Most video game fans will have that one game that they just keep going back to over and over again. As video games have gotten bigger and more packed with content, developers have tried to find ways to keep players coming back to their titles as much and as often as possible.
Many different elements can give a game that coveted replay value, some of them hide the best endings behind multiple playthroughs, some have multiple paths that can only be seen by playing differently, and some are just so good they deserve to be played again. Whatever the reason, some games just have to be played twice.
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (2013)
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is worth a replay for many reasons, not the least of which being that it is one of the best old west games of all time. The game feels at first like a simple but fun shoot 'em up as bounty hunter Silas Greaves tells his adventures to a group of listeners, but in a huge plot twist, it is revealed that the man who Greaves has been hunting his whole life is one of the people listening to the story.
Replaying the story reveals layers of clever foreshadowing, and the game offers multiple endings depending on whether the player decides to forgive or finally kill their life-long nemesis. Add to this a New Game Plus mode where players can fully upgrade their abilities, and Gunslinger is more than worth a second play.
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2011)
The monolithic Skyrim is a game that most gamers likely have played at least once. There is already enough to do on a first playthrough to keep players busy for a long time, but Skyrim also has a lot to bring players back for a second try. The sheer amount of player choice in the game means that very few runs will ever be the same.
Players can try out runs with the multiple different classes available before inevitably choosing stealth archer again and experimenting with different character builds. Most significantly, there are enough branching storylines that Skyrim has to be played a few times over to truly experience all of its content.
The Quiet Man (2018)
The Quiet Man had so much potential with its excellent premise, a crime thriller that players could experience through the lens of a Deaf main character, complete with little to no audio. This could have been a fantastic moment of representation and cleverly force players to use other means to understand its story, but ultimately all it meant was that there was no way to understand or even follow the game's plot.
While this could have been used as an excellent commentary, many critics and fans felt that it came off as a gimmick instead. A patch later added all of the dialogue and sound into second playthroughs, meaning that the game had to be played twice to understand.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
The sheer length and scope of everything that there is to do in Rockstar's powerhouse Red Dead Redemption 2 make even one playthrough a massive commitment, but it is also definitely worth visiting again. The massive, super-detailed environments and random interactions mean that there are bound to be things players miss on their first go around.
The multiple endings and honor system give players a reason to see it through on both ends of the moral com in order to witness each ending of Arthur Morgan's story. Plus, the game is just so good that it deserves to be appreciated more than once.
Ghost 'n Goblins (1985)
Ghost 'n Goblins infamously remains one of the hardest games to beat, and part of the difficulty is in how it handles its ending. After running through the already brutal gauntlet of enemies while only being able to take two hits, players will finally reach the Demon King who kidnapped their beloved princess.
When they slay the monster it appears that they can rest easy, having conquered such a crushingly hard game. They are in for a rude awakening, unfortunately, when they are transported right back to the start of the game and must literally replay the entire game a second time on a higher difficulty to actually complete it. Harsh.
Bioshock (2007)
Most people are likely familiar with one of gaming's best plot twists. The game is already worth playing for this reveal and its phenomenal gameplay, but due to the magnitude of the twist, it is worth a replay to try and spot any subtle hints that might have given it away.
The game also allows for multiple different loadouts for players to try, as well as a new game plus mode where players can fully upgrade their weapons and plasmid powers. Multiple endings depending on player choices and an engrossing atmosphere keeps Bioshock interesting through multiple plays.
Dishonored (2012)
Dishonored and its sequel are both games that warrant multiple playthroughs purely for the amount of variety in how players can approach nearly every situation in the game. With a plethora of both lethal and non-lethal ways to take out enemies, as well as an extensive stealth system, there are numerous possibilities to get through every combat encounter in the game.
Dishonored also features multiple endings depending on how much violence the player commits, as well as an option to kill or leave each boss alive. The game encourages players to try both pacifistic and ultra-violent runs, and it offers so many gameplay options that it will stay fresh through several replays.
Silent Hill 2 (2001)
The to inspire a whole host of new horror games. Silent Hill 2 is considered by many to be the highlight of the series, but most of the games feature different endings that require players to play through the story multiple times to unlock.
The game's ending can be affected by everything from helping side characters, interacting with specific objects, and even maintaining a certain level of health. Several of the endings are only accessible on a second playthrough, bringing players back to see each conclusion to the dark story.
Mass Effect Trilogy (2007-2012)
All three of the original Mass Effect games come together to tell the central, overarching narrative of the series, and all three definitely need to be played at least twice to experience everything the game has to offer. Players have an enormous amount of choice in how they play their version of Commander Shepard which necessitates multiple plays to try it all.
A second playthrough is essential to trying out each of the six unique character classes, experiencing each of the romance options, and experimenting with the dialogue options for every conversation. To truly witness everything Mass Effect has to offer, a second play is a must.
NieR: Automata (2017)
NieR: Automata is a very unique game that engaged players with a wide variety of gameplay, intriguing characters, and a shockingly emotional story that can only be fully experienced after three playthroughs.
The first two runs of the game take place from the perspective of each of the two main android protagonists, learning what each one knows during their run. The third play, however, is radically different and reveals the devastating truth of not only the two protagonists, but also the world around they are fighting to protect. The tragic story of NieR: Automata is one that requires three plays to fully understand, but is well worth discovering.