Story-based games are fantastic at triggering emotions, and sometimes this is enough to bring players back for a second helping. The issue of story-based games satisfying players after their first playthrough and their replay value is all too real and important.
With all the video games that use complex storylines and allow gamers to make choices on the character's behalf, many are made to be replayed. Here is a list of a few story-driven games that are better the second time someone plays them.
10 Do Not Feed the Monkey
Do Not Feed the Monkeys, a title some may not know but is an amazing indie game that has multiple storylines, choices, and endings. The game has gamers take the position of a no faced, no name character, and they join a secret club that has set up cameras to spy on different people. One of the key things to note with this game is the fact that each new game doesn't guarantee which camera you will get. There are a certain number of possibilities, but the ones you get are random. Some of these plots allow the player to interact with the people being spied on. By doing this, those people could end on a positive note or with tragedy. Watching these fictional characters act out is enjoyable and will have most coming back again to get more narratives.
9 Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is an older title but the story it told still holds up years later. Four individuals who know nothing about each other in the beginning are all brought together by the Origami Killer. In this universe, the Origami Killer is a deranged serial killer who kidnaps and drowns children in a sick test to measure the love/ devotion a parent has for their child.
The stakes for this games ending are high as the lives of these people and future victims hang in the balance. Ending this game, there are many choices that the player can make to alter the outcome and paths that can change up what the player learns. Action, drama, and a display of the love a parent and child share make this a came one can play over and over
8 Monster Prom
Chances are you've heard of Monster Prom, a chaotic and hilarious dating simulator that has you trying to find a prom date amongst your fellow monsters. No matter who you set your sites on, each path leads to storylines that contain events players want to repeat again and again. Many factors play into the outcomes of this game and it is hard to get a decent ending on the first try so players need to be ready for multiple sessions they'll want to play.
7 Beyond Two Souls
Jodie from Beyond Two Souls is a character we all can spare some empathy for. Her story is packed with action and tragedy. Since her birth, Jodie was blessed and burdened with her gift, a connection to an entity she calls Aiden. Players follow her life story as she experiences so many different events, each with a charm and weight to them. The multiple endings coupled with the unique gameplay, give this game enough love for a second go.
6 Bendy And The Ink Machine
Much like the twist at the end, we circle back to Bendy and the Ink Machine. The game that captured the attention of many gamers features an interesting, unique plot. Protagonist Henry finds himself at Joey Drew Studios only to be thrown into turmoil.
However, the thing that makes this game better on the second playthrough is that players get the Seeing Tool upon the first completion. The Seeing Tool reveals multiple messages across all the chapters placed throughout the environment. These messages answer some questions but create so many more, adding to the experience of a second playthrough.
5 Catherine: Full Body
Catherine: Full Body is an amazing remake of the original that offered so many more interns of storylines and choices. There are so many ways this game can play out, plus the fun gameplay makes this something that can be enjoyed for all its worth. This game asks some heavy questions relating to relationships and our selfish desires. Players choose how Vincent Brooks takes action, and this leads to different cutscenes that are entertaining, to say the least. A lot of people can see themselves going for round two with Catherine: Full Body, a remarkable puzzle platform with a rich variety of tales to explore.
4 Undertale
Who doesn't know the name Undertale? Undertale is a beloved game in the gaming community that many have spent countless hours playing. With its overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback, it's no wonder why this game made it onto the list.
It's a fun game with so many different aspects that players don't question themselves to play it again. The great soundtrack doesn't hurt either.
3 Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human was a roller coaster of emotions that touched on so many with its strong, powerful story. Androids are seen as objects/ possessions that have no free will. Based on the player's choices, the playable characters could achieve different endings. Detroit: Become Human is a work of art that has such an impactful story that players will have no problem playing it again to experience the magic anew.
2 Life Is Strange
Maxine Caulfield, a photography art nerd, found her life taking one dramatic twist after another in Life is Strange. This choice-heavy game had players making one difficult decision after another in a beautifully dark narrative. Aside from the different possible endings/events, the main reason to play this game a second time is knowing what you could change, what you should change, and having the information to back up those choices.
1 Telltale's The Walking Dead
Actions have consequences and Telltale's The Walking Dead is a stellar testament to that statement. The entire series contains decisions that left players with so many conflicting thoughts and feelings. In the first season, Lee Everett is a criminal who meets a little girl named Clementine at the start of the zombie apocalypses. An episodic game where every choice matter as everyone has an impact. Replay value for this game (and the overall series) is high. There are so many events and endings that affect these characters and the players on a deep level. You have to replay it.