Top 20 Gaming Sequels Of All Time Updated Till July 2023

We review some of the video games that not only far surpassed their predecessor, but also managed to gain a foothold among the best titles in eighth art history.

“Second parts were never good” is a popular saying that is normally used in cinema and other art forms to refer to all those continuations of works that not only fail to meet expectations but also fall far short of quality. of the original product. However, it is a rule that is not usually followed in the world of video games.

We can find sequels to mythical titles that, without being bad, did not live up to expectations, as well as specific cases that could be considered a betrayal of the essence of the original work. But as a general rule the continuations in Video Games, like prequels, often improve considerably on their predecessors. We want to review some of the best sequels that the eighth art has given us in a complete report in which the titles that you will see below are not arranged in any specific order.

1. Assassin’s Creed II

It was a clear technical demonstration of the hidden potential of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 hardware, while Assassin’s Creed II was the title that truly consolidated what is still one of Ubisoft’s. The adventure starring Ezio Auditore greatly improved the stealth and assassination mechanics that we first saw in the Altaïr title, something that favoured the gameplay and made it less monotonous. Of course, the benefits of Assassin’s Creed IIThey do not end here, and it is that Ubisoft surprised again with a very careful setting, more possibilities to customize our murderer and a relevant story for the future of subsequent instalments.

2. Batman Arkham City

It’s, one of the best superhero video games that our favourite hobby has given us, could not miss our list of the best video game sequels. We are talking about a title that knew how to make its sinister and impeccable setting, addictive and satisfying combat system, and careful narrative of its main strengths offer us an adventure alongside Gotham’s protective bat full of unforgettable moments. Another of Arkham Knight’s great virtues lies in his constant tributes and nods to comic book plots, something that DC Comics fans greatly appreciated and which shows that the Rocksteady Studios team in charge of its development, was concerned with making a respectful work with the character and with the rich universe that surrounds him.

3. Dead Space 2

This game became one of the biggest references in terms of space horror and survival video games when it went on sale in 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This work developed by Visceral Games was so applauded that players did not they were slow to ask for a sequel, although there was some fear that it would not be up to the task.

However, the truth is that Dead Space 2 made up for the loss of the surprise factor in a spectacular way with an adventure that followed the structure and gameplay of the previous instalment to the letter. Although along the way he added more doses everyone wanted: nightmarish mutant creatures, scenes of maximum tension, and much more agile and comfortable combat at the controls. Of course, the fact that he slightly opted for action somewhat diluted the sensation of overwhelm by the original, although more than a defect it is a simple change of focus.

4. God of War Ragnarok

God of War: Ragnarok was a grand farewell to the God of War arc set in Norse mythology. The 2018 God of War was completely right by daring to shake the bases of the previous instalments, both in terms of gameplay and in terms of setting, to innovate and reinvent the slightly worn-out formula of the saga and, in a few words, offer a breath of fresh air. God of War: Ragnarok, like any sequel worth its salt, built on the new foundations and went a step further to delve into the revamped combat system that its predecessor established. Likewise, it delighted us with one of the best narratives and stories we have ever experienced in a Triple-A budget game. The plot is full of unexpected twists, subversions of surprising expectations carried out with great pleasure and, above all, able to achieve what seemed unthinkable: to be moved and even to tears by the tender father-son relationship of Kratos and Atreus, as well as with their journey of understanding and discovery.

5. Half-Life 2

It is extremely difficult for a fan of first-person shooters and science fiction not to fall in love with Half-Life 2, a game that, when it was released at the end of 2004, many believed came from the future. But it’s even harder to highlight something that hasn’t already been highlighted about this timeless masterpiece from Valve. Half-Life 2 is a title that, beyond the fact that it currently maintains its incredible sensations at the controls or the keyboard and mouse almost intact, was quite ahead of its time thanks to a physics system that made your world come alive. felt alive and like some kind of testing ground that invited the player to interact with the objects around them and to experiment with the environment to advance. In short, a pioneering work, full of details that border on the sick and that works like a Swiss watch in everything it proposes.

6. Halo 2

If Halo: Combat Evolved served to establish both the playable bases and the fascinating universe of this Bungie saga starring the unmistakable Master Chief, as well as a multiplayer mode that was a benchmark for FPS, Halo 2 kept all the features intact for which the community praised the first instalment, but upped the ante with a more serious story, full of nuances and which, roughly speaking, delved into the consequences of the war and the fights between factions. It also delighted us with a brilliant soundtrack, as well as meticulously designed, frenetic and fun gunfights. thanks to controls that are as comfortable and precise as you’d expect from the direct sequel to Halo.

7. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon: Zero Dawn was a promising and exciting starting point, although not without small rough edges here and there, of one of the most important sagas that PlayStation has at the moment. The Guerrilla Games development team took note of the criticism levelled at Zero Dawn and did its homework more than enough in Horizon Forbidden West, an extraordinary sequel that not only limited itself to polishing and improving the most questionable sections of the first, especially everything related to cumbersome mechanics and not well finished but instead injected an endless number of novelties into the formula that made Aloy’s new journey much more enjoyable. With confrontations full of possibilities and synergies with different weapons and abilities, an impeccable audiovisual section, a world construction that is elaborated and interesting in equal parts, some prehistoric-looking machine designs that take your breath away, and some secondary missions that, in many Sometimes, they are up to the main ones on all levels, Forbidden West has earned a place more than deserved among the best sequels.

8. Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II is, without a doubt, the childhood video game of many gamers who grew up alongside Disney animated movies and Final Fantasy titles. Unlike the original Kingdom Hearts, the second instalment is a work much more focused on confrontations that sacrifice both the puzzles and part of the exploration in favour of a more linear and guided experience, something that can be liked more or less depending on who asks Leaving aside this change in direction and approach, it is fair to say that the improvements that Kingdom Hearts II included based on the small edges of the primer they were more than perceptible. Disney worlds are full of colour, an emotional story that seeks to delve into its characters, a soundtrack that is impossible not to fall in love with, and a camera further away from Sora that allows you to better follow the action during combat… It’s not surprising that is, for many, the best Kingdom Hearts.

9. Mass Effect 2

There are not a few users who consider that the role-playing and action saga with a space science fiction theme created by BioWare peaked with Mass Effect 2, a title that serves as a clear example of how things should be done when we talk about the development of the characters in a story and their interactions. This continuation of Mass Effect enhanced both the third-person combat system, which was expanded with new gadgets and useful abilities to deal with enemies, as well as the dialogue options of the characters, something that increased the possibilities when it comes to relating to the characters and determining their fate.

10. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is one of those risky titles that left no one indifferent thanks to some narrative twists -which we are not going to reveal to you just in case- that continue to be the focus of debate in current times. In the same way, it is also a work that squeezed every last drop of the power of the PlayStation 2 hardware to offer a technical section never seen before, with facial animations, weather effects and surprising textures, as well as stealth mechanics. and infiltration deeper than what we saw in Metal Gear Solid original from 1999. In short, it could be said that Hideo Kojima pulled out of his sleeve an atypical sequel, almost anomalous, that dared to subvert the expectations of the players and that raised several dilemmas that are still discussed today.

11. Pokémon Gold and Silver

Pokémon Gold and Silver, as well as their respective remakes released for Nintendo DS, hold the record for being the instalments of the pocket monster saga with the most content to date. To say that these editions starring Ho-Oh (Gold) and Lugia (Silver) were an extension of what Game Freak offered back in 1996 in Pokémon Red and Blue is an understatement since we are talking about two games that introduced several So huge of news that the first deliveries were practically in diapers. A hundred new creatures, new types of Pokémon, a day and night cycle in real-time, a more complete story and, above all, two regions (Kanto and Johto) full of routes, caves and cities to explore. These are just some of the additions that were implemented in these sequels.

12. Gateway 2

The first Portal was a work that caught us all off guard and blew our minds with its impeccable combination of 3D platforming and puzzles based on logic, physics and opening portals to connect different rooms at the same time. Portal 2, its second part, had to carry on its shoulders the weight of being the continuation of one of the freshest and most original games that had been seen so far. Although it lost some of the surprise factors, to tell the truth, it managed to surpass the first in all its sections and offered even more intricate challenges that could be solved both solo and cooperatively. Of course, the ubiquitous GLaDOS ( Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System), one of the best villains in video games, rounded off this excellent work that you cannot miss.

13. Red Dead Redemption II

Technically, It is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, since the events of the first part take place a few years after the title at hand. Even so, from Rockstar Games they have always insisted that this video game is much more than a simple prequel that takes place before the story that we live in the shoes of John Marston, which means that, in many ways, it is a continuation. With all of the law that evolves in all imaginable aspects, especially in the playable and technical field. RRD II is, by far, the best Wild West life simulator you can find on the market. A trip that is brimming with memorable moments and that has details capable of leaving us speechless, an amazing plot that makes us care about its characters and a setting to take off our hats to.

14. Resident Evil 2

The original Resident Evil from 1996 was considered at the time as the title that marked the steps to follow for future survival horror, all thanks to some ingredients that, surprising as it may seem, are still valid today in games of the same type. Without being equally revolutionary, Resident Evil 2 was not far behind in terms of ambition, as it delighted us with several of the most emblematic locations that we have seen in this Capcom saga, while also introducing us to the charismatic and iconic duo made up of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. As if that were not enough, Resident Evil 2It has a soundtrack capable of giving even the most courageous players the hair on their toes, as well as a bestiary as varied as it is horrifying, an incomparable sound direction and some of the most terrifying and tense moments we have experienced in front of a screen.

15. Silent Hill 2

What can we say that hasn’t already been said about what is, indisputably, the king of psychological horror games? Silent Hill 2 is quite a lesson that a video game can cause fear in the player without having to resort to resources as hackneyed as jumpscares. Yes, we agree that its controls have not aged very well and that they can be somewhat outdated and uncomfortable by today’s standards, but it is a work that maintains its type to spare when we talk about the elements that made it an instant classic in its day, such as its disturbing atmosphere or several moments that were burned into our memory for being extremely disturbing. Other aspects that persist despite the inevitable passage of time are its intricate and ingenious puzzles, its special attention to the story, its memorable melodies and, of course, the imposing presence of Pyramid Head, a character who transcended video games to become an icon of popular culture.

16. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog, the classic originally released in 1991 for the Sega Mega Drive, was the starting signal for Sega’s blue hedgehog in the world of video games. Even though it is a title that we tend to remember with great affection and appreciation, the truth is that, if we leave nostalgia aside, it is a work with many imperfections, since it has some inexplicable peaks of difficulty and certain phases. in which we can lose countless lives due to unjust deaths. Luckily, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 arrived just a year later to deliver a sensational 2D platforming adventure that boasts exquisitely crafted level design and balances much better than the previous one, delivering the sections at dizzying speeds and the platforming phases, while it is also concerned with adding some weighty novelties, among which the first appearance of Tails stands out. We won’t say that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 pulverized its predecessor because it seems too blunt a statement, but it certainly perfected its bases to the point that today it remains a game that any lover of the genre cannot miss under any circumstances.

17. Street Fighter II

It is one of those titles that hardly need introductions, as it is known for being one of the best 2D fighting arcades in the history of the medium. Not surprisingly, it is a work that expanded the roster of fighters from the first instalment with some iconic characters that are well known to all, such as Blanka or Chun-Li, and that delved into a combat system that allowed us to distribute left and right blows with different fighting styles and special techniques assigned to each of the combatants. It is a game so acclaimed and known for the precision of its controls, the balance of power between fighters and its addictive combat without an expiration date, as you well know, over the years multiple reissues have been released for consoles of all brands.

18. Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario is one of those sagas that is not afraid of experimentation at all, something that is more than obvious if we take a look at the three-dimensional aspect that began with Super Mario 64. In this sense, Super Mario Galaxy was a technological prodigy on Nintendo Wii, as well as an excellent three-dimensional platform game that hit the nail on the head in everything it set out to do. After such perfect work, Super Mario Galaxy 2It was difficult for it not to be perceived as a mere expansion of the first, although the result did not leave anyone indifferent. Against all odds, Nintendo managed to up the ante with a dream continuation that took over from the original to offer us a platform with highly polished controls and, above all, an overflowing imagination that translates into level design. exquisite and constantly coming up with new ideas and challenges. It comes as no surprise that many fans of the Plumber game consider it to be still the crown jewel of 3D Super Mario.

19. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

You will agree with us that this game did not have it easy at all when it came to meeting expectations, and we are talking about the continuation of what was considered at the time as one of the best games of all time However, our surprise was huge when we discovered that it not only lived up to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but that, as if that were not enough, it managed to overshadow one of the most titanic and revolutionary works that Nintendo had ever produced developed to date. Tears of the KingdomIt is a true marvel that expanded the playable bases of the original, deepened the open world approach with absolute freedom of movement, and squeezed the impeccable physics system of its predecessor to the last consequences. In short, a title to which any compliment falls short and which will go down to posterity as an exemplary sequel.

20. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was the cornerstone of what would end up becoming one of the biggest PlayStation flagships during the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 generation. Even though this Naughty Dog saga has always enjoyed levels of very high quality, there are many fans who, to this day, continue to claim that Uncharted 2: Kingdom of Thieves is the best chapter of Uncharted. And they are not without reason, since this direct sequel originally released in 2009 upped the ante of the first title to unimaginable levels and improved it in absolutely all aspects. More variety of locations, better-supporting characters and villains, a more than notable graphic improvement, refined parkour and shooting, action scenes that leave you breathless. In short, we can add a little more about what is one of the Roundest movie-style adventure video games of all time.