The current study was designed to examine the relationship between cognitive ability and player experience in shaping how players think within, and acclimate to, video games as complex systems. Specifically, researchers examined the relationship between player's cognitive ability and gameplay outcomes within a video game (i.e., The Deed). Outcomes were evaluated and contrasted after two discrete playthroughs, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Logistic regression indicated that cognitive ability predicted individual outcomes for both the first and second playthrough, but did not predict growth between playthroughs (i.e., outcome change). Findings are then discussed in terms of an acclimation stage.