Some games are just built to last, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Players could explore that version of Hyrule for hundreds of hours if they so chose. Then there are shorter games that are fun the first time through, but are better on the second playthrough, especially if there is a New Game+ mode.
RPGs With Hundreds Of Hours Of Replay Value (Thanks To Multiple Paths)
From intense action RPGs to turn-based JRPG spectacles, these games will last a while thanks to the branching paths on offer.
The reasons can vary, as getting new items to try out in a new playthrough is often one of the many bonuses of New Game+. There are also story reasons why a second playthrough would be interesting, like seeing a character post-twist and analyzing their decisions knowing the outcome. Whatever the reason, these games can be more enjoyable on the second run.
Persona 5
Becoming A Better Student
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Persona 5 is a lengthy adventure that will probably take around eighty hours to complete, and even then, players aren’t guaranteed to complete everything. That’s because Social Stats help unlock potential conversations with various party members and NPCs.
When players only have so much time to do side activities, they may miss out on increasing Social Stats in favor of something else. That’s why it can be beneficial to start a new game as players can open up passivities with characters sooner with carried over Social Stats, and they can continue to make these Social Stats grow.
Chrono Trigger
Time Is Of The Essence
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger is a turn-based time-traveling RPG and one of the first games to include a New Game+ mode. With it, players can carryover a lot of data, like equipment, and access content they couldn’t in the first round.
For example, there are rare sets of gear that players have to make a choice with, and by playing again, they can get the opposite gear to complete their collection. More importantly, the game has a lot of endings to unlock, and it gets easier to access them with each go around, which gets quicker the more players go through Chrono Trigger.
Triangle Strategy
The Scales Of Justice
Triangle Strategy
- Released
- March 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
Triangle Strategy is a tactical RPG wherein players will have to make choices throughout the campaign, which will affect the story. Also, these actions will raise one of three stats, Morality, Utility, and Liberty, and certain characters can only be obtained when the right level is achieved.
Narve, for example, is a side character who will appear when players have enough Morality and Liberty points. Other characters can be unlocked through the story, so only by replaying the game can players hope to get all characters, along with seeing all story angles.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories
And Riku Was His Name-O
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
- Released
- December 7, 2004
- ESRB
- Everyone // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Jupiter
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Digital Card Game
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is a card-based action RPG spinoff wherein players will take Sora through his memories, replaying remixed events from the first game. Upon finishing the game, players can unlock the ability to play as Riku, Sora’s lost friend.
Small Open-World Games With Lots Of Replay Value
These open-world indies might be on the smaller side, but they still come packed with some incredible replay value.
It’s a completely new campaign that will retread the same worlds, in reverse order, but Riku will have different bosses and character interactions. The GBA version is superior in several ways, but the PS2 and HD versions of the game also let players unlock Riku.
Parasite Eve
Gotta Get To The Chrysler Building
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
Parasite Eve is an active turn-based RPG starring a detective, Aya, fighting back a supernatural force in New York City. Upon finishing the game, players can restart with a key that will unlock a new area, the Chrysler Building, which is a massive randomized dungeon.
The final boss will shed some light on Aya’s best, which some feel is the true ending. Beyond the Chrysler Building, players can access items from storage to use in the second playthrough, along with allocating BP, awarded after completing the game, for upgrading purposes.
Resident Evil 3 (2020)
Taking Another Stab At Nemesis
Resident Evil 3
- Released
- April 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
One of the great joys of beating a horror game is replaying it, if there is a New Game+ at least. In the remake of Resident Evil 3, players will earn points that they can spend in a shop before restarting the game.
The best unlocks come in the form of weapons with unlimited ammo, like the Rocket Launcher, making it much easier to get through the game a second time. With a short runtime and plenty of extras to unlock, players can make it a yearly tradition to help Jill get through Raccoon City and face Nemesis all over again.
Dead Space (2023)
Getting A Better Toolkit
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 5
The remake of Dead Space is another good horror example, but the New Game+ feature is the same as the original experience, so either game is great to check out. When players restart the game, they can unlock a new suit to purchase, the Advanced Soldier RIG, which is a white combat uniform that looks sick.
Beyond that, players get to keep all weapon upgrades, suit upgrades, and items that they left in storage from the previous round. It’s impossible to upgrade everything in the first playthrough, which is why it is fun to replay it beyond being armed to the teeth to deal with the alien mutants in space.
Silent Hill f
Solving The Mystery
Silent Hill f
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
Silent Hill f is one final horror example, and while players get to keep their character upgrades in New Game+, that is not the big reason to replay it. In the first run, players can only get one ending, and even if players read every supplemental material, they will probably end up confused.
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In the second playthrough, there are subtle changes in cutscenes or additional notes left in the world. These things can lead players into alternate endings, and each one also includes a new boss. So, while it doesn’t get much easier in each playthrough, the game does become easier to understand.
Ninja Gaiden 4
The Ryu Way
Ninja Gaiden 4
- Released
- October 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games, Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Ninja Gaiden 4 is an intense action game mostly starring a new ninja, Yakumo, but the old fan favorite, Ryu, has a few playable levels too. Upon completing the game, players can go through levels with all of their upgrades and unlocks, and play as Ryu instead of Yakumo.
This will not affect the story, unlike Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, but it does give players a reason to replay the game. Ryu does have exclusive moves, and diehard fans should appreciate the gesture.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Testing Your Stealth Limits
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
- Released
- August 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Konami
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Adventure, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a 1:1 remake of the original game, and it has the same progression path after completing the game. Players will get various new suits to wear as camouflage as they explore the Russian wilderness.
They will also get one heck of a weapon if they weren’t already armed upon completing the game the first time. The first time through should be played stealthily like most Metal Gear games, but it may be fun to try and go loud and lethal against the enemy forces just to see how it feels.
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