3. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Naughty Dog was having a tough time reinventing itself as the next generation began to take shape in 2007. Their big attempt to break into first-party titles for Playstation 3 started with the relative success of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The game sold well, and critics liked it enough, but some major technical issues kept most people from expecting much out of this new IP. Fortunately, Naughty Dog sold enough copies to warrant a sequel, which led to the release of Uncharted 2.
How did it succeed against the odds? Few sequels leap a game from "good" to "perfect," but that's pretty much what happened with Uncharted 2. Critically acclaimed and awarded Game of the Year by almost everyone in 2009, this sequel managed to capture the attention of gamers everywhere, establishing Uncharted as one of Sony's most profitable first-party franchises.