Nothing beats experiencing a memorable video game for the first time. Whether it’s the addictive gameplay, twists and turns in a story, or lovable characters. Sometimes, gamers wish they could wash their memory of their favorite games for a chance to relive those first impressions once more.
Be warned; this list has spoilers.
Portal
On the one hand, playing a puzzle game more than once trivializes the experience. But, on the other hand, you already know the solutions, so it’s almost like, “what’s the point?”
What makes the Portal games so beloved is the writing and charm. The jokes and dialogue are an absolute delight to discover. We’d give anything to begin our quest for cake without knowing the lies and deceit that await us.
Knights of the Old Republic
BioWare‘s Star Wars RPG is an extraordinary experience, but one most remembered for its incredible reveal.
Repeated playthroughs are always a delight, but nothing will ever beat the first time you realize that you’ve been playing as Darth Revan the entire time.
Super Mario 64
Thanks to the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, we finally got to play through the revolutionary Nintendo 64 platformer with modern controls.
Yet nothing will ever beat the first time we stepped into a Super Mario Bros. game in a 3D world. It was everything we had ever dreamed of and more.
Mass Effect
One of the hallmarks of the Mass Effect games is the ability to discover new things about your crew and squad mates.
With every playthrough, we look forward to chatting with our favorite characters and completing the game’s best missions. Yet nothing will ever beat comparing notes and dialogue choices with friends for the first time.
Thanks to the game’s morality system, every playthrough can differ based on your decisions.
World of Warcraft
When World of Warcraft launched in 2004, it helped revolutionize the MMORPG genre. In addition, it made the game more accessible than before.
Part of that allure is getting lost in a world with seemingly endless potential. It seemed like we could do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. Best of all, no one had “cracked the code” for the game yet. There wasn’t any min-maxing or optimization. It was just you, your friends, and the world of Azeroth.
The Elder Scrolls
We’re cheating and lumping the Elder Scrolls franchise together here.
Whether it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim, diving into the open world designed by Bethesda for the first time is an absolute treat. While subsequent playthroughs are still a treat, nothing will ever beat the first time you escape captivity and realize there’s an entire world waiting for you.
Metal Gear Solid
The gameplay of Metal Gear Solid still holds up over time. Yet the story makes this one of the many games we wish to play for the first time again.
From the over-the-top characters to the constant twists and turns, nothing will ever beat discovering the secrets that await in Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
The first time we walked through Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto III, it was unlike anything else ever experienced. Yet for all the innovation GTA III provided, it lacked personality.
Vice City made up for that in spades. Rockstar Games delivered an open world brimming with potential. It wasn’t just a playground for our wildest dreams but a living, breathing world we wanted to live in.
BioShock
Would you kindly erase my memory so I can play through BioShock for the first time again?
While the gameplay was enjoyable and offered plenty of replayability, the story won us over. The famous plot twist will forever be etched into our brains.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Like Super Mario 64, venturing into the 3D world of Hyrule in Ocarina of Time is a dream come true.
While games like Link to the Past are just as memorable and beloved, nothing will ever beat playing a Zelda game in 3D for the first time.
Final Fantasy VII
The legendary JRPG for PlayStation One is a landmark title. It moves the Final Fantasy franchise forward to a new console generation and delivers some of the best characters and plot twists in a video game.
Final Fantasy VII has established itself as a major tentpole in gaming and pop culture in general.
The Outer Wilds
Part of the magic of The Outer Wilds is that gameplay focuses on exploration and discovery. Solving the mystery is part of the allure, and the “ah-ha!” moments of the game make it so great.
If you’ve solved the mysteries and puzzles, the allure of replaying the game is gone. Nothing will ever beat that first playthrough of The Outer Wilds.
Pokémon Red and Blue
We discovered a whole new world the first time we booted up a Pokémon game.
While the franchise has expanded with each generation, there’s something magical about the Kanto region. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, or maybe it’s how Pokémon was a brand-new thing filled with mystery. Either way, we’d love to play through Pokémon Red and Blue for the first time again. There was something about discovering new Pokémon and exposing type weaknesses in battles that just can’t be matched.
Persona 5
Persona 5 is a massive game. Not only is it the best in the Persona series, but it’s also one of the greatest games ever made. As a result, fans often replay the game countless times over and over again. Given that playthroughs can last up to 100 hours, that’s quite a feat.
However, being able to play through Persona 5 for the first time again would be a dream come true. Discovering the plot’s twists and turns, character relationships, and falling in love with the gameplay would be a great way to spend your next staycation.
Halo: Combat Evolved
The Halo franchise is a tentpole for the console FPS genre. From the first moments we played Halo: Combat Evolved, it was love at first sight.
Playing the Xbox game for the first time would be a dream come true. Whether it’s the single-player campaign, losing countless hours to multiplayer, or playing through co-op with friends for the first time, we’re still chasing that first high from Halo: Combat Evolved.
We hope you enjoyed this Reddit discussion about video games we wish we could play for the first time again. This article is inspired by the internet and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Boss Level Gamer.
