I’m not sure why exactly, but I just struggle to finish basically any game where there is a heavy focus on story.
I seem to get about 90% of the way through them and then just stop playing abruptly. I think sometimes I do that because I just play too much in too short of a time, so I burn myself out on it unintentionally because I’m just enjoying the story so much up to that point. Other times I seem to be able to tell where the story is going and I don’t like it, usually because it’s tragic and I don’t want to experience the tragedy I know is coming; It’s like this sense of dread overcomes me and I struggle to continue. Other times still, I seem to just know the end is coming and I don’t want it to end so I put it off and then forget that I was almost done with it.
Does anyone else do this? I feel bad for having not finished a ton of different games, even the ones I was really enjoying at one time.
I think a lot of games struggle in their final act. Often it feels like cut content forces writers and developers into conclusions that are unsatisfying because they feel rushed and incomplete. So maybe you’re just playing the good bits? Think of the last game you played where the ending felt truly satisfying. Doesn’t help that everyone’s trying to shoehorn live service microtransaction bullshit into their games.
I can only think of two games in the last couple years where I’m glad I finished it—Outer Wilds and Hi-Fi Rush. Probably no coincidence they don’t have micro transactions or indefinite online play
I wonder how much of the “weak ending” stuff is almost by design, though. You look at the Steam stats (or console achievements, whatever) of any narrative game, and something like 5% of players finish it. I wonder if developers just intentionally spend more time on the earlier parts of the game since they know more people will see it.
Dragon Age: Origins is an example of a really good story-driven game. Any time I play it, I usually quit shortly after the Landsmeet. I feel like the whole Archdemon part of the story is really just a neat MacGuffin, so actually mobilizing and fighting it is really just a huge letdown.