There’s a lot of talk about sequels in video games at the moment, not all of it positive. We say “sequels”, but it is, of course, broader than that, taking in remakes, remasters, reboots, reimaginings, and everything else a publisher does to repackage beloved intellectual property. There are some signs that players are getting tired of returning to the same gaming worlds, although that is something of a generalization.
Yet, sequels have always had a place in the video gaming landscape. Moreover, it’s not like, say, the movies, where sequels rarely eclipse the original. A video game sequel often surpasses the original for two reasons: The first is that superior technology offers enhanced gameplay and visual experiences. Secondly, the best gaming sequels offer continuation, a chance to expand on a world, story, or character journey.
There are, of course, so many sequels across all genres of gaming, ranging from the endless list of Final Fantasy games to the brilliant Money Train 3 from Relax Gaming. But below, we pick out what we feel are the best 15 sequels of all time (in no particular order):
Street Fighter 2
Arguably the best example of a sequel being more famous than its predecessor, Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior, was the go-to arcade game of the early 1990s. Its influence remains undiminished.
Mega Man 2
Put simply, it’s one of the best NES games ever made. And also proof that a great sequel can come from a series where the original was a flop.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is not just one of the best sequels; it, period. A masterpiece that fully deserves its ranking as one of the highest-ever scorers on Metacritic.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
What else is there to say about this one? Breathtakingly beautiful, full of imagination and wonder, and arguably the best game of the 2010s.
Super Mario World
Probably the game that is most synonymous with the Super Nintendo. Yes, Super Mario World wasn’t a massive departure from previous Mario games, but it reinvigorated the franchise. The best compliment we can give is that it is still eminently playable over 30 years after its release.
GTA V
Is GTA V the best installment in the Grand Theft Auto series? Yes. Are we fed up of waiting for GTA 6? Again, yes. But our sense of anticipation for the latter is due to the greatness of the former.
Halo 2
The level of anticipation for Halo 2 was off the charts. Sometimes, in those scenarios, a game gets overhyped, leading to disappointment (Cyberpunk 2077, for example). Yet Halo 2 lived up to the hype and then some.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
We gave CD Projekt Red a bit of stick there for Cyberpunk 2077, which really isn’t bad – it was simply overhyped. Nonetheless, that hype came along because the Witcher series was so good, and the 3rd installment was the best of the lot.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
MGS 3 received plenty of accolades and wonderful reviews. But when looking back, it was its ability to make us think differently about survival games that really stood out. It’s more influential than it is given credit for, too.
The Last of Us Part 2
Better than the original? Maybe not. However, the upcoming remaster of The Last of Us Part 2 might make us change our minds about that.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
It’s hard to believe that there have been 47 Sonic the Hedgehog games down the years. Some were rubbish, others were good, and a handful were great. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the greatest.
Ms. Pac-Man
This arcade staple was very much more of the same, but it is just as timeless as the original Pac-Man.
Portal 2
Few gamers thought that Portal could be topped. Portal 2 managed that, and that is an incredible feat.
Super Mario 64
The second Mario game on this list. Here’s the thing: Super Mario 64 is classed within the Classic Era of Mario games, but we think that is wrong. It’s a bridge to the modern world of gaming – far ahead of its time.
Final Fantasy XIV
Everyone will have an opinion on what is the best Final Fantasy game, maybe because there are so many of them. Yet, we have plumped for XIV, which showed there was still plenty of life left in the genre.
