Video game masterpieces that I wish I could play again for the first time

Sometimes playing a game a second time can reveal new or unexpected details or even new story beats and gameplay mechanics that help differentiate the game from your first playthrough of the campaign. A lot of gamers like this because it speaks to the “value for money” idea that many of us rely on when deciding what games to buy (and at what price).

However, a game that can share all of its brilliance in one go can still be worth your time, even if it means a second playthrough won't yield much new content. It might even seem a bit pointless. That's the case with these next few games. I love them to death, but a second playthrough will never recreate the incredible experience I had the first time. Because of this, I would give anything to completely erase my memory of them just to be able to go back and experience them again for the first time.

The outer wilderness

Once you know the truth, everything changes

Almost everyone who played and finished The outer wilderness (and enjoyed the experience) feels that way. It's an incredible, one-of-a-kind exploration puzzle game that ends on a beautiful yet bittersweet note. It's all built around the concept of discovery. Although the game is open world and allows you to go anywhere, there are no waypoints to guide you. It all depends on your own curiosity and knowledge.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)heavy (10)

Start

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)Start

Because of that, once you've learned all there is to learn, seen all there is to see, and solved all the mysteries to solve, a second playthrough can't capture the same magic. Sure, I could go back, maybe find a few secret endings or a few easter eggs here and there and just tinker with the physics system, but the emotional resonance Outer Wilds' a perfect ending won't feel nearly the same knowing what's coming.

The Talos Principle 2

You can't unlearn solving puzzles

Replayability is something that a lot of puzzle games struggle with. No matter how good they are or how varied the solutions become, once you've solved a puzzle, solving it again doesn't come close to the same brain teasing process. This is exactly how I feel The Talos Principle 2, doubly so, because while the narrative is engrossing at first, once you know where it's going, it just slows down your puzzle-solving pace.

fortunately The Talos Principle 2 has a trio of short DLC chapters that may offer something fresh, but they don't last very long and don't capture the same charm of exploring the base game's “open-field” environment while hunting for hidden puzzles and finding collectibles. Likewise, even if the first blush from any environment makes the jaw drop, the second time around, the feeling isn't the same.

BioShock Infinite

Going back is just cruel

As with the first one BioShock, there is a big narrative twist at the end BioShock Infinite it turns the whole game on its head. It's a stunning moment that I'll never forget, but unlike the twist from the first game, which changes the context of the entire story and rewards you for replaying it and discovering all the clues that were sitting in front of your face, Infinitely twist doesn't work the same way. It's more of a jarring surprise than a “How did you not see that coming” moment.

As such, there aren't really a ton of clues that can direct you to spot a twist coming ahead of time. The best part about BioShock Infinite (besides the fantastic fight) I can feel the narrative slowly coming to an inevitable and unexpected conclusion. When the same conclusion is expected, the impact is not there. I remember trying to replay the game right after I beat it the first time, and while I was expecting a lot of hints and clues to what was to come, there weren't really any. Plus, once you know the twist, making these characters go through that experience again is just cruel.

The last of us

Joel and Ellie's story doesn't strike the same chord twice

There is no twist ending the last of us nor is there an over-reliance on puzzles to ruin a second playthrough. Honestly, the second playthrough is still really enjoyable. The combat and stealth are great, the story and characters are best in class and still hold up visually.

The reason I wish I could erase it from my memory and play it again for the first time is because of how incredibly moving that first playthrough was. There still hasn't been a game that has affected me that much on an emotional level (although the sequel came close). Reliving it, that feeling of not knowing what's coming or what's going to happen to Joel and Ellie, is like wanting to relive the best meal you've ever eaten. It's the desire for surprise, tension, and emotion that the game evokes that no matter how good the second playthrough is, it can't reach the same heights.

Elden Ring

How do you find out what you've already found?

There is a certain satisfaction in playing Elden Ring the second time. My first playthrough took me about 95 hours, taking my time and trying to do everything (and still missing something). My second playthrough took about 10 hours because I knew where I was going, had the boss attack patterns down to a science, and didn't need to hunt for new gear. My third playthrough of the base game was even shorter, but it took longer overall because it fit the game Shadow of Erdtree DLC.

You're probably wondering why I would want to make a new first game. The simple answer is that the feeling of discovery v Elden Ring it is top notch. Finding “stuff,” whether it's a new weapon, a hidden boss fight, or a secret underground city, is an experience that's impossible to recreate. Sure, I still play it occasionally and have a good time, but it doesn't compare to that first, completely blind launch.

Return of the Obra Dinn

A job well done

Return of the Obra Dinn not a puzzle game in the traditional sense, but it still works that way. The goal is to explore the Obra Dinn, identify each body on board and match them to a crew member, and then determine the cause of each one's death. It's a tricky task that requires some note-taking, a lot of backtracking, and a strong dose of intuition. There is no struggle to speak of here, only a methodical, inquisitive process that requires you to learn and deduce for yourself.

Because of that, once you've identified everyone and found out how they died, there's really nothing to keep coming back for. It's a hugely satisfying experience the first time around, providing the perfect combination of narrative pacing and your own investigative methods as you move forward, but once you're done, further play feels pointless. Part of the fun is taking notes as you go. If you already have these notes handy, it's like playing with a cheat sheet.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Once in a lifetime is not something you can recapture

Very few games have managed to capture the adoration of the gaming world like this Clar Obscur: Expedition 33 did in 2025. From the combat to the soundtrack to the amazing story, it's the kind of game that comes along once in a generation. There are plenty of things to go back and do, from end-game content to the free DLC added last December, but the feeling of completing the story is virtually impossible to replicate.

Clair Obscuro is packed with incredible narrative moments, some emotionally devastating, others deeply moving. While the second playthrough allows you to emotionally prepare for what happens, it immediately detracts from the effectiveness of the game. It's an experience that's best when it surprises, repeatedly. There's still plenty of fun to be had to make it worth a second playthrough, but it's never going to compare to the first.

Encryption

Bite-Sized Brilliance

Oh how I love Encryption. It got a lot of love the year it was released, and a lot more the year after when it came out on consoles, but I still feel like it doesn't get the recognition it truly deserves. It's a unique blend of genres and playstyles, playing like a roguelike deckbuilder one minute and heading into a point-and-click puzzle game the next. Everything is immersed in this pseudo-horror atmosphere that is never outright scary, but always creepy enough to keep you on edge.

Unfortunately, this is another game that revealed all of its surprises upon completion. Sure, there's Kaycee's Mod, an expanding game mode that extends the duration Encryption roguelike elements unlimited with new modifiers and cards, but lacks all the other elements that make the base game so unique. That feeling of being out of your depth, of not quite knowing what's going on but trying to find more for yourself, isn't nearly as strong on the second playthrough. Few games capture this experience as well as they do Encryption that I would happily erase my memory of it just to have that feeling one more time.