What makes games replayable?

Discover the allure of replayable games and explore different types of replay value

What makes games replayable?

Often, the decision to replay a game arises after completing it and feeling a sense of emptiness. Players may want to experience different endings, unlock missable content, or simply immerse themselves in the game's atmosphere once again.

Other times, players may choose to replay a game to explore specific mechanics, such as branching story choices or distinct routes. Some are drawn to games with flexible team/army compositions or inherent replayability in the gameplay itself. And then there are those who replay games simply because they are fun to play over and over again.

We all have our reasons for wanting to replay a game, and the best games respect our choice. In fact, if you find yourself forcing yourself to replay a game without enjoying it, we have a guide to help you stop. But if you're looking for a game to replay, here are some top choices that offer various types of replay value and exceptional experiences.

What is replay value?

Replay value can mean different things to different people. Some find it in playing a game multiple times to experience the story from different perspectives, like in the Persona series or Dragon Age: Inquisition, where you can play as different characters within the same game. For others, replay value lies in repeatedly experiencing a game's mechanics.

Consider these scenarios: You've just completed Resident Evil and can't wait to start a new game, but this time you want to use a different weapon and see how it affects the game's difficulty. Or maybe you've finished Devil May Cry 5 and want to go back to the first game to witness the series' evolution. These are examples of replay value driven by a game's mechanics.

Now, imagine you've just finished Devil May Cry 5 and want to replay it solely to relive its captivating story. You're not interested in the mechanics; you simply want to return to the game's world. This is an example of replay value stemming from a game's world, story, and gameplay.

Replay value can take many forms, and the best games offer different types of replay value.

The types of replay value

There are numerous reasons why players choose to replay games, but we can categorize them into six types of replay value:

Nostalgia: Some players revisit games from their past due to nostalgia. Perhaps they played the game when it was first released or shared it with a friend years ago and want to experience that magic again.

Flexible team/army compositions: Games with good decision-making options, different playable characters, or diverse playstyles can enhance replay value. Sometimes, the inherent replayability of the gameplay itself is enough to motivate players to replay the game.

Amazing story: In some cases, the story is so incredible that players feel compelled to replay the game just to experience it again. Games like Dragon Age: Origins or Mass Effect 2 fall into this category.

Satisfying gameplay loop: A satisfying gameplay loop can strongly motivate players to replay a game. This loop refers to the cycle a game goes through to keep players engaged, often starting with a tutorial, followed by combat zones, breaks for the story, and repeating until the game is completed.

Post-game feeling: The desire to achieve 100% completion or try a new strategy or class can be a motivating factor for players to replay a game.

Enjoying the atmosphere: Some players replay games simply to immerse themselves in their favorite game worlds and atmospheres again. Sometimes, the decision to replay a game is driven by the pure enjoyment of playing it repeatedly.

The best games with replay value

There is an abundance of games with replay value, but based on our selection of the best PC games, we have picked a few that offer exceptional replay value: