# You can only play one video game for the rest of your life **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [December 3, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058 "2023-12-03T19:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/1 "2023-12-03T19:27:53Z")
You’ve been given life without parole in solitary confinement for your crimes. Your lawyer has managed to get you one major concession: you have access to a computer and a **single _offline_ game of your choice**. You will not be able to access anything on this computer except for this one game. The provided hardware will be sufficient to run the game well. It will not be connected to the internet, _ever_. You will not have access to the hardware itself. Your interface will consist of a screen built in to the wall behind bulletproof glass, a small concrete table built in to the wall, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. The mouse and keyboard will be replaced with a fully charged set daily. You might be able to choose a new game in 20-25 years, _maybe_, but no promises. What game do you choose? In other words, what one game do you think could entertain you essentially forever? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/2 "2023-12-03T19:35:14Z")
Personally I’m thinking something open-ended and creative, like **Cities: Skylines** or **Planet Coaster** would be best, although the former relies a lot on the extensive modding community to keep it fresh, and while that is also true for the latter, you can build your own game assets using just the main game. Maybe something like **Kenshi** which is literally designed so you can do whatever you want and go forever. Super grindy which is a plus in this scenario. It has endless replay value. But I’d probably go with **Planet Coaster**. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/3 "2023-12-03T19:37:54Z")
Dwarf Fortress. 20 or 25 years might be just enough time for me to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/4 "2023-12-03T19:38:12Z")
I guess it would be Age of Wonders Shadow Magic. It has a great editor not only for making maps but to modify/add units and items. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/5 "2023-12-03T19:40:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Dwarf Fortress Good one! ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/6 "2023-12-03T20:00:09Z")
This pretty much describes my life already, and the game is the [Commodore 64 version of Dino Eggs.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dino_Eggs) I’ve been playing it since I was a teenager, it’s still challenging (I mostly only play level 9) and it’s what I do while listening to podcasts. As much as I loved Half Life and its various sequels, I haven’t had a computer able to run modern games in years. And even if I did, I object to the subscription model that now seems to dominate games and TV / movies and I don’t wish to participate. So it’s Dino Eggs for me. I occasionally look around to see if there are other players because I’d like to organize a tournament of some kind. I’ll be surprised if anyone can top my scores, but every time somebody thinks something like that it turns out there’s a 10-year old on YouTube… ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/7 "2023-12-03T20:11:15Z")
Hey if you’re still enjoying it, good for you! Not familiar with that game myself. Looks interesting. Having grown up in the 80s I’m into the old games. Even though I’ve done absolutely everything you can possibly do in it ten times over already, I just played **Wasteland** _again_ recently. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/8 "2023-12-03T20:21:58Z")
If those “ultimate board game compilation” games count as just 1 game I’d choose one of those, find one with a good collection of games and strong AI. If not I guess just a really good chess program. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/9 "2023-12-03T20:26:10Z")
This^. If it works, I choose MAME. If just one game from that, Joust using MAME. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/10 "2023-12-03T22:10:01Z")
OMG!! I forgot all about that game! I used to love that game! Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/11 "2023-12-03T22:17:00Z")
Tetris would suit me fine. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/12 "2023-12-03T22:37:10Z")
Tetris was my first thought as well. That might be the game I’ve spent the most time on on my life. Checking steam and I apparently have over 1k hours in civ4. That’s not a terrible choice either. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/13 "2023-12-04T01:06:16Z")
The Sims 2: Complete Edition. I didn’t get much time to play with all the expansion packs before my computer bit the dust. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/14 "2023-12-04T03:00:54Z")
Meh. Probably “No Man’s Sky” (which, yes, does have offline options). I’ll be able to explore a lot of views even if I’m physically isolated. Hopefully I’ll still be able to get patches / updates to the game. Which is another reason to chose something vaguely modern. I’ll still likely go some other variety of insane from life in solitary though. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/15 "2023-12-04T03:01:24Z")
I’d lean strongly towards Minecraft for sheer amount of possibilities. Exploration, endless building opportunities, people have even managed to make working computers within the game itself. Of course, I don’t know if I could figure that out but, hey, I have the rest of my life to spend on it and little else. No Man’s Sky would be my second choice for, again, sheer expansiveness. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/16 "2023-12-04T03:34:40Z")
I’m not trying to get around the OPs questions, so I will change my answer if this doesn’t fit but I have to agree with @Jophiel in that I would want modded minecraft. Having said that, then, do we get all versions of said game? Do I get CurseForge and can play all of the different versions under 1.X? Or is it one specific version of a specific game? If not that, then a game with RNG to it so that it isn’t the same playthrough every time. Even as good as BG3 is, there is still a specific quest path that would get old. I guess my second choice would be as @What_Exit said, a game where I can potentially make my own mods. Maybe Sacred 2 Gold for that? I could create my own world and then play in it. Good question! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/17 "2023-12-04T03:42:23Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Having said that, then, do we get all versions of said game? Do I get CurseForge and can play all of the different versions under 1.X? Or is it one specific version of a specific game? You get a guy who will keep the game and hardware updated so it will run. That said, he doesn’t work for you. Since you can’t access the internet, you can’t download mods. As far as you’re concerned, the screen comes on and the main game is already running. You can get to the game menu but you can’t exit to the OS; exiting the game will simple turn everything off. Whatever you want to do, you have to do it in-game. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/18 "2023-12-04T03:56:39Z")
I still play Windows Solitaire a couple of times a week. Something like that would suit me. Most other games I play are finite in scope and will bore me eventually. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/19 "2023-12-04T04:26:43Z")
Similar to my thinking. Maybe freecell or a chess game. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058/20 "2023-12-04T04:27:04Z")
Civ5. I’ve played it ever since it was released in 2010. Steam says I’ve played for more than 9000 hours. I would wish to have installed all my current mods (at least a dozen), though. Plus all the DLC. The mods and DLC help to keep up my interest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-play-one-video-game-for-the-rest-of-your-life/994058.md?page=2)