What makes a game extremely replay-able?

[CarlManvers2019]

This is something I kinda notice from vids by guys mostly playing Soulsborne games and look to have entire channels dedicated to just them

They’re just one example

Yes, I can see all the many different builds and playstyles and self induced challenges, but one would think they would get tired of killing the same bosses and mooks and exploring the same areas after awhile

Games like Skyrim and Fallout 4 even moreso, since most enemies are just reskins

Aside from all those different builds which may not make so much of a difference when everybody ends up more or less expertedly dead

Just what makes it all so timeless without things like MODs?

 

[Val the Moofia Boss]

It has to be an extremely enjoyable experience. Gameplay needs to be fun, be it exploring, or talking to NPCs, or the combat, or figuring out different builds. If it has a story, the story needs to be great all the way through and the characters fun to be with.

The games I've replayed the most are:

• Trails of Cold Steel (I have 165 hours on Steam, 3 playthroughs. Plan on replaying it again for 100% completion before CS4 comes to PC. The story is great all the way through, and I love hanging out with the characters and talking to the NPCs and reading the books. I love trying out different builds, trying to get the bonus AP on the optional really hard fights.)
• Trails of Cold Steel II (I have 262 hours on Steam, 4 playthroughs, my all time favorite game. It's CS1 but jacked up to 11)
• Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (I've replayed the original game 3 or 4 different times, sank 200 hours into the remake and might replay it again. I must have 400-500ish hours on RSE total. I really liked exploring the world, talking to the NPCs, and raising my team.)
• Shadow of the Colossus (I have played it half a dozen times. The game is very atmospheric. I love riding across the barren landscape and taking in the views on the way to each colossi. The colossi battles are interesting puzzles too.)
• Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 (I have like 200 hours sunk into this game. I loved raising my team and trying out different builds.)
• Mount & Blade Warband: 300+ hours across multiple different playthroughs. Played vanilla a bunch, then diplomacy, then Viking Conquest, then Gekokujo II, then Perisno, and then Prophecy of Pendor. A few months ago I began and completed a new PoP playthrough. I loved the challenge of the 1v1 fights and the tactics of the smaller battles during the early game, and eventually the challenge of trying to build businesses and trying to manage your kingdom by making sure to have your revenues higher than your expenses, raiding enemy towns trying to get a much needed injection of cash, and trying to take over the world. Once you have like 20 lords on your side, taking over the world becomes extremely straightforward.

 

[Nikkolas]

I pretty much only play RPG's.

For JRPGs and discounting hacks to change things up, it's the story or characters. Games like Xenogears have awful gameplay and dungeons but the story and characters are just so incredible it makes you want to slog through it. Same forPersona 2 Innocent Sin.

For WRPGs. it's the choice. I've replayed Dragon Age Origins 3 times and each time I've made very different choices.. Even in an inevitable 4th run I still have so much left to see and explore, not even counting all the origins I still have left to do and their repercussions for the rest of the game.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

@Nikkolas
Ever played Octopath Traveler or Darkest Dungeon?

Admittedly, I am only VERY CLOSE to the end....it's just that I know I don't have the levels and resources it'd take to do the final levels

I can see why people can play the latter so much, due to the many combinations you can play with and how enemies are near-random at times

 

[Nikkolas]

@Nikkolas
Ever played Octopath Traveler or Darkest Dungeon?

Admittedly, I am only VERY CLOSE to the end....it's just that I know I don't have the levels and resources it'd take to do the final levels

I can see why people can play the latter so much, due to the many combinations you can play with and how enemies are near-random at times

I have not, although I have played games like Bravely Default. I think people love it and Final Fantasy V so much because of all the combinations and diversity Job Classes and Switching allows you.

I've heard lots of good things about OT, though. I might give it a try if I can find it on sales somewhere. I don't have money for full priced games at the moment.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

I have not, although I have played games like Bravely Default. I think people love it and Final Fantasy V so much because of all the combinations and diversity Job Classes and Switching allows you.

I've heard lots of good things about OT, though. I might give it a try if I can find it on sales somewhere. I don't have money for full priced games at the moment.

It's available on Steam(Windows)and Nintendo Switch, if you ever have the chance tell me if you like it

Octopath Traveler does the same combinations and job switching