10 Riskiest Gaming Sequels That Didn’t Pay Off

Read these words: 'Resident Evil 6'. Yup, we shuddered too.

"Please, sir, I want some more," remarks Oliver Twist in Charles Dickens' most renowned novel, and it can sometimes feel like companies picture us gamers as Oliver; only we're begging for proper sequels rather than another serving of gruel. However in addition we're so used to seeing the same titles over and over that we enthusiastically celebrate new IPs being unveiled at press conferences, simply because it might be something new and exciting to play. Of course the majority of sequels are exactly what we want as gamers but saturation is a regular danger that developers must be aware of, as when the number of instalments in a series grows, so too does the risk of mass disappointment - altering the formula for a successful game too much will lead to fans turning on a series, rather than embracing it. Even the very best games can have a rushed or disappointing sequel which could ruin a developer's reputation in a heartbeat - one game on this list was so unwelcome that it actually led to job losses - it seems sequels are a very risky business when not handled appropriately. There's a wide variety of faults displayed in the games selected for this article; from controversial new features to poorly developed storylines which actually undermine the series as a whole. All have the same thing in common though; these are games that really should not have been made or at the very least, should have stuck more to an established comfort zone. While they may have been a commercial or critical success (not the case for every entry on this list), fan reaction can make or break a series and some of these games were turned on almost instantly. Let this be a lesson to game developers all over the world: be careful when creating a sequel to a well-loved game; sometimes it's far better to leave it well alone instead.
Contributor
Contributor

I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.