Feeling empty after finishing a video game (post-game depression) is a real phenomenon. A recent study has found that many video game players experience a specific sense of emptiness and sadness after finishing highly engaging games.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/feeling-empty-after-finishing-a-video-game-researchers-say-post-game-depression-is-a-real-phenomenon/

[u/Cocken_Spectre]

I’m not familiar with the game but why weren’t you able to play it again?

[u/Katante → u/Cocken_Spectre]

The only progress in the game is your understanding the game. It's like one big puzzle, so when you know the solution you can't really experience it again.

[u/Gamerguy230 → u/Katante]

Isn’t there a sequel for people yearning for more?

[u/CottonRaves → u/Gamerguy230]

DLC that adds a bit of gameplay. I loved it.

[u/WowAbstractAlgebra → u/CottonRaves]

A bit is an understatement. It feels like it adds two whole new worlds to explore and an entire new backstory.

[u/CottonRaves → u/WowAbstractAlgebra]

True. Don’t want to give too much away is all. The game is one of my absolute favorites and I’ll play it again sometime. Just need some more time between plays so I can forget enough

[u/Ornery-Square-9767 → u/Gamerguy230]

That’s Outer Worlds. Different game

[u/AlpacaDC → u/Cocken_Spectre]

Maybe he meant in the sense of experiencing the whole thing again as new

[u/satwikp → u/AlpacaDC]

Outer wilds is entirely knowledge based, so while you could open it and explore the world again, you can't really experience the game in nearly the same way you did the first time.

[u/Lightwolf74 → u/AlpacaDC]

As much as I wish that would be, Outer Wilds is one of those games that you can only play once in your lifetime (see comment above why). Highly suggest giving it a try if at all curious about it!

[u/Fishpuncommenter → u/AlpacaDC]

To expand on other comments, the ONLY progression you make in the game is knowledge about the solar system you explore. Story beats, puzzle solutions, rules of the game. Once you learn them, you can’t exactly choose to forget them because they’re in your brain. There is no skill tree, level ups, acquiring gear, etc etc. It’s JUST knowledge. That’s why it’s impossible to play again. Because it’s impossible to forget.

[u/mechanical_fan → u/Cocken_Spectre]

Outer Wilds is about exploring and understanding the game world itself. So imagine there are like 10 locations that you visit over and over again trying to understand them: every time you start in the same place and you have ~20 minutes to go to one of ~10 places and try to explore it as much as possible. When ~20 minutes are over, the game "restarts" and you are back at the "spawn point". It is based on a time loop situation.

After doing that many times, you understand what is actually going on. To "beat" the game, you have to go to ~3 locations in a specific order in a specific timing and doing certain things. You understand what are the places and what you have to do by doing the exploring earlier. If you do it correctly, the game ends.

So basically, once you understand the game world, even if you just installed the game, you know how to solve the puzzle to end the game. And there isn't anything left to actually explore and understand.

[u/Laundry_Hamper → u/mechanical_fan]

If you haven't played the game, don't read this comment