It’s no surprise that most successful games will eventually release a sequel, but it’s rare to see one for a game that performed poorly. Most developers will tend to cut their losses and move on to something else, but some will attempt to revitalize a franchise byreleasing a spin-off.
Related:Anime Spin-Offs That Are Better Than The Main Show
Some spin-offs will followthe story of a franchise’s more popular character, while others will simply take place in the same universe. It can be difficult to recapture the magic from the first game in a franchise but, if this magic was absent,a spin-off will be much more likely to stand out.
Mr. Burns purchased all the public transport systems available in Springfield in an attempt to force the town’s residents to rely solely on him for transportation. In response to this,Homer and his unlikely friendsform a taxi service to lessen the power Burns wields.
The Simpsons: Road Rageallowed fans of the series to experience the iconic town of Springfield through their own eyes, but their exploration was limited to the confines of a car.The Simpsons: Hit & Runreleased two years later, however, allowed the player to fully immerse themselves in Homer’s charming world. It combined the best parts ofRoad RageandThe Simpsons Skateboarding, resulting in the creation of what is arguably the bestSimpsonsgame to ever exist.
6Final Fantasy 13
Final Fantasy 13tells the story ofLightning, a retired Guardian Corps soldierwhose life is uprooted after she discovers a sinister plot to destroy her home world. Forced to abandon her once peaceful life, she must embark on a frightening adventure to ensure the safety of her younger sister Serah.
It received severe backlash from fans due to its poorly designed world and story, but the final entry in the series gained much more favorable attention.Lightning Returnssees Lightning reprising her role as the protagonist, but the stakes are much higher this time around. The plot sees her undergoing a difficult journey wrought with danger to ensure the survival of the human race. To make things worse, she has only thirteen days to accomplish this difficult feat.
5Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
The 2001 release ofHarry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stoneallowed fans of the series to don the gown of a wizard and explore the vast castle ofHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It followed the story of Harry’s first year as a wizard, but the passing of time has highlighted just how underwhelming this rendition of his story was.
Related:The Most Impractical Spells In The Harry Potter Franchise
Since its debut, there have been countlessHarry Pottergame releases that captured what it feels like to be a wizard. Many document Harry’s journey, but some allow the player to shape their own story and inject their own personalities.Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cuppermits the player to mount a broomstick and train to become a professional Quidditch player, a poorly executed feature from the franchise’s initial games.
4Grand Theft Auto
The first entry in theGrand Theft Autoseries is severely lacking when compared to the franchise’s more recent releases. It followed the story of an up-and-coming criminal as they attempted to make waves in the world of crime, but the overall delivery of this story is surprisingly poor.
TheGTAseries has made huge strides since its first release, with many of its numbered entries consisting of some of the most immersive stories in gaming.TheSan Andreasspin-offreleased in 2004 is largely regarded as the best entry in the series and one of the best games ever made, but it would never have existed if not for the franchise’s unlikely debut.
3Assassin’s Creed
The concept of the originalAssassin’s Creedwas a simple one, but its effectiveness is incontrovertible. It followed the story ofa ruthless assassin named Altaïrwho was tasked repeatedly by his master to perform assassinations to maintain his position of power. The size of its world seemed to allow for limitless exploration, but the barren nature of the land rendered the process arduous and unnecessary.
There was little humanity present inAssassin’s Creed, but the developers at Ubisoft rectified this flaw in future releases. Ezio’s character inAssassin’s Creed 2is a charming man with a compelling backstory. His endearing nature was so adored by fans of the series that he gained his own spin-off inAssassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, an immersive game that further showcases Ezio’s battle against the Templars.
2Drakengard
Set in the dark world of Midgard,Drakengarddocuments the tale of a planet on the brink of extinction. Throughout the world exists a series of magical objects known as Seals that are somehow capable of preventing the world from further falling into disarray. The game’s plot is so shrouded in mystery that most fans are unaware of its connection to theNieRseries.
NieR: Automatatakes place1,000 years after the events ofDrakengard 3, but this relationship is only rarely discussed in-game. It focuses on a completely new set of characters who are forced to suffer the aftermath of their predecessor’s story.Drakengardreceived mixed reviews upon its release, butNieR: Automata’s reception presented it as one of Yoko Taro’s best works to date.
1The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name,The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringfollowedthe beginning of Frodo’s journey across Middle Earth. After inheriting the One Ring from his secretive uncle, Bilbo, the young hobbit is forced to venture into the dangerous world that lurks beyond the safe confines of the Shire.
The game received mostly average reviews due to its bland storytelling and jarring scenarios, butThe Hobbitspin-off released a year later, tried to remedy these flaws. As Bilbo, the player must accompany a group of thirteen dwarves and assist them in reclaiming their home from Smaug, the last dragon of Middle Earth.The Hobbitpresents Middle Earth as a colorful and welcoming land bursting with life, making it one the most amiable depictions of it in video games to date.
