10 Amazing Video Game Sequels That Won Back The Fans

6. Gears 5

For a time, Gears of War genuinely did look like it was over for good. Epic's original trilogy went out on a high note, but even then fans and critics were wondering how far the cover-shooter formula could be pushed. Spin-off Judgement didn't help matters, amounting to little more than 'more Gears', while the original devs would sell the license to Microsoft and depart in full a couple years later.

Consequently, Gears 4 bent over backwards to prove that the franchise could still be relevant. While it was an admirable effort from a new studio, the biggest concern was that it played it too safe. The names and faces had changed, but it was yet agin just 'more Gears', only this time on a new generation of consoles.

Fortunately, Gears 5 was the confident return to form the franchise desperately needed. Not only did it broaden the scope of the series, adding in open world elements, some genuinely shocking story developments and tweaking the combat enough to keep it fresh, but it did it all with the same kind of bravado and personality that Judgement and 4 were lacking.

The multiplayer has its issues, but the campaign is the next evolution of Gears fans have spent most of the decade waiting for.