10 Video Game Sequels That Went Super Dark

Many of our favorite games get sequels and that is usually a certainty if a game sells well and receives positive reviews. Some video game franchises have endured through multiple decades with new entries, spin-offs, reboots, remakes and remasters.

The Legend of Zelda, Mario and Final Fantasy are all good examples of this where most new entries innovate to remain modern and interesting while staying true to their characters, themes and stories. Occasionally a game will receive an instalment which completely shifts away from the original title in terms of tone, theme or gameplay.

We have all experienced our favorite games receiving sequels that disappointed or thrilled us regardless of our feelings toward the first entry in the series or franchise.

Whether it was transitioning to a different genre, introducing new mechanics or focusing on different characters, game sequels can certainly be divisive. There are some games which have been much bleaker and dismal than anything that came before them.

Let's look at times video game franchises received new entries that went really dark.

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has certainly been a troubled one, with multiple muddled entries and games that were downright bizarre, bonkers and bad. So when Sega released Shadow the Hedgehog in 2005, none of us were entirely surprised at the mature themes and dark aesthetic on display.

The game follows Shadow as he tears through the non-linear levels with guns and other weapons to unravel his past since he is suffering from amnesia. Oh and of course you are also fending off an alien invasion, fighting against the race called the Black Arms.

The game was much darker and more mature than any other game before it, since the Sonic titles were always colorful, optimistic adventures with a bubbly cast of lovable characters. Shadow the Hedgehog actually received an E10+ rating from the ESRB for mile fantasy violence and some profanity, becoming the first ever entry in the long running game series to have the rating.

While the game didn't review particularly well, something we did enjoy is the non-linear story and multiple endings. Depending on the path you take through the game and the decisions you make, different outcomes will be achieved which range from setting out to take on the Black Arms invasion or a decision t destroy the planet.