Is anyone else as frustratingly bad as I am at replaying games?

Yeah I'm the same. I have a terrible habit of replaying games that I enjoy over and over instead of trying something new, but it's almost never games that I enjoyed for the narrative. Once I'm one with a narrative-heavy game, that's it - especially if it's one I've sunk dozens of hours into already.

Don't get me wrong, I'm terrible for replaying/continuing to play games I've already finished over trying something new/different, but those are generally games where the core gameplay loop is what kept me hooked, rather than the narrative (though that's not to say that I don't also enjoy the narrative in those games, it's just not the primary reason I played them). XCom is a good example - the story is about as generic scifi as they come, and thoroughly enjoyable, but I'm not overly invested in the overarching narrative - I'm invested in my squad and how they progress and perform, and I can still get that enjoyment playing it for a second or third time. Games like Outer Wilds or CRPGs like Divinity Original Sin on the other hand, have very strong narratives that completely hooked me from start to finish, and while I also enjoy the core gameplay of those titles, without that sense of exploration and discovery, replaying them just rings a bit hollow and doesn't offer that same experience as the first time.

I'm actually replaying Return of the Obra Dinn at the moment after completing it for the first time about 6 months ago. While I'm still enjoying it and am having fun replaying it, it really isn't the same experience, as while I've forgotten enough for it to not be a complete cakewalk and I'm still enjoying the challenge of logically deducing the names and fates of the crew, I already know the narrative with all its twists and turns, and you don't get that same "wow" moment when you discover something the first time around. It can be fun to pick back through and see what you missed or piece things together more completely when you already know what's going to happen (like you notice some previously missed foreshadowing or an interesting character detail you didn't previously notice), there's no substitute for the joy that comes with the first play through of a narrative-focused, exploration-heavy game and the wonder and magic that comes with all its new discoveries.

/r/patientgamers Thread