[Participating in the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge]

https://blog.naver.com/kkwaedwae/224371750563

Some games are enjoyable at first, but we gradually drift away from them. Others keep us playing for years, or draw us back after a break.

I have played many different games over the years. Looking back, the ones I have stayed with the longest share a few things in common.

I tend to spend longer with games that let me keep building up my characters, offer different situations each time, or give me people to play alongside.

If I had to name the games I have played the longest, I would choose MapleStory, League of Legends, and Sudden Attack.

The satisfaction of steady progress in MapleStory

Reached Legion level 8,000

MapleStory is a good example of what makes a game worth playing over the long term.

The appeal of MapleStory goes beyond leveling up a character. There is also the satisfaction of gearing up and improving stats to take on progressively stronger bosses.

Account-wide progression systems such as Legion also let me strengthen my entire account by raising multiple characters. Reaching a certain point with one character does not mean I am finished with the game.

Ren, the character I raised most recently

Beyond hunting and boss battles, there is plenty of variety, from character customization to events and minigames.

Despite being a long-running game, it still receives regular updates with new areas, bosses, classes, and events. For me, another strength is knowing that even after a break, I can return to something new worth trying.

If I had to choose the biggest reason I keep returning to MapleStory, it would be that the characters and account I have built up are still there, with room to grow further.

League of Legends, where every match feels different

Playing League of Legends regularly since 2014

I have stayed with League of Legends for somewhat different reasons than MapleStory.

Even when I play the same champion on the same map, each match changes depending on the champions I face and the teammates I play with.

Some matches go smoothly, while others go wrong from the start. That variety, though, makes it feel less like I am repeating the same game.

New champions and ongoing balance changes mean I still encounter new combinations and ways to play, even after all this time.

Reached Honor level 5 and have maintained it since

Beyond the standard Summoner's Rift, there are more relaxed options such as Howling Abyss. Recent game modes have also introduced variations on the established format, giving me an expanding range of choices.

Playing with friends, in particular, offers a different kind of enjoyment from playing alone.

I often log in intending to play just one match, only to keep starting another. That is part of why I have stayed with League of Legends for so long.

Sudden Attack, a game I stayed with longer because of friends

A recent screenshot of 5 consecutive clan match wins

The last game is Sudden Attack.

Looking back, this is another game I have spent a very long time playing.

As is typical of FPS games, each match unfolds differently even on the same map, depending on how opponents move and how my team plays.

A familiar map does not necessarily mean a familiar match.

But I think the biggest reason I have stayed with Sudden Attack for so long is not just the game itself, but the people I have played with.

When my clanmates and I play with our microphones on, the conversation becomes part of the enjoyment, whether we win or lose.

On my own, I might stop after a few matches. With other people, those same sessions naturally stretch into hours.

A screenshot from playing Sudden Attack's 21st-anniversary UP 투게더

Sudden Attack is another long-running game that continues to add new maps, weapons, and characters, as well as content that offers different ways to play.

Recently, I tried content such as UP 투게더, where players have to cooperate to progress. It was quite enjoyable and felt different from the way I usually played Sudden Attack.

There is a reason we keep playing certain games

I have played all three games for a long time, but my reasons for staying with each one are slightly different.

In MapleStory, I enjoy continuing to strengthen the characters I have already built up. In League of Legends, the appeal lies in the different situations each match brings.

With Sudden Attack, the memories of playing with clanmates and friends have given me another reason to enjoy it for even longer.

Ultimately, I think a game that keeps me playing is not simply one with a lot of content, but one where today's session gives me a reason to return for the next.

When my character is a little stronger, a different situation awaits next time, or I have someone to play with again, it feels natural to keep logging in.

For me, MapleStory, League of Legends, and Sudden Attack have been those games.