The video game industry is built off of sequels and spin-offs, and it’s not hard to see why. Have a new idea but scared it won’t sell? Don’t worry, slap an already popular franchise on it and wait for the cash to flow in! Fans of the series will gobble it up, and those who weren’t into it before might be interested in a new genre or starting point.
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What constitutes a spin-off may differ from person to person. For some, when a game series takes on a new entire genre, it’s given that label, however, some spin-offs are still very similar to the parent franchise. Whatever the definition, we’re going to look at the best of the best. Here are 10 video game spin-offs that were better than the main franchise.
10Persona
For about a decade,Shin Megami Tenseiwas developerAtlus' golden goose. Popular in Japan, the franchise, originally based on the sci-fi novelsDigital Devil Story, allows players to fight and collect demons similar toPokémon, but with a little more variety in terms of gameplay. As a more experimental franchise, it was only a matter of time before a spin-off came around. That’s essentiallyPersona.
While the franchise doesn’t differ too much fromShin Megami Tensei,these games do come with a different visual style with a more jazzy soundtrack. These were enough to really set it apart, however, and nowPersonais probably more popular than the series that it spawned from.
9Apex Legends
Look, we here atGameRantadore theTitanfallseries, but its spin-off,Apex Legends, has taken off way more than the original franchise could have ever imagined. Developed byRespawn Entertainment,Titanfallcaptivated gamers with its unique blend of first-person shooting action and sci-fi mech-based combat. Despite this, however, its lack of a single-player campaign turned fans off. So, they decided to give it another shot with a sequel, but going up against other massive games that holiday season leftTitanfall 2feeling like one of the most overlooked games of the decade.
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So, without any marketing behind it, Respawn brought us back to the same world, but for free (and fewer mechs), with the battle royalApex Legends. Piggybacking on the popularity of titles likePUBGandFortnite,Apex Legendsbecame one of the most popular games of the decade and is still enjoyed by a thriving online community.
8Hyrule Warriors
Koei Tecmo stumbled onto a pretty popular formula when they releasedDynasty Warriors 2in 2000. Moving away from the straight-up fighting genre, the second game in the franchise worked as a hack-and-slash, giving players waves of enemies to take on in a franchise that is incredibly deep despite its shallow appearance. While popular, however, the series does get a lot of flack for its repetitive nature, but one spin-off appears to be almost universally beloved —Hyrule Warriors.
Taking the basic run to location, fight enemies gameplay model,Hyrule Warriorsis a love letter to anyone who adoresThe Legend of Zelda. With an overwhelming number of characters to choose from and countless weapons fromNintendo’s series, there’s a lot to love with this one.
7Forza Horizon
WhenForza Motorsportwas first introduced toXboxplayers back in 2005, it always felt likeMicrosoft’s answer toGran Turismo. While that label could be debated, there’s no doubt that this franchise became the premiere driving series with an emphasis on realism and accuracy — right down to the stitching on the steering wheel. For gearheads,Forzais a dream come true, but for fans of a more arcade-centric experience, it was a little too intense.
That could be why we got theForza Horizonseries. Taking players away from the professional tracks,Horizonis street centric with a big open world to drive through across various locations throughout the series. In many ways,Horizon’sapproach to the genre made it much better thanMotorsport.
6Fallout: New Vegas
Bethesda Softworks' revival ofInterplay’sFalloutuniverse inFallout 3resulted in one of the most belovedRPGsof an entire generation. With a massive open-world full of interesting characters just waiting to be explored, players spent hundreds of hours traversing the wasteland. No one could have imagined another developer topping it, but no one counted on Obsidian taking a stab at the world.
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The result wasFallout: New Vegas,a spinoff that does everything the third game in the series did, but better. With an unforgettable cast, an intriguing plot where you attempt to solve your own murder and sidequests that deserve their own game,New Vegasis a favorite in theFalloutcommunity.
5Final Fantasy: Tactics
Regardless of how you feel about some of the more recentFinal Fantasygames, one thing is for sure — it is one of the most enduring franchises of all time. Part of that has been accomplished by strong writing featuring memorable characters, but another factor is the series' ability to stay fresh by introducing new elements in every game. A result of this mindset createdTactics.
Jumping away from the traditional JRPG formula that fans adored by 1997,Tacticsearned its name by taking inspiration from titles likeFire Emblemand other Tactical RPGs. With an isometric gameboard, some random encounters, and beautiful visuals,Final Fantasy Tacticsis an experience unlike any other.
4Super Smash Bros.
It may be unfair to callSuper Smash Bros.a spin-off, but it is difficult to classify it as anything else. A true love letter to the most ridiculous things in gaming, this franchise is the biggest crossover in the industry with the most recent game featuring 74 fighters across multiple franchises.
While the online play can be a little intimidating with one of the most competitive scenes around, this series has something for everyone, even if you’re not a fan of fighters. While it’s not a spin-off of a specific franchise,Super Smash Bros. is a must-play series for anyone who enjoys gaming.
3Metroid Prime
TheMetroidfranchise was so influential when it released that it helped spawn a whole genre — the Metroidvania. This type of game is essentially shorthand for 2D action platformers with RPG mechanics and non-linear map progression, andSuper Metroidcould be considered the very best the genre has to offer. So, when Nintendo announced that a new developer would handle the franchise and put it in a 3D world, people were nervous.
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The result, however, was a trilogy that rivals the very best, topping what we could ever expect from the franchise. The worlds were bigger and better than ever before, the lore was richer than we ever imagined, and the gameplay was incredibly satisfying to boot.
2Portal
Believe it or not,Portaltakes place in theHalf-Lifeuniverse. Though, if you didn’t believe us, it would be kind of strange since the series is riddled with references to the popular franchise. Still, nods to the past aside,Portalreally feels like its own experience compared to the two games that came before it. With a much heavier focus on puzzle-solving and no real combat to speak of, this game feels as far away from Gordon Freeman’s adventure as possible.
We know saying any game is better thanHalf-Lifeis heresy, but from a pure gameplay perspective,Portalis a little more polished and plays a little better to modern gamers. Plus, its take on the genre is so incredibly fresh, its hard to find any criticism in either game in the series.
1Super Mario Bros.
When we were first introduced to the world of Mario was in the famousDonkey Kongarcade game. In this title, players took control of Jumpman as he tried to save the damsel in distress, Paulina, from a dangerous ape, Donkey Kong. The franchise was popular and spawned some sequels that altered the gameplay a little bit, but no one could ever imagine the franchise spinning off and becoming as popular as it did.
The result wasMario Bros.and eventuallySuper Mario Bros.which, likeDonkey Kongbefore it, focused heavily on platforming. However, the latter of theMariogames shook things up with a focus on home-console play. Not only did this franchise spawn the most recognizable gaming character ever, but it also changed how we play video games.
