In an embodiment, if a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete, a waiting player is selected and the waiting player replaces the departing player in the game. Replacing the departing player with the waiting player includes assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player. The play state is then updated in response to game control input events received from the waiting player. In various embodiments, the waiting player is selected based on skill levels, play styles, time preferences, or game stage preferences of the players, or based on an input criteria specified by the departing or remaining players. In various embodiments, the play state may include a location within the game, an inventory, or a score.