10 Games Where The Second Playthrough Is Better

Replayability has become one of modern video games’ most important elements, as it is among the factors that most extend a product’s lifespan.

However, except in genres like roguelikes or metroidvanias, it isn’t easy to make a second playthrough enjoyable, and only a few games have done so without burning out.

Whether it’s through a mystical story that requires more than one replay to understand or pristine gameplay that gets better with each hour spent, there are select titles that become more enjoyable the more you play them.

Therefore, if you want to know which experiences you’ll gradually fall in love with, I recommend exploring this list of ten games where the 2nd playthrough is better.

10

Ghostrunner 2

Becoming One With The Flow

When I played Ghostrunner 2, I found myself confused because it had numerous open sections that weren’t as intuitive compared to the first game.

However, once you finish it and recognize how to progress through each point, replaying it changes the experience completely, as you can relive the smoothness that characterized the original.

Instead of spending more time than necessary figuring out how to properly progress through the less linear sections, you can take advantage of the larger levels to exploit the superb movement mechanics.

In some ways, completing Ghostrunner 2‘s campaign for the first time feels like a tutorial because it’s only on the second playthrough that you truly experience its full potential.

9

Sundered

Two Different Experiences

Sundered is one of the best metroidvanias I’ve ever played, particularly for how it offers two distinct experiences depending on your gameplay decisions.

If you choose to surrender your will to chaos to increase your power, the game will become easier, but the ending will be less hopeful and leave you feeling bittersweet, as it did for me.

Therefore, a second playthrough following the path of purity redefined my impressions of the game thoroughly. Not only given the increased difficulty, but also due to the change in tone and even the final boss.

Few metroidvanias boast such a strong ludonarrative coherence as Sundered, which makes it an extremely replayable and satisfying game.

8

Signalis

A Convoluted Gem

Signalis isn’t only among the best indie horror games and psychological thrillers of all time, but also one of the most confusing experiences you can think of.

Inspired by fragmented narratives, understanding the game’s story is extremely complex, and you’ll hardly be able to cover all the lore details in a single playthrough.

Since the game’s length lies in its puzzles’ complexity, replaying the campaign to unravel all the secrets is both quick and worthwhile, thanks to its universe’s depth and quality.

You already know the solutions to the challenges, so a second playthrough of Signalis allows you to connect the dots while delighting in the myriad of small details in each room.

7

BioShock Infinite

Closing the Cycle

Although BioShock Infinite has become my least favorite game of the trilogy over time, I can’t deny it’s the most enjoyable to replay.

After the main campaign’s incredible conclusion, it’s impossible not to watch the credits stunned by the immeasurable revelation you just witnessed, making you rethink everything you experienced during the adventure.

If you play the story again, you’ll notice the countless details you missed due to your lack of knowledge of the game’s secrets, allowing you to enjoy each relevant narrative point even more.

Gameplay-wise, BioShock Infinite doesn’t offer many reasons to replay it, perhaps aside from the dreaded 1999 mode, but the pleasure of understanding its story more deeply alone is well worth it.

6

Fear & Hunger

Prepare for the Dungeons

The first time you enter Fear & Hunger’s dungeons, the entire experience is tense, overwhelming, bleak, and oppressive, which makes it a wonderful indie game.

However, your second playthrough is the one that truly confirms its systems’ incredible nature, as without the pressure of reaching the end and seeing everything, you can explore and experiment much more calmly.

As a result, discovering the gameplay and narrative secrets the game offers becomes the new objective, especially when you set out to see the new endings and find the hidden bosses.

Fear & Hunger is a title whose obtuse functioning can be off-putting, but if you enjoy not being hand-held while playing, it’s one of the best for multiple playthroughs with different characters.

5

Dishonored 2

Exploring New Paths

Given that it has what I like to call the best level design in history, Dishonored 2 is among the most replayable titles of the last decade.

Having completed it nearly a dozen times, I still find minor variations that allow me to experience each level differently, whether it’s discovering a new path or interaction between characters.

Thanks to the depth, verticality, and creativity within each mission, they feel like small sandboxes where you can unleash your imagination, with a truly outstanding attention to detail.

Considering you can play as both Emily and Corvo, the replayability increases even further, which justifies why Dishonored 2 is among the best stealth games of all time.

4

ULTRAKILL

It’s Time to Perfect the Aim

ULTRAKILL has one of the highest skill ceilings I can recall in the indie scene, as mastering its perfect gameplay is no easy task.

Finishing the game is only the beginning; replaying each world and achieving the maximum rank to uncover its universe’s secret is the authentic experience.

To accomplish this, you need to become one with the mechanics, fully understanding each weapon’s strengths and each map’s threats to get the best times and greatest style.

The first time, ULTRAKILL proves to be an excellent FPS, but the second time, it reveals itself as a masterpiece of the genre.

3

Undertale

Three Routes, Three Wonders

The experience of certain video games doesn’t end when the credits roll, and that’s what happens with Undertale.

If you’ve played it and only saw one ending, you’re missing out on one of the most iconic narratives, bosses, and dialogues in video game history.

Only finishing Undertale once prevents you from seeing the bigger picture, as the game’s actual essence lies in going through its three routes, comparing them, and finding the true ending.

Plus, even if you’ve already seen all three endings, starting a new game just to hear one of the best soundtracks of all time again is completely worth it.

2

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Most Replayable Masterpiece

Based on the premise that it’s an incredible game without bad bosses, replaying Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is just the logical thing to do.

Unlike other FromSoftware games, where movement and character progression are slow, this masterpiece’s NG+ allows you to focus on what’s truly important, which is fighting its magnificent bosses again.

The experience of becoming a master of the game is fulfilled at the exact moment you defeat its true final boss, though ​​becoming a god and defeating everyone in the blink of an eye is even more satisfying.

I’ll never forget going years without playing the title, reinstalling it, and beating it from scratch in less than three hours. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is definitely a game for the ages.

1

Disco Elysium

More Hours of the Best Reading

Although you’ll only appreciate this title if you love reading, Disco Elysium is among the most impressive indie games of all time.

Walking through Martinaise’s streets is an experience you’ll never forget, even more so if you decide to explore beyond what you experienced during your first playthrough.

Talking to other characters, making different decisions, increasing different stats, and seeking different solutions allows you to see the world of possibilities hidden within Disco Elysium, which seems to have perfectly planned every option.

My first playthrough was enough to know I was playing a masterpiece, but the second made me realize it’s simply an incomparable game.

Considering its plot’s complexity, political message, and philosophical introspection, completing Disco Elysium two or even three times is essential to fully embrace it.