Replay Value
That one sentence repeated over and over wouldn't make you want to view this page, would it? It's the same with video games - the same thing over and over gets boring after a while. Basically, replay value is how fun a game is after you've beaten it - either by starting a new game or by continuing the game after you've completed the main objective of it.
This can be done in several ways:
- Adding branches in a game to make it less linear, so you can experience different things in the same game.
- Including a Karma Meter or Relationship Values so that every choice a player makes influences the game in a different way.
- In RPGs and games with RPG Elements, having a number of different possible ways to build your main character or characters, such as specializing in weapons or magic.
- Including some form of New Game+.
- Including several bonus features, such as Bonus Bosses or Bonus Dungeons.
- Great music.
- Generating certain things, such as levels, randomly.
- Options that affect the gameplay.
- Including a map editor and other means for players to generate and share their own content
- Varied enemies\environments that require different skills to pass, or even different styles of play.
- And just creating a good game in general.
For examples on how not to do it, see Fake Longevity.
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