This idea popped into my head after I realized I had been using a walk-through while playing Sexy Brutale on my PS4. I had been trying really hard not to use a walk-through because this is a puzzle game it’s meant to challenge me. I eventually couldn’t figure out where I was stuck which lead me to pull up a video on Youtube to get me through this part of the game. It got me thinking, is this considered cheating? Can I actually take credit for finishing the game myself? I did use the controller to play through the part myself, but I didn’t actually figure everything out on my own. I’m curious to know what people think about this topic.
Usually, I will use a walk-through video or article for multiple reasons:
#1. I hate the game, the walk-through gets me through it.
If I genuinely dislike a game, I can’t leave it unfinished. It bothers me to such an extreme that I can’t play any other game unless I finish the game. I use a walk-through because I don’t want to get stuck, I just want to play through it and finish the game as quickly as possible.
#2 Collectibles
I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to look for every single collectible in a game. I use a walk-through to find all the collectibles and unlock the trophy or achievement I have been looking for.
#3 I’m stuck.
The third and final reason I use game walk-throughs is if I’m stuck. Sexy Brutale is a game I’m enjoying, but on one level I was walking around aimlessly trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing. After watching a video of where to go, I was able to move on to the next level.
Anyway, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on whether a walk-through is considered cheating, or if you use walk-throughs all the time and it’s no big deal.
Bizarre Brunette 
I personally don’t consider using a walk-through cheating. I’ve used them when I’m stuck or to get 100% completion after already beating the game. A good example of this for me was Silent Hill 2. There’s so many little items to be picked up or cut scenes you can miss. I also like to use them if a game has multiple endings. I can’t get all of them on my own usually.
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Multiple endings is another one I forgot. Collectibles I don’t have the patience to find myself.
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It boils down to what you want out of the game. If you have tried to play it yourself but are struggling (and in this hectic day and age, who has three hours to puzzle over one room in a game) then I think it is perfectly reasonable. Also, you are not gaining any advantage over any other players. You’re not cheating them, and they had the same access to the walk through. And finally, there is one line of thought that says “You unlocked all of the content when you paid for the game. It is up to you how you experience”. Beyond that it i no ones business but your own.
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I really like this response. I’m not that gamer who wants to ponder over all the collectibles. I say as long as you beat the game yourself, you’re fine.
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I don’t play video games much anymore but when I was younger (like maybe 8-ish years ago) I would use walkthroughts to get me through parts of Zelda I was stuck through. I knew it was technically cheating, but I figured it was easier than spending forever trying to figure it out myself and just getting frustrated. I’m not wracked with guilt. I guess if you only use it once in a while and can reason that it’d make your gameplay experience better than it’s probably okay!
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As a kid, I actually never used walkthroughs. Mostly because I would usually play games with my brother and we would figure it out together. It’s more when I’m playing a game on my own.
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In the days where I played computergames I used walkthroughs for the last two reasons that you stated in your post. Collectibles (especially in a game where you needed to find 100-200 of those things) it was almost impossible to find them all. A walkthrough definitely helps. I hardly ever got stuck….but in the times that I did get stuck: I used a walkthrough. I guess it is a bit of cheating, but I really did not let that bother me much 😀
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I mean technically though, you’re playing through the game yourself. You’re not using cheat codes or hacking a game, you’re watching someone else play the game while ultimately playing yourself, so is it really cheating?
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Exactly: I don’t really see it as cheating either. Cheating for me is using some kind of hack in an online game to beat everyone 😊
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I have no problems with people using walkthroughs. Cause sometimes if you get so stuck you can’t do anything, you could just quit and never finish the game which is more unfortunate than just using a walkthrough for one part. As long as you give it your best try to figure it out before using the walkthrough, I don’t see a problem.
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I don’t either. If I really hate a game I’m playing, I will use a walkthrough for the entire thing to just finish the game faster.
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I don’t believe it’s cheating myself. I started playing The Witness a while back. There’s literally no direction or verbals in the game and I needed a couple nudges to figure out what the heck was going on and to understand the mechanics of one of the types of puzzles.
For me, I prefer to try first myself, then get a little help if needed to keep the game enjoyable and fun rather than super frustrating if I’m having that much trouble.
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Puzzle games especially fit under this category. Sometimes, I can figure it out pretty easily, other times I need to get a nudge in the right direction.
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For me it’s a yes… I get stuck easily many times, and if I don’t get stuck I don’t play anymore T_T So, main reason: getting stuck.
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Right? Sometimes I’ll stop playing for a little while and then come back to the game and then I’ll be fine and get through it, but other times not so much.
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