10 Video Game Sequels That Surpassed The Original In Every Way
If at first you don't succeed... you're probably a game developer.
It's a common notion in the world of movies that the sequel is never good at the original, but in the world of gaming, they can be viewed quite a bit differently.
Video game sequels 'cashing in' on the success of the original is often viewed as a good thing, since due to that success, the developers will likely have more money, time, workers and above all, experience as they go into future instalments, resulting in much better games almost every time.
In this list, we will look at the sequels that did just that.
Just to be clear, I'm talking about 'first sequels', as some series have taken a number of games to get it just right. A Link Between Worlds surpassed the original Legend of Zelda, but was the third game of the franchise, for example.
Here we're looking at the games who got it right on their very second try. These are the best video game sequels that were better in almost every single way.
10. Red Dead Redemption
In 2010, Rockstar released Red Dead Redemption, a spiritual successor to their and Capcom's 2004 title, Red Dead Revolver. While the respective styles of the two games are very different, (Revolver being a more straightforward action game with linear progression and Redemption being an open world sandbox with a more complex story), the story of John Marston is still technically a sequel, and is objectively leagues better than it's predecessor.
Redemption's gameplay and mechanics borrow heavily form Rockstar's flagship series, Grand Theft Auto, yet moreover, the narrative is something to behold in and of itself. John Marston is easily one of the most well-rounded characters Rockstar has ever created, and you genuinely feel like you begin to know more and more about who he is as the game progresses.
In addition, the Undead Nightmare expansion was so great that it effectively became one of the single best zombie games of the last decade, eventually getting its own standalone disc release. This is the icing on the cake to a Rockstar title that is truly a modern masterpiece.