In a perfect world, great games would always get great sequels. Continuing the story, expanding on the world, or just delivering more world-class gameplay are all perfect reasons to turn a wonderful standalone experience into a franchise. We don't live in a perfect world, though; studio closures, IP disputes, and personal troubles can all prevent a one-off game from getting the sequel it deserves.
Related25 Best Sci-Fi RPGs, Ranked
There have been some amazing Sci-Fi inspired RPGs over the years. Here are some of the best ever made.
PostsSci-fi titles seem particularly susceptible to this; for every Starcraft 2 there are plenty of high-tech, spacefaring adventures just waiting to continue into the unknown. Some of these games still have a chance of spawning a successor, but others will remain lone points of light.
9 Stellaris
It's likely a given that Stellaris will get a sequel at some point - for all we know, it could already be in development. As it stands right now, though, the space 4X extravaganza is continually being supported and expanded, making a sequel in the reasonably near future unlikely.
If and when it finally happens, Stellaris 2 will see a lot of strategy gamers clearing their weekend schedule.
Stellaris
4X Grand Strategy Released May 9, 2016 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Violent References, Mild Language Developer(s) Paradox Development Studio Publisher(s) Paradox Interactive Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse8 Alien: Isolation
It took 35 years, but Alien: Isolation finally managed to distill the lurking, claustrophobic terror of the original 1979 film into a video game. As Ellen Ripley's daughter Amanda, you have to evade hostile androids and a single, everpresent xenomorph in a struggle for survival.
Isolation earned praise and awards for its pulse-pounding tension and fidelity to the films. It turns ten years old this fall, and it's understandable if developer Creative Assembly is hesitant to try and improve on perfection, but a sequel to Isolation could be the Portal 2 of sci-fi horror.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedAlien: Isolation
Survival Horror Systems 9.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 76% Released October 7, 2014 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Creative Assembly Publisher(s) Sega Engine CathodeWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALAlien: Isolation is a critically acclaimed survival horror title from Creative Assembly. As Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen, you must investigate the space station Sevastopol — which hosts a deadly threat.
Platform(s) PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC, Android, iOS Powered by Expand Collapse7 EVE Online
How would a sequel to EVE Online even work? Players have poured thousands of hours into the game over the last two decades, building mighty space corporations and creating some of the most thrilling emergent narratives that video games have ever seen. Players wouldn't want to start from scratch migrating to a sequel, but jumping into a new game where other players have a twenty-year head start doesn't feel great either.
EVE has been doing quite well for itself without a sequel, but all things must end. When the time comes, will EVE Online 2 create a new generation of ruthless space capitalists, or will the book simply close on one of the most fascinating studies in online cooperation and competition the world has ever seen?
EVE Online
MMORPG Released May 6, 2003 ESRB T for Teen: Violence Developer(s) CCP Games Publisher(s) CCP Games, Atari, Simon and Schuster Interactive Platform(s) PC Powered by Expand Collapse6 Bulletstorm
The mega-success of Call Of Duty means that most FPS titles are gritty, semi-realistic military shooters. Bulletstorm said, "to hell with that," and gave us a dynamic, over-the-top action rampage that's as fun as it is irreverent. Using incredible sci-fi weapons and an energy lash to toss enemies around, Bulletstorm rewarded creative combos and quick thinking.
Related10 Best VR Horror Games
There's no better way to experience real horror.
PostsWhile it received a remaster and a VR remake, we still haven't had the pleasure of a second campaign to "kill with skill." The ending of the original sets up a sequel, and developer People Can Fly said in 2019 that they'd like to do a sequel, so maybe there's hope that General Sarrano will finally get his comeuppance yet.
Bulletstorm
First-Person Shooter Systems Released February 22, 2011WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL5 FTL: Faster Than Light
A good run in FTL: Faster Than Light makes you feel like you're on the bridge of the Enterprise at red alert; in a great run, you actually survive the encounter. The pixelated gem that put Subset Games on the map is one of the finest roguelikes ever made thanks to its tough-but-fair gameplay and plethora of secrets to unlock.
FTL has been fine-tuned to perfection and translated into at least nine languages. A sequel to this modern classic (or, for that matter, its equally-excellent successor, Into The Breach) would be welcomed by fans the world over.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedFTL: Faster Than Light
Strategy Roguelike Systems Released September 14, 2012 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Subset Games Publisher(s) Subset GamesWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL4 Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Since 1991, countless games of Civilization have ended with an empire sending a colony to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, to begin the next chapter for humanity. In the spinoff game, named after the neighboring star, you got to take command of the interstellar settlers and create that next chapter yourself.
Alpha Centauri got a spiritual successor in Civilization: Beyond Earth, but never a proper sequel. A new game in either series would be a gift for strategy gamers.
3 Ghostwire: Tokyo
Ghostwire: Tokyo is a recent hit from Tango Gameworks, praised for its beautiully-presented occult cyberpunk world. Under normal circumstances, it would be much to early to say that a sequel isn't in the cards, but in spite of Tango's success, parent company XBox Games recently shuttered the developer, laying off an entire studio of extremely talented people just to pad the bottom line.
When the only decision that ultimately matters is one of money, it's clear that even if a sequel were to be made under a different label it would lack the special qualities that made the original stand out.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Action Adventure 4.0/5 Released March 25, 2022 ESRB T for Teen: Language, Violence Developer(s) Tango Gameworks Publisher(s) Bethesda Platform(s) PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse2 Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush is a fun, flashy sci-fi romp with rhythm combat. We loved it here at TheGamer, with many of our editors including it in theri Top Tenfor 2023. That makes is sting all the more that its success wasn't enough to save it from the same crushing layoffs that robbed any hope of a second Ghostwire.
As our Editor-In-Chief Stacey Henley points out, firing people after they bring in widespread praise doesn't actually make much sense. Then again, what hope does a bright, colorful game about rebellion have when even the studio behind a generational title can get the axe? After all, being one of the best games of the decade didn't save our top entry on this list...
Hi-Fi Rush
Action 4.5/5 Released January 25, 2023 ESRB Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Tango Gameworks Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Unreal Engine 4 Platform(s) Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PS5 How Long To Beat 8-10 Hours Powered by Expand Collapse1 Prey
Arkane Austin's masterpiece has everything you could want in a sci-fi horror game. It's immersive, mysterious, perfectly-paced, and terrifying. The shocker of an ending just makes you want to restart the game immediately, and its frightful mutant powers give you an edge in combat at the cost of your humanity.
Arkane Austin was shut down the same day as Tango Gameworks. We won't get to see how the fate of Talos Station affects the world, or what a possible Typhoon infestation of Earth could look like. This is why we can't have nice things.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
LikePrey
FPS Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 75% Released May 5, 2017 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) Arkane Studios Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine id Tech 4 Multiplayer Local MultiplayerWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTION18 Scariest Monsters In Horror Games
These are some gaming monsters you wouldn’t want to run into on a dark night.
Posts
