The best New Game Plus (NG+) modes offer an experience that is different than the original. They allow you to keep in-game items but add new ones as well. New Game Plus modes might expand on the original's story and are often more challenging.
Are you waiting for a sequel? You might want to try New Game Plus. If a game didn't pique your interest in the first place, you probably won't like its second playthrough. These are five video games with New Game Plus modes you need to play (& five you can skip).
10 God Of War PS4 (Play)
God of War is a prime example of a New Game Plus mode done correctly. You get to relive the adventure with weapons like the Blade of Chaos from the start, but also experience something fresh and enticing.
New Game Plus in God of War allows players to select their difficulty, find new armors, and forge new armor sets. Enemies on the "Give Me a Challenge+" difficulty have new behaviors that fundamentally shift combat. Too many reasons suggest you should play this game's New Game Plus. You might like it better than the original game.
9 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Skip)
The New Game Plus mode of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is not what we've seen in previous Resident Evil games. For having a feature-limited New Game Plus mode and for being a game that doesn't need a second playthrough, this is one you might want to skip.
The items you can unlock for the second playthrough include Albert-01R, Running Shoes, The Secrets of Defense, Infinite Ammo, Circular Saw, and X-Ray Glasses. Your character upgrades will also carry over. The next playthrough could be more relaxed (unless you attempt the Madhouse difficulty), but many will agree that Resident Evil 7: Biohazard's New Game Plus is unnecessary.
8 Persona 5 (Play)
According to howlongtobeat.com, this behemoth of a game has a playtime of approximately 97 hours and 100 hours for The Royal edition. Things like social stats, Persona compendium, skill cards, equipment, money, and special items carry over to the new game.
You can even change the difficulty of the new game if you feel the first playthrough was too easy. Over a hundred hours later, it's still worth replaying Persona 5 to get the most out of the game.
7 Lost Odyssey (Skip)
This acclaimed Japanese role-playing game released in 2007 for the Xbox 360. There is plenty of incentive to purchase Lost Odyssey if you want to play it via backwards compatibility on the Xbox One. However, the New Game Plus mode might be unnecessary.
It's difficult to swallow this one, but Lost Odyssey's New Game Plus mode is rotten. The purpose of New Game Plus is to carry over your weapons from the previous game, yet Lost Odyssey makes you lose everything. You're better off skipping this one.
6 Horizon Zero Dawn (Play)
Those who blazed a trail through Horizon Zero Dawn the first time might want to revisit it to collect bits of the story via Datapoints.
Datapoints offer information on the Old World and its collapse. Moreover, players can collect new armor and weapons while retaining their original ones. Horizon Zero Dawn's New Game Plus can be played on "Ultra Hard," which is bound to test your machine hunting prowess.
5 Batman: Arkham Knight (Skip)
Skip Batman: Arkham Knight's New Game Plus mode if you managed to get through the main story. To the game's credit, it has minor changes like The Joker jumpscare scene during his cremation. Also, the "Knightmare" difficulty is a challenge.
Having to replay those Batmobile sections, however, is painstaking. The integration of a Batmobile was an ingenious idea of Batman: Arkham Knight's developers, yet it had poor execution.
4 Resident Evil 4 (Play)
Resident Evil 4 has been ported more times than we can count since its initial release in 2005. With the Resident Evil 4 remake likely on the horizon, there hasn't been a better time to try New Game Plus.
One drawback is that the game forces you to use the difficulty from the previous playthrough. Other than that, it's an awesome game to replay. You keep all your guns, retain your expanded inventory, and can choose a new S.T.A.R.S costume. Also, new weapons can be purchased, such as the Infinite Launcher (rocket launcher with unlimited ammunition).
3 Spider-Man (Skip)
Having to collect backpacks and landmarks once again is a repetitive part of Spider-Man's New Game Plus. The original adventure was the perfect length, and it's not something that should be revisited.
The game's New Game Plus mode called "Ultimate NG+" is not as challenging as many people hoped. You might want to tackle Spider-Man's DLC, but avoid the New Game Plus unless you intend to explore the game's immersive open-world all over again.
2 Dark Souls 2 (Play)
Perhaps the most underrated of the Dark Souls games is Dark Souls 2. People criticize the game for its backtracking and for being unlike the first. However, it is still a phenomenal game, even if it's not up to the "Souls standard."
To start the New Game Plus, head to Majula, go to the bonfire, and "Begin journey 2 to Drangelic." You keep all of your gear except items and keys that let you skip parts of the game. For bragging rights alone, Dark Souls 2's New Game Plus is a must-play.
1 The Surge (Skip)
We say that the New Game Plus of The Surge is painful because of its mediocre weapon progression. Also, the story had its hiccups and could have been more exciting. The Surge 2 fixed many of the original's issues, so play The Surge 2's New Game Plus. The Surge is a solid Souls-like game, but it doesn't warrant a second playthrough.