Daily Debate: Which Playthrough is Most Worthwhile, the First or Second?

The first playthrough of an amazing game is something spectacular. Think back to the first time you played your favorite Zelda game. Remember how exciting it was to discover new locations, find secrets, and defeat new enemies? The first time playing a good game is an adventure all its own where you become familiar with not only the world of the game, but with its mechanics and gameplay. It is an exciting playthrough full of surprise, fueled by curiosity, where you meet for the first time a game that could become your very favorite.

The second playthrough of an amazing game could be even better. Thanks to all the mistakes you made in the first run (like realizing you should have gotten Revali’s Gale BEFORE exploring all of the map), you now have a much better idea of how to play the game from the get-go. Instead of struggling while you learn, you can jump in right away knowing exactly what to do to make your playthrough go as smoothly as possible. You can also attempt to add a challenge to a second playthrough like a three heart run, or you can attempt to discover new tricks like players do in Breath of the Wild still to this day.

My thoughts? Sometimes if you play a second time, you get to wear your PJs the entire game. That settles it right there, doesn’t it?

To you, which of these playthroughs is the most exciting? The first where you are discovering the game and all its details? Or the second where you utilize this knowledge to maximize your experience? Let me know what you think down in the comments below!