and more far between.
---

^That too. That being said, I'll still play a lot of 4 hour and under games over and over because they're short enough. But I've been doing less of that lately and trying to make a bigger dent in my unplayed games.

some games I have a hard time replaying no matter how much I loved it. some games just aren't the same a second time around, mostly games that are a heavily story driven game. but thats a personal thing as I generally will replay them eventually just not anytime soon, like years down the road.

or you really enjoyed figuring out the puzzles but now that you know how to get by them it just isn't the same anymore. like I haven't played portal since beating it, and I highly enjoyed that game. just i'm waiting till I i'm certain i'd have to re-figure out most everything.

I also played another game I quite enjoyed but doubt i'll play again. brother a tale of two sons. I loved the game but I really doubt it would have the same charm the second time around. it was just cool to me how they told a fairly comprehensive story without a single line of dialogue. its one of those games that show video games can definitely be a form of art.
---

Rockies posted...

ake BotW for example. I'd consider it the best Zelda game I've played, but my "favorite" is OoT. I still get something out of replaying that frequently, but I have a hard time seeing myself wanting to replay BotW.

Literally came in to post BotW as an example.

The game is indeed one of my favorites. I had a hell of a good time exploring and dicking around and dying and everything. But it's really unappealing to play again since I've already "explored" everything. The sense of "wonder" is gone.
---

Rockies posted...

^That too. That being said, I'll still play a lot of 4 hour and under games over and over because they're short enough. But I've been doing less of that lately and trying to make a bigger dent in my unplayed games.

yeah short games are a lot easier to re play over and over. not that long ago I played kid icarus (NES) for the first time. I think I beat it like 7 times within a week before getting bored with it.
---

For me, it's the case. I don't replay games because my backlog is huge and it takes forever to fully complete a game anyway. Once complete, I've already done everything the game has to offer, so it's time to move on!
---

Yes

Some games the story is the most enjoyable part so replaying doesn't give much extra enjoyment since you can experience the story all over again
---

supergamer19 posted...

For me, it's the case. I don't replay games because my backlog is huge and it takes forever to fully complete a game anyway. Once complete, I've already done everything the game has to offer, so it's time to move on!

i'm a weird one I guess. I wouldn't say I have a huge backlog, but I do have one, and yet still tend to replay other games instead of them. off the top of my head I got assassin's creed 4 black flag, hitman (think its the most recent one. I got the entire first season) mirror's edge catalyst and final fantasy 15. mirror's edge it the only one on that list to even be put in the disc tray yet and i've only completed like 1 mission.

also got a fair amount of games i've started but havent beat, god eater 1 and 2. hyrule warriors legends. golden sun dark dawn, final fantasy 3 remake. uncharted 4, but to be fair I only started that game because it came with my ps4 and I didn't have any other games to play until my next paycheck.
---

Some games require multiple play throughs to see all the endings or beat all difficulty modes. I just play the game repeatedly until it's fully done, so I don't consider them 'replays' really.

Games like this, such as Resident Evil, Gunman Clive, Silent Hill, etc. are actually better by the second playthrough with the speedrun aspect to them.
---

In theory, yes. In practice, not so often. While a few of my favorites are games I've only beaten once, I'm not opposed to replaying them and have just played the open map sections again.

I should also note that one of my favorite DS games is Contra 4, which I've never actually beaten (got to the last section, though).

benbeverfaqs posted...

Pokmon for instance is basically the same game every release. And you build up a collection and a team.

lolno

spooky96 posted...

I think a key indicator of a game's quality is replayability

quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've read all week/month

Given that an exceptional game lends itself to being replayed, it seems a reasonable conclusion. Personally, I'm more interested in games with greater replayability, whether it's unlockables, new modes, character customization, multiplayer, etc.

When I was younger, I would play games more for the story, but nowadays I'd sooner just watch something on YT for that.
---

Sure
While replay-ability is normally a huge factor for me loving a game it definitely doesn't apply to every game out there.
Sometimes RPG's or games that take a longggg time to finish have that effect on me, no matter how much I love them.
---

When I was younger, I would play games more for the story, but nowadays I'd sooner just watch something on YT for that.

Something I'll never understand either.

Even though I said it was a ridiculous thing, I've played all my favorite games more than once or twice. Played a game like Arkham City like 12 times. The last "favorite" game which I played was Skyrim, and I couldn't imagine starting all over again (The 81 level cap is removed, having absolutely no reason to start again).
---

Don't know why one [incredibly condescending] dude said replayability isn't important. It is with any other form of entertainment can think of. You watch your favorite movies and shows, listen to your favorite albums, read your favorite books, etc. over and over again, right? I think it's curious that I would rather replay the Legend of Zelda (hundreds of hours played) again than spend one more second playing Red Dead Redemption (about 35 hours played). And I fucking loved Red Dead.
An interesting thing I noticed is that all my favorite games are Japanese, and I've played through them all multiple/several times and invested more time into them than it takes to play through any Western-developed game once. I love the Western story and world-driven video game experiences, but the Japanese do gameplay better, and I think that's what keeps me coming back. My favorite Western game is probably Batman: Arkham Asylum, and that game is basically Zelda/Metroid with Batman.
---

Replayability is not that important. Great games stay in your memory and I don't usually enjoy playing through the same thing again...unless maybe it's been 10+ years and I recall nothing about it.

Even more so if they take around 100 hours to beat. I'd usually rather play something new and experience that instead of replaying.
---

A lot of story heavy games are very fun the first time through them but are not as entertaining once you already know the entire plot.
---

wyansas posted...

Don't know why one [incredibly condescending] dude said replayability isn't important. It is with any other form of entertainment can think of. You watch your favorite movies and shows, listen to your favorite albums, read your favorite books, etc. over and over again, right? I think it's curious that I would rather replay the Legend of Zelda (hundreds of hours played) again than spend one more second playing Red Dead Redemption (about 35 hours played). And I fucking loved Red Dead.
An interesting thing I noticed is that all my favorite games are Japanese, and I've played through them all multiple/several times and invested more time into them than it takes to play through any Western-developed game once. I love the Western story and world-driven video game experiences, but the Japanese do gameplay better, and I think that's what keeps me coming back. My favorite Western game is probably Batman: Arkham Asylum, and that game is basically Zelda/Metroid with Batman.

Nah now that I think of it was a pretty stupid statement to say; of course I can play all my favorite games again. Skyrim was the last true game I played, which I can't imagine playing again, but still is GOAT. I guess you can have a favorite game yet feel like never playing it again.

And you like Arkham Asylum; so that means you have good taste.
---

Zeus posted...

benbeverfaqs posted...

Pokmon for instance is basically the same game every release. And you build up a collection and a team.

lolno

lolyes

wyansas posted...

Don't know why one [incredibly condescending] dude said replayability isn't important. It is with any other form of entertainment can think of. You watch your favorite movies and shows, listen to your favorite albums, read your favorite books, etc. over and over again, right?

No. I've watched my favourite movies once. (very few exceptions and then there's 10+ years between watchings) I watch my favourite shows once. And I read books once. I like new movies/series/books over ones I've already consumed.
Music is often an exception, I can play a great song a lot of times, or even an album. (But a long performance for instance is a one time experience)
Games is a mixed bag. I play a lot of games one time. But some games are all about replayability (sometimes it's even what makes a game great) for instance Spelunky is all about gameplay and replayability.

spooky96 posted...

When I was younger, I would play games more for the story, but nowadays I'd sooner just watch something on YT for that.

Something I'll never understand either.

Even though I said it was a ridiculous thing, I've played all my favorite games more than once or twice. Played a game like Arkham City like 12 times. The last "favorite" game which I played was Skyrim, and I couldn't imagine starting all over again (The 81 level cap is removed, having absolutely no reason to start again).

i've started skryim over many times. I like to start new characters. its a role playing game and I treat it as such. I come up with specific personalities for each character and do my best to follow them. mostly I just like to try out various races though while focusing on different style of builds.
---