We all love games with a good story, but one thing that makes the game even better is how good the replay value is. It is always disappointing when the game has no replay value and you are forced to only reminisce about how the experience was, instead of being able to enjoy it again.
Some titles would include turn-based JRPGs that normally have an outstanding story and world-building, but very slow pacing, which makes a replay nearly impossible.
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Therefore, games with first-class storytelling and insane replay value deserve a shout-out, and here, I will list all the best story-driven games that I have played throughout the years.
10God Of War: Ragnarök
Death Can Have Me, When It Earns Me
God of War Ragnarok
Experiencing Kratos' journey through Fimbulwinter andseeing his character evolve from a former God of War to a dad who wants peace for his son will always be one of the best character arcs in gaming history.
Aside fromRagnarok, every God of War game offers an incredible story and insane replay value, mostly due to its addictive combat system. I would argue that the old God of War games set in Greece are even more replayable than these latest ones. But we are going with Ragnarok as it is the latest and most accessible entry in the franchise yet.
WhileGod of War: Ragnarok’s storydoes have some pacing issues, that didn’t stop it from being the comfort game for some God of War fans. If you are looking for an emotional experience with real character arcs and motivations, then Ragnarok is the best game to go for.
9Batman: Arkham City
Uncover What Protocol 10 Is
Batman Arkham City
WhenBatman: Arkham Citycame out, it exceeded all expectations and became an instant classic as Rocksteady improved upon their formula from Batman: Arkham Asylum and ended up developing thebest superhero gameever made.
It is the one game that makes you feel like Batman as you glide your way across Arkham City and go against an arsenal of Batman villains one by one while trying to uncover what Protocol 10 is.
Aside from offering a masterclass of storytelling, Arkham City also introducedone of the best combat systems of its time, making the replay value skyrocketdue to just how everything falls together perfectly.
With near-perfect story pacing, a fantastic cast of villains, and the best combat system in the superhero genre, I always find myself leaning toward a replay of Arkham City every once in a while.
Even a decade after its release, the topic ofBatman Arkham Vs Spider-Man gamesis still argued by fans today. But none have been able to dethrone Batman: Arkham City as the greatest superhero game of all time.
8Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Wake Me When You Need Me
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Imagine it is 2007, and you just booted up Halo 3 on your Xbox 360 with your friends on a Friday night. While theMaster Chief Collectiondoesn’t offer that same experience, it comes pretty close.
Besides Halo 4, the Master Chief collection consists of all the iconic Halo games that made the franchise what it is today.
FromHalo 1 to Halo 3, you experience the incredible journey of Master Chief and his fight against the Covenant and the Flood, with Halo Reach and ODST being somewhat filler games that are equally phenomenal in terms of quality.
With online coop available for every game in the Master Chief collection, it is currentlyone of the most replayable games that you can enjoy with your friendsright now.
7Baldur’s Gate 3
Endless Possibilities
Baldur’s Gate 3
Fextralife Wiki
What is considered the greatest CRPG of our time also offers top-tierreplayability, asBaldur’s Gate 3is one of the most diverse and open-ended RPGs in the industry today.
The number of builds and permutation of abilities offered in this game makes Baldur’s Gate 3 a near-endless experience. The level of detail in this game will have you jumping back into it with a new build and the intention of a different approach quite immediately after you finish your first playthrough.
Whether you want to try romancing different characters, try out different builds, or take a different gameplay approach to get a different ending, Baldur’s Gate 3 will keep you hooked for a long time.
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It feels like cheating to put aroguelike titlein this list because their entire premise revolves around replayability. But I believeat least one roguelike game deserves to be here, and what better choice is there thanHades?
Zagreus' journey to get out of hell will have you dying again and again, to the point where you might consider giving up. But once the gameplay clicks for you, and you start properly utilizing the abilities that each run offers, you will have a hard time stopping.
Funnily enough, you need to complete the run ten times before you can reach its true ending. Talk about replay value.
5Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Rare Exception For Turn-Based Titles
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Turn-based combat is associated with JRPGs, andturn-based JRPGsin general often suffer from the curse of being too long and not having much replay value, like the Persona games.
Despite not being a JRPG,Clair Obscuris a rare exception for turn-based titles, wherethe overall pacing matches very well with the story. Its combat is also a cut above the typical turn-based combat, with a lot of real-time combat influence, allowing it not to get stale quickly.
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The story is also built in a way where there is a lot of subtle foreshadowing that you don’t pick up at first, but come to understand in subsequent playthroughs, making it worth some replays for its story alone. It further gives you a newfound appreciation for the narrative structure and the world they built.
4Dishonored
Honor For All
Dishonored
Even thoughDishonoredis a straightforward story-driven game, I have lost count of the number of times I have replayed it due to the sheer scale of freedom and level design it offers.
You could replay this game 10 times and still find something new in each level, whether it be a hidden room, a hidden passage, or a new method to perform the execution. Dishonored is one of those rare titles that rewards exploration and sucks you into its world in such a way that you just can’t stop playing it.
The depth and detail of each level make it a one-of-a-kind experience. The level design and player abilities are further amplified in Dishonored 2, making this franchise an absolute must-play for story-driven game fans.
3Devil May Cry 5
Featuring Dante From The Devil May Cry Series
Devil May Cry 5
The Devil May Cry franchise is among the most beloved series by gamers today, andDMC5is no exception. It improves on nearly all aspects of the franchise and offers an addictive gameplay loop.
In fact, its combat is the sole reason why this game is so replayable, asperforming fun combos and getting those SSS ranks is incredibly fun and addictive.
I personally have ended this game at least four times, and while this may be a hot take, I believe that Devil May Cry 5 is the best Devil May Cry game, and players only prefer DMC3 more due to nostalgia. But my opinion will most definitely change if Devil May Cry 3 gets a remake (please make it happen, Capcom).
2Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
“Death Of A Shadow… You Taught Me Well”
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
It’s not really possible to understand the story of a typicalFromSoftware gamewithout watching YouTube videos.Sekirois an exception, whose story is rather straightforward and easy to understand, at least compared to Dark Souls.
Alongside an understandable story, Sekiro has the best and most addictive combat system ever designed by From Software. It may feel difficult at first, but once it clicks for you, you won’t be able to stop playing Sekiro anytime soon.
Aside from a perfect combat system, Sekiro has four different endings, a few secret bosses, and with a new game+ mode, it highly encourages multiple playthroughs.I have played Sekiro at least 5 times, and still find myself thinking of playing it again.
From challenging bosses to diverse locales and unique enemy designs, Sekiro is a full package and a very easy pick for the top 3 of this list, as it is also one of the best games made by From Software.
1Resident Evil 4: Remake
A Perfect Combination Of Story, Gameplay, And Replayability
Resident Evil 4
The Resident Evil franchise has always been a focal point in gaming, as it is Capcom’s most iconic IP.Resident Evil 4was widely considered thebest Resident Evil gameof all time, and with its remake released in 2023, it not only captured the allure of the original but improved upon it in many ways.
Resident Evil 4 gameplay is timeless, and its story is a straight-up classic, with Leon being a charismatic agent randomly dropping one-liners in the original, and being a depressed and hardened agent in the remake. While most people didn’t appreciate the shift of personality, it didn’t stop the remake from being just as good.
With the story, gameplay, and the general vibe of Resident Evil 4, it is the type of game that never gets old. I find myself leaning towards a replay at least once a year. And it has been like this even before the remake came out. You really don’t want to know the unhealthy number of times I have replayed Resident Evil 4.
Whether you decide to play the remake or the original or any Resident Evil game, you are bound to have a great time, and I am certain that you will be replaying it at least once.
