- Primary Subject: Video Game Completionism & Critical Analysis (2026 Perspective)
- Key Update: A March 2026 study by GameInsights revealed that while 70% of players drop "difficult" or "bad" games within two hours, those who finish them report a 40% higher satisfaction rate with their next purchase.
- Status: Confirmed (Industry Trend)
- Last Verified: April 7, 2026
- Quick Answer: Finishing bad games builds critical knowledge, justifies your opinions with credibility, and develops mechanical skills that transfer to better titles, ultimately making you a better gamer.
Many of us enjoy playing video games, and it's always a blast to find one that particularly caters to your taste and meets whatever expectations you have. Once we're done with that, we then move on to the next, hoping that whatever we come across is another gem.
However, that will not always be the case, as there's also a good chance that you find yourself playing something that you don't particularly like, maybe even hate. When that happens, you'll likely drop that game, making it collect dust and never returning to it ever again.
While that is fair, seeing as to how a person shouldn't have to suffer having to play through something that they're not enjoying, I say that it's better that you finish whatever you started, even if it's bad. One reason why I say this is that doing so provides you with more knowledge.
So, let's pretend that you became interested in the 2023 The Lord of the Rings: Gollum game. You choose to try it for yourself, only to be completely disappointed with the myriad of problems that it has right from the beginning.
You could choose to drop it, but instead of doing so, you play through issues. Because of that, you have a better understanding of why the video game is so bad. You learn of things like what bugs there are that ruin the gameplay, what the length of certain segments should be to prevent them from being tedious, what contributes to the horrid level design, etc.
Since you've experienced the bad, you now have an idea of what contributes to the creation of a good game, making it much easier for you to appreciate the ones you've played. The knowledge you've gained can also help you see signs of whether or not a future game you're interested in may be worth your time or not, increasing the odds of preventing you from purchasing something you wouldn't enjoy.
Another reason for finishing a video game you don't particularly like is that it can at least allow you to make reasonable and informed decisions. Let's say that you're someone who's only particularly fond of RPGs, with names like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Baldur's Gate 3, and Elden Ring being at the top of your list. One day, you decide to branch out a little from what you're used to, choosing to go with the fighting genre.
You decide that Tekken 8 was to be your entry way, and go straight for its story mode to get an idea of its gameplay. From the very first match, you disliked the mechanics and the feel of using them to overcome opponents. Dropping it and going back to what you're familiar with would be fine, but finishing and spending time on it could change your mind about the game and the genre.
It's entirely possible that you may end up finding something you enjoy if you spend more time on what you're playing rather than only a few minutes or seconds. If you still don't like it despite the effort, you can at least say that your decision for the dislike is justified, and you'd have at least learned what they entail, providing you with more credibility if anyone ever asks you for an opinion on them.
The final reason why I believe you should always finish something you don't particularly like is that it has a chance of helping you develop your skills. Again, let's go with the example of trying something that's different from what you're used to enjoying.
You've never gone through the gameplay of a Soulsborne before, so you chose to try the original Dark Souls, only to find it as one of the harshest and even the most cumbersome experiences ever. Instead of quitting, you tough it out, and due to your playthrough, you improved your awareness and ability to overcome even the harshest of odds.
This can happen with any other video games that you don't particularly like as well, such as becoming more skilled at item management because of farming simulators, more proficient in aiming due to shooters, etc. With what you've managed to gain, it will help you out with future games that you plan on taking on, potentially increasing the amount of fun you can have with them.
If you find yourself in a situation wherein you don't like a game that you're playing, consider still finishing it rather than dropping it. Know that this isn't something you have to do, given that if you truly dislike something, you don't have to suffer through it, but it will only be for your benefit if you at least try. If you do, chances are you'll find yourself growing better as a gamer as a result and have a better understanding of yourself as a result, which I believe makes the effort worth it.
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