Game development is a long, grueling, and incredibly stressful endeavor, especially for indie games, which are often the effort of a small group with little funding or sometimes even a one or two-person team. Development times can vary, and it's a Herculean process shipping a game, let alone pivoting straight into a sequel, but sometimes it's a possibility.
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Posts 1As Hollow Knight, Oxenfree, Hades, and Slay the Spire have shown, indie game sequels are absolutely worth the wait. And the games discussed below should join these titles in receiving a sequel because their stories and gameplay can be taken to new creative heights, should developers give them a chance.
Beware of minor spoilers for some of the games mentioned below.
10 Sifu
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Roguelike Beat 'Em Up 4.0/5 Released February 8, 2022 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Sloclap Publisher(s) Sloclap Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S How Long To Beat 9 Hours Metascore 81 Powered by Expand CollapseSifu is a martial arts beat 'em up game with a Soulslike twist that had many flocking to it for its cinematic quality and relentless action movie-style experience, despite it being arguably more difficult than Elden Ring. Its inspirations are pretty clear and there are recognizable set piece fights done as homages to movies like Park Chan-wook's Oldboy.
Sifu also stands out with its visual progression throughout the game, which ages your character up each time you die, and it's something to expand on. Plus, there are plenty more iconic movies the developers could reference in a future installment, and remember, there could always be a different sifu (a Cantonese word for "teacher" or "master") rather than revisiting the protagonist of the first game.
9 Firewatch
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Adventure Released February 9, 2016 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Suggestive Themes, Nudity, Drug and Alcohol Reference, Strong Language Developer(s) Campo Santo Publisher(s) Campo Santo, Panic Platform(s) PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One How Long To Beat 4 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseFirewatch works as a standalone mystery. However, the relationship between Henry and Delilah is also worth exploring further in a sequel. Although the purpose is that these two characters never meet and only communicate via walkie-talkie, maybe it's time to see what it would be like if Henry and Delilah continued their relationship outside their professions as fire lookouts, or just knowing where they end up after the events of the first game.
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PostsFirewatch is one of gaming's most poignant and human stories, told in a walking simulator fashion and using the scenic backdrop of the Shoshone National Forest. Campo Santo was acquired by Valve Corporation and their next game set for release is In The Valley of Gods, but one could still hope this story gets the continuation it deserves.
8 Still Wakes The Deep
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Survival Horror Released June 18, 2024 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Tobacco, Strong Language Developer(s) The Chinese Room Publisher(s) Secret Mode Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseLike Outlast, Still Wakes the Deep has the potential to evolve into an excellent first-person survival horror franchise. The ending of the first game leaves many questions unanswered and sets up new plotlines, like what if the officers hunting down Caz were to investigate the aftermath of the Beira D explosion, or what if Cadal has another oil rig to advance its efforts?
Still Wakes the Deep is a short, quick, and immersive survival horror adventure that sees the crew of an oil rig succumb to an otherworldly infection that causes Lovecraftian-style body horror to take root. The voice acting, claustrophobic level design, and impeccable atmosphere are why the game earned five stars from us, so why not see more of it?
7 The Medium
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Survival Horror Released January 28, 2021 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Bloober Team Publisher(s) Bloober Team Platform(s) PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S How Long To Beat 8 Hours Metascore 75 Powered by Expand CollapseThe Medium is another horror game worthy of getting its own sequel. While Bloober Team was busy with remakes of Layers of Fear and Konami's Silent Hill 2, the split-screen 'dual reality' technology that allows your character to exist between two worlds has already been patented by the studio, and Bloober stated it has no intentions to use it for anything other than The Medium.
This technology is what made the game so compelling and unique compared to other singleplayer horror games of its kind, along with the gorgeous art style inspired by the works of Zdzislaw Beksinski and the Silent Hill-type atmosphere and story twists. The way the story concludes also leaves things on a massive cliffhanger, which needs to be resolved in a follow-up.
6 It Takes Two
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Action Adventure Released March 26, 2021 ESRB T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Hazelight Studios Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Platform(s) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch How Long To Beat 12 Hours Metascore 88 Powered by Expand CollapseWhile Cody and May's iconic journey may have reached a satisfying conclusion in It Takes Two, there can always be more work for Dr. Hakim and his relationship advice. Taking home 2021's Game of the Year accolade at the Game Awards and being the most acclaimed and beloved couch co-op title in recent memory, a sequel should definitely be considered. 'It Takes More,' anyone?
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PostsIt Takes Two focuses on the struggling relationship between husband and wife duo Cody and May, who transform into their daughter's dolls and must pass various puzzle-platforming trials in order to save their family. It's romantic, iconic, and fun for the whole family, so will Cody and May be back in couples therapy, or will a new couple stumble upon Dr. Hakim's book?
5 Outer Wilds
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Adventure Released May 28, 2019 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference Developer(s) Mobius Digital Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC How Long To Beat 16 Hours Metascore 88 Powered by Expand CollapseSince Obsidian's The Outer Worlds got itself a sequel, Outer Wilds should also receive a sequel to continue the funny trend of it confusing the heck out of players with its similar-sounding name. In all seriousness, Outer Wilds is an indie space travel game that's one of the most universally praised and acclaimed, and its story and lore do set things up for a potential sequel.
Similar to the Engineers in the Alien universe, Outer Wilds introduces an alien species known as the Nomai responsible for the creation of advanced technology seen throughout the game's fictional solar system, whose secrets your protagonist seeks to discover more about. The ending only begs more questions and literally creates a whole new Nomai universe to explore.
4 Tunic
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Adventure 4.0/5 Released March 16, 2022 ESRB e Developer(s) Andrew Shouldice Publisher(s) Finji Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S How Long To Beat 12 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseIn an interview with Game Rant, Tunic developer Andrew Shouldice revealed he has no plans for a potential sequel, but never say never. Tunic is a beautifully crafted isometric Soulslike RPG that stars a fox in shining armor (or a tunic in this case), who goes dungeon crawling and fighting enemies across a variety of low-poly environments.
The puzzles and exploration that Tunic brings are lighthearted, memorable, and rewarding. The story and worldbuilding could also benefit from a continuation, possibly delving into a more co-op experience now that the fox and the Heir stand united as friends.
3 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
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Adventure Released September 21, 2021 ESRB T for Teen: Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Ember Lab Publisher(s) Ember Lab Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S How Long To Beat 10 Hours Metascore 81 Powered by Expand CollapseWhile Kena: Bridge of Spirits ends on a hopeful note and brings the story to a proper close, there can always be some reason to bring back the Rot God's corruption, and by default, the main characters along with it. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a gorgeous Soulslike adventure with a Disney movie feel and Zelda-esque gameplay, and its success certainly makes it worthy of a sequel.
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PostsThe narrative follows Kena, a spirit guide, and her cute companion Rot as they battle all sorts of enemies and bosses, which become as challenging as any of those in a FromSoftware game. The art style and environments are breathtaking, and seeing a more expansive sequel set in this world would be as magical as Kena's abilities.
2 Night In The Woods
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Adventure Released February 21, 2017 ESRB T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Developer Infinite Fall Publisher Infinite Fall How Long To Beat 9 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseAnother Finji-published indie in dire need of a sequel is Night in the Woods. Mae Borowski is one of the best protagonists ever created in gaming. A college dropout dealing with life back home, she's ultra-relatable and incredibly sympathetic, despite being a 2D anthropomorphic animal character. Night in the Woods shouldn't be where Mae's story ends, nor the sinister undercurrents of Possum Springs.
Possum Springs has the potential to be the next Twin Peaks or Riverdale with all the dark small-town secrets and supernatural mysteries that occur in it. It could be the cult operating out of the mine was just the beginning, and that maybe a new villainous presence will arise in the sequel. Better yet – what if the Black Goat cult resurfaces?
1 Cuphead
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Platformer Released September 29, 2017 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Developer(s) Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. Publisher(s) Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Powered by Expand CollapseWhile Cuphead fans were treated to The Delicious Last Course DLC and The Cuphead Show! on Netflix, this incredibly challenging 2D platformer is one you can never get enough of. Even if Studio MDHR decides that Cuphead will only live on in TV show form, so be it, but there's still no harm in asking for a sequel, which can really run wild with the character designs and new levels.
Cuphead is a cartoony 1930s Disney-inspired platforming adventure following protagonists Cuphead and Mugman (with a co-op option available to play both characters), and it's designed like Super Mario Bros. on Popeye's spinach diet. Every section is tough, yet the villains and storyline still manage to be fun and whimsical. Cuphead and Mugman make an iconic duo that shouldn't be left in the dust.
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