There was a time when we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the latest game—cost be darned. It could have been a new pack for The Sims or the latest Spider-Man installment, but either way, eager players lined up outside the door, just itching to spend over one hundred dollars on their personal escape.
But when you couldn’t afford the egregious cost, or didn’t want the hassle of failed missions, you always had one more place to turn: video game walkthroughs. For decades, gamers have had each other’s backs, playing the entirety of a new release for anyone to watch. Some of the biggest YouTubers and Twitch streamers dedicated their time to blockbuster titles, graciously bringing us along for the ride. But what is it about playthroughs that rivals beating the game yourself?
Flashback to “Let’s Plays”
We weren’t kidding when we said playthroughs have been around for some time. In 2005, the aptly named “let’s play” scene gained popularity, namely on the Something Awful forum. Gamers today still squabble about which post actually launched the movement; near as anyone can tell, it all started with a thread about The Oregon Trail, but funnily enough, it doesn’t exist anymore. Though the phantom thread is more legend than fact, most old-timers still credit the post with the playthrough’s inception.
Interestingly, YouTuber “slowbeef,” otherwise known as Michael Sawyer, is also considered a grandfather of walkthroughs, though he doesn’t see it that way. In a 2015 interview with Kotaku, he dove into his first set of let’s plays, focusing on The Immortal for the Genesis. He posted his walkthrough to Something Awful in 2007, and soon, gamers everywhere fell for the in-depth commentary and exploration. Sawyer took his gaming to YouTube, and the rest is history.
Who—or what—you credit as the inventor of playthroughs is up to you. The most important thing to remember is that they’ve been around for the better part of 20 years, and they’ve only exploded in viewership. And with even more platforms available now, streamers quickly realized how lucrative gaming truly is.
Why Do We Tune In Every Time?
When playthroughs first started, part of their appeal was knowing that someone finally cracked a code somewhere. They got into a secret room. They managed to defeat an immovable boss. They discovered John Romero’s head on a pike. While those finds are still sought after, today’s easter eggs started sharing the spotlight with everyday walkthroughs—and both garnered attention.
So, why do people enjoy them so much? There are actually dozens of reasons why the genre works so well! In a world where grocery prices are out of hand, and housing prices are laughable at best, it’s nice to know we have somewhere to turn for engaging commentary and a video game’s whole experience, even if we can’t afford it. Many gamers also consider it the perfect precursor; once the game irons out its bugs and offers some kind of Black Friday deal, players are all over it.
Contrary to popular belief, watching a playthrough doesn’t diminish the experience either. If anything, it’s as good as playing it. Plenty of streamers are also tuning in for the first time, so we can all sob over Arthur Morgan’s diagnosis together. You not only witness plot twists together, but you also become part of a larger community.
Players Stand Divided
A walkthrough’s value doesn’t garner the same upset as console wars, but a lot of gamers are still divided. To be fair, it all depends on how you spend your time. While many are more than happy to watch cinematics, others feel like they’ve been deprived. Games offer one-of-a-kind decisions that just aren’t the same unless you make them yourself. There’s also no guarantee which path a streamer will choose, keeping dialogue and hidden missions behind closed doors.
Classic RPGs also hone in on the importance of character creation. Sure, it’s cool to watch someone else develop theirs, but it’s far more immersive to make your own. It’s a lot harder to watch bad things happen to the very character you started from scratch—just like it’s way more rewarding to beat that boss.
There’s also nothing worse than missing out on something cool just because you didn’t play it yourself. We’re not talking about Rockstar finds either; we’re talking about completely glossing over characters, not unlocking weapons, or missing entire sections of the game. When you play it yourself, you have all the time in the world to discover every nook and cranny.
Whether you play a game yourself or opt for a livestream, there’s no denying a playthrough’s appeal. You’re part of a community of like-minded people, all of whom are just willing to share ideas or secrets that benefit everyone. But most importantly, it’s a low-effort option that paves the way to your new favorite title.
