Unless you’ve been under a rock (and if you have, please stay under that rock), many people know of the struggles that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic. From stay-at-home orders to social distancing, COVID-19 has altered our daily lifestyles. Because of all these changes, it’s given people a lot more time to do things they didn’t have time to do before stay-at-home and social distancing orders were put in place.
For gamers like us, this extra time has been amazing as we’ve been able to play games that we wouldn’t have touched or not have finished due to the time commitment (I’m looking at you, Witcher 3 and RDR2). But one thing we’ve noticed is that many players are continuing to look for new games to play, and although there are a lot of quality titles to choose from, some of the best games might be found in your gaming cabinet.
Before you reach into your pocketbook and buy your next new game, check and see if these titles are still lying around and give them another playthrough!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Speaking of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, this is a great time to pick it up again and start playing. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes players through an extensive, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying experience that’ll leave you hooked and wanting more. From navigating beautiful, sunset-lit forests to traversing burnt and destroyed villages, you’ll still get lost in the giant world that is the brainchild of Bandai Namco and CD Projekt Red, even if you’ve already experienced it.
But along with just the base game, players that haven’t touched it since it was initially released will also get to experience two new adventures in the form of their DLCs:
- Hearts of Stone
- Blood and Wine
These DLCs are only two of the numerous DLCs released but are also the most notable ones. Each DLC takes you on different journeys, with Hearts of Stone being a more self-contained experience that frees you (at least momentarily) of having to worry about saving the world, while Blood and Wine takes you into Toussaint, an entirely new region. Combined, you’ll be getting an additional 40+ hours of gameplay from these two DLCs alone.
Looking to get the game for the first time? Your best bet to get the entire experience is to invest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of The Year edition. Along with the base game and the two major DLCs, you’ll also have access to all the other DLC that’s available.
Red Dead Redemption II
Out of all the games on this list, Red Dead Redemption II holds a special place in my heart.
RDR2 places you in the shoes of badass, burly man outlaw Arthur Morgan and does a great job of detailing how his band of misfits — the Van Der Lind gang — slowly falls apart. In terms of replayability, RDR2 doesn’t currently offer any DLCs for the story side of its game, only offering content for its multiplayer. But even with this lack of additional story content (PLEASE give us a Blackwater prequel DLC), the base game still provides more than enough to see and do.
The great thing about RDR2 is that you’ll have so much to do that you could easily forget about the main quest. Maybe you like racing horses? Perhaps you enjoy random encounters with the numerous strangers you meet around the map? Or maybe you just want to spend hours playing Liar’s Dice? You can do it all and more.
And if you choose to hop online? Well, it’s not a bad idea either. Although RDR2 received massive criticism for its initial launch of its multiplayer, Rockstar has done a great job adding content that’ll keep you and your friends engaged. Along with different events and limited-time modes that are available, Rockstar has also included a story that you and your friends can participate in.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
If you had asked me just a few weeks ago if Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was a replayable game, I’d be quick to say no. But on May 4th, that quickly changed as Respawn decided to provide a free update for gamers. Along with new saber hilts and cosmetics (Cal’s Inquisitor uniform is too clean), Respawn also decided to add two major changes to their gameplay in the form of Meditation Training and New Game Plus.
Meditation Training allows you to fully enjoy the lightsaber combat that has made Jedi Fallen Order one of the best Star Wars games yet. You’ll have access to some fun — and challenging — combat challenges, as well as the Battle Grid, which allows you to pick your opponents (including Cal himself!) and when to fight them.
New Game Plus allows players to replay the entire story over again with all the unlockables you’ve collected during your first playthrough. That means you can play with your favorite lightsaber color, hilt design, poncho color, and more without having to worry about searching for it again. Do note that although you keep your collectibles, you will still have to re-learn all your abilities, as well as gather all the upgrades you’ve found around the world (including the double-hilted lightsaber *sighs*).
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Now, you know I couldn’t create a list of replayable games without bringing up this game, right?
Even after nine years, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still one of the best RPGs of this current console generation, and its world still has a lot to offer. As you likely know, you’ll take on the role of Dragonborn, an individual with the ability to “shout” like dragons, absorb their souls, and even talk to them. But outside of this, you’re pretty much in full control of who your character is, what they look like, the skills they develop, and more.
But along with the almost hundreds of character customization options that you’re provided with, you’ll also get to enjoy the world that is Skyrim. The world is littered with thousands of side quests and storylines that aren’t directly related to your main mission. In fact, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if the only thing you focused on is the main quest. You can join four different guilds (the Thieves Guild storyline really shines through in this iteration), partake in a civil war, and even spend time reading books and listening to music if that’s what you find enjoyable!
But even with everything I’ve just mentioned, I’m still covering only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Skyrim. Not only does Bethesda offer an amazing base game, but it also provides expansive DLC options in the form of Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn, as well as an expansive modding community that continues to create new content. For console players, opt for the Special Edition of the game as it provides all three DLCs and modding options, which was only available for PC players.
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Whatever you decide to play, make sure to take your time and enjoy it! Each of these games come with a lot of care and detail, so don’t rush through them. Savor, enjoy, and relish the experience, even if you’ve played these titles dozens of times.
And above all, we hope you stay safe and that these games keep you indoors!
