Summary
A lot of single-player games include aNew Game Plus modethese days to add replayability and keep players engaged longer. These modes usually increase the game’s difficulty and allow players to carry over previous progress to change the experience. However, few games take it a step further and add new missions, new gear, or new collectibles. Some games even lock much of the story behind NG+.
These New Game Plus modes can become entire selling points for the game and a crucial part of the experience. For playerslooking for a little extra contentfrom their NG+ modes, here are the games that do it best.
Suffice it to say thatStarfielddid not meet with a particularly enthusiastic reception from Bethesda fans. That is a real shame, because the game is quite unique in certain ways and takes an unexpected direction.
Afterfinishing the first playthrough ofStarfield, fans get the choice to start a New Game Plus. It differs from other NG+ modes becauseStarfield’sstory delves into the multiverse theory, and NG+ proves it. Each new playthrough can provide an entirely different starting point, with players encountering wildly different scenarios.
There are many good reasons whyBloodborneisone of the most beloved FromSoftware games, one of which is its New Game Plus mode. NG+ is a staple of the Soulslike genre, especially FromSoftware games.
What separatesBloodborne’s NG+ from others in the genre is the Insight stat. As players' Onsight increases, they can see more of the world, much of which was hidden in plain sight before. NG+ starts players with high Insight. Enemies get new attacks and entirely new enemies appear, which changes the game significantly.
The 2023Dead Spaceremake is as great as the original in every way. It adds a lot of content and makes tweaks without sacrificing any of the atmosphere and horror that made the original so beloved. One of these additions is a feature-complete NG+ mode that changes the experience.
In addition to carrying over all previous weapons, upgrades, and equipment, it adds a new level 6 suit, making the experience a lot more fun. Furthermore, this mode unlocks a new, more horrifying ending that fans of the franchise should see.
Dishonoredisone of the greatest stealth game franchisesof all time. The suite of powers that players can experiment with gives the games a lot of potential for replayability. The second game expanded the powers with two playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, and the NG+ mode took it a step further.
Dishonored 2’sNG+ mode allows players to use any of either playable character’s powers on rotation for a second playthrough. That means players can play as their preferred character with powers from the other, giving them even more room for experimentation.
Oxenfreeisone of the best narrative gamesof the 2010s, with a compelling story, great characters, and a beautiful artstyle. What makes the game’s narrative even more compelling is how it integrates NG+ into the story itself.
Oxenfreefollows a group of teenagers as they journey to a mysterious island and encounter some unsettling phenomena. The game’s ending reveals that the characters are actually stuck in a time loop, allowing players to start the game again, but with marked differences, making repeated playthroughs an essential part of the experience.
An underrated metroidvania,Grimeis one of the most visually appealing indie games in recent memory. It is a challenging experience that can almost be called a soulslike, with tough bosses, challenging platforming,and deeply disturbing lore. It also has one of the most impressive NG+ modes.
NG+ makes the game more challenging, as expected. It takes the difficulty one step further by changing the boss encounters, giving existing bosses new attacks to keep players on their toes. It even adds a whole new boss exclusive to this mode.
While all FromSoftware games include an NG+ mode, the best one they have ever included is inArmored Core 6’The mode makes the game more challenging and players carry over all previous equipment and progress, as expected.
Armored Core 6’sadditional twist to the mode comes in the form of new missions and subtle changes to existing missions, which make NG+ feel like a fresh experience. It keeps players on their toes and means the game requires two playthroughs for players to experience the full narrative.
Bravely Secondweaves a dense and complicated narrative, even by the standards of other JRPGs. The game follows the protagonist and their party as they attempt to rescue the Pope of the Crystal Orthodoxy from the antagonist Oblivion.
The game eventually culminates with the antagonist escaping anddooming the world in the process. It is at this point that players discover that to experience the full story, they have to start the New Game Plus. This makes the mode essentially the halfway point of the game, making perhaps the most unique implementation of the NG+ idea.
Remedy has built a reputation for weird and mind-bending games, and the trend continued withAlan Wake 2. The first playthrough of the game concludes with a hint that the narrative is not yet complete, directing players to the NG+ mode.
Alan Wake 2’sNG+ adds a lot to the story by giving players an expanded intro alongside additional collectibles that reveal more of the narrative. It also subtly changes enemy placementsand jump scare timings. Most importantly, it also expands on the ending, answering many of the questions left from the first playthrough.
TheNieRfranchise is a prime example of how to integrate an NG+ mode into the narrative, providing players with additional content and a reason for multiple playthroughs.NieR: Automatais the culmination of this ethos, requiring not just a second, but multiple playthroughs to fully reveal the entire narrative to players.
NieR: Automata’snew game plus allows players to experience the story from 9S' perspective and serves up a different ending. Subsequent playthroughs unlock an additional playable character and further endings. All this additional content means thatNieR: Automata’snew game plus mode is arguably the best in gaming.
