New Game Plus is a strange thing when you think about it: You can rewatch a movie or reread a book, but only a video game can internalize that you’re replaying it. A good NG+ system can be a victory lap, and it can let you recontextualize your experience.

Recent games like Dead Space and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are good examples of the classic New Game Plus formula: They let you start over but keep all your upgrades and gear. This approach has nearly become a standard feature in modern character action games, as upgrades and skill systems have become denser and more RPG-like. Dragon’s Dogma let players start over so they could master more of the game’s vocations, which also fit perfectly into the game’s story about never-ending cycles.