Top 10 AMAZING Games You Only Need To Play Once

OK, “Spec Ops” may not be an amazing game, but it’s one of the most interesting and harrowing war stories in the entire medium, and it’s definitely worth playing in order to experience it. Aside from that, there is little reason to return to the game. On top of its short but gripping narrative, the multiplayer component really does nothing to innovate or keep your attention for long. While its story definitely needs to be experienced, there’s little else in the game that does.

The story of “Firewatch” twists and turns and becomes increasingly more intense as it goes on, and its mysteries will have you captivated throughout. It’s like a great novel, and like any great novel, most of its impact is dependant on having the story unfold in unexpected ways, so avoid spoilers if you can. The gameplay is extremely barebones, so doing a replay may prove tiresome, or even boring, once you already know the story beats.

Ah David Cage, ever trying to bridge the gap between cinema and gaming. The problem is, it doesn’t matter how engaging the game is. When the entire thing is framed around a mystery with a pretty awful plot twist/reveal, it ends up hurting the game overall. As interesting and engaging as the first playthough for Indigo Prophecy is, once you know all the best solutions and decisions, there is no reason to experience it again.

“Outlast” was one of 2013’s biggest surprises, and is a contender for one of the scariest and most disturbing video games in recent years. However, like most horror titles, knowing where all the big jump scares and set-pieces are has a big effect your experience. The story of “Outlast” doesn’t change, and aside from a few non-essential collectibles you may have missed, there are few reasons to return to Mount Massive. You absolutely need to play and experience this title, but once the credits roll, you’ve seen all there is to see.

Developed by several members of the “Journey” team, “Abzu” is a gorgeous adventure game that lets you control a female scuba diver as she explores the many wonders of the ocean, including caverns and ancient ruins. It’s a simple game, but the visuals and environments are so breathtaking that playing it is an absolute must. The experience doesn’t last long, however, as the story only takes a couple hours to complete, and once it’s done, there’s not really a whole lot left to do. Still, for its small price, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

The third entry in the “BioShock” series was a game-changing title and a worthy send-off for Ken Levine. That said, the game’s impact is in its story and setting, and once you know the final twist and have discovered all there is to discover, the game loses much of its power. There are only so many times you can be awed by Columbia. Also, the gameplay remains much the same, as you can easily experiment with all the vigors on your first playthrough. Columbia was a gorgeous world to get lost in, but there’s just not enough to reward a second playthrough.

“Journey” is undoubtedly a masterpiece, and is fondly remembered as one of the PlayStation 3’s biggest surprises. It was a highly rewarding and emotional experience, packed with moments that inspired awe and wonder as we explored this gorgeous and mysterious world. But sooner or later, the awe-factor has to run out. Aside from maybe helping others with collectibles, there’s little reason to return to this journey, especially since you will never recapture the pure sense of surprise and awe that you experienced on your first playthrough.

“INSIDE” is arguably one of the best puzzle platformers on the market, complete with an absolute head scratcher of an ending which will have you thinking about it for days, if not longer. It’s also a great example of quality over quantity. The whole thing can be completed in about three hours, and there’s few incentives to return once you’ve made your way through this dark, atmospheric little indie.

Capcom’s “Ace Attorney” series has you take control of a defense attorney, and the gameplay revolves around you…well, being a defense attorney. You try to collect evidence, talk to various parties, and defend your client in court. It’s all great stuff…the first time around. Like “L.A. Noire,” the very nature of this game pretty much limits any form of replay value, as you should know exactly what to do the second time around. The twists and turns are negated once you know the outcomes, no matter how thrilling they originally were.

The “Portal” series is one of the most popular and acclaimed puzzle platformers of all time, mostly due to its clever level design and engaging stories, but side from some mod tools, there really isn’t that much to do once you’ve completed the games. Sure, co-op is fun for a while, but that can only hold your attention for so long. Like all puzzle games, all the fun and sense of satisfaction is gone once you know the solutions, despite how fresh and inventive they may have been in the first place.