New Game Plus is a strange thing when you think about it: you can rewatch a movie or reread a book, but only a video game can internalize your replay. A good NG+ system can be a victory lap, and it can allow you to re-contextualize your experience.
Recent games like Empty space And Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are good examples of the classic New Game Plus formula: you can start over, but keep all your upgrades and equipment. This approach has become almost a standard feature in modern character action games, as upgrades and skill systems have become more compact and RPG-like. The dogma of the dragon lets players start over so they can master more of the game’s callings, which also fit perfectly into the game’s story of endless cycles.
What was special in 2023 were the games that took New Game Plus even further. Armored Core 6: Burning RubiconThe full story of the game cannot be appreciated without playing the game in NG+ And NG++. The game keeps players on their toes during replays by first lulling them into the replay routine and then surprising them with new characters, more arena battles, and sudden boss fights mid-mission.
Starfield goes even further with its NG+ system, but you wouldn’t know that from the marketing. This majority of the game’s story and gameplay was hidden during the game’s rollout, which is a shame because it might be the most fascinating new feature in a Bethesda game in over a decade.
I’ll tell you all about it in my New Video Plus at the top of this post. If you enjoy watching, be sure to check out the rest of our deep dives on our Youtube Channel!