10 Hated Video Game Sequels Everyone Was Too Hard On

Making a sequel to a beloved video game is one hell of a tough act to pull off. You need to ensure that you expand on the previous title in a meaningful way, while staying true to its spirit and pleasing fans at the same time. When it's done right, it can be mesmerising, like Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or Mass Effect 2. But, mess it up, and you'll have trash like Duke Nukem Forever on your hands - and nobody wants that. 

With this in mind, sequels tend to suffer from way more scrutiny than the average release. While many gamers are willing to forgive flaws or oversights in a debut title, the same love is not often extended to follow-up games, as the weight of expectation sits heavily on their shoulders. This, sadly, means that plenty of games that would have otherwise been considered good, if not great, are thrust into a world of unjustified hatred. 

The following ten titles are strong examples, as while most of them are far from masterpieces, they have much more to offer than their haters think they do.

2008's Mirror's Edge made a pretty decent impression on the gaming landscape when it ran onto the scene, with many looking back on this free-running speed fest as a hidden gem that didn't get the attention it deserved - despite its generic-as-hell narrative. 

The follow-up, however, is not so fondly remembered. But was Mirror's Edge Catalyst really that bad? 

This prequel shifted from the first game's carefully constructed linear design to an open-world setting, allowing players to explore the city of Glass at their own discretion. However, this significant alteration, alongside the (once again) lacklustre story and clunky combat, drew plenty of ire from fans. 

Of course, while the transition from tightly designed linear levels to an open approach did neglect part of the original's appeal, the game still offered a fun environment to explore. Plus, the real highlight was the impeccable movement mechanics, which genuinely improved upon the original. The freerunning was smoother than ever, with a focus on momentum and exploration that often pushed you into addictive flow states. 

While not as good as the original, Catalyst was still a gorgeous-looking, high-octane parkour experience.