10 Amazing Game Spin-Offs You Totally Forgot Existed

The classic Metal Gear Solid franchise has had its peaks, but no doubt its divisive lows too - none more so than in the second instalment, when it pulled a switcheroo from iconic hero Solid Snake to rookie operative Raiden. Many fans were left spurned, feeling cheated out of their cigar-chomping stealth icon.

Then Kojima did the unthinkable. With MGS4, he managed not only to redeem the “Jar Jar Binks” of the franchise but to make him undeniably cool - resurrecting Raiden as a cybernetic ninja with absurd agility, superhuman power moves, and an electrified sword to boot. Unfortunately, all his best moments took place in (admittedly spectacular) cutscenes. Naturally, the desire to actually play as this version of Raiden became too strong to ignore.

Enter PlatinumGames. Fresh off the cult success of Bayonetta and Vanquish, the studio was renowned for its blistering, over-the-top action and stylish combat systems. They were the ideal choice, placing Raiden in his own offshoot adventure as he slices, dices, and eviscerates anything in his path in a pure gamer-empowerment fantasy. The game delivered challenging combat, wall-punching boss battles, and just the right balance of polished cinematic flair and wacky, off-the-wall narrative choices that somehow fit neatly into the canon.

Launching to solid reviews but middling sales, it didn’t help that the game wasn’t the full-blown stealth experience fans expected. As a result, it’s often overlooked when revisiting the franchise’s highlights, dismissed as an experimental detour. Regardless, it remains a must-play - both a standout entry in the series and one of the best action games of its era.