Games that are better on the second playthrough

Some games are just built to last, eg The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Players can explore their version of Hyrule for hundreds of hours if they choose. Then there are the short games that are fun the first time, but get better on the second playthrough, especially if there's a New Game+ mode.

The reasons can vary, as getting new items to try on 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, such as seeing a character post-twist and analyzing their decisions knowing the outcome. Whatever the reason, these games can be more fun on a second run.

Personality 5

To be a good student

Personality 5 is a long adventure that will take about eighty hours to complete, and even then, players are not guaranteed to complete everything. That's because social stats help unlock potential conversations with various party members and NPCs.

When players have a lot of time to do side activities, they may lose out on raising social stats in favor of something else. So it can be beneficial to start a new game as players can quickly unlock passives with characters through social stats, and they can continue to grow these social stats.

Chrono Trigger

Time is of the essence

Chrono Trigger A turn-based time-travel RPG and one of the first games to feature a new Game+ mode. With it, players can carry more data, such as tools, and access content that they couldn't in the first round.

For example, there are rare sets of gear that players must choose from, and by playing again, they can get the opposite gear to complete their collection. More importantly, there are multiple endings in the game to unlock, and it's easier to access them around each one, making it faster to go through with more players. Chrono Trigger.

The Triangulation Strategy

The scales of justice

The Triangulation Strategy A strategic RPG where players will have to make choices throughout the campaign, which will affect the story. Also, these actions have three stats, Morality, Utility, and Freedom, and certain characters can only be obtained when the correct level is achieved.

Narve, for example, is a side character who will appear when players have enough Morality and Freedom points. Other characters can be unlocked through the story, so only by replaying the game can players hope to get all the characters by seeing all the angles of the story.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

And Riku was his name-o

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is a card-based action RPG spinoff where players will take Sora through his memories, replaying remixed events from the first game. After finishing the game, players can unlock the ability to play as Riku, Sora's lost friend.

This is an entirely 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 many ways, but the PS2 and HD versions of the game also let players unlock Riku.

Parasitic eve

Must reach the Chrysler Building

Parasitic eve is an active turn-based RPG about a detective, Aya, battling supernatural forces in New York City. After the game ends, players can restart with a key that unlocks a new area, the Chrysler Building, which is a large random dungeon.

The final boss will shed some light on Aya's best, which is the true ending to some. Outside of the Chrysler Building, players can access items from storage to use in a second playthrough to allocate BP awarded after completing the game for upgrading purposes.

Resident Evil 3 (2020)

Taking another stab at Nemesis

One of the great joys of beating a horror game is replaying it, if there is a New Game+. In the remake of Resident Evil 3Players will earn points that they can spend in the shop before restarting the game.

The best unlocks come in the form of weapons with unlimited ammo, like a rocket launcher, which makes 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 an annual tradition to help Jill get through Raccoon City and face Nemesis again.

Dead Space (2023)

Getting a better toolkit

Remake of dead space Another good horror example, but the New Game+ feature is similar to the original experience, so any 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.

Aside from that, players get to keep all weapon upgrades, suit upgrades, and items they left in storage from the previous round. It's impossible to upgrade everything on the first playthrough, so it's fun to replay it outside of being armed to the teeth to deal with alien mutants in space.

Silent Hill f

Solve the mystery

Silent Hill f This is one last terrible example, and while players get to keep their character upgrades in New Game+, it's not a huge reason to replay. In the first run, players can only get one ending, and even if players read every supplemental content, they will likely be confused.

On the second playthrough, there are subtle changes to the cutscenes or extra notes remaining in the world. These things can lead players to alternate endings, and each includes a new boss. So, while it doesn't get too easy with each playthrough, the game is easy to understand.

Ninja Gaiden 4

Ryu way

Ninja Gaiden 4 is an intense action game that mostly stars the new ninja, Yakumo, but also has some playable levels of the old fan favorite, Ryu. After completing the game, players can go through the levels with all their upgrades and unlocks, and play as Ryu instead of Yakumo.

It doesn't affect the story, on the contrary Kingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesBut it gives players a reason to replay the game. Ryu has special moves, and diehard fans should appreciate the gesture.

Test your stealth limits

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a 1:1 remake of the original game, and has a similar progression path after completing the game. Players will get a variety of new suits to wear as camouflage while exploring the Russian wilderness.

They'll also get one heck of a weapon if they weren't already armed when they completed the game. The first time through you have to play silently like most metal gear games, but it can be fun to try hard and deadly against enemy forces and see how it feels.