Video games that you love but would never replay

[Okido]

I'm one of those people who loves repeatedly replaying the games that I enjoy, but I know not everyone feels that way and there are exceptions even for me. Sometimes a game is just way too long to start from scratch and dedicate that much time to again, or sometimes you enjoyed your initial playthrough so much that it just wouldn't feel right to try and recapture that experience. Or perhaps it just doesn't hold a lot of replay value to you?

I still really adore Fire Emblem: Awakening, but to this day I've never finished a playthrough of it other than my first, and at this rate I kind of doubt I ever will. It's not for lack of trying, but the main story is fairly lengthy and I'm not sure it'll ever hook me in again like it did the first time I played it nearly ten years ago.

 

[Frozen Fennec]

Most Final Fantasy games, incredibly long and if you aim to 100% will eventually drain all the fun out of playing the game.

 

[Herbizarre]

Pokémon Y. The National Dex was completed, but I just don't have the drive I had back then to come back to this game and do the shiny breeding again. There's also "Dungeon of the Endless", which I completed almost 100% of the achievements. The main reason I don't play it anymore is because I can't seem to be able to play with friends for more than the first floor before getting disconnected for some reason, which is a shame

 

[Zexy]

From Pokemon, Yellow and FireRed. While I love getting all 3 staters in a regular playthrough without trading and the Sevii Islands post game respectively, I would not be bothered to deal with Gen 1 HM/bag mechanics and having to register 60 Pokemon in the Kanto Dex again.

From non-Pokemon, Warcraft III : Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne expansion. Awesome story, gameplay can range from OK, to some missions which are just soooo annoying.

 

[Neo Blaze]

I don't replay most Pokémon games actually. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't want to erase all my progress from my first playthrough. And I don't want to spend money on buying a second copy or the paired version. I really wish Pokémon would start implementing multiple save files in their games but I'm not very hopeful that they'll ever do it. There are a few side games I have replayed several times such as Colosseum and XD but those did have multiple save files and having two SD cards helped too.

I don't have an issue replaying most other games I own. If I don't it's usually because there's specific parts I'm not looking forward to replaying. Like, I love TLoZ: Twilight Princess overall but the first few hours of that game are pretty rough, not to mention I don't think I ever want to play that damn escort mission about halfway the game ever again

 

[FinnTheCookie]

Definitely Bravely Second for me. Amazing RPG on the 3DS that really helped me through a tough time in my life. There is so much replay value as well, since it offers different jobs and playstyles, but I can just never bring myself to get past the first hour or so, no matter how many times I try. I honestly don't know why, maybe I'd just prefer to leave it as a "one and done" kind of thing that brings back memories when I think about it.

As for Pokemon, I can never bring myself to replay Soul Silver, I would love to, but because it's one of my last remaining save files left from when I was a kid (Action Replay Shinies and all), I can't bring myself to delete it, even if I know how to back it up and all that, it just feels wrong. I'm currently looking into buying a copy of Heart Gold though (R.I.P. my wallet ) so hopefully I'll get to re-experience it soon!

 

[CynthiaLover]

I can think of a few.

First, Dragon Quest 11. One of the better Dragon Quests, with a good cast of characters (except Veronica... she must DIE... Oh, wait, she does), fairly good mechanics, pretty good story (if a bit generic), and good side-quests. The problem I have with it is the Third Act, which undoes all the character development in the cast, all so they can get the damn midget, Veronica, back. As a result I haven't even finished my first playthrough because I can't stand the Third Act, much less go through the lengthy first two acts just to have everything undone for the "better ending" (which, frankly, isn't better because it undoes everything that the Second Act, which is by far the best part of the game, created). So while it's one of the better Dragon Quest games, the fact that pretty much everything you and the characters do in the Second Act gets yeeted out of existence for the sake of reviving an obnoxious character to get the "better" ending frankly gets my Gogoat.

Another is Breath of Fire 4. Now, I love the Breath of Fire franchise, as I feel it's grossly underrated, and I'm willing to accept their flaws (translation issues seem to be the bulk of it), so I'm very tolerant to them, and Breath of Fire 4 is one of the better games. But at the same time I've noticed a quality drop in it compared to Breath of Fire 3. One of the reasons why I can't replay it is because of all the annoying mandatory mini-games!!! Yes, mandatory mini-games are common in RPGs, but Breath of Fire 4 takes it to obnoxious levels, as there's usually one per major area or level (san dungeons... usually), which combined with the rather horrid camera controls makes many of them an absolute nightmare. Breath of Fire 3 had a few mandatory mini-games but they were rather mild and spaced out in comparison to Breath of Fire 4. Plus I can't get as invested in the characters in this game, as many of them feel weak, bland, dumb, or just unlikeable. Some are standouts but most aren't really interesting or one-note (Cray in particular I can't stand for a number of reasons). It also took several steps back from the previous installments, such as limiting the elemental spell list (ie: Lightning magic is axed, and can only be "recreated" by using the atrocious and fickle combo system), the Dragon forms are a massive step down from BoF3's Dragon Gene system, and the Fairy Village is more of a chore than a benefit. So while I can accept Breath of Fire 4 as a good game (its story and sprite work are great), it has a lot of things going against it that make it hard to replay.

There are probably more but that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[ReturnofMCH]

Definitely xenoblade 1.

 

[ZinnLav]

First, Dragon Quest 11. One of the better Dragon Quests, with a good cast of characters (except Veronica... she must DIE... Oh, wait, she does), fairly good mechanics, pretty good story (if a bit generic), and good side-quests. The problem I have with it is the Third Act, which undoes all the character development in the cast, all so they can get the damn midget, Veronica, back. As a result I haven't even finished my first playthrough because I can't stand the Third Act, much less go through the lengthy first two acts just to have everything undone for the "better ending" (which, frankly, isn't better because it undoes everything that the Second Act, which is by far the best part of the game, created). So while it's one of the better Dragon Quest games, the fact that pretty much everything you and the characters do in the Second Act gets yeeted out of existence for the sake of reviving an obnoxious character to get the "better" ending frankly gets my Gogoat.

Makes me wonder if I should bother finishing it, I think I'm right before the World Tree but sequence broke one of the gems I was meant to get so my quest log doesn't tell me where the next one is because I got them out of order. Veronica is super annoying, I agree.
I keep playing games and then not getting around to finishing them, feels like every Switch game I own. (which is probably like 15 or so unfinished games at this point, some are pretty near the ending too)

I find I don't tend to replay Legend of Zelda games much (I actually returned Link Between Worlds two days after buying it because I finished it so quickly and could tell I'd never play it again). Most games that don't have a New Game Plus feature tend to get lower priority for me, I like the bonuses of your previous playthrough when you just want to enjoy the story again or mess with the mechanics (going through the first couple levels in a game with endgame gear is great).

I still really adore Fire Emblem: Awakening, but to this day I've never finished a playthrough of it other than my first, and at this rate I kind of doubt I ever will. It's not for lack of trying, but the main story is fairly lengthy and I'm not sure it'll ever hook me in again like it did the first time I played it nearly ten years ago.

I actually tried replaying Awakening again recently, got up to unlocking all the children paralogues and just found it such a slog, I forgot just how many characters Fire Emblem can have, especially when you want to 100% everything and see all the supports, it's a lot of grinding and I overthink stuff like skills and class progression (they might have unlimited levels but by your third or fourth class they really slow down exp that most enemies give like 1-10exp each).

 

[Tactician Karina]

I actually tried replaying Awakening again recently, got up to unlocking all the children paralogues and just found it such a slog, I forgot just how many characters Fire Emblem can have, especially when you want to 100% everything and see all the supports, it's a lot of grinding and I overthink stuff like skills and class progression (they might have unlimited levels but by your third or fourth class they really slow down exp that most enemies give like 1-10exp each).

Same here. Lately I can't be bothered to try and 100% everything in Awakening and Fates anymore, it just feels way too slow after revisiting them again recently. This is becoming the case with Three Houses now too, I just can't be bothered to go through the monastery again to replay any of the four routes, even though I really love each of them; hell I haven't even gotten every support convo or marriage ending still. I got almost half of Engage's supports finished, but aside from random bouts of replay just for class changes and sticking with certain favorite male characters and ring/bracelet spirits in the end anyway, I don't even care about 100%ing this one either lol.

That said, I can easily replay and complete the older installments, and SoV's, variants of supports just fine, due to how often I've been revisiting them anyway. Plus, I also prefer GotHW's love system more due to how much easier it is for me, that and you get a substitute character anyway if you forget to pair a first generation female or she dies before the second generation begins. Wished that came back in Awakening, especially since there's a few children characters I'm not too fond of.

 

[Greninjaman]

I have found this to be the case with Pokemon lately. This is mostly due to being burned out from playing Pokemon for the last, like, 26 years. I can't even motivate myself to play any of the games after the first playthrough. I don't own any of the GBC/GBA; same with the DS ones (due to either being sold or being lost). I guess my interest in Pokemon has waned to the point of not being interested anymore, though playing Pokemon for 25 years would do that. I have said this on my profile wall, but Gen 9 will be the last Generation of Pokemon I play.

 

[JollyYoshi]

I don’t think I’d want to replay Legends Arceus. There was just some magic in it the first time playing it that the second time playing it wouldn’t be that fun. I think the fact that I can’t feel the same magic I felt before has made me cherish my first time playing through a video game.

 

[Pasio]

Not sure if this counts, I'll explain why in a bit, but Pokémon Conquest.

I've 100%ed Pokémon Conquest several back, even making it as far as to give every Warrior 100/100% on all of their fully evolved perfect links in the gallery despite this not being a requirement. This took hundreds of hours of repetitive tasks done in the game in order to accomplish, as well as lots of google searching since there are Pokémon here I wouldn't know were in the game otherwise. Over the years, my DS cartridge got worn and it became more difficult for my console to read the game. On December 2021 I either put my cartridge in/out wrong or was particularly unlucky. I don't really know to be honest, but when I booted the game and it said my save file was corrupted so it reformatted itself, wiping the slate clean. I assume it was due to the cartridge being worn out enough for this to become a risk factor. The Pokémon Conquest I had was a legitimate cartridge I got from a Wal-Mart 10 years back, so it wasn't due to the cartridge being fake. The main story of Pokémon Conquest is more replayable than any main series Pokémon game, especially since you can just hit New Game to play through it all and it won't ever save if you have a save already. The main story is short enough to where I can just sit through to re-experience it whenever I have several hours of free time. I had no trouble clearing through the main story again with a reset file, but I don't think I'm ever 100%ing that game again in fear I'd suddenly lose everything again.

 

[Pyrax]

Bravely Default. As much as I enjoyed it, I don't want to slog through that repetitive second half ever again.

 

[GoldenHo-Oh]

The Gen 1 Pokemon games. I love them for nostalgia reasons of course but I refuse to play through them again. The sprites looked horrible, it takes longer to grind in those games, they're full of glitches and they're just not fun to play compared to the newer games.

 

[Nicolas721]

I don't replay most Pokémon games actually. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't want to erase all my progress from my first playthrough. And I don't want to spend money on buying a second copy or the paired version. I really wish Pokémon would start implementing multiple save files in their games but I'm not very hopeful that they'll ever do it. There are a few side games I have replayed several times such as Colosseum and XD but those did have multiple save files and having two SD cards helped too.

You can have multiple save files in the Switch games if you create additional console profiles, I did it once for a Nuzlocke and it works perfectly, you don't have to spent a cent.

You can't use the online features though if you pay NSO unless you pay twice, but you can use Home to transfer Pokemon between your save files.

 

[DigitalGen6]

I don't replay most Pokémon games actually. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't want to erase all my progress from my first playthrough. And I don't want to spend money on buying a second copy or the paired version. I really wish Pokémon would start implementing multiple save files in their games but I'm not very hopeful that they'll ever do it.

Are you me? /j
But seriously, I hate deleting save files from my games because many reasons (like “OH NO MY POOR WITTLE POKÉMON IS GONE NO NO NO WHAT HAVE I DONE”, which is no longer a huge problem because I have Bank) and I like how my character looks (and if it’s XY, the PR Videos are also a reason)

For me, it’s probably anything from the Harvest Moon or Story of Seasons series (this includes Rune Factory 5) and Happy Home Designer. I am NOT deleting my data for HHD

 

[AgedVeteranofShow]

Pokemon Gold & Silver, I have HeartGold & SoulSilver with better graphics and GB sounds for the OST now.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for those in the UK and Internationally, Philosopher's Stone) for the PlayStation, love it but the graphics aren't good, the PS2 version is better.

Side Note: I don't agree with Rowling's views of the trans community or condone them, just still like the HP Series is all, dissociating art from the artist per se.

 

[DigitalGen6]

Pokemon Gold & Silver, I have HeartGold & SoulSilver with better graphics and GB sounds for the OST now.

That’s cool. Um, how do you enable GS Sounds in the game?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for those in the UK and Internationally, Philosopher's Stone) for the PlayStation, love it but the graphics aren't good, the PS2 version is better.

Side Note: I don't agree with Rowling's views of the trans community or condone them, just still like the HP Series is all, dissociating art from the artist per se.

I never really got into Harry Potter but I SHOULD because I like magic and fiction and all that stuff so why not?

 

[AgedVeteranofShow]

That’s cool. Um, how do you enable GS Sounds in the game?

You have to have all 16 badges, but basically on the 3rd Floor of the Celadon Condominiums from the Game Freak sound designer on that floor there.