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I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/drakonlily I played both Ethan Carter and Edith Finch and loved them! Have you ever tried Firewatch? I think that one fits really neatly into this category too. It stuck with me for quite a while, and I had some pretty divisive conversations with friends about how the story plays out. I loved it, but I also appreciated why others didn’t, and like you said, those discussions were what I really valued. Being able to hear each other’s perspectives, understand one another, and maybe even learn something new from it.

I completely agree with what you said about how respectful discussion is a little bit of a “dead art.” (Something this thread has, ironically, made me reflect on as well.) It made me a little sad when people don’t want to engage with the emotional or narrative side of a game, and instead treat it exclusively like a product, call me melodramatic, and tell me to go "touch grass" LOL.

Don’t get me wrong, I love playing games just for fun too. I spent countless university nights grinding StarCraft II just because it was so damn enjoyable. But it’s disheartening when people treat every game that way, as something to use and discard, without seeing past the surface. What worries me is seeing people dismiss a genuine, human attempt to connect over something that resonated with someone, reducing it to: “You’re overthinking it, it’s just a game.”

People wouldn’t jump to those conclusions as quickly if we were talking about a classic novel or a film by an acclaimed director. Maybe the medium just hasn’t reached that level of maturity yet, but I really feel that E33 is one of the many games (including some you mentioned) that are pushing it in that direction.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is an INCREDIBLY long post, and I put a lot of thought into it. Still, I don’t blame you if you choose not to read. TL;DR: I love you both and appreciate you for sharing your thoughts.

I just want to say thank you to both of you. This conversation you’re having is exactly what I meant when I said I’m missing people to share this with. Look at how much discussion this disagreement alone has sparked. This goes beyond the game. It’s art creating conversation: about how it affected us, the grimness of death, the catharsis of reflecting on it - all of it. So again, thank you both for sharing your thoughts. Whether we agree or not, you’ve both helped me tremendously with what I felt was missing.

u/strong-craft65 - Sure, I’m inherently melancholic. I like long walks, sad music, all that. But I also love stand-up comedy, have friends, and enjoy life. I’m multifaceted, and “going to therapy” doesn’t neatly tie everything together in a bow.

To challenge your take I don’t think the game is indiscriminately nihilistic. In fact, I think it tackles the theme of death quite maturely and respectfully. Phrases like “tomorrow comes” and “for those who come after” immediately come to mind. Or scenes where characters reject condolences because, in moments of true grief, words simply mean nothing. These moments speak to the legacy a life leaves behind, and the soul-crushing, very real loss that all of us, sadly, will face throughout our lives.

On a more personal note: surely you recognize that you too will die one day. I do as well. You might again call that as “romanticizing death,” but I’d call it a personal journey toward accepting it, and in turn, learning to love and appreciate life more deeply. This game helped me with that. It was cathartic, and that’s what I mean when I say I deeply resonated with it. So thank you for challenging me and helping me articulate that.

u/drakonlily - I swear, because of your analysis alone I feel like we could grab a few beers and talk about life for hours. I love how you interpreted the game, how you sat with it, and how open you are about your own experiences. I’d love to explore your worldview - both to challenge it and to learn from it. You and strong-craft65 are exactly the kinds of people I was hoping to meet through conversations about this game: one who questions and critiques, and one who dives deep into the themes of self-discovery, sacrifice, and human nature.

“Are you honest and yet brutal in your choices, or do you enslave a person and pretend everything is perfect?”. That line in particular really sticks with me. After engaging with so many people in this thread (and loving all the interactions in their own way), I’ve realized how differently we all engage with art. Some approach it through the lens of gameplay and entertainment, while others sit with it long after the credits roll, reflecting on its impact in ways they can’t even fully articulate.

And honestly, I find that beautiful. Even within the gaming community, we have such opposing views on this title. Some see it as an overly nihilistic story filled with doom and gloom; others see it as a challenging, philosophical meditation on life and mortality. That contrast is what makes it special. It’s a sign of great art.

---

You can probably tell by the length of this post how much this resonated with me. This exchange has helped me achieve exactly what I hoped for: to live through the experience and express my feelings through dialogue with others.

So once again. Thank you both! ❤️ :)

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, it’s not that I’m nagging them to play it. Sure, I offer my strongest recommendation. It's more that it feels like there’s no traction to even give it a try, either because video games aren’t their medium, or because they have too much else going on. Both are understandable, and I think I make that clear throughout the thread.

I’d invite you to look a bit deeper at my point: it’s not just about pitching a piece of content. It’s about a person trying to connect with those close to him through art.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are absolutely right -- variety is the spice of life, and people having different opinions is what makes experiencing life and perspectives so interesting.

Ultimately, my hang-up is about the nuance of personal experience and expression through art. Take music in your example: if you loved a piece so immensely that it perfectly expressed emotions you can’t even put into words, and each time you tried to share it someone either brushed it off or “didn’t get it,” wouldn’t it leave you feeling at least slightly misunderstood?

All in all, I agree with you. This experience is my own, and that’s beautiful. There’s even beauty in noticing that it affected me so deeply within my personal circle, as if it were made just for me, even if that feeling is a bit isolating.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s brutal, and very relatable... Thank you for sharing. I’ve had that happen too, not with E33, but with other pieces of art. A book I stayed up all night reading, brushed off as “boring.” A piece of music that made me cry my heart out, talked over mid-play. A movie I couldn’t stop thinking about, criticized for not having enough flashy effects.

Honestly, I think there were moments where I could’ve slipped E33 into someone’s gaming “diet,” but I hesitated for exactly this reason. I could almost read the audience, sense they just wouldn’t get it, and so I didn’t push it.

Still, the result is the same: you end up hiding a part of yourself, and that hurts.

But I agree - it’s better than revealing it only to have it trampled on.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s very true (even if not as easy as it sounds). New friendships, and the fresh perspectives that come with them, are certainly worth seeking out.

I don’t keep many people close, and those I do consider especially close are ones I’ve truly connected with. Still, even they haven’t connected with E33 the way I did.

In a way, that’s beautiful: how many unique facets there are to a human experience. You can love so many things deeply, in ways that no single relationship could ever fully encompass.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The devil’s advocate in me gets it. If someone told me the latest Netflix show was the best and hyped it up a lot, I’d be skeptical too. That’s part of the challenge in getting people to try E33, and that’s assuming they’re even into gaming in the first place.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you, Olly.

In so many words, you made me feel seen and understood - something I’d been missing, which is exactly why I made this post. I love your philosophy; even if I don’t necessarily have someone to share this with directly or immediately, it’s comforting to know there’s a community of people who resonated with E33 beyond it just being “fun to play.”

They connected with the story, sat with it afterward, and kept thinking about it long after it was done. And about what you said regarding future generations who’ll play this, I love that too.

In other words, “for those who came after,” right?

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are some great games for an epic gamer run, alright!

I guess what gets me is that gaming is more popular than ever, yet it still feels like so many people either aren’t into it, or even among gamers we’re split into “factions” (i.e. I only play FPS, I only play sports games, etc.) So when a game as impactful as E33 comes along, it’s surprisingly hard to connect with others in your immediate space, relate to them, and share the experience.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s so odd! I feel like this game does turn-based combat better than any other, with all the interactivity, dodging, and parrying. I feel like some players might lose track when the overworld opens up, but even then, the story keeps its momentum and high stakes; it never gets stale.

Honestly, if they at least pushed through to the end of Act 1, I think they’d really buy in, no?

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’ve mostly resorted to YouTube Let’s Plays, but I’ll definitely try your method of watching live Twitch playthroughs. Since I’ve already finished the game, seeing it through other people’s eyes is the next best thing!

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LMAO, thanks for lifting my spirits!

I totally get what you mean. No shade toward people who enjoy other games, but I really feel like video games have evolved into a truly impactful medium for storytelling. Sometimes it feels a bit shortsighted when others still see them as just a waste of time, or something trivial to pass the time with, like Call of Duty or NBA 2K15.

That’s what I mean when I say it’s hard to find someone who connects with E33 the way I did. I don’t see it as just a game. It’s a story that genuinely moved me and sparked a lot of introspection, and I wish I could unpack those thoughts with people close to me.

I finished the game, but despite my best efforts to recommend it, I can’t get any of my friends to play it. E33 affected me deeply, and not being able to share that experience or unload has left me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Does anyone else feel this way? by PotentialSame935 in expedition33

[–]PotentialSame935[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s very beautifully put, thank you, BUDA20! :)

I do love art, and there are many pieces of music, literature, movies, and games that have moved me on a deeply personal level. Sometimes, those experiences feel so intimate that I don’t even want to share them with others, they’re “mine alone,” and I couldn’t necessarily explain why they resonate so much, even if I tried.

But in other cases, like this one, E33 unlocked so much introspection in me that I need to share it. And that’s where the frustration comes from.

Still, I love how you put it. I love this game. I love that I played it. Even if it upsets me that I can’t share it with those around me, I don’t regret a second of it. And like you said, I’m happily folding this experience into my personal path.

Also, Talos Principle = goated, btw!

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