Why Watch When You Can Play: The Beauty of Playthroughs

Video games are meant to be played, right? They were made to consume your time as an escape from your day-to-day. But if that’s the case, why have playthroughs—full-length videos of someone else playing a game—become so popular? You open up YouTube or Twitch and see people playing their games. Wouldn’t it be better just to play the game yourself?

It may be an obvious choice for some, but there are a few reasons why watching a playthrough can be just as enjoyable. 

The literal COST of gaming. Not everyone has the luxury of buying every new release. Growing up, I remember struggling to afford the latest story-driven games—I was late to the whole Skyrim craze before. So what was the next best thing? Watching a playthrough. 

From Saturday Night Live Official GIPHY

It allowed me to experience the narrative, see the world, experience the gameplay, and understand the hype—all without spending a single peso. Even now, with game prices rising, playthroughs continue to be a great alternative for those who can’t justify a full-price purchase. A great example is the Spider-Man series on console, which I cannot play alone. 

My next point is replayability. So you just finished, what now? Owning a story-based game is great, but what happens once the story is over? 

From Netflix Official GIPHY

Some games encourage replaying with multiple endings or achievements, but not everyone has the time (or patience) to go through everything. Watching someone else play offers a fresh perspective—maybe they make different choices, find secrets you missed, or react in ways you never considered. In my opinion, playthroughs extend the life of a game beyond your own playtime. 

Which brings me to my next point. 

The reaction. There’s something special about seeing someone else experience a game you love for the first time. A recent example I can point out was my own completion of a game called Until Then. 

From GIPHY Originals 

The game hit me hard, blew my mind, and made me tear up a bit. I WANTED TO SEE OTHERS EXPERIENCE IT AS WELL. That sensation is like watching a friend play and anticipating their reaction, sharing in the excitement, shock, or sadness all over again. 

This aspect of playthroughs turns gaming into a shared experience. Just remember to avoid spoilers when you are watching other people play. Don’t be that guy. If you're going to be watching playthroughs, you should do it right. A good pair of earbuds can make a huge difference, and the JLab Audio Epic Air ANC True Wireless Earbuds are perfect for that. With active noise canceling and great sound quality, you can fully immerse yourself in the game’s story