Picking up a new game brings a lot of excitement with it along with uncertainty on what the experience may entail.

Sure, we know how to tackle a game we’ve played before. We all have our tried and true approaches that will help us embark on a journey we’ve done numerous times over the years.

But what about those times when we play a game for the first time? How do you approach your first playthrough of a game?

This can be an interesting question because we all have a unique approach. Some want to enjoy the story or main quest as quickly as possible while others like to take a slow approach and complete the main objective along with all the side quests.

Another point of difference is difficulty level. Some enjoy an easy playthrough on the inaugural run while others want to experience the challenge.

I should reiterate that there is no right or wrong way to play a game. The best way to play a video game is the way you enjoy the most. This includes the first playthrough.

I used to try to casually approach a game and finish up the main quest alone. If there were convenient side quests or ones that really piqued my interest, I’d do them, but my attention largely stayed fixated on the main goal.

My gaming habits have shifted especially as my backlog has grown. I now try to experience all the game has to offer, sometimes fully completing a game, before I move on to the next title.

This approach is largely because I don’t know when I’ll revisit a game and I want to experience as much as I can before moving on. 

Full disclosure: This is the reason why I haven’t completed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild yet. I’m still seeking out all the shrines as part of my first playthrough so despite playing the game for hours, I still have yet to beat it.

What’s also interesting is my habits are shifting again. I still lean more to the completionist side of a game, but I’m providing myself some leeway so I can get to other games. 

I recently beat Hollow Knight for the first time, but I got the first ending rather than the other more true conclusions. I enjoyed my playthrough but decided to move on with the intention of returning later.

Again, there’s no correct way to experience a game for the first time. We all are at different stages in our lives.

That said, how do you approach the first playthrough of a game? Have your gaming habits shifted to the point that your first playthroughs are different than in the past? Let us know in the comments below or by joining our Discord channel.

The Boss Rush Podcast – Mondays at 7 a.m. ET

The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, LeRon, Stephanie, Edward, and their friends from around the internet come together to talk their week in games, entertainment, and more while also bringing topics for conversation, answer listener and community questions, and cover major news and events happening in the video game industry. Watch The Boss Rush Podcast live on Wednesday Nights on Twitch at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT or on Monday mornings at 7 a.m. ET on YouTube and podcast services everywhere. Thanks for listening! You can also get this episode one week early on Patreon.

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