Navigating the vast world of Assassin's Creed Odyssey for a second time can be an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when you know exactly what to expect from New Game Plus. This comprehensive guide answers the burning question: does AC Odyssey have New Game Plus? We dive deep into how to start your journey anew, what precious progress you get to keep, and what resets, ensuring you are fully prepared to conquer ancient Greece once more. Discover the compelling reasons why millions of gamers, balancing demanding jobs and family life, find immense value in revisiting their favorite games like AC Odyssey through NG+. Learn how it offers a fresh challenge, opportunities to explore missed content, and a chance to truly master your chosen hero, Kassandra or Alexios. We'll cover everything from character progression to gear and skills, providing essential tips to optimize your second playthrough. Whether you seek to refine your build, tackle higher difficulties, or simply relive the epic narrative with a powerful protagonist, understanding AC Odyssey's New Game Plus mechanics is crucial for a fulfilling adventure. This guide cuts through the noise, offering practical, actionable advice for the busy gamer looking to maximize their entertainment dollar and time. Prepare to embark on another legendary odyssey, stronger and wiser.
Does AC Odyssey Have New Game Plus and Why Should I Care?
Yes, Assassin's Creed Odyssey absolutely features New Game Plus (NG+), a highly requested addition implemented in February 2019. You should care because it transforms the game's replayability. For busy gamers who've invested dozens, if not hundreds, of hours into their first playthrough, NG+ offers a way to immediately jump back into the epic story as an already powerful Misthios, complete with all your legendary gear, abilities, and high character level. This means you skip the early grind, allowing you to tackle higher difficulties, explore missed content, or simply re-experience the narrative with a different character choice (Kassandra or Alexios) from a position of immense strength. It's pure power fantasy and a fantastic way to extend your enjoyment and value from the game.
How Do I Start a New Game Plus Run in AC Odyssey?
Starting New Game Plus in AC Odyssey is straightforward once you've met the main requirement: completing the game's core story. After the credits roll on your initial playthrough, ensure you save your game. Then, from the main menu, you'll see a distinct 'New Game +' option. Select it, and the game will prompt you to choose your protagonist (Kassandra or Alexios, regardless of who you played before) and your desired difficulty. All your character's level, gear, abilities, and accumulated resources will be transferred, allowing you to begin your new journey in ancient Greece as a demigod, ready to face any challenge from the very start.
What Exactly Carries Over to My New Game Plus Save?
In AC Odyssey's New Game Plus, a substantial amount of your hard-earned progress is retained. This includes your character's level and all accumulated XP, every unlocked ability and unspent ability point, your entire inventory of weapons, armor, bows, engravings, and legendary gear sets. All your Drachmae, Orichalcum, and crafting resources also carry over. Additionally, any cosmetic items for your ship (the Adrestia) and mount, along with your current Mercenary Tier, are transferred. This robust carryover ensures that you feel powerful and well-equipped from the moment your NG+ adventure begins, allowing for immediate high-level gameplay.
What Gets Reset When I Start New Game Plus in AC Odyssey?
While you keep a lot, New Game Plus does reset specific elements to ensure a fresh narrative experience. Your entire story progression, including all main quests, side quests, contracts, and cultist discoveries, is reset. The map reverts to its 'fog of war' state, requiring you to re-synchronize viewpoints. Crucially, all functional upgrades to your ship, the Adrestia (hull, ram, weapons), are reset, meaning you'll need to re-earn resources to upgrade it. Similarly, recruited lieutenants are reset, and discovered locations and points of interest will need to be re-cleared. These resets ensure that while your character is powerful, the world still offers plenty to explore and achieve.
Can I Change My Main Character (Alexios/Kassandra) in New Game Plus?
Yes, absolutely! One of the great features of AC Odyssey's New Game Plus is the ability to switch your protagonist. When you initiate a New Game Plus run from the main menu, you'll be given the option to choose between playing as Kassandra or Alexios, regardless of who you played in your previous playthrough. This allows you to experience the epic story and voice acting from a different perspective, all while retaining your character's high level, powerful gear, and unlocked abilities. It's a perfect way to add variety to your replay without sacrificing your hard-earned progression.
Does Enemy Scaling Work Differently in AC Odyssey NG+?
In Assassin's Creed Odyssey's New Game Plus, enemy scaling is always active and directly tied to your character's level. This means that no matter how powerful your Misthios is at the start of NG+, the enemies you encounter throughout ancient Greece will consistently match your level. This system ensures that even early-game encounters remain challenging and engaging, preventing you from simply one-shotting every foe with your high-level gear and abilities. It forces you to continue using your skills and strategic thinking, especially if you opt for higher difficulty settings like Nightmare in your NG+ playthrough.
Is AC Odyssey New Game Plus Worth It for Busy Gamers?
For busy gamers balancing work and life, AC Odyssey's New Game Plus is absolutely worth it. It provides significant value by allowing you to revisit a beloved world without the initial grind. You jump straight into the action with all your powerful gear and abilities, making it perfect for those who want to unwind with a power fantasy or tackle higher difficulties without the frustration of starting from scratch. NG+ lets you maximize your investment in the game, offering a fresh perspective on the story or a chance to experiment with new builds, all while respecting your limited gaming time by making you powerful from minute one.
Ah, the bittersweet moment of finishing an epic game. You've explored every corner of ancient Greece, defeated powerful foes, and made countless choices as the legendary Misthios. For many of us, busy adults balancing jobs, families, and life's endless responsibilities, gaming is our cherished escape. We invest our precious time and hard-earned money into these experiences, and when a game like Assassin's Creed Odyssey ends, there's often a lingering question: 'What now?' Do we just move on? Or can we squeeze even more value, fun, and relaxation out of a world we've come to love?
You're not alone in that feeling. Across the US, an impressive 87% of gamers play regularly, with many dedicating 10+ hours a week when they can, seeking not just entertainment but skill-building and a vibrant social connection through titles. We want to maximize that investment. This month, as social and cozy games dominate trends and budget-friendly gaming options are more popular than ever, revisiting a classic like AC Odyssey makes perfect sense. But specifically, does AC Odyssey have New Game Plus? The answer is a resounding YES, and it's a fantastic way to rekindle your adventure.
This comprehensive guide is built for you – the gamer who values their time, wants to optimize their performance, and seeks genuine value without the hype. We'll dive deep into everything you need to know about New Game Plus in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, offering practical solutions to help you decide if a second journey through its stunning world is right for you. Get ready to sail the Aegean, stronger and wiser than before!
Does AC Odyssey Actually Have New Game Plus?
Absolutely, yes! Ubisoft officially added New Game Plus (NG+) to Assassin's Creed Odyssey in February 2019, much to the delight of its dedicated player base. This feature allows players to restart the main story of the game while carrying over a significant portion of their progression from a completed save file. It's a fantastic way to extend your playtime, test out new builds, or simply re-experience the epic narrative with all your hard-earned power right from the start. For many gamers who balance life and play, NG+ means more bang for their buck and more opportunities to unwind.
How Do You Start New Game Plus in AC Odyssey?
Initiating your New Game Plus run in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is quite straightforward, but there's a crucial prerequisite: you must have completed the main story questline. Once you've seen the credits roll and completed the main narrative arc, you're ready to begin.
Step 1: Finish the Main Story: Ensure your current save file has completed the Odyssey's main storyline. You'll know it's done when the credits roll.
Step 2: Load Your Completed Save: From the main menu, load the save file where you finished the game. You'll usually be placed back in the world, free to complete side quests or explore.
Step 3: Access the Main Menu: Exit to the game's main title screen.
Step 4: Select New Game +: On the main menu, you'll now see an option for 'New Game +'. Select this option.
Step 5: Choose Your Hero: You'll be prompted to choose whether to play as Kassandra or Alexios again. You can pick the same character or switch to the other for a fresh perspective on the same story beats. This choice impacts character models and voice acting but doesn't affect gameplay mechanics or abilities.
Step 6: Select a Difficulty: Just like a regular new game, you can choose your desired difficulty setting for your NG+ playthrough. Many players opt for a higher difficulty to challenge their overpowered Misthios.
And that's it! You'll be whisked back to the very beginning of the story, but with all your power intact, ready to carve a new path through ancient Greece.
What Carries Over in AC Odyssey New Game Plus?
One of the most appealing aspects of New Game Plus is carrying over your hard-earned progress. This is what truly makes you feel like the legendary warrior you've become from the outset. Here's a detailed list of what transfers:
Character Level and XP: Your Misthios retains their current level and all accumulated experience points. If you finished the game at level 50, you start NG+ at level 50, which is a massive advantage.
Abilities and Ability Points: All the warrior, hunter, and assassin abilities you've unlocked, along with any unspent ability points, will carry over. This means you have your full arsenal of combat and stealth skills available immediately.
Gear and Inventory: This includes all your weapons, armor, bows, ship cosmetics, and mount skins. Your entire inventory, from legendary sets to common crafting materials, is transferred. This is fantastic for experimenting with different builds without the grind for new gear.
Engravings: All the weapon and armor engravings you've unlocked and upgraded are available from the start.
Currency: Drachmae (money), Orichalcum, and crafting resources like wood, iron, and leather all carry over, making upgrades and purchases much easier.
Mercenary Tier: Your current mercenary tier level is retained, which can provide ongoing benefits and discounts.
Synchronization Points: While you'll need to re-synchronize viewpoints to reveal the map and unlock fast travel, the actual synchronization points themselves are often retained in terms of overall progress.
Store Purchases: Any items bought from the in-game store with Helix Credits will carry over.
Starting a new game with all this power means you can focus less on the initial grind and more on exploration, story, or tackling those challenging optional objectives from day one.
What Does Not Carry Over in AC Odyssey New Game Plus?
While a lot carries over, certain elements are reset to give the New Game Plus experience a fresh feel and ensure the story makes sense. Understanding these resets is just as important as knowing what you keep.
Story Progression: As it's a 'New Game,' the entire main story, including all its quests, decisions, and outcomes, is reset. This is the core purpose of NG+, allowing you to re-experience the narrative.
Side Quests and Contracts: All side quests, contracts, and bounties are reset. This offers a chance to discover quests you might have missed or approach them differently.
Cultist Progress: The entire Cult of Kosmos network is reset. You'll need to uncover clues, hunt down, and eliminate all cultists again from scratch.
Map Exploration and Fog of War: The map will revert to its original 'fog of war' state. You'll need to re-synchronize viewpoints and explore regions to reveal them again.
Discovered Locations and POIs: All discovered locations, undiscovered locations, and points of interest (like bandit camps, animal dens, caves) are reset to their un-cleared state. This means more exploration and combat opportunities.
Adrestia (Ship) Upgrades: While your ship's cosmetic items (sails, figureheads, crew) carry over, all functional upgrades to the Adrestia (hull, ram, archers, javelins) are reset. You'll need to re-earn resources and upgrade your ship again as you progress.
Lieutenants: Your recruited lieutenants for the Adrestia are reset. You'll need to find and recruit them again in the world.
Mercenary Discoveries: Your progress in identifying and defeating specific mercenaries for bounties is reset.
These resets are designed to provide a meaningful replay experience, ensuring that while your character is powerful, the world itself still offers plenty to do and discover anew.
Why Should You Play AC Odyssey New Game Plus?
For many US gamers, particularly those balancing busy lives, value for money and maximizing game time are huge factors. New Game Plus in AC Odyssey offers compelling reasons to dive back in:
Re-experience the Epic Story: Relive the captivating narrative, make different choices, and see how they unfold. Perhaps you picked Kassandra initially and now want to see Alexios's journey, or vice-versa, for a fresh voice performance.
Tackle Higher Difficulties: Starting with a fully powered Misthios makes higher difficulty settings (like Nightmare) far more manageable and enjoyable from the outset. It’s a true test of skill and build optimization.
Master New Builds and Playstyles: With all abilities and gear, NG+ is perfect for experimenting. Want to try an all-assassin stealth build? Or a tanky warrior? You have the resources to craft and test without the initial grind.
Explore Missed Content: It's easy to rush through the main story or miss side quests in a game as massive as Odyssey. NG+ gives you a relaxed opportunity to explore every nook and cranny, uncover hidden quests, and delve deeper into the lore.
Overpowered Fun: There's immense satisfaction in starting as a god-like figure, effortlessly dispatching early-game enemies. It’s a fantastic power fantasy, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Complete Achievements/Trophies: Many players use NG+ to mop up any remaining achievements or trophies, especially those tied to specific choices or completionist runs.
It's about getting more out of a game you already love, transforming a finished experience into a new adventure, which is precisely what many value-conscious gamers are looking for in 2026.
Are There New Challenges or Rewards in NG+?
While New Game Plus primarily focuses on replaying the existing content with your powered-up character, it does introduce a few key elements that can be considered new challenges:
Enemy Level Scaling: Crucially, enemies in NG+ scale with your character's level. This means you won't just steamroll everything; the game adapts to keep offering a challenge. If you start at level 50, even the earliest enemies will be level 50, preventing trivial encounters and maintaining engagement, especially on higher difficulties.
Higher Difficulty Potential: As mentioned, NG+ is the perfect playground for Nightmare difficulty. The increased enemy health, damage, and aggressive AI truly test your mastery of combat and your chosen build. This isn't a new reward per se, but the intrinsic satisfaction of overcoming a greater challenge is a reward in itself.
Opportunity for Legendary Gear/Upgrades: While there aren't specific 'NG+ exclusive' items, the fact that you can replay all content means more chances to find legendary gear you missed, upgrade existing items to max level (which goes beyond the initial level cap with DLCs), and collect resources for top-tier engravings. This is especially true for players who didn't fully explore or collect everything in their first run.
The primary 'reward' is the extended enjoyment and the opportunity for deep mastery over your character and the game mechanics, which for many gamers is far more valuable than a unique item.
Can You Change Your Character in New Game Plus?
Yes, absolutely! When you initiate New Game Plus, one of the prompts you receive is to choose your character: Kassandra or Alexios. This is a fantastic feature for players who want to experience the story from a different perspective or simply prefer the voice acting or character model of the other protagonist. All your gear, abilities, and progression will seamlessly transfer to your newly chosen character. This means you can play through with the same build you perfected, but with a fresh face and voice, adding significant replay value without starting completely from scratch. It caters directly to the desire for varied experiences without the grind, a key draw for gamers with limited free time.
Tips for Dominating Your AC Odyssey NG+ Run
You're starting as a demigod, but even gods need a strategy. Here are some pro tips to make your NG+ playthrough truly legendary, keeping in mind the US gaming community's focus on optimization and value:
Elevate the Difficulty: If you played on Normal or Easy the first time, now's the time to crank it up to Hard or Nightmare. Your existing build and skills will shine, providing a genuinely rewarding challenge without being frustratingly difficult from the first minute.
Experiment with Builds: Use NG+ to try out a completely different playstyle. Were you a stealthy assassin? Try a full-on warrior. A ranged hunter? Dive into a powerful melee build. With all your abilities and gear, the respec costs are minimal, encouraging experimentation.
Prioritize Ship Upgrades Early: Since Adrestia upgrades reset, make sure to gather resources for ship upgrades as soon as possible. Naval combat is a significant part of the game, and a strong ship makes a huge difference, particularly on higher difficulties. Don't neglect it!
Clear Forts Efficiently: With your powerful character, clearing forts and conquest battles becomes a breeze. Focus on these for quick XP, loot, and resources to fund your upgrades. They're excellent for maintaining momentum.
Explore Side Content Thoroughly: Remember those side quests you skipped to finish the main story? NG+ is your chance to do them all. Use your power to blast through them quickly or take your time to appreciate the storytelling. Many gamers find this a great way to unwind and discover hidden gems.
Revisit Story Choices: Think back to pivotal moments. Did you regret a decision? NG+ lets you alter your narrative path. This adds a layer of depth and personal engagement to the replay, especially for those who enjoy rich, branching narratives.
Hunt Cultists Systematically: Since the Cult of Kosmos resets, you can approach it more strategically. Focus on hunting down cultists early to unlock powerful legendary gear and get them out of your hair, clearing the path for other objectives.
By following these tips, you're not just replaying the game; you're optimizing your experience, getting more enjoyment, and proving your mastery – all key elements for the discerning gamer in 2026.
How Does NG+ Impact Story Choices and Endings?
The beauty of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's New Game Plus lies in its narrative flexibility. While the core plot remains the same, your choices throughout the story can significantly impact the outcome, particularly regarding your family. In NG+, you have the unique opportunity to make different decisions at crucial junctures, potentially leading to a different family ending. For instance, whether you spare certain characters or complete specific side quests related to your family can alter who survives until the finale.
However, it's important to note that NG+ doesn't introduce entirely new story branches or secret endings that weren't accessible in the first playthrough. Instead, it offers a chance to manipulate the existing narrative pathways to achieve a desired outcome or simply explore what might have happened if you'd chosen differently. It's a great feature for completionists and those who appreciate the depth of choice in RPGs, allowing you to maximize the story's value without the grind of starting a truly fresh character.
Is AC Odyssey New Game Plus Worth Your Time?
For the average gamer, especially those in the 36-year-old demographic balancing life with their passion for gaming, time is a precious commodity. So, is AC Odyssey's New Game Plus truly worth carving out more of that limited gaming time? Absolutely. Consider this: you've already invested hours into becoming a legend. NG+ allows you to leverage that investment, starting strong without the slow grind of the early game.
It offers a refined experience where you can immediately jump into higher difficulties, explore missed content, perfect your favorite build, or simply relive the epic narrative with a fresh perspective (perhaps even as the other protagonist). For many, it extends the value of their game purchase, providing more hours of relaxation, fun, and skill-building. With mobile gaming dominating quick sessions and PC/console still holding strong for deeper experiences, NG+ fits perfectly into a diverse gaming routine, offering a substantial single-player adventure that respects your time by letting you be powerful from the start. It's a smart way to get more out of a fantastic game.
FAQ Section: Diving Deeper into AC Odyssey NG+
Here are some quick answers to common questions about New Game Plus in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, helping you make the most of your adventure.
How many times can you start NG+ in AC Odyssey?
You can start New Game Plus as many times as you like! There's no limit. Each time you complete the main story, you can initiate another NG+ run from that save file, carrying over your cumulative progress.
Does AC Odyssey NG+ automatically scale enemies?
Yes, enemies in AC Odyssey's New Game Plus automatically scale to your character's level. This ensures that even though you're powerful, the game still offers a challenge throughout your second (or third, or fourth) playthrough, preventing trivial encounters.
Can I skip the tutorial in NG+?
While you revisit the opening sequence of the story, there isn't a direct 'skip tutorial' button for the very first narrative moments. However, your character's high level and abilities mean you'll breeze through these early sections very quickly, making them feel less like a tutorial and more like a narrative recap.
Is there a different ending or new content exclusive to NG+?
No, there is no new story content, different endings, or exclusive items specifically added for New Game Plus. NG+ focuses on replaying the existing game with your accumulated power, offering the chance to explore different narrative choices and achieve existing alternate endings.
Does the DLC progress carry over in NG+?
No, your progress in the DLC episodes (Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis) does not carry over into New Game Plus. The DLCs are separate story arcs, and you will need to restart them from the beginning if you wish to play them again in your NG+ save.
What difficulty should I choose for my NG+ run?
Many players find that increasing the difficulty to Hard or even Nightmare is the most rewarding experience for New Game Plus. Starting with a powerful character makes these difficulties more manageable and provides a fresh challenge, allowing you to truly test your optimized builds and combat skills.
So, there you have it! Assassin's Creed Odyssey's New Game Plus isn't just a rehash; it's an opportunity to experience one of gaming's most expansive worlds with renewed vigor, enhanced power, and a fresh perspective. For gamers who juggle life's demands but still crave deep, engaging experiences, NG+ offers immense value, extending the lifespan of a fantastic game. It's about optimizing your fun, mastering your skills, and getting the most out of every minute you dedicate to your passion. Don't let your epic journey end after one playthrough. Dive back into ancient Greece and forge an even grander legend.
What's your biggest gaming challenge when balancing it with life? Comment below and share your tips for making the most of your gaming time!
AC Odyssey features New Game Plus allowing players to restart the main story while retaining most progression. Key highlights include carrying over character level, abilities, gear, and inventory, enabling higher difficulty challenges from the start. It offers a chance to re-experience the narrative, make different choices, and explore missed content with an overpowered protagonist. NG+ provides excellent value for gamers seeking extended play, build optimization, and a deeper dive into the game's rich world without the initial grind. Difficulty scales with your character, ensuring a continued challenge.