A more impactful game after your first play

summation

• Nier: Automata There are 26 unique endings, allowing players to explore and understand the deeper story.
• Dragon's Dogma Unique commentary on New Game+ provides replay value, revealing hidden lore with each playthrough.
• braid and star field New Game+ adds depth to gameplay by engaging players with time mechanics and universe changes.

In the heyday of arcades, games were made to be played over and over again. Of course, at the time it was specifically designed to get just one more quarter from gamers who lacked the skills to keep running. It's not until relatively recently that game developers have had the opportunity to replay their games just for fun.

This idea opened the door for games to do interesting things with concepts such as: regenerate. Whether it's giving a game a New Game+ or simply telling a compelling story that demands another look from an analytical eye, quite a few games have developed a knack for it. After the first play, it became even more impactful.

Spoilers for one or more of the endings for each game.

8

Nier: Automata

Experience 26 different endings

Yoko Taro games are well known for requiring multiple playthroughs to see everything the game has to offer. but, Nier: Automata The sheer number of times a player has to win takes the cake. There are 26 endings here for players to choose from. That's one for every letter in the alphabet.

Of course, some of the stuff here is a joke, and some is given to players who abandon the main mission, resulting in the credits rolling. However, the main ending adds much-needed context to the larger story and sometimes even utilizes 2B's android nature in fun ways to grab the player's attention. Each of these endings demands a new playthrough, if for no other reason than for players to see what else Platinum Games has in store for them.

7

dragon dogma

First and foremost, it has somewhat outdated controls and a complicated fast travel system. Dragon's Dogma It's simply not for everyone. But if players overlook these, they'll be treated to one of the most rewarding action RPG experiences in New Game+, along with one of its most interesting riffs.

What is revealed about the world Dragon's Dogma Over the course of the game, its inhabitants are trapped in Senechal's maintenance cycle, and The Arisen (a player-created character) is tasked with defeating the titular Dragon to save the world or leave it alone. While the core of the game remains the same with each replay, there are also plenty of fun surprises that add to the overall story of the game.

6

braid

Become the master of time and discover your hero's true nature

What makes it braid A really fun experience is the variety of interesting uses of the time mechanic that adds flair to the platform gameplay. Between that and the girl in distress trope that the game has been repeating over and over again ever since. donkey kongThe player has a pretty solid red herring.

This is because the ending of the game reveals that the player is the real villain chasing the 'girl' throughout the game. The idea is to add a lot of context to the second playthrough, forcing the player to look at the world differently. This is especially true when you complete all of the game's explosive additional content.

5

star field

Endless fun in an endless universe

star field It has a reputation for being slightly inconsistent with realism. Still, there's a lot of fun to be had in the game's true-blue role-playing elements. Plus, players who find their footing in this galaxy will have quite a wild ride in New Game+.

After the initial playthrough, players enter a wormhole and essentially re-roll their lot in space. A lot of things can change here, including who appears in the game's base of operations (constellation room), who becomes the game's big villain, and more. Interesting twists like these create some of the most interesting incentives for players to keep playing after the credits role in recent memory.

4

Undertale

Decide whether to be kind or murderous each time you play

When players walk through the bowels of The Underground for the first time, they will no doubt be charmed by the sheer eccentricity of its inhabitants. In fact, the character of the entire play will probably be determined by how your relationships with these characters are formed. Players will also learn the ropes of combat and figure out how kind or cruel they want to be.

But because things can get so bad when a game ends, players are often immediately drawn to a new game. Here, players will realize that the drastic changes in how they deal with every enemy in moment-to-moment gameplay will make a difference in terms of what they experience at the end of each run.

3

Silent Hill 2 (original or remake)

Learn more about your town every time you replay

There is no horror game like this Silent Hill 2Because it's an experience completely colored by the setting itself. Protagonist James Sunderland is called to the eponymous town and must navigate various threats to find his long-dead wife, who has recently sent him a letter.

However, after the players get the credits, they will realize that the entire ordeal essentially consisted of a hallucination resulting from James' murder of his wife. Replays add to the tragedy as players realize that almost everything in the game, from set costumes to collectible reading materials to enemy designs, is based on the sins they have committed.

2

Mass Effect Trilogy

There are results across the series

Without a doubt one of the best series in gaming history. mass effect trilogy Players will travel across the universe to stop the existential threat of the Reapers. Throughout these three games, choices big and small are made, which have consequences throughout the series.

For example, the first major choice occurs when the player must decide whether to save the lives of crew members Kaidan or Ashley on the planet Eden Prime. Anyone who dies here is never seen again in the series, making for quite a different experience when it comes to side content. This is the moment for a follow-up playthrough if the player wants to see a different outcome or shape their ideal journey.

1

bioshock

Check again if player selection really matters.

that bioshock The series loves to suck the brains out of players and squeeze everything of value out of them. Still, it was the first game in the series that did its best. This 12-hour story takes players through the damp and desolate streets of the underwater city of Rapture, learning about its rise and the causes of its ultimate downfall. It's an overtly political romp, and with its many interesting characters and skillful implementation of environmental storytelling, it's an engrossing game to play.

Eventually, the player discovers that protagonist Jack has a much deeper history in Rapture than initially allowed, which is highlighted by his apparent brainwashing and implementation of the trigger phrase “Please.” A second playthrough shows how little control the player actually has over the proceedings, raising some rather poignant questions about player autonomy in video games as a whole.