Line #52 Main/BetterAsALetsPlay


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6	->''"The horror game sensation that no one enjoys playing, but everyone loves watching other people play."''
7	-->-- '''WebVideo/HonestTrailers''' on ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys1''
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9	A gray area between EnjoyTheStorySkipTheGame and PlayTheGameSkipTheStory, where people enjoy the aspects of a game, but ''not'' because they experienced it themselves. Rather, they enjoy seeing ''other'' people experience it. Just something about this game in particular makes watching others experience it more fun than actually playing it yourself. Maybe it's a horror or rage game that results in hilarious reactions from the player's terror or frustration, but it's only funny if you're not the person playing yourself. Or maybe it's a game known for being challenging and seeing someone's determination as they overcome the challenges (and maybe get a little frustrated along the way) is very entertaining, but [[ItsHardSoItSucks the difficulty is too intimidating to want to try it yourself]]. Alternatively, the game is an ObviousBeta and not worth your time, but seeing someone make fun of the game's issues is worthwhile.
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11	A last reason may be another, simpler one: money. Some people have no way to legally play the game, thus, they enjoy seeing someone else share their experiences with an open public. This is especially true for story-driven games.
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13	Related to JustHereForGodzilla and WatchItForTheMeme. May also include BileFascination.
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15	'''Note''': Please don't list every example of a game where people avoid playing it in favor of watching a video of it online, or [[Administrivia/PeopleSitOnChairs we'd be here all day]]. There needs to be a discussion about people enjoying watching the game over playing it for the reactions and/or struggles of the players more than just not wanting to play it themselves. Entries that are just "watch all of the story paths online so you don't have to play the game yourself" with no regard to watching the person playing the game belong under EnjoyTheStorySkipTheGame. Also, while it is necessary to discuss why people might prefer not to want to play the game themselves, please refrain from [[Administrivia/ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontLike using this trope as a way to bash said game]].
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17	!!Examples:
18	* ''VideoGame/AmongUs'' is usually best enjoyed with a full lobby of 10-15, all on the same voice chat, to make for entertaining dialogues and arguments. This is why it's fun to see a group of [=YouTubers=], especially ones with established dynamics, play it out, especially if you can spectate a game from different players' perspectives. [[HilarityEnsues Hilarity and drama ensues]] when [[EtTuBrute betrayal becomes inevitable]].
19	* ''VideoGame/ArmedAndDelirious'' has [[QuirkyWork nonsensical writing]] and bizarre-looking late-90s pre-rendered 3D graphics that can be fascinating to see. However, the weird and obtuse puzzles, items that require a PixelHunt to find, and backtracking across worlds spread throughout multiple [=CDs=] mean that it's better to watch a playthrough video from someone who [[GuideDangIt has access to a walkthrough]] and cut out most of the backtracking rather than try and endure the game's flaws yourself. Plus, seeing someone else react to and try to explain what's going on is often worth a laugh.
20	* ''VideoGame/BaldisBasicsInEducationAndLearning'': The {{jump scare}}s, bizarre characters, and surreal and [[StylisticSuck intentionally schlocky]] nature of the game make videos of players reacting to the latest weird character or mechanic added to the game as they try to avoid their ill-tempered school teacher widely popular.
21	* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' had a disastrous launch due to [[ObviousBeta numerous glitches]] and unpolished game mechanics, particularly on the Platform/PlayStation4 and Platform/XboxOne. As such, many people who either did not purchase or pre-order the game at launch or found it unplayable on whatever hardware they owned preferred to watch others play it, whether out of genuine interest in the story, setting or gameplay, or [[BileFascination to see what jaw-droppingly awful]] glitches or development oversights would crop up for the streamer/let's player.
22	* The ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' games are prevalent for Let's Plays; in fact, the series gained a western fanbase (and eventual English release) ''because'' of a Let's Play on the Website/SomethingAwful forums. This owes to the series' unique blend of DatingSim and murder mystery, so it's fun to watch players solve the cases... and even more fun to watch players' inevitable [[ArcWords despair]] when a character they get attached to dies or is a case's culprit (resulting in a CruelAndUnusualDeath "execution").
23	* [[Creator/QuanticDream David Cage]] games (''VideoGame/HeavyRain'', ''VideoGame/BeyondTwoSouls'', ''VideoGame/DetroitBecomeHuman'') are popular for Let's Play and streaming audiences for several reasons. The games usually offer branching story paths based on player choices, which can be attractive to people who want to see what choices another player will make on a blind run. In addition, the games' [[PressXToNotDIe Quick-Time Events]] set pieces and cinematic storytelling make them visually appealing to watch. And last but not least, the games are often considered to have [[SoBadItsGood very noticeable flaws in gameplay]], storytelling, character animation, voice-acting, and other issues. This makes them [[NarmCharm fun to mock]], especially for people who would never play said games themselves.
24	* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' is most popular for its DisguisedHorrorStory plot twist, but [[ItWasHisSled most people who know anything about the game know about the twist]], taking some of the impact away (though the psychological horror element still remains and there are many horrifying scenes that have not been as spoiled). Most fun comes from asking Let's Players or friends unfamiliar with the game to play it under the assumption it's just a silly dating sim, and then waiting for them to reach the infamous WhamShot and freak out.
25	* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' is one of the most (if not THE most) complex video games in existence and thus has an extremely steep learning curve. But at the same time, its simulation depth and unmatched VideoGameCrueltyPotential often generate the most badass and/or ridiculous video game stories you've ever heard. Because of this, watching Let's Plays and reading forum posts about this game is way more entertaining than actually going through the trouble of learning how to play it yourself.
26	* The FightingGame genre has a deep history of this. The genre is considered very hard to get into due to the steep learning curve each game has, understanding whatever meta exists, and having to learn each game's own unique mechanics, [[DamnYouMuscleMemory with very little being able to be transferred over to a new game or even the next title in a series]]. Watching, though, is one of the most popular parts of the genre ''period'', since you don't need to know how the game works to enjoy watching the fight, and {{tournament\|Play}}s are often among the most watched events in the gaming sphere due to being able to watch players who did go through the trouble of learning the aforementioned stuff compete head to head.
27	* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' is known for being terrifying, creating a great sense of paranoia and the punishment for failures is a good ol' JumpScare. For people who don't like being scared, this is rather off-putting and there are plenty who never gathered the courage to play it, but the terrified responses of [=LPers=] make them watch videos of the series anyway. ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' put it best.
28	-->"The horror game sensation that no one enjoys playing, but everyone loves watching others play."
29	* ''VideoGame/GettingOverItWithBennettFoddy'' is a game designed to frustrate the player, [[CheckpointStarvation featuring no checkpoints]] and even a minor slip-up can send the player back to the start of the game. All sorts of highlight videos of [=LPers=] and streamers exist on Website/YouTube showcasing the rage players go through for our entertainment.
30	* ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'' is another extremely popular game to watch as a Let's Play series due to the sheer amount of [[TheManyDeathsOfYou ways to die/fail]] and the mountains of references that are present. Another is reacting to the diverse of characters with the two most popular being [[ActionGirl Ellie Rose]] and [[NiceGuy Charles Calvin]]. This series is also fun for the sheer amount of clever fourth-ball breaks that can catch [=LPers=] off guard as well.
31	* ''VideoGame/IRacing'' bills itself as "the most realistic racing simulation game in the world", and the high barriers to entry ([[CrackIsCheaper specially-made wheel and pedal controllers are a necessity to be any good at the game, and each track and vehicle is sold separately]]) drive many away from playing. However, the fact that it is such a detailed replication of real-world car racing makes it just as fun to watch for many fans. Many racing leagues, like NASCAR and [=IndyCar=], used it to replace live race broadcasts during the [=COVID19=] pandemic.
32	* While both ''VideoGame/LaMulana'' and ''VideoGame/LaMulana2'' are relatively fair games, with signposted deathtraps and challenging-but-not-impossible bosses, many of their puzzles are [[MoonLogicPuzzle deeply obtuse]] and founded in [[ViewersAreGeniuses unfamiliar mythology]]. Since these puzzles are not optional and make up the majority of the game's story, a playthrough with someone talking you through all the mental gymnastics can end up being a better experience.
33	* ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUsPartII'': After the controversy regarding [[ContentLeak story leaks]], many potential players decided to wait it out and see the game from Let's Players videos instead of spending their money on the game. Both those who didn't follow the leaks and those that do watch others play it, mainly wanting to see how others would react to it, [[spoiler:especially the infamous scene where Joel gets murdered]].
34	* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': Having to deal with [[{{Noob}} unskilled players]], {{Griefer}}s, [=AFKs=], and [[PVPBalanced unbalanced champions]] often leads to extreme frustration, so many players agree that simply watching someone else play the game can be a much more pleasant experience.
35	* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' has nearly infinite creative potential, but even on Peaceful difficulty or Creative Mode, building anything more complex than a basic house can be a daunting task, not to mention that the game likes to throw survival horror elements that can easily ruin one's day, such as surrounding the player with zombies and spiders in the middle of cave mining operations and [[ActionBomb Creepers]] abruptly not only killing the player but also destroying half of their beautiful house. As a result, many people instead prefer to watch their favorite streamers and [=LPers=] play the game and make and show off their projects. ''Minecraft'' also has an active [=PvP=] community across multiple servers; often, fans find it more fun to watch popular and skilled [=LPers=] duke it out with each other (which can easily reach UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny levels of epic depending on who the participants are) rather than actually participate in these games.
36	* At the height of their popularity, ''VideoGame/{{Outlast}}'' and ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' were all the rage among Let's Play. The two were considered some of the scariest games ever made, which prompted multiple people to be too scared to play them but love to watch people getting scared by them.
37	* ''VideoGame/{{Pathologic}}'' is almost as infamous for its absurd difficulty curve and punishing mechanics as it is for its narrative complexity, meaning that a lot of players are scared off early on. According to Steam achievements, around fifteen per cent of players make it past the first day, in a game that takes place over eleven days. For three characters. As a result, most fans of the game either experienced it through a Let's Play or one of the many video essays that help better explain the game's obtuse survival mechanics and difficult-to-follow story. A notable case is WebVideo/{{Hbomberguy}}'s video on the game, where he highlights the artistically interesting aspects of how punishing it is while discouraging you from playing it yourself because you'd have to sit through a ''lot'' of tedium and frustration.
38	* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' games are very popular Let's Play games in the JRPG genre, due to all of them being very long and very story-driven. It would be very easy to say that many fans of the games never actually played the games themselves and simply watched a Let's Play of it.
39	** This is [[SequelDisplacement especially true]] for ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 3]]'', ''[[VideoGame/Persona4 4]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/Persona5 5]]'', where these games are some of the most popular of the series. The main reason people prefer to watch ''Persona'' games rather than play them is because of their "[[SliceOfLife Life]] [[DatingSim Sim]]" segments, where the player has to choose what daily activity the main character will do. People watch other people play it because they either don't have time to do it themselves, or they want to see how the choices/time management of the content creator play out. Although over time, Atlus' strict streaming clause to their games makes this harder to do...
40	** To a lesser extent, the various spin-offs that have surfaced since ''Persona'' became a CashCowFranchise for Creator/{{Atlus}} also count. This can be chalked up to most of these titles being canonical continuations of the instalment they spun off from (thus retaining a focus on narrative and characterization) while also [[GenreShift switching to completely different genres of gameplay]]--ones that someone who primarily plays [=JRPGs=] might not be willing to invest their time in learning the mechanics of. (For example, ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' and [[VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax its sequel]] are {{Fighting Game}}s, ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight'' is a RhythmGame, and ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'' is a {{Hack and Slash}}er with ActionRPG elements. The ''VideoGame/{{Persona Q\|ShadowOfTheLabyrinth}}'' [[VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth games]] go halfway, as they're [[DungeonCrawling Dungeon Crawlers]] styled after the ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' series)
41	* PlatformHell games, such as ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'', frequently fall into this category. The average player has close to zero chance of successfully completing the game, and it quickly becomes tedious trying and making next to no progress. Watching an expert's LP thus offers two benefits: you actually get to see past the first few screens, and you get amusing {{Angrish}} over the soundtrack.
42	* ''VideoGame/{{PT}}'': Considered one of the scariest games ever made, but now also almost impossible to get your hands on, since it was removed from all stores by its developer shortly after release. [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes It's now only available on PS4s that had installed the game previously]], making this a game that people mostly experience through [=LPs=].
43	* ''VideoGame/Road96'' is a story-driven RoadTripPlot with randomly chosen chapters, and a large number of plot twists and events that can result in all kinds of things happening. Livestreamers and [=YouTubers=] all make different choices when playing the game, and there's no telling what choices they'll make and how they'll react to what they encounter, making this game that can be a lot of fun to watch others play once you've experienced it yourself.
44	* ''VideoGame/RuleOfRose'' is generally considered to have a great story but terrible gameplay. [[BannedInChina Also, it was banned in the UK.]] For this reason, many people tend to seek out playthroughs on youtube, where they can enjoy the immersive plot but avoid the frustrating controls.
45	* The ''Franchise/SilentHill'' games are widely praised by both fans and critics alike for their characters and storytelling, but most agree that the puzzles, the length of the games, and the clunky combat may not jive for everyone, thus people looking to get into the series may opt to watch someone else play it and see their reactions to the events in the stories.
46	* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' is a widely disliked game and most aren't willing to play it themselves... but watching someone else [[GoodBadBugs glitch the game into oblivion]] never gets old.
47	* Common in [[SoulsLikeRPG Souls-like RPGs]], especially those from Creator/FromSoftware, being the TropeCodifier and {{Trope Namer\|s}}. Since these games are notoriously NintendoHard and also tend not to have a self-evident story, some people might not be particularly interested in playing them either for the gameplay or for the story. However, they might be interested in ''watching'' three different groups of streamers play them:
48	** Those who aren't particularly good at the game, since you get to watch it while hearing funny {{Angrish}} reactions.
49	** Those who are really good at the game or {{speedrun}}ners, meaning you get to see the game beaten in cool or elegant ways that most regular players couldn't hope to emulate in these games.
50	** Those who are actually interested in the lore, meaning that you actually get the story of the game as you watch, from the streamer's commentary.
51	* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'' have a very large community of fans that don't even play the games themselves but love to watch dedicated streamers play the SturgeonsLaw-prone levels that random people have created. For this reason, many content creators attempt Super Expert No-Skip runs so that their viewers can watch them play through the horrors that await. Other sub-communities include Troll Levels (levels designed to make players look like idiots), Puzzle Levels (levels designed to test players' knowledge or problem-solving skills), and Kaizo Levels (NintendoHard levels designed for players to show off their reflexes and platforming skills).
52	* Creator/TelltaleGames works are more story-driven AdventureGame affairs with different outcomes depending on the choices. So naturally they make for great Let's Play videos, especially if they're based on a popular IP such as ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadTelltale'', ''[[VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries Batman]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheWolfAmongUs Fables]]'' or ''[[VideoGame/GameOfThronesTelltale Game of Thrones]]'' to name a few, just to see the choices of what certain [=LPers=] would make.
53	* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' is a game where the choices you make have tangible consequences, and is generally considered a case of EnjoyTheStorySkipTheGame, so many watch [=LPs=] both to consume the story and to see the choices the player will choose to make and how they react to them.
54	* ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' installment ''Game & Wario'' has the minigame "Gamer", which is infamous for its SurprisinglyCreepyMoment within the franchise as a whole; players are tasked with dividing their attention being playing microgames on the Platform/WiiU Gamepad and keeping tabs on the television so they're not caught playing by 9-Volt's mother, which is presented as something straight out of a horror movie. Let's Players will usually be paired, with one set of eyes watching each screen, with half the fun seeing their reactions to just how crazy 5-Volt gets in her attempts to catch her son gaming.

Context Main / BetterAsALetsPlay