10 One-Of-A-Kind Video Game Mechanics
6. Only Playable In One Sitting - Paratopic
One of the biggest selling points of a single-player game is that you can take it at your own pace. Too much work to do? Just hit the save button and come back later - those villagers you're saving won't even notice. But, such luxury is not available in Paratopic, as you've only got one shot at it each time you play.
This PS1-style horror is a barrage of surrealism, nonsensical dialogue, and deliberately ugly visuals. It will make you feel stuck inside a fever dream, and adding to that sense of entrapment is the fact that there is no option to save your progress.
Like a cinema screening or a live performance, you must sit through the whole thing in one go, or you'll get nothing.
The game's runtime is roughly 40 minutes to an hour, so it's not a long commitment. However, if you decide to quit before hitting the end credits, you'll need to start from the beginning the next time you play.
Being forced to take this whole game on in a single sitting adds to its sense of surrealism and isolation. So, be sure to set enough time aside if you decide to give it a go.