We all love the feeling of starting a brand new PlayStation 4 game, don't we? You've either waited until midnight to play it thanks to a digital pre-order or hung around the post box and immediately ripped the shrink wrapper off the case once it arrives. That's all well and good, but what about times such as these when the release schedule has all but dried up? The Last of Us: Part II is still more than two weeks away, and if you've already cleared your backlog, you might be itching for something to play to pass the time. That's where replaying games come in. These are the PS4 titles we keep coming back to time and time again, no matter whether it's through complete playthroughs or just a few hours of play to bathe in sweet nostalgia.
Sammy Barker, Editor
This era of subscriptions and heavily discounted digital games has left me with a bulging backlog, but I do occasionally find the time to replay titles I like. Shenmue has been a constant source of entertainment for me since I was a teenager; I used to replay the Dreamcast titles on an annual basis, but I’m on a bi-yearly schedule at the moment, which means I’m due a return to Yokosuka time permitting in 2020. The remasters are always installed on my PS4.
Sports games are my go-to, though, and I only delete them from my hard drive when the next entry arrives. MLB The Show 20 is probably my favourite; it’s condensed season mode March-to-October is brilliant for pick-up-and-play sessions, while I prefer its Diamond Dynasty card collecting campaign to EA Sports’ efforts in Ultimate Team. That said, the ever-growing list of challenges in MUT means Madden NFL 20 is a title I’ll always have time for; the same is true of NBA 2K20's weirdly addictive PlayStation Home-style MyPLAYER mode.
Outside of the simulations, I still haven’t really tired of Everybody’s Golf yet, and often set aside time for a trip to the links. And while I don’t play it anywhere near as much as I’d like to, I’ve had Rocket League installed on my system since the day it released; I doubt I’ll ever remove it. I know not everyone agrees, but I do think we’re in a bit of a golden era for games; I love that some of my favourites get a steady stream of content – I just wish I had more time to play them all!
Robert Ramsey, Deputy Editor
In between reviews, I feel like I've always got an RPG on the go, even if I'm just replaying The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the thousandth time. But we're all sick of hearing me ramble on about that one, so I think it would be more interesting to detail the handful of games that have always given me a reason to keep playing.
First up, Diablo III. I've lost track of how many characters I've made and how many times I've ran through the story. God knows how many hours I've sank into it over the years, but there's something about the endless grind that keeps me entertained without fail. The same logic can be applied to Monster Hunter: World, which is easily one of my favourite games of the generation. But with Capcom's masterpiece, it's less about the mindless loot-hoarding and more about the sheer satisfaction of the title's immaculate combat. I doubt I'll ever get enough of it.
In contrast, there are a few games that I just like to relax with. The most prevalent is probably Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Back when I first played it at launch, I had no idea that it would become an evergreen experience. While the daily and weekly quests certainly offer an incentive to keep playing, it's actually the open world that appeals to me over and over again. The map is so vast that I just love getting lost in it, taking in the sights and soaking up the atmosphere.
I would be willing to bet that I've spent more time with my PS4 than any other console I've ever owned, and that's largely down to these evergreen games. Here's hoping that the PlayStation 5 can top it.
Stephen Tailby, Associate Editor
I don't tend to make a habit of replaying games, these days. When I was younger, I'd do it all the time, but once I started buying every game I wanted with my big grown-up money, the idea of revisiting a game went out the window. That's not to say I never do it, though.
Just recently, I played through The Last of Us Remastered. It was a joy to reacquaint myself with Joel, Ellie, and the journey they endure. With the story fresh in my memory, I feel ready to tackle the sequel head on. Funnily enough, it's not the only Naughty Dog game I've replayed on PS4; ahead of the arrival of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, I played all three previous entries via the Nathan Drake Collection.
Examples of replaying games are few and far between in my case, but there are definitely one or two titles I'll flick on fairly regularly. One is Dreams, which never fails to provide me with something new and interesting to play. Rocket League has also been a relatively constant companion through most of the PS4's life -- I'm not sure I'll ever completely grow tired of it. Finally, sometimes I like to throw on Sonic Mania. Every now and again, I want to be taken back to the 90s, and it delivers that nostalgia hit like nothing else.
Liam Croft, Senior Staff Writer
I've made it quite clear on the site that I'm currently a good chunk of the way through a replay of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. However, I actually very rarely go back to games I've already finished. It's certainly a rare occasion when I do because I always like to be experiencing something new over a title I've already beaten. Although, due to the current barren release schedule, I have the time to dip into the games I feel like I need to put more time into.
And it's led me down the line of thought where I should probably also replay Red Dead Redemption 2. Sure, I beat Rockstar's open world epic when it first came out in late 2018, but again, it's a title I feel like I need to experience a little bit more of. I didn't complete every stranger mission and I hardly took the time to really walk in a pair of cowboy boots. Maybe that's the next PS4 game for the replay list.
Call of Duty: Warzone is another title I play a lot of at the moment, except I don't think you can really categorize that as something you replay over and over again due to its Battle Royale nature. Although, when I had a PlayStation console with backwards compatibility features hooked up to my TV, I would always play a bit of Metal Gear Solid a few times a year. I never felt the need to finish the whole game there and then, but it's always nice to dip into your favourite game of all time here and there. Hopefully, the PS5 allows me to do that again. I know, I know, it's not going to happen.
Is there a particular PS4 game you enjoy replaying over and over again? Which title do you want to go back to in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Comments 49
I agree about MLB The Show 20, it’s been more of a daily event for me than Animal Crossing. I’ve just reached the 150 hour mark and yet have only collected one single division in DD. The game might have awful issues with its hitting, fielding and pitching (so basically the whole game) but there’s just so much to do. I’ll probably finish Horizon and play TLOU eventually but I’m too invested in the grind!
I don't replay games in general, or maybe 10 years later at least. ^^
I've played Alien Isolation three times. I can't get enough of crawling in vents with a flamethrower!
Bloodborne! A hunter must hunt!
Dishonored.all the grand theft auto games.god of war.max payne 3.the warriorsdarkest dungeon.dead space.etc too many to count.word up son
Final Fantasy 9 i try and teplay every couple of years or so, so i'm overdue. My recent run of FF7 Remake has reignited the fire for final fantasy though, so i will load up the remaster on my PS4, or the ps1 emulation on my vita soon.
My bulging backlog means i rarely have time to replay current gen games these days. They are generally tooooo massive these days. I am just going back to Yakuza zero 3 years later, having paused it for Persona 5 in 2017, and never getting around to completing it. I've still not got past the first 5 hours of witcher 3 😬
Just finished a replay of The Last of Us Remastered - game looks and plays better than some recent current-gen games!
Started a replay of Final Fantasy VII (not the remake), enjoyed it, but got burnt out 1/3 of the way through. Playing the remake really made it hard to go back to the old-school graphics and battle system. Still an amazing game though! And the ability to turn off random battles when you need to progress and move at 3x speed really makes it more enjoyable.
Tried to replay Silent Hill 2/3 on my PS3 with that questionable HD collection, but my PS3 has now crapped out into "no HDMI signal" land. Definitely the worst console made by Sony...
Fallout 4, I occasionally pop back just to roam the wasteland once in a while.
Let's see:
Uncharted 4- 3 playthrroughs
Uncharted NDC- 3 playthroughs
Bioshock- 3 playthroughs
The Last of Us- 4 playthroughs
Tomb Raider (and Rise)- 2 playthroughs each
Mass Effect Trilogy- 3 playthoughs (I always tell myself I'll play Renegade next time, only to play Paragon again...)
So yeah, I do replay games. This is one of the benefits of this hobby- falling back on the titles you love now and then.
Ever since I got my PS3 back in 2010 I’ve rarely been able to find the time to go back and replay games in their entirety again (impulse purchases and PS+ are to blame for my backlog).
However I’ve tried a bit harder with my PS4. I’ve gone thru the Uncharted games twice and also Gauntlet. I’m regularly playing Resogun and I’ve played Zombie Army Trilogy on/off for the last five years.
I genuinely wish I had the time and skills to get through many of my favourites to replay in full and at a different difficulty level / new game plus modes, but as I can play PS4 on PS5, that’ll give me some chance!
Fallout 4 and Dragon Age Inquisition were games I returned to on PS4 recently. Right now, I've dug my PS3 out to play Dragon Age 2, bought a used copy of KOA Reckoning and have the first and best Mass Effect downloading.
Last Of Us 2, what's that?
ESO for me, even tho I've done just about all there is too do I cant help but log on everyday and be hooked for the day
I've only ever replayed a PS4 game once and that was the original Watch_Dogs. Great game I thought. Mind you I only did it so I could platinum it but still enjoyed the second go around.
Honestly, normally one and done. Other the original TLOU which I still played mp of up until like a week ago when I deleted them.
Too many great games I’ve never played, don’t have time for replaying.
Just finished Dragon Age Inquisition, about to start Deus Ex Mankind Divided.
Other than sports games, there are only three games I've played and fully completed more than once, golden axe on the mega drive, G-loc on the game gear and the last of us remastered. I've always regretted selling GTA V and may buy a copy again one day. I kept hold of RD2 and know that I'll play that again one day, Arthur Morgans story is too good for only one play through!
Right now i am back at No Man's Sky checking out the last couple of updates. I just finished my 4 play through of Uncharted the lost legacy collecting trophies.
Mass Effect Trilogy
Dragon Age Trilogy
Skyrim
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Walking Dead Games (Telltale)
All have great replay-ability via the various play styles and/or different outcomes they offer.
Yea true, MH World's combat is so satisfying @ShogunRok. Like Bloodborne, it's so satisfying when your heavy weapons successfully land blows on your target. I've gotten quite addicted all of a sudden. I realized I never took time with it, now I'm crafting all kinds of lovely potions, drugs, pods making my fights easier.
As for games I always go back to, they're: GTAV, TW3, RDRII, HZD, GOW, Fallout 4, Skyrim, All 3 Dishonoreds & BioShocks, GTA San Andreas, LA Noire. Would've gone back to Uncharted 4 and TLOU but I sold them.
Tbh for me it is fifa career mode(but I’m ashamed for it haha)... The amount of hours I play career mode for is ridiculous really, no matter how many times I say I’m not going to get the new one I still do at some point and then play each for hundreds of hours. But other than that I always seem to come back to For Honor, Star Wars battlefront 2 and ESO for my online fix.
Dark souls 1,2,3 - forever my favorite games, I returned to play videogames in general thanks to From Software.
The Witcher 3 so much soul in it, played it twice on PC, soon's time for third round in 4k HDR on my PS4 Pro
Fallout4 - I just can't get enough of this game and honestly I think overall it is the best in the series (I loved to play New Vegas but for today its rushed past gen limited level design annoys me).
ESO! This game keeps getting better and better! 3 days till Geymoor!
It's hard to say, because I almost never replay games I've finished. But I try.
PC dos: UFO Enemy Unknown (over 20 playthrough, 2000+ hours)
PC windows: Diablo 1 & 2 & 3 (D1 800+ hours, D2 3000+ hours, D3 1500+ hours)
PS2: God of War 1 & 2 (both 2 playthrough)
PS3: Assassin's Creed 1 to Rogue (2 playthrough each) and Rock Band or Guitar Hero series (100+ hours each)
PS4: X-Com 2 (3 playthrough) and Diablo 3 ( 2000+ hours)
PSP: Puzzle Quest (5 playthrough, 800h hours)
Longest game time: Final Fantasy XII (PS2) - 109 hours
Longest streak: Final Fantasy VIII (PC) - 26.5 hours
Longest instrument streak: Rock Band 2 (PS3) - 8.5 hours (endless list 2 - guitar - hard)
Most characters: Diablo 2 (PC) - over 50
Most Save/Load: X-com 2 (PS4)
Most deaths: Demon's Souls (PS3)
Most tries without finishing game: Unreal (PC)
I think I'm hack'n'slash addicted 😀
Ehh, I have too much **** to play without repeating games. Only ones on PS4 that I can think of that I return to are Persona 5 (got platinum for Royal, but not base game hence the return) and MGSV (which is extremely rare for me to return to.).
Only real games I tend to replay constantly are the Zelda games, primarily OOT and Majora's Mask.
The last time I finished a game, it was Bruce Lee on the C64. So I’m not one to replay a game. But the Dirt series gets a fair whack of my PS4 time
oh, i thought there is going to be some obscure and different game sigh just... be the sheep!
For years I've been the type of gamer that hardly ever replays games once I beat them. In a way, I think that stems from trophies and achievements — and once I have a 100% completion I just feel like the "joy" of having fun for the sake of having fun is lost. Back when I was a kid I used to replay games all the time just for the fun of it. I don't know if that changed because I'm an adult or what.
Interestingly enough — I bought a Nintendo Switch last year, and it actually rekindled that flame of how I used to replay games all the time. So, there are many games I keep coming back to (on my Switch). That is Dead Cells and currently Streets of Rage 4. I love SoR4 so much I actually decided to double-dip and pick it up on my PS4. It's a nice feeling — to enjoy video games for the fun of them and not the trophy seeking (although that is an added bonus for replayability. I know, I'm weird).
Also, I have admittedly played and beaten The Last of Us four times, which is rare. It's my favorite game of all time.
So I just finished playing through the entire uncharted collection which was amazing! The games look great on PS4 pro especially uncharted 2/3. I was surprised at how well the gameplay holds up over the years! Next up on my list is uncharted 4 which is a game I beat when it first came out but I didn't really EXPLORE the world as much as I would've liked. I'm excited to play that one again! Also high on replay value for me is warzone. I know it's a BR game but my wife recently started playing with me & it's become such an amazing way to connect with friends online during these long lockdown days! While I'm ALL for fighting against inequality, I'm extremely disappointed that infinity ward has delayed season 4. I think it's a huge disservice to the millions of us stuck at home due to covid-19. I know the news doesn't show it but millions of people are still isolating at home with nothing to do. Games help my wife and I cope with the chaos of the world & the content helps keep us content. Happy gaming my fellow gamers! ✌️
@ApostateMage
+1 for saying ME1 is the best of the bunch
It's not really replaying but division2 I put over 180 hours in so far so that my go to game. For really replaying I must mention God of war. Finished it 2 times now and already thinking of a 3th play. Red dead2 is a game I need to find time to replay a 2nd time
Well, I've got lots of games to finish and despite having lots of time, I don't game as much as I would like to.
But I have played some games more than once. I Platinumed Gravity Rush twice, first on the Vita, then on the PS4. Funnily enough, I wasn't initially going to try and Platinum the PS4 version, but I started doing the challenges and before you know, might as well get those last few trophies. Same deal with the Uncharted collection, but I haven't got stuck into the third game yet. And also Horizon Zero Dawn and of course Dreams.
As anyone who has followed my comments over the last few years the answer is Bloodborne. I have played the campaign several times, and am now going for the platinum. The truth is, I don't know why. I suck at the game - it takes me ages to do any bosses and I get proper stressed at it. I just love the world and lore I think as well as the atmosphere.
It's very rare I replay games when I've maxed them but games I'll never tire of playing and completing, ones I'll never get rid of are:
Skyrim - so many ways to play this it's constantly like a new game anyway !
Half Life 2 - need I say more ?
Diablo 3 - I daren't tot up how many hours I've put into this !
GTAV - One of the greatest ? Yep
StarCraft 2 - literally, an endless game. A stunning achievement
Mass Effect 2 & 3 - yep, you read that right, 3 as well. But the 2nd one blew me away and still does
RDR2 - now hooked on this one ! Online is addictive too, living the life of a trader
Alien Isolation - purely for the atmosphere and trying to 'perfect' the way of playing it
As I came into this gen quite late I have always had a backlog so never had the luxury of replaying a PS4 title. There are quite a few I plan on doing so but only on the PS5. These include Horizon Zero Dawn, God Of War and Red Dead Redemption 2.
On the 360 though I replayed Skyrim many, many times and also GTA V.
The game I constantly dip into every now and then is Star Wars Battlefront 2, indeed it's probably my most played game ever!
@BigP don't be ashamed of playing FIFA, man. If you enjoy it, that's all that matters. Career mode is the best mode in FIFA too, very addictive. I love taking a 2nd Division team and growing them into European masters !
My backlog is too big to think about replaying games also I kinda like to play a game, get as much out of it and then move on. The only exception would be a remaster of a game I loved - TLoU, Ratchet and Clank(s), Skyrim, GTA V, Ico.
I keep hovering over the buy icon every time Skyrim VR is on offer so I can play it again. Like I need 100+ hours in a headset
I have too little time i spend a lot of time on long games. I keep playing COD MW and i played MHW for 700 hours and now i need to get through the Backlog i have so many games left its so difficult too choose because if i start a game i will not play anything else.
I pretty much delete games from the PS4 immediately having finished them unless I'm going to go for the platinum, in which case I delete them immediately after getting the platinum. The only games I keep on my hard drive knowing that I'll go back to them are Civilzation VI and Final Fantasy XIV.
I typically don’t go back to games once I’ve finished the campaign but I do load up GTA5 occasionally just because I like flying around in different planes/helicopters!
Last Of Us.. like 7 times, it’s my favourite game. Mirrors Edge 1 will forever have a place in my heart, and I need to replay Witcher 3 and all Batman games.
Hi there gamers. Replaying games is something I´ve been doing since my Sega Megadrive/Genesis days. Mostly because at the time, game were on the short side. Very fun, but short. Now things are a bit different. Games are not just big, they are HUGE. Sometimes a little to much. But I can honestly say that I have made lots of different playtroughs on a number of games such as: Mass Effect trilogy - 6 times; 3 on Xbox 360, 3 on the PS3; Two on The Last of Us, one on PS3, another on PS4; Two on Bioshock 1, one on PS3 another on PC; Metal Gear Solid 1 - 6 times; MGS 2 - 6 times; MGS3 - 4 times; MGS4 - only the one time. Way to emotional ride for me personaly; Dark Souls 1 - 3 on PS3, one on PC, another on Switch. Dark Souls 2 - 3 times; Dark Souls 3 - 3 times as well; Bloodborne and Ni-Oh 1......... Way to many to count, lol. Just to name a few. I mean, when you love something, you do it over and over again..... Or something like that. Cheers and happy gaming to everyone.
I’ve discussed it on the forums before, but I rarely return to games after I’ve completed them. And I’m usually not a fan of DLC. The only recent examples to the contrary that I’ve returned to play have been Borderlands 2 where I mopped up some DLC last year and I still have it on the ol’ hard drive just in case I want to pick up the last of the expansive DLC, and The BioShock Collection that I have sitting on my drive because I want to return to Columbia and Rapture to experience Burial at Sea which I missed the first time around.
The only PS4 games I've played multiple times are Bloodborne with 6 full runs and TLoU with 11 (3 of those on PS3). The games I've put ungodly amounts of time into are XBox games, I've put well over 3000hrs into the Ninja Gaiden series and the Project Gotham series must be close to that too.
The coolest thing about dumping so much of my life into those games is due to their forums and online communities I've made friendships with people from all over the world that I'm still in contact with almost 20 years later in some cases. Not all wasted time!
Cleared your backlog HA.... thanks for the laugh lol.
That being said, my go to games that i keep returning to are the Arkham Series games, I really hope we can get Origins remastered somehow. I just love that series. I do love going back to most of the games I've played though, as long as they aren't suuuuper long to beat again.
I'm replaying LoU of ps4 pro and the dlc (which i never played) before part 2 comes out.
I just got a ps2 slim and am rebuilding my childhood (along with my n64) in gaming. So want to play through those again too.
Like most, my backlog of first time play-throughs is long, but I have popped back into Sleeping Dogs a couple of times over the years after finishing the main story.
Driving around Hong Kong at night with this soundtrack is rad.
Far Cry 5 - archade mode.
GTA 5 - online, also multiple story plays and general mayhem.
RDR2 - online.
Fallout 4- multiple plays before and after mods.
Final Fantasy 8 I've completed around 3 times except for that probably the Battlefield series. Always get the releases and easily spend anywhere from 100 to 300 hours on each title.
NFS Payback, Aliens vs Predator, Black Flag, CoD Infinite Warfare Zombies in Spaceland & 2D Super Mario U all get my replay time. Jokers Funhouse on Arkham City is always fun to go to as well.
For games in general, any Super Mario game from World to Odyssey is a given. But back to PlayStation I'd have to say Uncharted series, Last of Us, Spider-Man, Tomb Raider series, Resident Evil series and Kingdom Hearts series are all games that I played countless times already. This generation is seriously one of the best ever, if not the best.
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