What Is New Game Plus? What Carries Over and What Resets

New Game Plus lets you begin a new playthrough after finishing a game while keeping some progress from the completed save. Games often shorten the name to NG+. The story normally starts again, but your character may return with levels, skills, weapons, outfits, or other unlocks.

The important catch is simple: New Game Plus does not follow one universal rulebook. Each developer decides what carries over, what resets, when the mode unlocks, and whether the new run adds harder enemies or fresh rewards.

What does New Game Plus mean?

A normal new game starts from the beginning with the default character, equipment, and story state. New Game Plus also restarts the adventure, but it reads progress from an eligible completed save.

Developers use the mode for different reasons. One game may let you enjoy early missions with late-game powers. Another may raise enemy strength, add new gear, or unlock a tougher difficulty. Some games keep nearly everything related to combat while resetting items tied to story progress.

Part of your save	What often happens in NG+	Why it matters
Story and quests	Reset	You replay the main campaign and side missions.
Levels and skills	Often carry over	You can use a developed character much earlier.
Weapons and armor	Often carry over	Early encounters may play very differently.
Story keys and quest items	Often reset or stay locked	The game protects its normal mission order.
Collectibles	Varies	Some stay collected, while others return with the world.
Difficulty and enemies	Varies	Some games add stronger enemies or optional challenges.
Trophies and achievements	Platform record stays	Your account keeps earned awards, but in-game challenge progress may reset.

What usually carries over?

Progress tied to your character is the most likely to move into New Game Plus. Depending on the game, that can include:

Character levels, experience, or skill points
Unlocked skills and combat abilities
Weapons, armor, upgrades, and crafting materials
Outfits, cosmetic styles, and photo mode items
Currency or selected consumable items
Progress toward certain long-term challenges

A carryover list is not a promise for every game. Check the game’s official patch notes or the confirmation screen before starting the new run.

What usually resets?

Story progress commonly returns to the opening chapter because replaying the campaign is the point of the mode. Games may also reset or temporarily lock:

Main quests, side quests, and boss progress
Fast-travel points and discovered locations
Quest items, keys, and tools linked to a story event
Relationships, dialogue choices, and ending decisions
Some collectibles, world activities, and map markers

Story locks can apply even when the matching weapon stays in your inventory. A tool may remain usable in combat but fail to open a blocked path until the related mission occurs.

How New Game Plus rules differ between games

Official updates for three major games show why you should read the rules for the title you are playing.

Game	Confirmed carryover	Important limit or addition
God of War Ragnarök	Equipment, weapons, skills, and some Labor progress	Sonic and Hex arrows stay story-locked. NG+ adds gear, a higher level cap, Enchantments, and enemy changes.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2	Suits and abilities	The update added Ultimate Levels, Golden Gadget styles, and harder-difficulty replay options.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage	Collected skills, gear, and costumes	You can skip the prologue. Starting NG+ unlocks Bayek’s Medjay outfit, with three dyes earned during the run.

God of War Ragnarök offers a clear example of a partial restriction. Santa Monica Studio says your Draupnir Spear carries over, but areas that require the spear or special arrows remain locked until the story reaches the proper point. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, by comparison, offers a prologue skip that sends returning players directly to Baghdad.

How to prepare before starting New Game Plus

Finish any cleanup you care about. Complete optional quests, buy upgrades, or collect gear that the game allows you to transfer.
Read the game’s current NG+ rules. Patch notes can change the mode after launch, so use information for your installed version.
Make a separate manual save. Keep the completed file in its own slot when the game allows it. A backup gives you a way to return to the old world.
Confirm the source save. Choose the finished file with the character, gear, and choices you want to carry forward.
Check the new difficulty. A game may let you change difficulty later, but some modes lock the choice or connect rewards to it.
Protect the original file. Save the NG+ run in a new slot if possible. Avoid overwriting your only completed save.

New Game Plus FAQ

Do you lose your original save when starting New Game Plus?

Usually, no. Many games create a new save or let you choose a different slot. Save systems vary, so make a manual backup and read the confirmation message before you begin.

Is New Game Plus always harder?

No. Some games let you select the same difficulty, while others add stronger enemies, new encounter rules, or an extra difficulty option. Carrying upgraded gear can also make early missions easier even when enemies improve.

Do all weapons and abilities carry over?

No. Games often keep combat gear but restrict powers or tools connected to the story. God of War Ragnarök carries the Draupnir Spear into NG+, yet certain routes remain locked until their normal story point.

Can you earn trophies and achievements in New Game Plus?

Often, yes. New Game Plus usually remains an ordinary game mode for platform awards, and some titles add NG+-specific goals. Difficulty, cheats, accessibility settings, or save imports can affect individual requirements, so check the description for the award you want.

Is New Game Plus the same as starting a new save?

No. A normal new save starts with default progression. New Game Plus uses an eligible completed save and transfers only the progress selected by the developer.

Keep your completed save, read the game’s own carryover list, and treat NG+ as a fresh campaign with selected advantages rather than a perfect copy of your old world.

Image Credit: Ubisoft