Games You Should Only Play Once

[@TheCursedJudge]

This video is a sequel and sort of glue connecting many of the topics I've covered in the past year, as well as a reflection on them. I hope you enjoy. Also, I am deliriously tired as I type this, this week was a lot of work. Turns out, when a video is double the length, you do twice the work. Who could have known. Anyways, hope you all enjoy. Also, I've now updated the description with every game shown in the video with timestamps. Thank you to a dog I know for doing 90% of it while I was asleep as a challenge.

[@babs_babs]

it’s quality work, now pls get some sleep

[@enderiantv]

incredible video, I concur, get some sleep please

[@MarijnRoorda]

You should try Abzü. I played it once, with my daughter, it was maybe 4 hours, we were both mesmerized and sad it was over. Ever since then i have tried finding a new game for us to play, and yet, she insists on playing Star Stable or the SIms. It might take another 30 years for her to come around to dear old dad and enjoy a good game without demanding some infinite gameplay loop.

[@andrewwestphal4377]

Absolute amazing video. Your voice is truly mesmerizing. I wish you had ten times the views because you have totally changed my view and perspective on many of my favorite games. Keep it up my dude because you do amazing work.

[@Hypercube2017]

And just as Manifold Gardens held a mirror to you, the epitaph you have given us reflects something of our own nature… We watch, we listen as you and countless others dissect tropes and ideas and experiences; we live vicariously through these monuments of the past, through symbols of what once was. Why? For some, it makes sense to recapture the feeling of the first time. But what about those who never experienced it? I ask this due to my experience with Undertale. Originally, I was unsure about playing it; I watched and listened as others talked about it, as they dissected it; I feasted on the animations and songs. But only recently did I decide to play it. I’ll admit, there’s probably a lot I lost by knowing what would happen; by knowing the story (even if I didn’t know all the details) and by not being surprised by the bigger plot twists. Why did I choose to live vicariously, before living directly?

[@TheHipClip]

Outer Wilds is the video game that should truly be played once. It's no wonder, people comment with don't spoil anything or tell others to not use a guide with the game. It lives off the mystery of its story, and exploration is the path to the story. You see everything, you know everything, and there's only one first playthrough.

[@gbolter2800]

I tried playing, but seemed too boring and hard for me. I know that we have to get this "cool experience" from exploring abandoned alien civilization, but honestly, I don't see how it can be that interesting.

[@seaslug9144]

@@gbolter2800 the cool part is gradually learning how to finish the game, and the weight of the choice to finish it upon learning how

[@kilroyyyyy90]

​@@gbolter2800It's a very difficult game to get into, but if you find a spark of interest, the game ignites until you're rolling the credits and shedding a few tears. If you ever decide to give it another try, don't think of it as a challenge to overcome, think of it as lessons to learn and a world to explore. The "character" you play as would be curious and would desire to read and absorb all the text left behind by the previous civilization. If you can adopt that same curiosity, it's a truly magical experience :)

[@blooberry7901]

Specifically came down into the comments to see if anyone was taking about OW. What I wouldn't give to be able to play it for the first time again...

[@Funkenstein_46]

@@blooberry7901 omg i know how that feels.

[@iAREmizzou]

What Remains of Edith Finch has been described as a game that takes about 2 hours to beat, and a lifetime to process. It is the most beautiful game I have ever played and recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Firewatch.

[@lemonlazer5687]

What a perfect way to describe that game!

[@damonkinell-cm3uu]

Firewatch was a game I only ever played once.. but the ending and story still move me to this day..

[@CorkyMcButterpants]

I'll admit I gave up on it about 2 hours in - but have I just had the whole mystery of the game spoiled here? Is it not worth firing it up again, now I know about >the previous guy

[@lucasgeorg1214]

It is definitely worth firing up again 🔥🔥

[@jeremyrennerapp]

@@CorkyMcButterpantsdefinitely worth a play through for the atmosphere alone

[@R3TR0J4N]

Man played it once, and I keep seeing the game for the next year's to come thanks to references and Easter egg by games.

[@Nitro_Foundry]

Same. Firewatch truly is a gem 💎

[@DPortain]

Someone said that being a KZbinr is like strip-mining all your life for meaningful content. It seems like you've discovered the devastation this mining process causes. My condolences.

[@key_bounce]

Yes. ... I loved Minecraft ... until I started trying to share it on youtube.

[@chazchoo99]

I'm kinda experiencing this right now, too. I've been doing let's plays on my other channel, and I'm learning that editing isn't fun if I'm not getting views, and the games that I want to play, I just can't unless I'm recording the experience. I think I'm learning that a KZbin career is actually not what I want if I want to hang on to my hobby of gaming as a hobby rather than a job.

[@GregHuffman1987]

putting what you love on the internet can change your incentives around

[@DrJackShelton]

Condolences to all of us using internet excessively… just look at speech limitations of frequent Twitter users over the past 10 years… didn’t think I’d still be alive when people found 3 sentences to be too much if there’s one word they don’t know well enough… Only EFL students on other side of the world can speak English beyond simple paragraphs when they actually care about human communications of the levels used by adults last century… but now they expect Biden speech level communications to run the world?! It’d be laughable if it weren’t so concerning and hopefully just a deception, even if that’s a scarier reality if they’re playing this hard into the Presidential Theatre department, shall I call it?! Man the worlds a mess and only English as a foreign language students seem capable of writing at levels of casual personal messages on social media 20 years ago where people didn’t consider a paragraph to be a book or whatever…. Moments where I wish they were just an AI and not actually that developmentally damaged by intentionally lowered standards of thinking capabilities, etc. Which discourage creation of ideas that require more than 240 characters to articulate… Why try shortening one’s thoughts for others instead of offering all of it with more to engage their minds so that they actually Understand the thinking? Is it that their brains will burn out if they saw too much?! (The Typical concerns for communications in the 2020s, I suppose? : D)

[@alanbland1976]

I've long argued that the "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" is a terrible lie to tell young people. Eventually the obligation and stress associated with it being your source of income will corrode your enjoyment of the thing. You may not come to dislike it, but you will have lost it as a hobby. It is far better to do something that you are good at and that secures your financial requirements, and keep your hobbies as hobbies.

[@reddatura]

this is probably my favorite body of work you've done yet, excellent job dude

[@TheCursedJudge]

I was happy with it for sure

[@laupoke]

"body of work" 💀

[@yeetrepublic9142]

@@laupokeWhat, did you just learn how to use quotation marks? What's the point of this reply

[@Cap_Alot]

@@laupokewhat would you consider this?🤔😂

[@Enlightened_SpursFan]

@@laupoke you are definitely the type of person that makes fun of every little thing you can find. insecurity

[@nostyleja]

This video was suggested to me by KZbin. I'm 20 minutes in, and as much as I'm completely intellectually immersed, I snap out of it every few minutes, baffled at just how much hard work this represents... and with such an articulate dissection of concepts on top of it all. Thank you for making this, I'm thoroughly enjoying every word.

[@abbedurgut3743]

I thought this was gonna be another one of those video essays about games like The Outer Wilds and related games and how they can only be played once etc etc. But you have made an experience and journey not unlike the games you've talked about. A video that should only be watched once, but remembered for years to come. As both a person who loves creating and analyzing things that i love, the last sentiments of this video put into words a feeling that i couldnt describe on my own. That feeling of killing something by exploring why it is great.

[@LLoKKa]

You had a line in this video that really made me rethink so much. About esports and competitive games, where you said that eventually the game space starts to shrink, where the only valid plays are restricted to just a few aspects of the game, where the difference between winning and losing is about small details and leverages on game mechanics rather than dramatic strategic plays and turntables. I've played competitive games for my whole life. I've reached semi-pro level super rapidly in pretty much every game I've picked up that way. And yet, when that moment you described is reached for the general player base, every competitive game loses its appeal for me instantly. I'm the player who takes every shot at a dramatic turn of the state of the game. That's WHY I play these games, that's why I love these experiences. The fact that every game nowadays has the meta being broken down so fast in the internet, means that I get to experience these for much shorter periods of time... before the life of the game is just sucked out of it for me, before everyone knows what's best and being clever and imaginative and taking chances is just asking to lose to anyone capable at the game. That's eye opening and really sad. The games just become really small because people shortcut their experiences by learning from guides and then the meta becomes stale and boring, with minimal space for exploration.

[@brodriguez11000]

Can't wait for his take on Excel as an Esport.

[@Future_Doggo]

Holy crap, that Helldivers 2 post made my IQ plummet. Meta-chasing is one of the worst thing to have happened to multiplayer games. God forbid if you want to expirement with an unorthodox build, or "have fun" a little.

[@NeverduskX]

Yeah, games with a restrictive meta often turn me off sooner than anything. Especially when the game itself (or the community arounds it) treats anything but meta as unviable.

[@michaelbarker6732]

Is the guy above me serious?!

[@Jdlewie]

@@michaelbarker6732Ya know I'm intrigued now

[@mr.shplorb662]

Is the guy two above me serious?!

[@CorkyMcButterpants]

I firmly believe guys 3 above me are demonstrable eedjits.

[@EricBohner]

The ending of this video was intense. The idea that the work that one does to make a video game commentary always drains the last life from it. Making even small drops of replayability evaporate. The sacrifice you make for the essay. It was a great ending and something profound to think about. I also love the irony that by expanding the essay from one game to a genere allowed you to find one last drop. I wounder if you were to expand it again from the genre to the concept of gaming as a whole if you would be able to get even more. Then, in a way, this becomes a VIDEO game. Good work.

[@believeinmatter]

What Remains of Edith Finch was that game for me, I don’t think I would ever get the same experience I did the first time I played it. I cried really hard throughout that game

[@Crocogator]

Was about to say exactly this. That game is absolutely profound, and should be shared, but we'll never get the same experience.

[@ItsNket]

It's so fantastic, gut wrenching

[@lisagna7234]

I'm always so surprised when I read something like this - I've personally replayed it a few times because it never fails to give me the same feelings again

[@Crocogator]

@@lisagna7234 It's been a couple years. Maybe I'll do it again.

[@ItsNket]

@@lisagna7234 I think that's probably like reading a book a second or third time, some people can and some can't

[@lgpen999]

Wow. The Manifold Garden video introduced me to both the game, and your channel. The impact it had on me would be impossible to put into words in a KZbin comment section. It's tragic to hear about the mental destruction of games you onced loved, but also I hope it brings you some satisfaction hearing the impact that single video has had on me. I'm only one of the 25 thousand, but I thank you for what you do.

[@sky_rig]

What i love about your videos is that your videos always seem to be a typical video game essay but then turn into beautiful works of philosophical art

[@JonathanMeyer-o4m]

yeah, he's a very good essayist however i would also credit it partially to the fact that video games themselves are works of art too, if you know how to do it right

[@TrueChaosDescent]

I love how you explained everything. The selflessness you showed that you want other people to see your perspective, to be astonished to what you've seen and explained it scholarly is so heart touching. Your sacrifices in trying to analyze games just for others to feel the same way you did really brought a tear to my eye. That value and passion you have for these games (or this game) really means a lot to me. Your explanations opened the doors that I've closed eons ago and decide to reopen them, to learn from them, to experience them once again, in exchange of tormenting me in the process. "What does it all mean?" Thank you for this video. This is a wonderful way of explaining a game I've ever watched from a youtuber.

[@Gokuvegeta47]

That outro is exactly why I love this channel, so much passion and understanding being poured into these videos. Cursed judge every one of your videos are ungodly good, definitely my favorite video essay youtuber and as of right now my favorite youtuber. Don't start here but 39:35 forward is so beautiful, all of your videos are so beautiful judge.

[@just-shaquille]

single-use games are often short, but they always slap so much harder than replayable games

[@koop7K]

A few to mention here just incase no one has played them: To The Moon, Milk inside a bag of milk inside of a bag of milk, Superliminal, Sally Face, Stanley Parable, Before your Eyes, and GRIS are all very good, short single-use games. I highly recommend all of them

[@achallor]

⁠@@koop7K To add to this list, The Beginner’s Guide is made by the same creator of The Stanley Parable and it’s likewise as thought-provoking.

[@gierrah]

I'm just not sure I can consider The Stanely Parable single-use

[@nicklafleur7620]

​@@gierrahyeah if you played it just once, you miss out on literally 99% of the game

[@jessecv]

Inside was one of those games for me.

[@wade5002]

A very speechless yet hearty thank you! This video gave me a few good, and much needed, cries. As a gamer for nearly 3 decades I constantly try to go back to old games and try and enjoy it but, like you mentioned about Portal, we are not trying to figure out but rather recall the memories of how we completed it in the past. That was one among MANY things throughout this video that really impacted me. Your use of words in relation to your knowledge of gaming and impact on us, or rather you, is unparalleled - may just be me but holy... REALLY played my heartstrings and not pulled but YANKED my emotions and sheesh did the waterworks start and really give me a new appreciation and perspective on gaming.

[@babs_babs]

i’m not into video games the way you are and i don’t really dip into the video game side of yt too much, but this channel is an easy exception. you treat video games as a medium, and the game itself as the art to muse over. you treat it like an insight into the human experience, and respect the depth of the creation process and user experience. and i like that you never shy away from the real world shit that impacts the whole medium

[@TheCursedJudge]

Thank you so much, I'm happy you enjoy

[@nm9688]

If you like channels like that I'd recommend Jacob Geller. I'm not a huge gamer but I like how he references video games and approaches them as art

[@babs_babs]

@@nm9688 ooh yes thank you!

[@michaelnazar9358]

.

[@griffinhan-lalime4357]

@@babs_babs If you like Jacob Geller, try Noah Caldwell-Gervais, too! His work is especially good if you're looking for something to listen to without having to watch it. Also, Jacob Geller is a big fan c:

[@thestraydog]

My playthrough of Journey still sticks with me to this day. And thinking about the last few sequences still make my eyes misty. I cant remember another video game that made me overcome with emotion the Journey did... My now ex-wife came in right as it was ending and was a little startled to see me smiling but crying at the same time. I then handed the controller over to her and said "You should play this, really. But I dont wanna watch" I came in as I heard the last music playing and she was bawling, it hit her just as hard. I asked her what she thought and she said it was beautiful. And I couldnt agree more. Ive considered playing through it again, almost 10 years later but I sorta dont want to ruin that memory of such an amazing an impactful little game. It might not hit everyone the way it did me or my ex, but I still highly suggest it.

[@enderiantv]

I subbed to you around a year ago because you understood the art in game design, seeing games as more than a distraction. This was the perfect video to sum up why, I truly hope others can see it.

[@NunSuperior]

Just watched this on Nebula, came here to comment (congrats on being on Nebula btw). I worked on Manifold Garden, I'm in the credits and on one of those chat screens and everything. The endings didn't get as much design time as the main game so I'm not surprised they are a little rough. I mean the main game took like 8 years? If you ever wanted to interview William I'm sure he'd be down for it. Enjoying the channel, hope you get a good rest from this one. -Garret Polk

[@Hazardius]

Firewatch was so cool to me that I decided to play it one more time to "knock off the few achievements I've missed". And though I discovered some new things, it definitely felt different, less.. Thank you for this fine video!

[@Hazardius]

OK. Now I've played through the Manifold Garden. It was amazing. Thank you for making me finally open this game.

[@OhShootKid]

Would you recommend replaying it? It's a game I love, and I just started a new playthrough after a number of years, but this video made me second guess it.

[@Hazardius]

@OhShootKid I'm not 100% sure - I played it twice one after another. So I assume that with a break of a few years between playthroughts, it might hit less "repetitive" and more "nostalgic". In short - I think it might be worth your time to replay it after a while if you want to do it. Regardless of your choice, I hope you have a great time with the game.

[@TheExileFox]

You should also try Kona - it's a different story but it has the same sort of quality as Firewatch. Kona takes place in the winter though.

[@Lennard222]

This video really moved me to my core. Videogames were a big part of my identity when I was a teenager, and I always found comfort in the thought that I can always pick them up again when I want to. That someday I will build the perfect Minecraft world or finally finish that game I always wanted to. But you are absolutely right, that something can never be experienced again in the same way, and I guess that's a reality I will have to come to terms with. Now I'm even more grateful towards games like Outer Wilds, that made it clear that they are a one time experience. I really value my time with them and wouldn't wanna replay and tarnish the experience, now that I know how it works.

[@applimu7992]

I loved this video and was honestly a little surprised that OneShot wasn't mentioned in it. OneShot, to its core, is a game that can only be played once and centers around permanence and reality, (among other things). I personally enjoyed it alot, and wanted to mention it bc it matches the theme of this video essay very well.

[@Exel3nce]

man, i wish i could get behind it but the gameplay was such a bore

[@jimmyjeff6918]

WARNING POTENTIAL SPOILERS ABOUT ONESHOT PLEASE DO NOT SPOIL THIS GAME FOR YOURSELF PLEASE! Seriously, OneShot is my #2 game of all time because of that whole idea (#1 is LoZ Majora's Mask, which is funny because it's a game completely about replaying it over and over again). But OneShot is much more about non-replayability and reality. It's a game that makes you care about its characters. You are spoken directly to by Niko. The NPCs talk to and of you like a diety to save their world. You grow attached to them because there's an expectation that you will save them because, well, who else will? Then in the final chapter of the game (Solstice), Niko realizes the futility in the world around them. They are not in control, and everything is predetermined. It is bugged so that if you save the world, Niko dies, and if you send Niko back, the world is lost. But Niko still believes in you that you can do something about it. And this Solstice run is what affected me most deeply. It was because the characters of OneShot had a chance to live, you had a chance to save everyone. But Niko will leave, back to their own world outside the game. There is no bringing them back through vanilla means. And since you care about Niko and their situation, you feel burdened by the consequences of playing this game and brining Niko into it. So you must send them back in a Solstice run. But you still feel sad about it. You will never see Niko again. You can try to mess with the game files but it just will never be the same. The thought that it is only your computer's data and not Niko themselves being there takes over when replaying. You care about Niko, and you don't want to put them back into this messed up simulation. Sorry if this sounded ranty and too wordy, I'm a bit eepy. But thank you for reading in case you did.

[@AlgidSquid]

Real I was hoping it would be at least mentioned in the vid.

[@Marina-kb9hi]

Oneshot is exactly what I was thinking about when I clicked on this video

[@Bigzthegreat]

I stopped playing because I was scared to mess everything up.

[@Väns1-o4c]

This is such a good video, i love how the game clips line up with what your saying, like how the tf2 clip pops up when you talk about games that make it through the rot phase.

[@EvanFar_]

i feel like the intro with Manifold Garden and stuff was explained well with "It felt like an artpiece, but you could play it"

[@slyfoxblox]

You would love “Manifold Garden is a beautiful game”

[@brodriguez11000]

Impossible spaces have their own appeal.

[@galaxygamer2220]

Taking the time at the beginning to describe the mindset of what you're about to talk about really sets this video out from the others. I love video essays so I went into this already having a decent idea of why you were going to say what you were going to say, but walking me through the entire process with examples and thought-out commentary was done with pure excellence

[@realdbh]

Great video Judge. Your point at the end about killing our passion to build monuments out of them really resonated with me. I've found myself doing the same thing to many things I love, especially multiplayer games that I'd enjoy with my friends. I've never been able to properly word that experience, but I think your interpretation really captured the idea well. The only thing I'd say is that just because we've ruined something we love, such that we can no longer enjoy it, doesn't mean we can't find new ways to experience it and build entire new memories. From re-experiencing a game or movie with a friend, a new remake/remaster, to simply revisiting something with a new perspective, I believe there's many ways we can find more joy in the things we used to love.

[@tophatgeo]

Your video making has been a massive inspiration to my own KZbin journey and the way I view games in a more critical way. It made me realise that there's topics and stories I want to talk about in video essays too, stuff which is personal to ME. "Games that hate the player" managed to touch upon things which I want to explore and expand upon further later down the line. I know you described your videos as a way to pass on that passion for games you once loved, but I also think there's such a simple joy in sharing something which has meant a lot to you, no matter if you think the video's quality is still up to your standards. This whole paragraph is basically a big ramble to say I appreciate your videos a lot, and I find a great value in them. A massive thanks to you. It's both lovely and surprisingly sad to have a story or game that you only will experience once. I will stand by that the first time experiencing a story will always be a magical and special time, your anecdotes on Portal and Manifold Garden are great examples of how we will sometimes mine our nostalgia and fuzzy memories only to come up with nothing by the end. No man ever steps in the same river twice, but sometimes it's probably best to leave those rivers once you've stepped through them.

[@x_goodie8528]

man, you have the only videos on the platform to make me emotional, this nice feeling of melancholy I cant really explain is extremely refreshing on youtube. Thank you and don't stop. This platform needs creators like you

[@Antoine893]

You should give Jacob Geller a try, they are very simiilar

[@x_goodie8528]

Yeah I do watch him often, but after watching his entire backlog he doesn't hit as hard as the cursed judge.@@Antoine893

[@cagey300]

This is exactly how I feel about these videos. I get a "nice feeling of melancholy I can't really explain". I really look forward to these videos.

[@n00bF0Sh0]

one of the best video essays i've ever listened too. very profound, thought provoking, nostalgic...subbed with the swiftness. thank you for sharing!

[@ItsNket]

What Remains of Edith Finch - if you haven't talked about it yet. Fantastic storytelling with an emotional reveal towards the end. Hands down my personal fave

[@appelspeedrunnerxd6553]

I’ve played that game almost 10 times but the first was definitely the one i truly remember

[@snottersofsnot8644]

It's not the sort of game I normally go for - I only started playing it to get some easy achievements for XBox Rewards. But holy hell, you're right. It's unlike any other game I've played. If the film medium wasn't ruined by DEI, the WEF, BlackRock etc I'd say it would make for an amazing film. That is, if they made it 10 years ago. Nowadays the protagonist would be a strong diverse female character, full of sass and unearned entitlement. A game made in a bygone era, that's for sure.

[@ye4439]

This concept has been in the back of my mind for the longest time. When my passion causes me to scan every detail of something I love until there’s nothing left to enjoy. Finding the meta, discovering all the mysteries, exploring all possible ways to interact with it. Thank you for making this masterpiece.

[@miko_avi]

never been one for sitting through youtube documentaries (and much less those beyond 30-40 minutes) but this an amazing insight to the medium of video games and how they are experienced versus how they were intended to be, massive kudos to you being able to present all of this in an enjoyable & informative way :)

[@mariusracine1347]

Your videos genuinely make me feel nostalgic, curious and relieved, I couldn’t explain it well but you got a way of doing these reviews/analysis that is so unique and interesting. I love them so much and every single one of them leave an impact on me and the way I see video games and art in general. Thank you for your work

[@KingSulley]

I just wanted to say, your Manifold Garden video was the reason I subscribed to this channel. I knew watching that video, that you would find success. Im glad that you did, and I hope you keep growing alongside your channel. Cheers!

[@Calverin]

I was riveted throughout this entire video. You managed to really get to the root of a lot of my feelings over "experiential games" in a way I've never been able to acknowledge myself. I will respect this video by only watching it once.

[@cobble616]

15:19 HE TALKED ABOUT MOSA LINA LETS GOOOOOOO Edit: 17:58 AND CELESTE 64 I LOVE THIS GUY! Edit 2: oh also Manifold Garden is a really cool game that he talked about I like a lot of the games that this guy talks about, I actually only played Manifold Garden because of the original video about it

[@xXMindSoulXx]

i’m so sad OneShot wasn’t talked about, it’s practically the best, and fits PERFECTLY (literally) with this video

[@Ethananous512]

The way you tell a story is beautiful, using games and their own themes to reflect your feelings and refract them onto us, the viewers. This video was an excellent example of this, thank you so much for passing on your passion so that we may hope to enjoy it as you once did.

[@ReverendTed]

Am I Mandala-effect'ing your video about Outer Wilds? At any rate, it provides one of many examples of the intersection of the "Only Play Once" and "Forever" games - speedrunning can turn almost any game into a sport, a process that discards all of what was _originally_ meaningful and valuable about the game, and instead finding value in discovery, knowledge, and exploitation of a set of rules by which people can continuously compete against each other and themselves. This came to mind when someone commented that you should only play Outer Wilds once, and my thought was, "not according to ptminsker."

[@worst9365]

I swear I can remember him talking about Outer Wilds too. Been searching for weeks now but I just can't find it

[@Yegormister]

These type of videos make me truly fall in love with video games. I just keep thinking about the games that I have downloaded and think of all the things in those game I find beautiful. Solid video 👌🏻

[@tessfairfield6435]

This is what I love about team fortress 2. It’s gameplay is so fun and each merc has such an insane skill ceiling that even though the game has been abandoned by valve, it’s still drawing huge player counts cause there’s just nothing else like it

[@Greenday5494]

And the only thing that was like it, overwatch, has not just been abandoned like tf2 but actively murdered lol

[@updog4L]

@@Greenday5494Not true. There are many similar games that never had a chance unlike OW.

[@bld9826]

​@user-ev5md5sz9x Weird thing to say about a game getting active updates tbh

[@houndofculann1793]

@@bld9826 that's Overwatch 2, not Overwatch. The original was deleted

[@NatanStarke]

Paladins is just a better tf2 and was mostly abandoned anyways.

[@thelackofabettername]

Every one of your videos gives me a new perspective on video games. Why I enjoy playing them and what makes them so interesting to me. Thank you for making these videos

[@elsam7720]

I love the discussion about esports and how fundamentally different they are from "real" sports. As an Overwatch (formerly) and Valorant player who watched Overwatch League broadcasted on ESPN long before I actually picked up the game the fact that someone would always own an esports game whereas no one owns soccer etc has been something I've thought about a lot over the years but I've never seen anyone bring it up in a video until now! Esports is also pretty different in that the audience is mostly people who already play the game. My dad can be a football fan without actually playing himself, but competitive video games are often visually busy and could contain gamemodes with completely different structures and objectives so it's much harder for anyone to be able to watch without context.

[@seanpicot8424]

Insanely well articulated both from the philosophical subjective standpoint and the structural objective standpoint. You articulated moods and movements within the video game culture I could only ever think of in feelings. I could feel the weight of your words when discussing how analyzing a video game for a video essay can suck the life out of it and I had never even thought of something like that. Congrats on what I think is your best video yet and I’m so excited to see what’s next.

[@Whimsly]

Firewatch and Manifold Garden are wonderful examples of this style of game, (as is Outer Wilds, I won't be the first to point out) but I would like to add Roadwarden to that list as well. Like... you could play Roadwarden a second time, or a third time. It's an RPG with a truly baffling amount of reactivity to your choices. You go in, perhaps with good intentions, but you will fail in so many ways and characters will suffer because you do not understand the Peninsula that you have found yourself exploring. But once you hit the credits, you will never be a stranger to it again.

[@LARAUJO_0]

This video was a wild experience. It started by showing me a really cool game I've never heard of, then got thinking philosophically about games I'm quite familiar with, then properly introduced me to a game I was only vaguely familiar with, then brought back the game from the start, used it to tie together the previous sections of the video, and made me speechless in two very different ways. Well done

[@John-se6it]

I really enjoyed this video, I didn't even notice it was much longer than the usual video until the end. I shared this to a professor in my college who teaches courses on analyzing video games and he now likes your channel

[@CaptainThief]

@40:10 “When I cover a game I used to obsess over, I’m choosing to make a burial site. Pubg, Five nights at freddy’s, Mario galaxy, Fire watch, Halo reach; monuments to my past, former self. Thousands of memories, feelings and ideas compressed into a headstone.” Damn, dude…

[@Roughling]

holy shit, that articulated so many thoughts I had about the current gaming zeitgeist very succinctly. good dog!

[@Shantara11]

Your original video on Manifold Garden both made me discover your KZbin channel and the game itself, and I loved both of them! Though I also couldn't finish the challenge run, same as you. It felt too tedious and focused more not on coming up with a puzzle solution, but jumping through all logistical hoops to execute it. Thanks for making the sacrifice!

[@mikethetowns]

Many many years ago I had some insomnia going on and ended up playing through the whole first season of Telltales Walking Dead in one go, then all of Spec Ops: The Line...then the extended edition of Apocalypse Now since I hadnt seen it before. Then I think I cried for a bit and fell asleep. All three were absolute masterpieces I'll probably never want to experience again due to the roller-coaster I put my brain through haha.

[@Enlightened_SpursFan]

sounds like an amazing trip

[@NatanStarke]

Play lone survivor, it will break you for a time.

[@mikethetowns]

@@NatanStarke Looking that up now, keen haha EDIT: Turns out I bought it years ago, gotta install methinks

[@felikatze]

"Games You Should Only Play Once" is a beautiful video. Absolutely stunning and reflective work. The game that gave me this realization was In Stars and Time, which I played twice back to back in a single week after I bougth it, and by god, i am not playing it again for at least three years. I could ramble about the metanarrative of that for three hours, but I won't. Everything you've said is so incredibly appropriate. Once, I booted the game up and tried to play it again since, but put it down immediately, because it just... wasn't fun. I already knew how to do anything. And even if I never play it again, it is going to live in my brain for ten years at minimum, or I'll still be thinking about it in the retirement home, which is much more valuable than finding every last line of dialogue.

[@user-bo6vy5eg8g]

that fucking game RUINED me. I played the demo. Then I bought the game. Then I played it for 15 hours, pausing only to eat and go to the bathroom. They put something in this game, I swear.

[@harrysumption430]

I love firewatch, so goddamn much. Thank you for singing it praises again, rarely have I seen a piece of media so consistently misinterpreted and derided unfairly.

[@rashkavar]

Fascinating insight at the end there. I've been a fan of video essays that delve deep into a game's story, philosophy, message, etc for a while now, and I've low key wondered what that level of deep dive does for the essayist's enjoyment of the game.

[@alexopia9638]

The reference to Doug Doug going through Zelda in a straight line was amazing

[@TheCursedJudge]

It's one of my favorite videos of his, second to the Pajama Sam one.

[@thefullmontea]

@@TheCursedJudge No video has made me laugh as hard in the Pajama Sam one did in so many years. Perhaps ever.

[@logoknight]

The end of your video quite literally moved me to tears. Your acknowledgement of you sacrificing your love for something in hopes that other can love it the way you first did. Your video is one of the most beautiful reminders of why I love long form content, and this platform. Thank you.

[@LesserForever]

This video is good, but there should have been a twenty minute section at the beginning explaining what a video game is.

[@brodriguez11000]

Escapism. Same with movies and books.

[@scriptguru4669]

33:20 House of Leaves is a "book series" but only if you make that judgment from the inside.

[@yahavlivni3002]

I can 100% relate here when it comes to Rain World. I have 180 hours on the game, I have completed all campaigns including dlc and cried my stubborn stoic heart out at the end. Wanting to chase that feeling I completed all challenges and had plenty of runs in the rougelike mode. I have squeezed the game dry and there is nothing I wouldn't give just to re-experience those original wanderlust moments that genuinely made me fully immersed in a world for the first time. Over everything I think I feel empty where my thoughts and feelings of the game should be. I have already taken them out, dissected explained to myself and some unfortunate friends and molded them into a sand painting that has been sweeped away. I don't have a video or a monument to "immortalize" that creation, and I struggle to answer whether that's better or not.

[@guilhermebagagi5666]

I didn't know about your channel until now, i bought manifold garden but did not play the game yet, YT recommended me this video and here i am questioning my entire relationship with everything in my life. As you talked about the game's perpective of reality and the feelings we experience playing it and how it changes to the worse when we replay it i just started to think if that's the feeling i miss nowadays and why i feel that i want to go back to some games but at the same time i feel that i should not do such a thing, i feel that i should complete old challenges that i left behind but part of me is resistant to that idea. When you talked about how understand and learning the game in order to explain it shreds our feelings about it i felt pain because i'm always trying to figure everything out about everything because i feel that i need it, i can't stand long in a situation where i don't know what to do or where to go, so i instead sacrifice the meaningful feelings about games and other stuff in exchange for the confort of telling myself that i'm not lost anymore. Maybe i'm hurting myself on purpose by acting that way. I love you for doing this and i will watch this video a bunch of more times in order to digest everything it made me think. Thank you!

[@intelligenceparadigm4931]

I was shocked and ecstatic to see you mention Firewatch and go over it so thoroughly. It's one of my favorite games ever and NOBODY talks about it

[@Engineergaming44]

1:34 JOURNEY SPOTTED, LOVE THAT GAME

[@Blue-3-6-3-5]

I'm surprised that the game OneShot wasn't mentioned in this video. To explain why without spoilers, its essentially a walking simulator that's similar to Undertale, both in the visual style and 4͈͐͗xl̯ą͔̓͝p̲͖͙̏p̴̟̈́ǐ̸p̱͙͕̓͌q̠̑̄̈́_̌̑x͎̌̚͟͢͞ͅwͧ͠. So basically an AMAZING story with some neat puzzles. If you plan on playing it, also without spoilers, to make sure you get the full experience, here's something to keep in mind: If there's a minor plot hole that you've probably forgotten about, than there's still more; keep going until you've cried twice or more. edit: I forgot to mention that there's no combat, so if you were thinking about that when I mentioned Undertale... sorry.

[@thehatman7638]

I scrolled way too much to see this comment

[@HazaHyperion]

I hope you know that this is an absolute masterpiece of a video. This meant so much more to me than just a youtuber talking about a video game online. This was a beautiful experience about life and virtuality, and I thank you and applaud you for being talented and driven enough to make it for us. You are truly an impressive human being.

[@ivanbluecool]

Guess like this video I'll only see it once But reverse of fireworks and art. I'd rather see the art a hundred times than a firework once in video game sense.

[@HeartyJune]

I got so much more out of this video that I expected. I am going to go for a walk now to let my mind process this. It's rare for videos to impact me like this. You have made something special. This is one of those moments when I really wish I had the means to support a creator

[@WafflesMgee]

Can't wait to see Outer Wilds in this.

[@laupoke]

He doesn't even talk about it lmao

[@Exel3nce]

not sure if if thats a good or bad thing@@laupoke

[@WafflesMgee]

@@Exel3nce If it means he's not experienced it yet, then hoh boy. I sure hope he will.

[@TheCursedJudge]

I don't like to choose the most obvious examples if I can avoid it. Considering the hundreds of times it has been covered, I can't imagine that I could add to the discussion around Outer Wilds.

[@Bluefrost37]

This video was incredible. Truly. The Outro really hit me hard, i think you explained it perfectly. You quite literally take the connection you have with the game and sacrifice it to make content, losing its charm in the process. Hope you've since found other games to spark the passion and fill the gaps created by these videos. If you have not yet played Outer Wilds, and I'm sure you've heard of it. I would highly, HIGHLY recommend it. Go in blind, play the game alone, look nothing up. It is an incredible experience, and the definition of a game you can only play once. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did/do. Keep up the great content, you're pretty cool!

[@ashleymusicx]

WAKE UP BABE NEW CURSED JUDGE VIDEO

[@obliviousmooncake1008]

Gotta say man, stumbled upon your videos months ago and have been hooked since, it’s nice to see other people appreciate games for more than just a fun dopamine rush that you play then walk away from but also talks about it without talking like they are some high intellectual lol

[@awpawle]

hey guys its pawle

[@Thefiend447]

Aleks in chat

[@meelonsquid]

hi pawle

[@lancedawe]

for a channel that only has 360k-ish subscribers, everything you write and put together deserves way, way more attention. it’s extremely well thought out and provokes deep thought or emotions from someone watching. this is very well made, man.

[@thetophatgamer3910]

DOUG DOUG REFERENCE HOLY BALLS

[@mkwsoxfan]

You're incredibly well spoken, i came only planning to hear you discuss firewatch, but got hooked on the whole dialogue of the video 😅

[@billwake4695]

Helldivers 2 is the living example of why I prefer playing single player games. I got kicked because I called for extraction after we completed the objective, destroyed LOTS of bug nests and defended my ungrateful team with a mech. I heard they're going to put vehicles next,are you gonna kick me because I like driving around the map? All I'm saying is that I'm not going to spend 40 dollars to get kicked all the time and feel more undesirable than I already am.

[@johnnawrocki1149]

What’s your user? We can suck at the game together 😂

[@MiloAC]

That was such an amazing video! You perfectly encapsulated the problem with replaying certain games, I know that there are games I wont be able to return to, like BoTW, Elden Ring, and many others, our past tints our memories in rose, but as soon as we go back to the past, we shatter the glasses.

[@itsveggieboy]

northernlion mentioned

[@meredithsutton1485]

The way you describe the experience of replaying games in cycles, returning to an old game to relive memories and not the game itself.... oof. Rings very true. Lovely video.

[@dustinz7131]

I will do no push-ups no matter how many like this gets

[@raullocar]

Do Pull ups

[@landonmurray3814]

Very silly!

[@GRUUUUUVY]

One more bro

[@LonesomeDoveMasters]

I feel like it's super underrated and not talked about often enough, but my biggest recommendation for a single play game is currently Spiritfarer. Aptly said, it's "A cozy game about death". I am unashamed to say there are several occasions through the game that I cried. It is a a beautiful game with an amazing story and outstanding soundtrack.

[@TurboBass]

"I am dissecting it and putting it on display" that is a really really really good way to put it, and I am now subscribed.

[@noahnaugler7611]

The alt route of Manifold Garden captured something for me that I find myself searching for all the time. I took meaning from it, rather than a mirror. It captured what I try to capture with my worldbuilding

[@christhegamedev]

Amazing video! The Indigo Parallel clip spotted at 21:38

[@nimkey8515]

I came here just to see a list of unreplayable games but left with so much more. Great video!

[@guidodurante9495]

The ultimate example of knowledge-based games is Outer Wilds, where all puzzles are not strictly in "serial" order, there are no extra tools to be obtained, and the only thing between the start and finishing the game in under 10 minutes (or less) is your knowledge of game mechanics. Is as if in Portal (Spoilers for Portal incoming) you were to start with the full Portal gun right away, and there was an arrangement of platforms that could lead you right to GLaDOS if you knew how to use momentum, timed portalable surfaces and elevators, and you could defeat her by redirecting rockets, burning cores, just like in the actual game, but it was available from the beginning. Once you know how to do it, you can do it in a few minutes.

[@dancingllama2392]

Holy shit dude. You know that feeling you get from playing a really fulfilling and thought provoking game for the first time? I just got that from this video. Amazing work.

[@RTRC_2012]

Your first Manifold Garden video was how I found your channel, and hearing you talk about my favorite puzzle game again was truly awesome. It is a tough game to find a reason to replay, but so much of it sticks around in my mind. Whether it’s the aesthetics, the soundtrack, or the gameplay concepts, I will never forget my experience in the Garden. Even the lack of a real story doesn’t stop me from writing a deep crossover fanfic with the Monument Valley series’ own sparse story, lol.

[@ArtByLuckyee]

This video feels so much longer than 42:36, man! Awesome work, amazing video and really in-depth commentary that didn’t drag on for too long or wasn’t ever really too fast to keep up with! You have a really good speaking voice that captures attention without being too loud or overwhelming, but not boring or quiet. Paired with the really nuanced commentary you provide, it makes for really really good videos! Keep up the great work! You’ve earned a subscriber.

[@kris_uwu777]

As odd as it sounds, your videos are perfect to listen to when I'm cleaning. It is a simple, relaxing task which allows my mind to wander and sort through my messy thoughts while my body is on seemingly on auto-pilot. Sounds kinda strange, but it's some of the most relaxing experience in my everyday life. Great videos, thanks!

[@caiocem]

Came from the subspace vídeo, and I'm glad to see a manifold garden enjoyer, amazing game severely underrated, a personal favorite, always comes to me along side NaissancE

[@youknowwhoiam6179]

I rarely subscribe after one video, but this video legitimately blew me away, how simple but complex it is. Love it

[@hunterdevey9453]

This is how I feel about the Stanley Parable as well as Davey Wreden's other game called The Beginners Guide. It's one of those experiences that is best done once, yet contains and preserves a profound message for those who play it fully

[@ohdiethere7641]

Signalis is a game that holds a special place in my heart. I love it for its minimalist yet well-rounded gameplay, its phenomenal atmosphere, its soundtrack and sound design, and a million other things that I have neither the time nor the presence of mind to list. But most of all, I love that it gives you one chance for a meaningful playthrough, yet has four endings. Each ending reflects the way that you, as the player, naturally approached the experience. To go through multiple times in an attempt to get every ending merely cheapens the experience. Each subsequent playthrough will lack not only the haunting atmosphere, but also the pure, natural approach that you took on your first playthrough. Thanks for giving me a chance to revisit my memories and put my thoughts into words. 10/10 video, best experienced once, just like the art that inspired it.

[@Noicul]

Oddly enough, my second playthrough of RDR2 was actually my favorite. I replayed it many times and I always enjoy it, but the second playthrough was so potent because I knew what was coming. Every campfire story, every random unique conversation, every event meant a little more. Breaks my heart that I can't repeat the experience.

[@bmyers6831]

This is my first video Ive seen on this channel...it got waaaaay more deep than I expected - well done.

[@abrupta]

Gosh, all of your videos are so deeply moving and profound, and the way you transmit your analysis always feels eye-opening somehow, 10/10 video for sure

[@cynicaldweller4925]

Thank you for making these videos,i finally discovered a channel to eat to without scrolling for 30 minutes letting my food get cold.

[@nap4406]

i was actually planing to go to sleep and just wanted to watch something while i fall asleep but ur video just got me sucked in it the script was so well writen. the video was an insane story itself and suposed to only watch once for sure