There are some conversations that I had as a kid that, for whatever reason, I still remember clear as day. It's weird to remember discussions I had when I was little, because my brain transplants a very adult version of me into the memory, since that's my perception of myself, and then I'm just a large human talking to a very small human about whether or not hot dogs are made of dog.
Anyway, one of those conversations that I still remember with the crisp clarity of a Swiss lake was with a girl named Jessica. It went something like this:
KATE: So, I'm reading Harry Potter for the second time, and-
JESSICA: What do you mean, the second time? Why would you read it twice?
KATE: ...Why wouldn't you?
JESSICA: You already know the story.
KATE: Yeah, but I forget bits of it.
JESSICA: That's stupid.
Since that day, and that fateful debate, I've always assumed that the world is firmly divided into two general camps of people: those who aren't bothered about re-reading, rewatching, or replaying some of their favourite stories, and those who would rather spend their time witnessing something new. Now, to be fair to Jessica, this was a conversation that took place when we were around eight years old, and I don't doubt that she's since watched at least one movie twice, but I'm still curious.
I've played Dragon Age: Inquisition at least three times all the way through, and countless more times without completing it. And that's child's play, really — some people have played Mass Effect over thirty times. My partner boots up another game of Dark Souls pretty much any time he remembers that it exists, and he's currently trying to get me to replay Ocarina of Time so I can beat Ganon properly (I know, I know! I'm sorry).
In fact, our lovely blue sister site Push Square has written about their own experiences with, and opinions on, replaying games. Liam says he's not the replaying type, because he's "almost always looking ahead to what's next" — "I just cannot wrap my head around why you would want to invest so much time into a title you've already seen through to completion instead of checking out something new," he says. So, at least I know that Jessica was right — there are people out there who don't replay things! She didn't need to be so mean about it, but hey, that's just what Jessica was like as an eight-year-old.
But games are more fun to experience a second time than movies and books, aren't they? There are branching choices, scenes that you can miss, relationships you might want to play differently. It's not like a book, or a movie, where you're getting mostly the same experience, even if you do notice some new details here and there. There are so many reasons to replay a game, even if it's just that a particular one is your "comfort game" that you can stick on whenever you're feeling a bit sad.
But that does tend to leave me, at least, feeling a little guilty. Why am I playing a game I know backwards instead of tackling my huge pile of completely unplayed games? Am I enjoying something I already know I'll love, or am I just being avoidant? Am I the video game equivalent of a kid who'll only eat chicken nuggets, because anything else is unknown and scary?
So, tell us: do you replay games? Or are you always moving on to the next big thing?
But don't leave just yet — I want to know more. Replaying games isn't that strange, after all. So here's another poll, because everyone loves polls: What makes you more likely to replay a game?
And, finally: What are your thoughts on Jessica?
Comments 172
Very rarely. There are so many new games releasing regularly that I really want to play that I don't feel like I have to the time to play ones I've already finished again.
I only replay games I love like re 2 and 3
I replay a lot of games to speedrun them. I have a speedrunners mind, so every game I play I instantly think of strategies to be faster and I end up replaying lots of games. Also some other games I love like Splatoon, celeste, undertale, goose
In the past, I did so regularly. This was when games were expensive, I had little to no money, new releases were infrequent, and I had near infinite free time to game.
There are now dozens of interesting releases every week and I can afford to buy games. As such, the revisiting of completed titles is something I choose not to do with my now limited gaming time.
It's sad in some way as there was a pleasure in fully exploring the nuances of a classic title.
There's a very short list of about 10 games I replay. That's it. Some of them, like Dark Souls 1 and Final Fantasy 9 I've replayed about 10 times. Others just twice or thrice.
When there is no new game to play, ill pick up a game ive already finished. Latest games I replayed: Dragons dogma, bioshock 3, DQ builders 2, hollowknight. I also replayed BOTW to get in the mood for hyrule warriors. Some games I'm just happy I finished it at all.
I have so many hundreds of games waiting to be played mainly because I keep buying games in sales but I never actually have time to play any of them. So when it comes to replaying games, I only ever do that with some older, often retro, games I love.
Sometimes I do. I have replayed some Nintendo games like Pikmin, Zelda and Mario; and from Sony, both The Last of Us games (working on part 2 again for the second time). It usually is games I absolutely love.
That said, it’s usually shorter games that I’ll replay. It would be difficult for me to play through a game like Skyrim, or Witcher 3 again — just cause there’s just so much content and story to get through. They are wonderful games though.
I used to replay way more when I was a kid because I had so much free time and no backlog
Nowadays, it's only the occasional Majora's Mask and a few other personal 10/10s
I never read books
I replay games all the time. Helps improve my playing and sometimes you miss things or can approach things diferently. maybe get an alternate ending.
I re-read choose your own adventure books because there is a similar thing going on there, but I don't think I'm going to find a hidden secret chapter in a Harry Potter book if I re-read it lol. But that said, if you do get lost in a book, I'm sure you can read it again and imagine things differently. So I'm not going to knock it.
Nope. I don’t have time for that.
I’m very happy with what I have. I’ve been gaming for over 30 years, so things that are “new” aren’t actually new to me. Blazing Chrome is just Contra 3, so I play Contra 3 if I want that experience. All-the-freaking-Metroidvanias are either Super Metroid or SOTN, so I play those for that experience. I don’t feel I need to constantly tap into new experiences with gaming to be entertained. For me, the joy of replaying is getting a little better at a tough section, or pondering why the game designers did that certain design choice a certain way...Speedruns are also a big reason I replay, and with the case of the Souls series, the near endless character build choice. I got Demon’s Souls when it came out in what, 2010? I still play it and Dark Souls 1-3 for the speedrun practice and for the near endless combination of character builds. Even after 11 years it just doesn’t get old to me.
NINJA APPROVED - GREAT ARTICLE
I checked the comments to see if there was a rebuttal from Jessica but there isn’t one.
Imagine reading books.
I only replay games at very, veeery specific times if i get the nostalgia itch for it. Most recent would probably be Link Between Worlds, did a new 100% run on hero mode and loved it to bits. Generally I tend to play games with endless replay value, and given I am struggling to get my final year of uni completed I haven't really played anything but Smash Ultimate in my free time. I just don't feel like picking up something new or lengthy when I have a "comfort game" of sorts I can easily have a bit of fun in. Hopefully that can all change when uni is done with soon... My stupidly huge collection yearns to be played...
Yes. There are games that I love and replay every year.
I will only replay a game if I'm chasing achievements/trophies for it nowadays.
I used to play games over and over, but that was more because I couldn't afford to just buy new games every week as a child and had to wait for birthdays/Christmas etc for a new game.
Depends on the game and also depends if playing a remaster count as a replay. Really though it depends on length, Arkham Asylum my favourite Arkham game and one of my favourite and i've replayed countless times because providing i'm after the 100% i can do it over a long afternoon while something like Arkham Knight i've only done NG+ because its much longer. That said i replay the Souls games all the time and every time i do everything each time in them.
This missed ROM hacks - which is a way to replay games with some gameplay tweaks or new levels
Every now and then, but mainly if there's different endings and the like.
@Kate Gray
Six paragraphs to get to the point. A bit of an improvement. You really should cut the first two paragraphs and start at "I've always assumed..." You represent the re-play argument while Liam represents team move-on. The books are immaterial to the discussion and are nothing more than a charming anecdote. This is too short an essay to spend so much time on an aside.
the article is missing trophies and achievements for reason to replay or continue to play. I have continued to play or replay many PS or Xbox games after finishing the main campaign just to to get more trophies. I wish Switch had them, as they add to the game.
I rarely replay games I've beaten, with a few key exceptions.
I have a ton of "pick up and play" games when I dont want my brain functioning at full capacity. Splatoon, Tetris, or some NES game I owned as a kid that I know I can beat in one sitting. If I play it for 1 hour and then spend months or years in between without playing, thats absolutely fine.
The catch here is that the Zelda Fanboy in me craves a sweet sweet hit of nostalgia every so often. Aside from Spirit Tracks, I'm pretty sure I've beat each Zelda at LEAST once or twice.
When it comes to movies, I will only rewatch if I'm trying to push it onto someone who has never seen it before. I have gotten intoxicated and made friends awkwardly watch Eraserhead several times for this very reason. Everyone hates watching it in the moment, but then spend the next few days unpacking exactly what they saw. I'm definitely trolling them with it, but its still some of David Lynch's best work.
It really depends on the size of the game and/or my familiarity with it. I can replay Super Mario World, Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, A Link to the Past and a host of others, because I know those games so we'll, I could probably play them with one hand tied behind my back.
I don't ever plan on playing Breath of the Wild for a second playthrough. I love the game. But I'm ready to move on to the next one. I'm just about to finish Luigi's Mansion 3 and I've enjoyed the game immensely. I have no desire to back to it later. I finished Link's Awakening last year and promptly sold it. No desire to go back to it
Where is the "I dont reread books because I dont read books" option?
I'd say probably around half the time I spend playing games is replaying old favourites.
There's just something nice about the comfort of playing a game I know I'm going to enjoy, plus also reliving some of the moments that might not be so fresh in my memory.
I almost always have a Pokemon replay somewhere in the background (I must've played through Gen 1 dozens of times, and the generations probably follow the geometric progression in replays thereafter). I've played through the Spyro trilogy to completion maybe three times now, and Mario Galaxy the same. I'm very tempted to give Mario Odyssey a third go. And perhaps the new reigning champions for stealing my life away are Persona 5 Royal and and Fire Emblem Three Houses - the calendar systems in these games (plus the class system and split pathways in the latter) really encourage repeat playthroughs.
Regarding the books: I only read non-fiction (I prefer other forms of entertainment to novels) so will only reread something if I need to refresh my memory!
In theory, there are many games I replay and still need to. Not only to revisit old favorites, but also (in the case of games like Chrono Trigger) to obtain alternate endings. I used to replay games a lot when I was a kid, back when they were expensive and large chunks of my free time weren't taken up by adulting lol.
Nowadays, I usually have the funds, though I do stick to a budget. The problem is new titles I want release so often that I now have a backlog of unplayed games. Believe me, I do try to be picky about what games I do pick up. My Achilles Heel is the RPG genre. Some game genres can be blown through pretty fast, but some of the best RPGs run at least 30-60 hours.
My unread book pile is less scary, so I do reread books on occasion.
All the time, its much more likely to be a retro game that I replay because they are much shorter and immediately more entertaining. Though there are still some modern games I've replayed, these are much less likely to be heavily story focused but stuff like Resident Evil 2 I have and Breath of The Wild
For games like Sonic 2 Streets of Rage 2 and Toejam and Earl I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've replayed them
I try to replay games whenever I can and I don't have the chance to get anything new.
Right now with the Wii U ports I'm replaying New Super Mario Bros. U, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and LEGO City Undercover (this one is mostly because my nephew deleted my save file).
I intend to replay Miitopia and Super Mario 3D World on Switch soon.
It’s basically a tradition at this point that I’ll play every Zelda game twice. Once to see the story, and at some point again to get all the heart pieces/extras/Korok seeds as the case may be.
Also I’ve played all the Layton and Ace Attorney games more times than I can count, except Layton’s Mystery Journey and Edgeworth 1. (They just don’t do it for me.)
@Ambassador_Kong And your critical opinion matters...because?
Depends on the game.
I'll replay games like The Witcher 3, Monster Hunter Rise, Skyrim or Botw because those games are huge and you'll always find new stuff that you can do. To be fair though, Red Dead also another one but is the one im least likely to revisit because doing anything in that game takes far too much time.
Also games like Mario Kart, Splatoon or Smash have some replay value in the online portion of the games, but Smash's online is just a joke so I've spent much less time on that than the other 2.
This generally depends on the game.
I have comfort games and I have games that provide an experience so unique I cannot get it elsewhere. Same for books, movies and rewatching all Terminator movies when I'm down with the flu. Yes, ALL OF THEM.
I'll replay games if I enjoy it enough. I've played through XCDE about 3 times thus far and I want to replay XC2 at some point. (I honestly think XC2 has one of the best Ng+ modes I've ever seen). Otherwise, (if they're short enough/if I have time) I tend to replay games if a new game is coming out for a series that I heavily enjoy. I'm probably gonna go through the No More Heroes games again a little before No More Heroes 3 comes out.
I have a few favourites I replay every once in a while, simply because I love those games and/or the worlds those games portray. Those games are the reason I don't subscribe to the "games have to offer lots of different choices/characters/etc to be replayable" argument. If you love a game, just like if you love a book or a movie, it'll be infinitely replayable regardless of whether or not the content changes from run to run.
When I was a dumb kid who only had so many games (i.e. lots) and didn't know the meaning of the word "study" (by "dumb kid", I mean... elementary school through approximately the 4th year of my first attempt at university), I played and re-played the crap out of a lot of games. Maybe it's because, even though I owned a ton of games, I didn't have a concept of a "backlog" yet. But now that I'm all growed up with a wife-lady and a human larvae and a mortgage and a job where it's like "I'm gonna play games on the train!" but then fall asleep on the train every day, the best I can hope to do is slowly chip away at my backlog and dream about the day when I'm stuck on a desert island that has all the resources I need to finally finish my 30th attempt at playing Shining Force III and getting all of my characters to the absolute maximum possible level for no reason other than all those big number sure look pretty. I kind of miss being a dumb kid.
Only games i realy love. Every Zelda game, played Bioschock many times and classic NES and SNES games like Mario and Donkey Kong Country 1-2-3.
Super Mario Odyssey and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I played that probably about 20 times through when I was a kid.
@NoxAeturnus My critical opinion doesn't matter at all, but having taught writing for 15 years, I feel comfortable giving it. Kate is a good writer, but she could be a great writer with a good editor.
@NoxAeturnus Because it's now a requirement that at least seven people post "slow news day?" in the comments of every article (instead of, you know, just not posting anything at all), and this Kong person needs to show off their ability to say it in a different, fancy way. It's very important, you know.
I don't replay games very often because there's so much else to play. In fact, I have a constantly growing mental list of games I want to replay because I love them but I just haven't had the time.
My backlog is too big to replay any 😅 onto the next!
@Ambassador_Kong I personally feel that removing all reference to Jessica from this piece would be like removing the yolk from a fried egg.
The result is still fried and still egg, but what you end up with is ultimately just a mouthful of flubbery albumen and a feeling that you’ve missed the juiciest part.
I've only replayed a handful of games ever. Probably less than 5.
@kate, people who think it’s weird to re-read, re-watch, or whatever probably should ask why people have favorite songs they listen to again and again.
There’s an author, Gene Wolfe, whose specialization is on re-reading because of unreliable narrators. The Book of the New Sun, for example, starts out as a high fantasy before you learn the problem is that we have an unreliable narrator as it’s also a political autobiography. In the second read, we find that he’s a liar because of things we know from re-reading. Then in the third read, we discover not only that is he a liar, but time travel and forces beyond his own comprehension are causing him to miss out on how they’re manipulating events in his life but we as readers can see. Another book by Wolfe is also notorious for this, Peace, a favorite of Neil Gaiman, which the first read is a nice Midwestern memoir, second time around is a mystery, third time is when you realize that it’s a ghost story.
Here is an article and excerpt about reading things twice.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/books-so-good-ive-read-them-2x-or-more/
[E]ven if you’re a regular reader and live to a ripe old age, it can be hard to justify reading the same book, not just once, but twice (and even multiple times!).
[T]here are several good reasons to do so.
The first is that each time you read the same book, you come away with new insights. You get different things out of a book when you read it at 36 than you did at 16 (and you’ll find different things at age 76, too).
Second, even when you’ve learned and affirmed the principles of a personal development or philosophical-type book, you have to revisit them regularly to keep them at the forefront of your mind. Humans are slothful, forgetful creatures; even when a book’s insights initially made your spirit soar and unlocked a new dimension in your thinking, without regular reminders, you’ll be taking them for granted in a very short time!
I don't tend to replay modern titles. More ones I grew up with for nostalgic-palooza.
I like Kate's brain
I play the Arkham games annually
Sometimes, events in your life affect what you read and can change your understanding of them. This applies to books, movies and Video games. I appreciate some of the games i used to play so much more after comparing them to some of the modern rubbish that is released today, and vice versa, some modern stuff i appreciate more after playing an older game with the same concept but fumbled "back then".
I love certain games and usually replay through good gameplay or stories.
@Maxz And I see it as a cake that has more frosting than cake. The frosting might be delicious, but it's just a bunch of air and sugar.
Do Pokémon Nuzlockes count? If they do then yes. I do a few nuzlockes. Am I good? No. Am I bad? No. I’m adequate.
Well I payed $500 for my MiSTer after shipping and all the add-ons to play games and all my favorite games of the past. So yes I replay tons of games.
I have trouble when I first get into a new game. I am not invested in characters, and I am slow to learn new controls. Usually the first half or so of a game is not enjoyed the way the second half is... But when I play them again whoooo boy! Everything feels smooth and I can recall what the consequences of the events of the first half are
I believe I have replayed most of my Switch games at least once. Sometimes I do not, but many of them are so great I have to. I have also repurchased all of the Wii U games that came to switch and then played those
I seemingly replay Luigis Mansion, the Prime Trilogy, both Banjo Kazooie's, at least of the Professor Laytons, Portal and one of the Zelda games annually.
Back in the day, once in awhile. The game I probably replayed the most being Pokemon LG. But these days, when I have the means to buy any game I want easily? Yeah...no. Ain't got no time for that...
I have replayed Celeste about 19 times now
I literally never finish a game, so "replay" isn't really the right terminology for me. I restart games all the time, though. In the very, very rare cases where I've seen the end credits for a game, I tend not to replay it because there are too many games out there amd I feel bad about not finishing them.
With books, of course I reread, and I've had that conversation with the Jessicas of the world innumerable times. I've read Catch-22 and Lord of the Rings cover to cover half a dozen times, and reread most of my favorites at least once. You get different things every time you read a book again, especially if it's a good one.
Of course, all of this pales in comparison to the number of times I'll rewatch a movie. I've probably watched Star Wars (THE Star Wars, duh) around 20 times, amd some of the James Bonds and Godzillas almost as many. And now it seems we have a new tradition of watching LOTR once a year, so eventually it's going to get up there as well.
There are some games I do plan to replay, but I’ll only do so after I beat the ones I haven’t finished yet.
I almost never fully replay a game unless it's so good that I need a friend to experience it with me. What Remains of Edith Finch is one of my most replayed games as it's fun to see others' reactions to it, and I sometimes replay games to catch foreshadowing and other bits I may have missed the time before.
@FargusPelagius This is a good comment
If I don’t plan on re-reading a book I just get it at the library. If I plan to read it more than once then I actually purchase it so I always have a copy.
Very subjective when it comes to games, in recent memory I've replayed RE: Revelations 2 on the Switch since I enjoyed it a lot on the Xbox 360 a few years back. Never got to finish that 2nd playthrough yet. On the 360 also replayed Halo 4 campaign to do co-op splitscreen with my wife (noticed I am in the minority who answered "I replay games so I can experience them again, but with someone else"). Played OG FFXII on the PS2 many years ago but never got to finish the latter part of the game it so I am replaying it on the Switch now (not sure if this counts?). So I think very rarely and I almost never get around NG+ since there are so many games in my backlog.
I think I have only ever replayed a few games, three Zelda’s (OoT, BotW and WW).
Then a few older games, Wave Race and Pilotwings for sure.
I can’t think of anything else!
@Ambassador_Kong Are you her editor or something? This guy...LOL
I certainly re-read books more often than I replay games (not counting the ones designed for countless playthroughs like Civilization, of course), but it does happen with the latter. Multiple endings, preferably COMBINED with NG+ features or at least chapter freeroam like in Zero Escape games (yes, 999 eventually got it, too), are most obvious incentives, but beyond those it takes particularly strong resonance and/or nostalgia. Duck Tales 2 and Chip & Dale 2, The Lost World (Mega Drive version, if you didn't encounter it back then, you missed out on one of the platform's coolest offerings PERIOD) and Felix the Cat, Another Bible and Crusader of Centy, Bioshock and Final Fantasy XIII trilogies, Dishonored... Dissidia 012 may also count since I restarted it on Vita after beating most of the scenarios on PSP, but I suppose the likes of NFS Carbon or Undercover 2 wouldn't - they were pretty different games, after all.
I replay a few games every once in a while. Usually one of my favorites that feel timeless and are enjoyable to play again. There are a few RPGs I’ll play twice or more just because of how good the stories were. Kinda like a favorite movie for me, like I’ll watch it again after some time, it’s even better if I get to experience watching with some else who’s watching it for the first time.
Replayability is a factor of my enjoyment, yes. A significant one id say.
Of course I do. There are a ton of games I love across all genres that I happily revisit time and time again. The series that get the most replay from me are definitely, Resident Evil, Zelda, Metroid, DKC, Street Fighter. A more recent game I find myself returning to often is Hyper Light Drifter. I can't remember how many times I've played through at this point. There's just something about that game, the, music, the atmosphere, that just really clicks with me.
BoTW like 17 times.
Nah. Too many games and such little time. Not that I don't get the itch to relive my childhood and replay OoT over and over but I'd much rather, with the limited time I have, enjoy a new experience.
I replay games often. I still search for new experiences, but with new experiences your head's too wrapped up in all the novelty to actually look at how the thing's put together.
Also, after enough years, I like to reevaluate games. I bounced off Half-Life 2 in 2009, so I replayed it in 2020 and finally jumped on the bandwagon. I never got along with Super Mario 3 in the early 90s, but it became one of my favorite games in 2019. You grow up and appreciate different things.
Should have had “short runtime” as an option. Most games I’ll replay are under 6 hours long, or 20 for longer RPG or adventure games. Even if I try and replay a long game, I’ll end up dropping it pretty quickly.
@Ambassador_Kong “My critical opinion doesn’t matter, but here it is anyway.”
Kates writing is great for what it is. Her track record speaks for itself. The people who have been hiring her services are more than qualified enough to judge her professional work. If there’s a writer you are overly critical of, there’s no need to even click the article, let alone tell all of us how amazing you must be as a writing teacher.
Shorter and easier games more so. I played through Sonic Forces and Sayonara Wild Hearts several times.
only very few games , normaly i plays games just one time max two
spyro trilogy switch replayed 4-5 times(I loved that game when i was a child on psone)
Deus ex human revolution on Xbox 360 replayed at least 12 times(loved this game as well for everything story, gameplay, inventory management, approach etc. )
dishonoured replayed at least 15 times (i so loved that game)
Skyrim replayed 4 times on several console Xbox 360 twice ,ps3 e finally switch
When I was young it was a lot easier to replay games, plus the older games were shorter which made them way easier to decide to play again. I love RPG's and I like to 100% them as much as I can but to do so these days is a way bigger commitment than it was in the NES and SNES era. Back then I would finish an RPG and then start it over right away and play through again. I loved Dragon Quest XI but I just can't see myself playing through it again for a long while, if ever. When I replay games they tend to be the older ones now just because they are less if a time commitment and it has been so long since the last time I played them. Maybe someday I will replay some of the more recent longer RPG'S but I don't know.
@Severian Most insightful. That’s really the main reason that I stopped buying so many books, actually. I find that re-reading them grants me new perspective, or I’ll pick up on knowledge that I didn’t get during the last read. Books are filled with so much information that reading them once feels like surface-level knowledge. Reading over and over is essential for learning, in my opinion.
A second playthrough on the hardest difficulty is the best way to experience games IMO.
As long as I like them and its not an awful or boring game, of course. What's the point of buying something once and never using it again?
I also love revisiting loved books, albums,movies and shows.
I love and replay all my games. i never get tired of them. i play super mario world SNES . and others over and over and still have fun with them.
Yes, although some of the games I replay have a random element to it, e.g. Majesty, Sword of the Stars: The Pit, ADOM or Sid Meyer's Colonization. But I recently replayed the full DoW1 campaign just to jog my memory of the original story. I also got back to Battle for Wesnoth, which had quite a few changes since the last time I played it (some campaigns got rewrites), but I think my tolerance for this game's pace has also diminished.
I remember that as kids my brothers and I would play through the entirety of Double Dragon 2 as a warmup. We beat this one a lot.
I still try to get through my backlog though. And often I try to 100% the game just to have it checked as "I don't need to replay it". Now I am playing through Dust: An Elysian Tail this way.
I replay games all the time (I’m replaying Mario Odyssey for the umpteenth time right now). I’ve come to feel that how much I want to replay a game is probably the best indicator of how much I liked it. This would be why Super Mario World is my favourite game as I never get tired of it.
There are “great” games I’ve beaten once and not really wanted to see again, and others that could be considered average in some ways that I still replay over and over.
One thing I hate is I’ll replay a game so much that I get really good at it, but if it leave it a year or so I find all my skill has vanished and I have to learn the game again. I had that with GoldenEye a few years back, I’m determined not to forget all my tricks this time!
Only very good ones, if I like the game enough I am more than up for playing it again. Case in point is right now I am playing DQ 11 on Switch, this will be my second playthrough of the game and I fail to count how many times I have played through the likes of Ocarina of Time or Link to the Past or Banjo Kazooie. Point is I definitely replay games.
From Software and Monster Hunter take the cake when it comes to repeatability
Pocket Bomberman for the GBC was the first game I got and I couldnt beat the first level. Unfortunately I lost it somehow when I was a kid. I bought it used a few years ago and finished the game, which was very pleasant.
Replaying new games? I don't even have the time to finish them! They are so darn long these days, 50+ hours to finish one of them...
@NoxAeturnus
His opinion matters as much as anyone's posting here. Why wouldn't it?
Some games, yes, other games, no.
@BloodNinja Yes, and just like in games, whether they are narrative games or puzzle and action games, some of the assumptions about replaying games shows just how far gaming has evolved.
The original arcade game people have in mind was something you plugged quarters in to enjoy a lot. The current game we imagine tends to be the narrative or experimental, but this overlooks the roguelike, puzzle, fighting, and so many other genres. If anything, I buy games because they are other worlds that are fun to play in again and again, whether it is EarthBound and Final Fantasy VI or Tetris Attack, Lumines, Enter the Gungeon, or Dead Cells.
JUSTICE FOR JESSICA!
@Ambassador_Kong Jessica, is that you?
Rereading books and Kate's Harry Potter story is rings a bit close to me only because I've reread that series more times than I can count. Most being rereads leading up to the next book. Once on my own. Once with my now wife and just recently with my oldest daughter. To @Severian point, I've always found something new through each read through and with the benefit of knowing what's to come, it does cast a characters actions in new lights. Even my daughter pointed out a character's actions in a context that I had never even thought of.
I will say the one medium I tend to not repeat is movies. I think I've shared here before that I'm just not a movie person. So about 90% of movies I watch, I probably won't watch again or at least I won't willingly watch again. If it just happens to be on television while someone else is watching, maybe I'll get roped in. But I can probably count one and half hands movies I will actively seek out to watch again. Though the exception is MCU movies, which I tend to rewatch leading up to a new movie.
@KateGray I'm tempted to do a "Jessica from Kate's past" account haha. Good article by the way.
It's weird to think I don't re-read books but I rewatch movies and replay games. Also @KateGray, your articles are always a treasure to read on NintendoLife, they all have so much character and charm!
I definitely reread, rewatch, and replay my favorite books, TV shows, movies, and games. I run through some of my favorite games basically annually. I have reread the Harry Potter books countless times. Who knows how many times I have watched Star Wars or the Marvel movies.
I play through the Donkey Kong Country games routinely and basically any Mario or Zelda game compulsively. There are plenty of reasons why, but they are amazing games and there is something comforting about firing up a Zelda game and it just feeling right. Strong feelings of nostalgia play a part for sure. When I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, replaying games was a necessity. I would get a game or two at the Holidays and one at my birthday, so I just replayed things over and over. That mindset has stuck with me, but as a new father who works full time and is working on a master's part time, being able to jump into something familiar is more appealing than starting something new. I can start playing Super Mario Bros 3 and have a blast, but not feel the need to finish it. I have beaten it dozens of times in my life, so just having fun for a few worlds is entertaining.
With TV, that especially hits home now. When I am up in the middle of the night with my new daughter, I love hitting play on episodes of The Office or Parks and Rec and just letting them run in the background.
There are just some games I roll through every few years: POP: SoT and 2008, WEB OF SHADOWS on DS, NINJA GAIDEN (XBOX), SM64, SNATCHER, CASTLEVANIA: CotM, MIRROR'S EDGE, RE4, EWJ, ARKHAM ASYLUM and CITY. They are like re-watching old tv shows and movies. If the gameplay holds up, there is no reason why not. Then there are the arcade-style games on constant rotation; MS. PAC-MAN, STREET FIGHTER, TETRIS, STREETS OF RAGE 1 & 2, CONTRA.
I used to replay games a lot as a kid because I had no money. Only new games I got were for my birthday, Christmas or by selling old ones. During the lockdown last year I started replaying old games. It is a lot of fun and helps me save money. Really made me appreciate some older games.
These days it's rare to replay games. There is just so much to keep up with. Back when I was a kid I had played the original Golden Sun around 50 times. Now that I have an income and life responsibilities I can afford more games than I have time to play them. So unless it's a remake that is worth my time, I don't really replay games much anymore.
All the time!
But I don't read books.
I mostly just replay old favorites.
Most of the time I replay games I like after around 10 to 15 years after I played them the first time. Games like Zelda, Mario, and others.
Some games I start to play again immediately after I finished them. These are like: Little Town Hero (yes, I love that game!), Zelda 1 on the NES,
I always replay my games, since I was a child. First, because you didn't get as much games as a kid, you had to replay them, so the replay value of those games was implicit. Now, if a replay a modern game, it's because I love it. There are some recent games that I got, and only played once, but that also may be because I have other games I need to play, or that I got another game as soon as I ended the previous one.
All the time. A great experience is worth a re-visit.
For me, Gameplay is King. Story is hardly ever a factor.
So I can easily go back to Diablo, Zelda, Guild Wars 2, most any 2D Platformer, Castlevanias, and just have the best time ever.
I used to replay games all the time as a kid. That was mostly due the lack of money to purchase new games so I was limited to presents and had to tide myself over with those. Nowadays, I only replay games that I really enjoy like the Souls games. I never re-read books though. I don't see the point really.
I replay good platform games as nauseam, I’ve play mega man 1-6 about 30 times each, and I’ve played every sonic and Mario game about 100 times each. I constantly buy new games weekly but I find my self going back to my Megaman legacy collection and Mario odyssey, 3D world , u and Allstars.
As to looking to what's next, as said by Liam, what's next for me is playing a game I've already played and never stops being fun. I'm the type who replays a lot of old games. As many new games that come out now, perhaps at a rate too fast to keep up with, I still find that most are missing something compared to classic games I love. There's something about the way games were made back in the day that I love, and some common things about modern games that annoy me such as screen shake. In addition to games I love to replay, I like to discover old games that match my tastes that I may have missed and add them to the list of games I love to replay. Ninja Warriors on SNES is a good example of that. Shinobi 3 and Shatterhand are two games I replay very often because I never get tired of them. Shatterhand is one I didn't play as a kid, and I enjoy it so much I've beaten it so many different ways(using each robot helper, and even not using any at all).
Some people crave and seek novelty all the time. They're the ones always looking for the next thing. That's not me. I'm more likely to tell people to replay games they love instead of seeing what to add to their backlog or play new games that are likely to disappoint. I'm the same with movies and TV. I prefer to watch old favorites again — they never get old for me — or discover "new" things from that older period of time because I prefer the general style of the time. That's a big thing for me. In movies and shows, and even with gaming, I don't like some of the modern elements that are common. I do find it's very easy for me to go back to games that are game play focused rather than narrative heavy. Once I know the story, I need more time away from it before I come back to it if I wish to do that. Going back to old arcade and console games, things like beat-em-ups or fighting games is much easier because of the nature of the game play.
No. Not in the last 10 years or more. I run to the next and there is always a next. Back when games didn't release as often, or I was young and didn't have adult money. Not now.
I'll replay action games. For example, Devil's Third which takes about 6-8 hours (depending how many dozen times I'm killed by each boss), I played through three times. But JRPG's? Even though I'd like to see the different branching stories, I'd NEVER replay them because of how long they take. One caveat, since they do take me so long to play through (often three years), after I beat them, I'll often replay just the beginning because by that time, I can barely remember how the story began.
Wish the polls let you choose multiple answers! I replay games all the time for a variety of reasons. Some are just that good! Some are speedruns. Others are challenges like Fire Emblem ironman and Pokémon nuzlockes. Too broke to afford a constant stream of new games. Sometimes I'll go on a franchise kick for a while. Old retro games I come across and want to replay on original hardware. Others I'll replay at specific times. DKC3 is my Christmas game, I play Mario Sunshine and Pokémon LeafGreen in the summer. I replay constantly.
I think the only games I've replayed are the Ace Attorney games, just to experience the story again...
Although Ace Attorney is my favourite game series of all time so I think it's a special case. Usually I don't replay games unless they're specifically made for replayability. (like Smash Bros)
I replay most of the Zelda games I have, because they always offer a unique experience compared to most other games these days. I've only refrained from doing so this year given the possibility of re-releases (and of course, Skyward Sword HD).
I Replayed Sonic 2 more times than I can care to remember. Also i had a Snes mini and Megadrive mini. But I don't believe 18 percent of people replay most of there games, because i very much doubt 18 percent of people haven't got a backlog lol.
In the past there where lots of games that I replayed, especially Zelda games. But nowadays I don't have the time because I am running from game to game. Same with movies. Same with series. Basically there is far to much good stuff nowadays. Sometimes I long for the more simple times, where I played probably 6 games in a year.
Hmm depends on the game but so much filler in most of them that I can't drudge my way through. Something like dragon age or mass effect would be top of the pile. Maybe when 10-15 years have gone by but even with the slew of remakes which include some of some of my childhood favourites I rarely get that far into them before I remember everything and it gets boring.
I always replay games and rewatch shows and movies. Literally, Sonic Battle has been my go to GBA game for the past few years, and I recently replayed an old Jimmy Neutron GBA game just because I felt like it. I always revisit old favorite games. Also, being a Sonic fan, when there's no new games, I like to replay older ones.
Same applies to shows and movies, can't count how many times I've watched Trolls, Smurfs The Lost Village, or My Little Pony. I just love watching them, why would I stop watching them if I seen it once?
I just can't be that person who plays or watches something once and moves on. Games, shows, and movies that are my favorites, I always will enjoy going back to them.
I've never reread a book because all of the allure of reading a book for me is gone after I know the story. There's not really any interactivity with books.The only games I replay are games with branching choices, even if the story and ending are the same. The games I replay the most are ones with a lot of customization choices, namely Pokemon. You can play the just about any Pokemon game with endless options for your party. Farming games like Story of Seasons and Stardew Valley are also endlessly replayable to me. There are also some games I can keep playing forever, although I wouldn't restart them. Games in that category include, but are not limited to: Monster Hunter, Breath of the Wild, Immortals, fighting games, and strategy games.
I can't read books/novels for pleasure. I've tried so many times. I really wish I could. It just can't hold my interest. I'm jealous of everyone that can read novels for pleasure.
When I was a child and I only probably got 3 games a year maximum, 2 at Christmas 1 for birthday I did used to replay them quite often although often just doing certain stars etc over and over. But now I'm an adult I don't really replay games unless they get remade or brought out on a new console because I'm a ***** head who would pay £50 for a game I already have on an older system
I mostly just replay sidescrollers and games I played as a kid. Shovel Knight and Tony Hawk 2 were constantly in my rotation for awhile.
I read the lord of the rings 3 times, at 13 18 and 25 years old, and no the story don’t change but my mind wasn’t the same at those age and each time I read it I understood and cared for different things and this alone justify to re-read these book.
"My partner boots up another game of Dark Souls pretty much any time he remembers that it exists"
#RELATABLE 😄
any F-zero to death
Different game for different reasons.
I've probably logged more hours playing Tetris and Pac Man than any other game, because it's nothing to just turn it on and be playing within two minutes.
Bigger games like Majoras Mask, Resident Evil 4, and Super Metroid I've replayed a bunch, but they take longer to beat so they're not games I can just sit down and start playing when I only have an hour to kill.
And then there are games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, which require a firm commitment of time. I love them and love replaying them but as I get older they get harder to go back to because my time is less abundant than it once was.
When I was younger I would play certain games through multiple times because I had the time and I genuinely loved them. That was SNES era. Same went when I had an N64 and that was when unlockables were more common so not only did I beat the games multiple times but actually aimed for beating them as much as I could on the harder difficulties, I had a sence of pride getting all the gold medals on Lylat wars on both difficulties. The same could be said for the Gamecube for the most part but by then I actually owned all the consoles on the market so I noticed I started only playing more games once before moving on because I had far more choice.
These days I will go back to games I played 20 years ago every now and again or if there is a new remaster of them to play on a more convient system. Most modern games because of the size I will only play through once just to experience them and then probably never go back again because there is so much choice and partly because I don't have as much time.
I only replay a handful of big games (I consider OOT big, as in requiring more than ten sessions at a casual pace to collect and do everything), while I replay old megadrive and snes games like Gunstar Heroes all the time. I replay Ocarina of Time annually, best game ever made, and I used to replay Resident Evil 4 daily at one point, but now I'm more interested in games like Hades and Binding of Isaac, where the whole design aesthetic of the game is to play through it again and again and again. Having said that, I will never, NEVER pass up an opportunity to play StarFox 64; I don't care who's asking, how bored or depressed or ill I might be, I will always make time to replay that game!
Only some of the classics... Played the original DQ trilogy multiple times. Played FF 1 though 9 multiple times, as well as CT. In recent memory, double dipped on Xenoblade and Dark Souls when they rereleased on Switch. Disappointed Dark Souls 2 was never ported... It's not a classic but I would have given it another whirl on Switch. In most cases, there are too many good games to warrant replaying old ones, but classics are classics and nostalgia sometimes wins the day, particularly for old school JRPGs, where new releases are few and far between, and of suspect quality.
I do enjoy a Kate Gray article. I'm playing BoTW from the beginning for the third time at the moment, because it's really good AND it's a comfort game. Ditto Stardew Valley.
I've replayed the games that I played on Wii U that then came out on Switch, since the Wii U was a family console and I was able to get my own Switch since it came out. Similarly, I've replayed Wii and PS3 games after having played them on a family system before getting my own Wii and PS3.
Aside from those, there are certain comfort games that I've replayed multiple times. This includes Mario 64 and Galaxy, third- and fourth-generation Pokemon games, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link's Awakening, and Twilight Princess.
I don't think there is enough time in a human lifespan to play through a long game like the Witcher 3 more than once or twice, unless you're happy missing out on other experiences.
❗There are certain retro games I'll ALWAYS re-play;
*Super Mario Bros.
*Super Mario Bros. 3
*Super Mario World
*Street Fighter 2 Turbo
*Super Street Fighter 2
*Streets Of Rage 1
*Shinobi 3
I have replayed more modern Games, that have multiple choices such as:
*Fallout 3
*Fallout: New Vegas
*Fallout: New Vegas 2, sorry, I meant The Outer Worlds
Anything else in general is once I'm done with it, I move on.
@Ambassador_Kong 15 years is a long time to teach writing without learning when a professional opinion is warranted or asked for. Or the difference between an argumentative essay and a bit of playful editorializing. But hey, you do you I guess.
Yes, I replay select games, both out of necessity (because there are only so few games that are really worth playing IMO) and because I enjoy them (I automatically stop if I don't enjoy/"feel" them).
It's most often games that have "evergreen" gameplay (and it can be everything from ancient arcade games to 3D engine action games).
It's mainly the "action era" Resident Evil games though (RE 4, 5, 6, Revelations 1 and 2 and The Mercenaries 3D - I've even found out that the dreaded Operation Racoon City is indeed very enjoyable, when you learn how to play it right).
I do prefer to play these games on a handheld though (otherwise they can look a bit too "iffy" - PS3/Xbox 360 are starting to look quite outdated on a big screen nowadays IMO).
Almost my entire collection is of games that are not really completeable such as tetris and so on.
In theory, there are a lot of games I'd love to revisit but, in practice, I always have new games to play, so I rarely get around to replaying a lot of my favorites. It's one reason I generally try to fully experience a game before moving on from it.
very had to just pick one option for "What makes you most likely to replay a game?" as there is more then one reason to replay a game and some of those options very depend on the game.
I do go back, but it's rare that il finish it a second/third time. I think when I get the urge to replay a game, I'm also wishing I could go back to that time when I first played it, not to get all "woe is me" but life isn't particularly great at the moment, so yeah, I feel the need for a comfort game and boot up Skyrim, remembering that I stayed up till midnight and headed to Asda to buy it at launch, remembering being in a party on the 360 with my friend who I've since lost touch with, staying up till 5am getting lost in its awesomeness and chatting away.
There's a few games I do this with, games are like albums, I remember what was happening in my life at the time of playing and long for those experiences again as well as the game/album.
REPLAY GAMES??!! I haven’t even started 90% of the games I’ve bought in the last 2-3yrs 🤣
I really think the poll for reasons you want to replay games should let us choose more than one option.
I'd bet 500 dollars that almost everyone who replays games, replays different games for different reasons.
It’s really rare for me to replay games. It’s not the 80’s/90’s anymore when the games were shorter and I had more time. I do welcome the rereleases Nintendo has been offering because it does give an opportunity to revisit some old classics, but otherwise I’m not connecting my old consoles to re-experience those games from my youth.
Sometimes a replay a game, but very rarely these days. I have been playing since the Commodore 64. Back then most games you had completed could be replayed in an hour or less. It diden't seem like a big deal. And then I was younger.
Today It's much harder to determine, when a game has been completed. For instance Victor Vran. You Can complete the main quest, without completing all the sub-quests. Is going back, to jump in and try beating a single sub-quest = replaying. Then I do. When A game has "more to offer" than the first playing allowed to show you, then I like to replay a game. But I'm not sure I ever play Victor Vran from start to end. It's to repetive in gameplay, for that. (My taste).
But replaying a game today - just to go back to the same experience is very, very unlikely I would do that today. The games take much more time, and even though the can be a great experience, I doubt, it can beat the first One. All the surprise is lost.
I replay less than I re-read/read. Give me a reading day all day, everyday.
Need more free time though.
I’m very much camp, re-read and re-play. But they tend to be firm favourites. (Lord if the Rings, and Zelda series, I’m looking at you!)
It’s chasing that serotonin hit I think. I already know I enjoy them, so I guess they are like gaming and reading comfort food!
I’ve usually got games of Resident Evil IV and Silent Hill 2 on the go. I just love them. I’m on my third play through of Resident Evil Village too, but that’s because I’m not quite done with everything yet. And I love it too! There’s a load of old Spectrum and ST stuff I’ll replay endlessly as well.
I almost never replay a game.
In fact I almost never finish a game. 😲 But that's a different topic.
The only games I replay are those were achieving a high score is the goal, like arcade games and puzzle games. Otherwise, once I beat a game, I put it on the shelf and move on to the next one.
Discounting classic games reappearing on VC or Switch, the only SP games I can think of having replayed are Mario Galaxy as Luigi to get 100% (if that counts) and Half Life 2 with the release of the subsequent episodes 1 & 2. Don't think I've ever reread a book.
I would guess I have seen the usual suspects over 300 times! And I could watch rite now and love. I was an arcade kid so replaying games to got better is built in me. Nothing wrong replaying. If u enjoy xxxx
Games I love or just really fun games I replay often. I couldn't even guess how many times I have played the Mega Man series, Sonic 1-3K, Mario 1-World, Mario 64, Zelda 1-Ocarina and so on.
Clearly I skew to the retro for replays, but I do even more modern ones, like Doom 2016, BotW, Bayonetta, and so on.
@ImagineerNik You better play Origins around Xmas
I don’t get people that DON’T replay games. Most games are even better on second playthrough.
I have to say though, I’ve grown fond of games in the 10-30 hour mould. Anything over 30 hours starts to drag. I think I’d rather play a 30 hour game twice through than a 60 hour game once through.
Yes. Back when I was a kid and money was tight you had a certain number of games and that was it, so you’d get used to playing the same games over and over. I still play through those old games every now and again, it’s like re-reading a great book or re-watching an old film. Furthermore, it’s great to play through some with my own kids now, along with introducing them to new game experiences as well. There are also a number of more ‘modern’ games that I enjoy revisiting, trying to appreciate all the detail. Dishonoured is the latest game I’m replaying. I find something new every time I do a run through. I will admit that I could possibly be missing out on some new experiences by spending time revisiting old games. I can find it quite overwhelming with the huge number of games I have access to these days with services like Gamepass or simply having more disposable income to choose where to devote my time and sometimes returning to something I know I will definitely love rather than starting something I may not like and giving up on seems like a better use of my limited time. Silly, I know.
@Deppasois Nice list you have there. Several of those I go back to fairly often. Strangely, I abruptly get the urge to play Super Mario 3 and Super Mario World about every two years or so. I mentioned Shinobi 3 in my earlier comment, and that is one I go back to all the time. It's a fantastic game that seems to be more appreciated in recent years.
@WoomyNNYes I'm generally like you. I've never been able to read for pleasure with some rare exceptions like novels I pushed hard to stick with or biographies I really wanted to read. I've always been that way. I never had much enthusiasm for books. I never worried about it much and I figure there are upsides and downsides to it.
I play The Sims a lot (currently 4, but its been the same for me for all games starting with the first one). Trying mods and making my own custom content, even though I suck at it
But mostly I play it as a comfort game, because it can be very relaxing and I don't have to think too hard while playing. If I want a challenge I can also make my own rules on how to play.
I also replay a few nostalgic games from my childhood at least once a year, mainly old LucasArts adventures and Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus. Plus some more modern games like Limbo and Inside. But for most other games if I think "That game was fun. I should play it again" I play it for maybe an hour and then put it away again.
It's very rare, as games take so long, and time is precious, plus new releases, I feel like I've replayed Pokémon quite a few times, even though I played different titles on different hardware,
Still, right now I'm finishing up No More Heroes 2, and EAGERLY awaiting NMH 3, which I really didn't expect to happen, and those games are really some of my all time favourite games I've ever played, and it's been a blast, last time I played through both entries, was with a wiimote on my hand, so it's been a while and they sure, stood the test of time
I pretty much only replay zelda games. Sometimes I'll dabble in special games I've loved throughout the years though.
The only games I never replay are Sony games. They are always one and done experiences, especially their interactive movies like TLOU. There really is zero incentive to play those games more than once. Games like Super Metroid, however? I've replayed that more times than I can count.
I'm on Jessica's side, whatever side that is. I didn't read everything.
I only read books again I really like, and that's typically non fiction. That was mostly everything I read anyway. Atlas Of The Universe is one of my all time favourites and most read.
With games, it's usually shorter, retro or retro style games. In fact, I bought Double Dragon 2 arcade game on the weekend as it was 50% off and already played through it twice, started a third time, and played the other modes at least once. Mostly it's the thrill of doing better. This skill development has always been one of those fun aspects of gaming for me.
Honestly it depends on the game, I've said it so many times already, but I play though Super Mario World, once a year as it's my all-time favorite game. I also replayed through the DKC games when they were added to NSO. If I'm being honest, I'll play through them all again at some point, especially with my kids getting more and more into video games (just because that'll make it a whole new experience worth sharing).
There are classic games that I replay for nostalgia (Super Mario World, FF IV, FF VI, DQ 1). There are those that are like good books (Mass Effect, Dragon Age 1, Xenoblade Chronicles, Batman Arkham City/Origins). Finally there those that just suck me back in for another playthrough (BotW, XCX).
But I also re-read books a lot. I had a tradition that I would read all the books of The Dark Tower series and Harry Potter series before starting the next one. I read the Riftwar Saga multiple times and same with a lot of other books. Good stories are worth revisiting.
I replayed couple of games because l just feel like it or the game is just fun. Example, l love LOZTP and so l finished the game 10 times and l was about to finish it the 11th, l still have saved data of it and l remember l was half way through. I also own multiple profiles on every each MH game l played and l worked a lot to finish the whole game plus hub on every profile and it was fun. I wouldn't mind replaying games because it's something to do and maybe some games will bring good memories back. I replayed many other games with my brother and it's fun. Depends on the game, sometimes l can only replay them 3 or 2 times if its just boring or the game itself is long.
I have more that I collect then I play. But this is also due to sd capacity to keep updates.
I re-play, thats why I need physicals, when the servers go down yhou will not be able to play them unless you have them downloaded to an SD card.
And on the note of Books, I re-read all books, many times, wife hates it, but dont care.
Can't really use the poll since the given answers are all meh, but yes, constantly.
I replay and finish my favs regularly but also replay older stuff on a whim sometimes.
When i play newer games and they remind me of an older one, it's not rare for me to stop the playthrough of said newer game in favor of an old one instead.
Heck, i even got myself an XBOX ONE just for "RARE Replay" so i could comfortably replay some older RARE games. (It was a super cheap clearance deal, but still )
My play habits are the reason why i came to despise Pokemon games. Down the road, you will never be able to experience the games in their entirety ever again.
Event monsters, items etc. will be gone forever.
Or take Dragon Quest IX on DS. Since the server shutdown, we lost a huge chunk of content forever. Lots of fun items and over 60 quests are gone.
There are very few games i haven't picked up twice, so i do love when they are "complete" and stay that way in some way, shape or form.
I think retro games are always replayable, mainly because they were designed in such a way for that to be the case (meaning consoles before the Saturn here, Megadrive being one of the best ever), however when you jump to ps1 (which is definitely retro) & ps2, which surely is now? It's got to be some sort of game you have heard many great things for but never got round to it or something you already have a history with and know you love, at least that's what I think.
Having said that I forever advocate people play my joint favourite games of all time in FF7 & 8, anyone with an interest, just play it!
As for replaying more modern games, It's again one's you happen to love for me, too many games (an great ones at that) are either un-finished or un-played to warrant replaying a game you didn't care too much for just because it has different choices for example.
The above reasoning is also why I avoid MMO's an also why I'm not particularly one for online games (local is great however). This is when MH Rise blurs the boundary XD
I like replaying games! I don't always finish them, but recently I came back to : Etrian odyssey untold 2 on the 3ds, Dragon age Inquisition on ps4, xenoblade chronicles x on the wii u, and even paper mario on the GameCube
Some I find comfort into, some I really missed, some I completely forgot... And, when I can't afford the new release immediately, I always have something to play! When I was a child, I did have to replay my game as my family couldn't really afford new game, and I was getting one new game per year (at Christmas, or on my birthday)
Often I'll play a new game twice back to back. It's often a great experience second time around once you know the mechanics and have a bit of mastery.
After that if I feel I've had my fill of it I will often sell it.
There's also games that suddenly just come to mind, or there's an update or something that brings you back. Sometimes I'll even rebuy these. Recently just replayed the Dishonored series after it got FPS boost on Xbox and also did another playthrough of Arkham Knight (it stands up really well).
Lastly there's the 'comfort food' games, that you can always return to for a few games. Racers and other short dip in titles are good for this with the King being Mario Kart.
Pretty much a one timer at least now, unless the game is super special. Before the Switch I would replay the Pokemon games so much that I am ashamed of it XD
I think I replay games more often than I play games that I've not finished. Metroid Prime Hunters and Animal Crossing Wild World are still major time sinks each year relative to what new games I play, and then there's the shiny hunting in older Pokemon games. I've added hundreds of hours to Pokemon Black over the last two years, and I've gotten my hands on a copy of Pokemon White 2 this year. Since that's a new game for me, I guess my time given to games I'm replaying and games I've yet to finish will become more even since I'm soft resetting for a shiny starter in White 2. From the poll options, I would say I replay games to revisit old favorites, their comfort gaming and they're just that great. Metroid Prime Hunters is my favorite game and Animal Crossing Wild World is in my Top 5, moving to #2 when the summer season is in full swing. I don't see either of these two getting replaced completely in favor of new game experiences.
I rarely replay modern games - there's not enough "oomph" in them to my liking. On the other hand I revisit System Shock 2, Super Metroid, Resident Evil Remake, Unreal, Landstalker, Shining Force 2, Phantasy Star IV, Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Ninja Warriors Again practically every year.
I have lost count of how many games I have replayed; I know I have replayed Skyrim at least once, Oblivion twice, Zelda Games (ALTTP, OOT, MM, WW, TP, SS, ALBW, LA) I have replayed at least once if not more (OOT especially, I have lost count of how many times I have replayed that game to completion over the years and over the different platforms). Most of the Mario games have been replayed (only exception I can think off the top of my head that I haven't is Odyssey). I have replayed Wario Land 3 multiple times. Super Metroid has seen multiple playthroughs (that is especially fun because of how short the game can be). I have replayed the Messenger, and I have replayed the entirety of Dragon Quest XI via the new edition. I'll probably be replaying the Yakuza games soon, though that will be to get trophies I missed, or that can only be obtained on second playthrough. Other games I might of replayed, but I cannot specify which ones at present.
Nothing wrong with replaying a game; my reasons for playing each one is normally different, though sometimes, it can be an amalgam of reasons. All that said though; new experiences normally take precedent.
I mostly don't but for a new game I might play it again to unlock stuff. I just beat RE Village 7 times to get all the weapon unlocks etc as I know a year from now I'll want to play it again but I'll want unlimited ammo just to run through it for fun. New Game + is sometimes cool but it would have to come with a new unlock etc to get me in again. Like maybe being able to unlock all abilities now or update my weapons to the highest levels. I am still playing BOTW to get all my suits to max.
@sdelfin 'Shinobi 3' has great gameplay but the soundtrack is AMAZE-BALLS!
'Sonic 1' used to be on this list but fell off about a year or two ago.
Absolutely, for pretty much the same reason I'd rewatch movies or TV shows... It's weird that I had to explain this concept to a friend of mine who couldn't understand why you would want to play the same game again. Then again, given my backlog of games I've been meaning to get to, replaying ones I like have decreased over the years.
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