I Demand A Replay: The Games That Keep On Giving

There are thousands of video games in the world that deserve your attention, but walk into any GameStop and one thing is immediately clear: there are a lot of games out there that simply don’t call for multiple playthroughs. It’s like eating at Taco Bell: you may have enjoyed (tolerated?) your meal, but it wasn’t so great that you wanted to go back again. Ever. But then there are those select few games that you can never get enough of, that only get better every time you go through them—the Benihanas of video gaming.

Of course, the only way to really test the replayability of a game is to let it ferment for a while, so nothing on this list is from the current generation of consoles. Also, much like any list, these choices are up for debate; while I can’t imagine anyone out there who wouldn’t enjoy another game of Chrono Trigger, it’s entirely possible that such people do exist. So feel free to disagree with or add to this list in the forums. Now, without further ado, the games I simply can’t get enough of:

• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
  Minimum number of times I’ve completed this game: 4

I still herald this game as the best 2D platformer of all time, and even if you disagree, the brilliance of this Mario spin-off can’t be denied. The game is seemingly made for children, with environments and characters appearing as if drawn on the screen with crayons and watercolor. But under this visage lies one of the most satisfying games of the 16-bit era. The levels all have different themes and are crafted so no stage looks the same as those before it, so it’s worth revisiting just to marvel at such creative level design (something that’s harder to find nowadays—I’m looking at you, Dead Space). Throw in a scoring system that rewards you with mini-games that are actually fun, and you’ve got a game that will continue to be played for years to come.

• Chrono Trigger (SNES)
  Minimum number of times I’ve completed this game: 5

One of the greatest games ever made, period. While the story is cliché by today’s standards (you and your crew must stop an invader from destroying the planet), it’s the game’s personality that ultimately draws you in; each of the characters has a distinct charm that is genuinely memorable. The game is deep as well, taking place over multiple time periods, and your actions in one era affect how later time periods develop. Finally, Chrono Trigger came with two of the best incentives for replaying the game: 13 endings, each triggered (no pun intended) when in the game you defeat the main villain; and “New Game +” mode, which allows you to transfer your skills, levels and equipment over from a completed game. It could take you hundreds of hours to see everything this game has to offer, and chances are that you’ll enjoy every second of it.

BONUS: Chrono Trigger is being re-released on DS on Nov. 25, so you won’t have to pay $60 for a used SNES cartridge.

• Tetris (Everything)
  Minimum number of times I’ve completed this game: Uhhh…

Tetris has the ultimate way of bringing you back to its block-twisting gameplay time and time again: you can never beat it. Playing into the same obsessive principles that fueled arcades through the ’80s and early ’90s, Tetris sets you in the eternal pursuit for the high score. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the puzzle that makes Tetris so timeless; it has appeared on every major gaming console in existence in some form or another. Pick up this game again, then prepare to fall asleep by counting falling blocks instead of sheep.

• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater/Subsistence (PlayStation 2)
  Minimum number of times I’ve completed this game: 4

I won’t try to defend the Metal Gear storyline, as it’s likely one of the most convoluted franchises of all time, game or otherwise. But beyond the conspiracy theories and double-crosses exists one of the finest, most complete stealth games around. There are usually multiple paths through each section, as well as multiple ways to deal with obstacles—a mid-game sniper fight redefined open-ended game play—so you never have to play the same way twice. Plus, in typical Metal Gear fashion, there are tons of little goodies for players to find, my favorite being 64 toy frogs to collect/shoot in order to receive special equipment. Whether you come back for the stealth, the secrets, or the screwed-up storyline, you won’t be disappointed by MGS3.

• Earthbound (SNES)
  Minimum number of times I’ve completed this game: 7

Unlike those of you who started with the Final Fantasy series, this game was my introduction to RPGs, and I have yet to find a game that matches its sheer quirkiness. You take the role of Ness, your seemingly average kid who develops psychic powers and faces zombies, dinosaurs, cultists, and piles of barf on his quest to save the universe. The oddball humor is enough of a reason for a second playthrough alone, and the epic scale of the story and locations means there are tons of hidden details for fans who return just to explore the world. Chances are that you’ll never see a game quite like this until Nintendo decides to translate the sequel, Mother 3—but who knows when or if that will happen. Until then, you might as well get a second (or third, or…) helping of Earthbound goodness.

Just making this list has been difficult, as there are dozens of other games I suddenly have the urge to revisit, with Super Metroid, Gunstar Heroes, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night currently topping the list. What are some of your favorite games to replay?