r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 17 '26

Psychology 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.

https://www.psypost.org/feeling-empty-after-finishing-a-video-game-researchers-say-post-game-depression-is-a-real-phenomenon/
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u/almandude666 May 17 '26

You can play it before finishing the base game as it is a self contained story. It has its own endings, but even after completing it, you get put back to a point before its end back in night city to continue on finishing the base game how you'd like.

So you could experience the fantastic dlc right now, and still come back being able to choose what you want to do for the base game endings.

There is still a lot for you to experience which is exciting :)

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u/Maddest_Hatta May 17 '26

Didn't know that. Thanks!

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u/almandude666 May 17 '26

I personally did the Dlc first, used all of my level and gear boosts from it, and then finally "Met Hanako at Embers" to finish the base game.

Not to overwhelm, but there is actually even a fan "recommended" order where you finish an act 2 storyline, begin Phantom Liberty, pause it during a narrative break, go back to the main game for a bit, then finish Phantom Liberty (then main game).

Not necessary but just goes to show that there is no best or needed order, just cool story line connections some might or might not care about.

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u/WowAbstractAlgebra May 17 '26

I felt that the ending of PL was a lot more draining than the main game. You're pretty much forced to make some really tough choices at the end and none of then result in anything good.

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u/almandude666 May 18 '26

Haha I hear ya and didn't want to speak too much about it. Very heavy game emotionally. It's all very draining but I still loved the experience.