In the video game industry nowadays, new IPs either hit the ground running or become obscure for good. It's easy to see why many developers choose to opt for sequels instead. Regardless of what people may think about this trend, there's no denying that players who are invested in a particular game love the idea of exploring those same worlds in a bigger and better way.
Sometimes, video games end up being so beloved that fans worry that their sequels may not live up to the original's greatness. This can either be because of a change in direction, problems in development, or a sketchy past record. These titles, however, did their predecessors proud.
7 BioShock Infinite
Many people considered BioShock 2 an underwhelming experience, with many fans wondering if they would be sick of another title in the series. Since the new game ditched the setting of Rapture for the more open area of Columbia, many fans worried if the game would even retain its horror roots.
Suffice it to say, BioShock: Infinite crushed any worries with its release and ended up being one of the greatest video games of all time. While players may find faults with its story in modern times, there's no denying that BioShock Infinite is still an entertaining thrill ride that will keep players hooked till the very end.
6 Metro Exodus
The Metro series features tough-as-nails gameplay. Players have to navigate claustrophobic spaces where nightmarish enemies lurk in the shadows. Taking too much damage can cause a player's gas mask to crack, leading to a slow and painful death unless players replace this vital piece of equipment.
When Metro Exodus was revealed to have open-world elements, many fans of the series wondered how this tight and unnerving gameplay would translate over to this genre. However, it didn't take long for this game to silence its critics. It was a masterpiece of immersion and first-person shooting that more people need to check out.
5 Dark Souls 3
After Dark Souls 2 was dismissed as mediocre, fans wondered if the third game would live up to the standards set by the original. After all, the first Dark Souls is touted by many as one of the greatest action games ever made, and it would be hard to top that.
Thankfully, Dark Souls 3 was another Miyazaki masterpiece that proved why this game director deserves his lofty reputation. The game linked itself with the story of the first game while expanding on the lore. Today, many consider it one of the best hardcore action games ever made.
4 Far Cry 5
Ubisoft's copy-paste open-world design was at its worst with Far Cry 4, leaving many fans skeptical about the next game in the series. Many players were wary about Far Cry 5, not convinced that it would be innovative enough to justify a purchase.
Thankfully, Far Cry 5 actually freshened up the franchise. The infernal towers were gone, secrets were more carefully constructed, and combat was more action-packed than ever before... even if the enemy spawning was a bit too aggressive for its own good.
3 Age Of Empires 4
Age of Empires 4 was a long time in the making. While the third game in the series was great, it didn't live up to the legacy of its predecessor, and fans were worried that this title would share the same fate.
However, upon release, Age of Empires 4 turned out to be a great callback that fans loved to play through. While some felt it emulated Age of Empires 2's gameplay to a fault, the modernization of these classic elements was still welcomed by the masses. Players loved the single-player campaign and how it structured itself as a historical documentary.
2 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest open-world games ever made. However, in the six years since, its sequel got delayed over and over again while people questioned the Switch's hardware and whether it even had the power to run a game that was proving to be more complex than ever before.
However, after multiple delays and a string of trailers and gameplay reveals that showed just how deep the game's mechanics were going to be, Tears of the Kingdom was released to massive critical and commercial acclaim. The sheer amount of creativity present in this game is amazing, and fans still can't believe that this mind-blowing title is running on the outdated hardware of the Switch without too many performance issues.
1 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition suffered from a poorly-managed development cycle. It didn't help that many loyal fans were quite angry with the smaller focus and homogenized approach of Dragon Age 2. So, it's easy to see why many players were tempering their expectations when it came to this title.
Thankfully, Dragon Age: Inquisition brought back the epic scope of the narrative while integrating many new gameplay systems of its own that were engaging in their own right. The lack of a proper conclusion to the base game's narrative irritated many fans, but it was a small gripe in what was otherwise an excellent addition to Dragon Age's legacy.