SweetieGames

I try my best to keep this blog as spoiler-free as possible when I’m discussing my favourite games, mainly because I want you to be able to experience these titles for the first time in the same way that I experienced them. I love going in to games as blind as possible, feeling my way through and figuring out the best ways to get the best outcomes, and I know I’m not the only one. Not many people want to know exactly what happens in a game before they play it!

However, I’ve been finding it increasingly difficult to avoid spoilers for games old and new on social media. I actually banned myself from opening Twitter or Instagram back in June last year until I had finished Deltarune chapter 3 and 4, because I knew people weren’t going to be able to contain themselves. Upon finishing those chapters, I can understand why people wanted to talk about it, but I am glad I didn’t find out about some of the twists through social media and got to experience them myself.

There seems to be an expectation for speed among gamers today. Finishing things as quickly as possible and posting about them as soon as possible to be the first one to secure a viral post about the latest thing. I’m someone who enjoys savouring a game, making it last as long as possible and properly digesting it after the fact before I start something new. I get a sense of dread when I’m about to finish a good game, because I know I’ll never have the experience of playing it for the first time again. Taking that time to stew over a game means I can write more coherent reviews about them too! The need to finish things quickly purely to have my blind experience preserved is particularly stressful. I’m trying to finish games as quickly as I can while still enjoying it and working, but it sometimes feels like there’s a strict deadline to finish something before it becomes very acceptable to post spoilers everywhere!

Social networks are ingrained in daily life for the vast majority of people, especially those who enjoy digital hobbies like us. Social media and the internet in general is a fantastic way to connect with gaming fans worldwide, whether that be through Discord servers or Twitch streams, so it’s becoming increasingly unavoidable. Twitter even sends notifications for the latest viral tweets that you’d be interested in, meaning I’ve had spoilers pop up on a banner on my phone. Even if I follow spoiler-conscious people, it doesn’t matter because the dastardly “suggested” posts from people I don’t follow will still appear. In the past, I befriended a fellow fan of Danganronpa while I was playing it, and she directly messaged me to send me spoilers. Because she wanted to talk about it. And knew I hadn’t reached that point in the game yet. I’ve never blocked someone more quickly.

There have been some interesting techniques I’ve seen to avoid spoiling a game for others. As an otome fan, it’s common knowledge on Twitter to use the “sensitive” tag on CG photos to blur them. I’ve also seen people write their thoughts into the notes app, upload it and censor it in a similar way. Even using mutable hashtags has become increasingly normal, as you can unmute the tag whenever you’re finished and want to read other people’s thoughts on the game. I’ve seen Instagram reels which count down at the start to give casual scrollers the opportunity to scroll away before a spoiler appears. I’ve even seen sites that translate spoiler tweets into a code that followers can then use the same site to decode and reply. I love that over time, so many people have adapted these little techniques to keep the first play sacred to those who are in the middle of it. These techniques are even used on older games; it’s becoming increasingly common to give older games a go, and it’s great to see long time fans keep new players in the dark as much as possible.

If you’re someone who posts on social media as soon as you finish a new game, take some time to think of those who are a bit behind. We all play at different rates and have different circumstances! There’s plenty of ways that the gaming community has come together to create a safe space for those who want to experience a game fully for the first time. And don’t slide into someone’s DMs with spoilers purely because you want to talk about it. That’s a fast track to a block.