Replayability

Games that reward/encourage repeat playthroughs of the full game with newly unlocked content, difficulty levels, characters, etc. This does NOT include games the have multiple UNIQUE campaigns. It does include games with unique endings.

Overview

Replayability is an often sought after game concept. Whether it's some sort of online functionality or the use of a New Game Plus, many developers strive to add replayability to their games. Shooters often have it with online multiplayer, since shooter campaigns are often fairly short. RPG's can have great replayability, if they allow you to start over and retain your level, or skills, or something else entirely.

Some games, such as the Disgaea series, allow you to keep everything from your previous playthrough, and start from the beginning in order to see all the endings.

Online

Online functionality can greatly add to replayability to a game. Online play of note includes:

Multiplayer or player versus player (PvP)
Cooperative Play
Leaderboards can often times give value to replayability because many people want to beat the scores of others, and seeing a leaderboard with someone above them, can drive many to trying repeatedly to beat the other names on the list

New Game Plus

New Game Plus can really add a ton of replay value to a game. Often times you're able to carry over something from the previous play though. New Game Plus' of not includes:

The Tales series GRADE system let you buy upgrades for the next playthrough
Eternal Sonata's Encore mode made the enemies tougher but allowed you to get the rest of the achievements and see other parts of the game that couldn't be seen the first time through
Chrono Trigger's new game plus allows the player to keep all their levels and skills, and so they can beat the game multiple times for different endings

Achievements and Trophies (Awards)

Achievements and trophies can provide goals for the player to reach. They often give players reasons to play through a game multiple times. Mass Effect made the player play through at least three and a half times in order to get all of the achievements.
Previously mentioned, Eternal Sonata's achievements were only gained through playing the game twice, (most of them), and on a harder mode no less. It added another twenty or so hours of gameplay, if you went through that second time for the rest of the achievements.

Downloadable Content

Downloadable content, or DLC, has also been shown to improve a games chance to be replayed. If the DLC is good for a game, often times a player will go back to play through it. Fallout 3's constant stream of post-release DLC support greatly shows this.

blog	So many games, so little time? Or is it vice versa?	Bigandtasty
blog	Shadow Complex, why can’t I quit you?	Irishjohn

Name	Platforms	Developer
Diablo III	MAC, PC	Blizzard Entertainment
Singularity released on June 1, 2010	PS3, PC, X360	Raven Software
Split/Second released on May 18, 2010	PC, PS3, X360	Black Rock Studio
Mass Effect 2 released on Jan. 26, 2010	PC, X360	BioWare
Army of Two: The 40th Day released on Jan. 12, 2010	PSPN, PSP, PS3, X360	Buzz Monkey Software, LLC, EA Montreal
Demon's Souls released on Oct. 6, 2009	PS3	FromSoftware, Inc.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 released on Sept. 15, 2009	PSP, PS2, PS3, X360, DS, WII	Vicarious Visions, Savage Entertainment, LLC, n-Space, Inc.
Shadow Complex released on Aug. 19, 2009	XBLM	Chair Entertainment, Epic Games
Trials HD released on Aug. 12, 2009	XBLM	RedLynx Ltd
Patapon 2 released on May 5, 2009	PSPN, PSP	SCE Japan Studio, Pyramid

Concept Name:	Replayability
Appears in:	42 games
First appearance:
Aliases

	Frank West
	Install Ball
	Pazzo
	Meowburt
	Monkeyface
	Sherbert
	Scratchpaw
	Burly Bear
	Yeti Orb
	BiPolar Bear
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