Traditionally, players would go through a game once and enjoy the journey. They may choose to replay the game, but rarely would things carry over. That changed with the SNES gem that is Chrono Trigger in 1995, which is one of the first games to feature a legitimate New Game Plus mode. Levels and items would carry over to the next playthrough, and with multiple endings, this made it a valuable RPG to keep around.
Now, New Game Plus is in a lot of games, including non-RPGs. Very few of them affect the story on the second playthrough, but these games, released in 2025, are a bit different. Some examples may be more extreme than others, but either way, fans reading on won’t have to worry about spoilers.
Silent Hill f
Subtle Changes Affect Reality
Silent Hill f is the best example of a game from 2025 that features a dynamic New Game Plus mode that changes the story. After the first playthrough, players will get a normal ending, and upon restarting a new game, players can carry over normal things like stat progression that players unlocked throughout their previous adventure.
Soon, players will see subtle changes in the story like different camera angles, different line reads, and more. As there are various endings, players can only start to unlock them by choosing different paths or playing the game differently in subsequent playthroughs. For example, choosing not to down Red Pills to heal will change the story, and this should be something Silent Hill fans are familiar with.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
100 Endings To See
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a fairly obscure tactical RPG from 2025, from the minds behind the bizarre visual novel series, Danganronpa. In the game, seemingly ordinary high schooler Takumi witnesses a disaster in his town. He then finds himself in a battle to save the world along with other teens.
At the end of the game, players will be able to restart from different points in the story to resume gameplay in a non-traditional New Game Plus-like fashion. Stats and various other things will carry over, and the game boasts a hundred different endings, which is huge for a video game. This means players can take their newfound knowledge into different playthroughs to discover better endings.
Triangle Strategy
The Balance Of Power
Triangle Strategy is a tactical RPG that was originally released as a Switch exclusive in 2022, which came to the PC later, and now it is here for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players. The game puts players in charge of House Wolffort, a neutral citadel that has assisted other nations throughout time.
The game centers on a war over salt, wherein players will be presented with the scales of justice at pivotal moments in the story, and then they will have to vote on how to proceed. Once the game is complete, players can restart with their data carrying over to go down different pathways. Replaying the game by siding with other nations is the only way to get every party member, which will, in turn, affect the story.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Choosing Sides
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is not a full reboot of the Dynasty Warriors series, but it does change some aspects of the gameplay. For one, players will primarily control one playable character, The Wanderer, who can be upgraded through various means, from leveling him up traditionally to gear progression.
There is a point in the story where players have to choose one family to follow in their conquest of China. By completing the game, players can then go through chapters to side with different armies to affect the story. There’s one particular pathway that cannot be accessed until players beat the game once, so that alone is enough to replay Dynasty Warriors: Origins at least once.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Experience The Game Post-Twist
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a lengthy classic turn-based Western RPG in the style of JRPG classics like Final Fantasy 8 and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. There aren’t many story choices presented throughout the campaign, except at the campfires, wherein players can bond romantically with select characters.
At the end, players will have to make a bold choice, which will affect the ending. New Game Plus allows players to carry over most data, and the story virtually remains the same, although players will see it through a different lens now that secrets are out of the bag, akin to rewatching a movie like The Sixth Sense. Still, it can be worth replaying to make different bonding choices and to get a different ending.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
