Why do we do it? If you missed the title I want to know why we go back and play old games every now and again. Is it just nostalgia, a good game, or something repeatable? Maybe it is even all three. I started thinking this after I started playing Fallout 3 for the fourth time. I think part of it is nostalgia because if you have good memories of something you probably want to relive the experience even if it is down watered compared to the first time you played a really good game. Speaking of which a good game is for the most part always a good game. Finally the repeating part is important because it encourages people to play a game multiply times so they can see all the content they missed as well as experiencing old content in a different light. If anyone else has any theories post away.

I always go back to X-COM, Master of Orion (1 or 2) and Civ4.  
 
Turn-based strategy games are easy to replay since they allow different strategies and perspectives. They may have dated graphics eventually, but these do not detract from the experience at all. Finally, there are many levels of difficulty that mastering takes a while. One more turn!

#1?  Fallout 3.  Also Oblivion, GTA IV, Mas Effect, and Saint's Row 2.

I always put in Diablo 2 or Mass Effect 1.
Dunno why in Diablo's case, but Mass Effect I completed around 28 times now...ugh.

Some games I replay because I have vivid memories of them, other games I replay because I can't remember things about them and I want to brush up. Other games I replay because I know I can finish them every time and they make me feel like a gaming king for doing it - speedruns are an obvious offshoot of this. And then there are the games that are so involved that you just gotta play them all over again to see how things could have gone differently.

" Dunno why in Diablo's case "

Its like a good movie or a good book, you rewatch or reread it to experience the story all over again, to relive it. I've played Mass Effect 1&2 probably over 80 times combined, Dragon Age about 40 times now, Oblivion 700+ hours since its release.  I play them because of the depth of the story and the way the story makes me feel and think. That twinge of nostalgia is nice too, remembering how you reacted/felt the first time you experienced that part of the game is always a kick.

The Pokemon games, Super Mario 3, Geometry Wars, Halo and Halo 3

i feel like there's an echo here, mass effect is definitely the one game i go back to over and over, but that's really the only story heavy game.
 
MW2 and the skate series (now skate 3) are my two stand-by games when i get out of work and want to play something quick and easy.

Although I do go back to every game in my gaming library at least once, I keep going back to the Ace Attorney games for some reason.
A recent game though was Viewtiful Joe. I finished that game, like, 7 times on the GC and re-bought it on the PS2 for the Dante thing and beat it again.  I'm sure I'll beat it again, but as Dante.

Every now and then I go back to Burnout Paradise.  I have since tried split/second and really enjoy it, but with all the expansions for Burnout and the fact that I still have not found all of those orange fences makes me keep going back.

I tend to keep going back to GTA IV Liberty City Stories, I don`t know why but it`s addicting some times

Too soon to say Starcraft II?

I pretty much go back to TF2 every patch.

" I pretty much go back to TF2 every patch. "

Not so much now that I don't own a system for it, but I used to play Resident Evil 4, story mode and mercenaries mode, constantly.  I loved the hell out of that game.  Now, I'd probably say that Fallout 3 is what I pop in if I can't decide what to play.

Hearts of Iron 3

Sly Cooper series, God of War series, Resident Evil series, LOZ : WW, cant think of any more...

definitely diablo 1 and 2 and any bethesda game

The same reason why you go back to a good book, movie etc. 

Pretty much every Zelda game.

Personally, it's my ps2-ps3-wii-gc game collection except for fps and driving games

Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda: OoT, Halo.   I am definitely a sucker for Mario games

Diablo II, Halo 3, Red Dead (might be too soon to include this), Bad Company 2 (soon as well ), Call of Duty 2, Counter Strike, World of Warcraft.

" I always put in Diablo 2 or Mass Effect 1. Dunno why in Diablo's case, but Mass Effect I completed around 28 times now...ugh. "

Beyond Good and Evil and Freedom Fighters are huge ones for me. There's many others too, though.

Final Fantasy VII, VIII and Diablo 2.

I have done the dirty deed with Mirrors Edge 24 times....In public too....

Red Faction Guerilla
 
because breaking stuff is never not fun

Star Wars KOTOR mainly and sometimes infamous

" @Jeust:  But I always quit right after Act 1, losing all interest!  Not sure if it counts, since it's an MMO, but I simply adore Lord of the Rings Online...and it's going free to play soon... I can't resist that! "

I still play Resident Evil 4 at least once a year. Simply because it's so damned good. In total I've probably played through the game upwards of 40 times on different consoles.

The question is, why do we not do it more?

The half life-series and its episodes, as well as star wars KOTOR keep me coming back for some reason. 

• The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  
• Planescape: Torment
• Grim Fandango
• Diablo 2
• Counter Strike: Source
• Team Fortress 2
• Rome: Total War
• The Witcher
• The Darkness
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind