Source
r/retrogaming•
Frellwit

What are some console games with a very high replayability?

[Question]

Civilization is probably a game that many thinks of as game with "infinite" replayability. So I'm looking for games with any of the following:

  1. Each play trough can be different.
  2. The game have problem solving that allows the player to think creatively.
  3. Exploration. (I like random generated maps if the randomization is good, but it can be handcrafted maps as well.)
  4. Character creation with stats/classes that the player can choose. (FFT and Tactics Ogre for example.)
  5. Building towns, bases, anything.
  6. Non-linear storytelling.

I'm not looking for any specific genre. I do like RPGs and strategy games the most though. I've already played the most mainstream games if you thought about recommending any of these: Chrono Trigger/Cross, FF series, DQ series, Soul/Illusion/Terranigma, Star Ocean 1/2, Tales of series, Harvest Moon, Earthbound, Breath of Fire series, Mana series, SimCity, C&C/Red Alert, etc. Some of those games don't even fit my question.

It would be great if the game have aged well and have reasonably good controls.

Posted Jul 2, 2023, 5:18 AM UTC · edited

423
SpicyFuddge•

Worms Armageddon

10
slightly_sadistic•

ToeJam & Earl

6
Jfonzy•

The present identification system is one of my favorite game mechanics of all time. I don't think it's ever been replicated in any other roguelike, for whatever reason.

2
slightly_sadistic•

It's totally brilliant.

1
slightly_sadistic•

Pirates! Gold

6
anaxagoras_85•

Sim city on SNES

5
antdb1•

skyrim for me you can complete the game in a complete different playing style

gta v - i still spend hours playing this lol

5
Friggin_Grease:nes2:•

Man everytime I play Skyrim I'm like "oooo I'll be a magical elf this time" and then bam, stealthy archer. Every. Fucking. Time.

I don't even try anymore.

6
SlowMaize5164•

You too?!?! Me too. Every. Time.

1
darkbake2•

Heroes of Might and Magic III WoG edition has random maps. You level up heroes and build up your castle to produce various troops. You can do a FFA with other computer players. Games can take dozens of hours each.

3
RosaCanina87•

You find more of them on PC, sadly.

For me personally I would classify XCOM Interceptor and Master of Orion 2 as such "always playable" games, just like most Strategy games out there. A round of Settlers 2, Age of Empires 2 or Dungeon Keeper 2 will never be boring. But as most strategy games you find them on PC, not on consoles (except for Age of Empires 2).

After that I think some games just lend itself to replayability just because they are great. For Racing games as example I always think Star Wars Racer is the most replayable game I ever came across. Instead of racing on 4-5 tracks over and over again you basically get a new course every race, with a new racer every other race. The whole game is also just a few hours long. So its not really... something you play for DAYS but something you play every year once or so without it ever being boring. Every other Retro Racing game I cam across so far might feature longer gameplay but they all achieve it with "race that track AGAIN"-designs. Which isnt fun for long.

For RPGs... stuff with custom stat distribution also lend themselves to a replay. Stuff like the old Might and Magic games or even Shin Megami Tensei (the non-Persona games), where you can play with a magic or strenght build basically. I would personally probably go with some of the GC/360-era of Tales games, thanks to their NEW GAME +, but you mentioned them already.

Also, some people just love to replay specific games. Resident Evil IV and Ocarina of Time are such games for me. The latter with its randomizer could be classified as highly replayable, but if you only play the original on disc-version... there is not much replayability for you (but for me there is a lot XD)

3
Veskeri•

Everything XCOM

"Pirates!" is a fun suggestion. Kudos to poster. Is it available on a console? I sometimes dig up a fat old laptop and play some Pirates just for shits and giggles.

Similarly I find myself returning to Star Control (II), Master of Orion (I & II) and Masters of Might and Magic. None of these on consoles though.

//EDIT

ToeJam & Earl has the replayability too, that's true 😂

2
FrellwitOP•

Pirates! Gold is on Genesis and Star Control 2 is on 3DO. :)

Pirates! Gold is the only one I haven't played though. I might check that out.

1
Veskeri•

Ahhhh 😄 The Panasonic Obscura... I've always been totally unfamiliar with the game lineup. Should investigate, I see!

Pirates on Genesis? Did not know at all. Must be due to the release year. I swapped my Genesis into a SNES when Mortal Kombat was released. HAD TO get it.

The revamped version of Sid Meier's Pirates on PC (2004?) is a very pleasant game to play .

1
Maximum_Badger5604•

Pirates! Gold for Genesis is great or you can go with Pirates! for NES. The replay value is high because of the way you choose to play and random events.

1
StarWolf478•

The Elder Scrolls games immediately come to mind when I think of games with high replayability because of the freedom that they give you to do whatever you want and be whoever you want to be.

And then arcade-style high-score games can have never-ending replayability if you find one that clicks with you and makes you get addicted to always trying to top your previous best high score. For me River Raid and Frogger are two high-score games that I can always pick up and have fun with and will never get tired of playing and trying to achieve a new high score.

2
Negative-Squirrel81•

Games in the Mysterious Dungeon tend to be quite excellent, especially the Shiren the Wanderer sub-series. I believe the "Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate" is available on Switch.

1
Cer0zer0•

Suikoden

1
RedRocketRock•

Fallout 4 tickles almost all or all of those boxes

1
boomdart•

I don't know about replayability really, but it sounds like the persona series is around the corner for you. There's several games it's going to take a minute to get through them.

1
ConvultedFool•

Doing strategy and tactics on a console is just looking for pain. I could understand in the past because you simply had one system and had to die with that system but today, just kick the console and get a computer if you plan to do strategy and tactics. What you are asking for is like searching for a needle in hay without gloves and simply placing your hands in the pile waiting to get punctured.

Get Master of Magic. https://www.gog.com/game/master_of_magic_caster_of_magic_for_windows

It has everything you asked for. There was a port for the psx only released in the East but its nowhere near the ease of play of this modern release, only in japanese and without patching.

1
uk_com_arch•

The Riftbreaker

“Base building survival game with action RPG elements”

Not very retro, but it’s what I’m playing at the moment.

1
BBQjollyrancher•

Road Rash 64

1
BBQjollyrancher•

Road Rash 64

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1