Every time a successful game is released, talk inevitably turns to when a sequel will be developed. The proliferation of sequels in gaming is such that seeing brand new franchises is a rare event.
Of course, not every sequel turns out to be as successful as the original. In some cases, game sequels can actually be so bad that they even spoil the series completely. Here are 10 of the worst game sequels so bad they ruined the entire series.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Mass Effect is arguably one of the best trilogies in the gaming industry, at least in recent times. The sci-fi RPG franchise was a critical and commercial hit, so further entries in the series were almost guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the first sequel outside of the original trilogy was Mass Effect: Andromeda. The main issues with the title came with its presentation. Simply put, there were just too many technical issues and graphical problems. Combine that with an underwhelming story and the game just failed to live up to expectations.
Star Fox Adventures
Considered by itself, Star Fox Adventures is not really all that bad of a game. But what makes this 2002 release so disappointing is the fact that it is nothing like the two Star Fox games that came before it. Rare’s take on the franchise saw a departure from spaceship combat to more of an action-adventure experience. The change of direction was just something that most fans of the series did not want. Despite several more titles following it in the series, sadly, a proper sequel has yet to be released.
Medal of Honor: Warfighter
At one point, the Medal of Honor series was one of the best first-person shooter franchises in gaming. That all changed in 2010 with the release of Medal of Honor: Warfighter. The game was meant to be a response to the success of games like the Call of Duty franchise. Unfortunately, Warfighter was too reliant on trying to copy Activision’s shooter and had none of its own ideas. The end result was a sloppy mess that was plagued with glitches and bland action sequences.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst
When EA released Mirror’s Edge in 2008, it quickly garnered a dedicated cult following. While it was never a huge commercial success, vocal fans demanded a proper sequel for almost a decade. EA answered those pleas in 2016 with Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst. Despite the anticipation for the title, it turned out to be disappointing to most players. The open world meant levels felt confusing and less memorable than those from its predecessor. Meanwhile, a completely forgettable story left no lasting impression.
Alone in the Dark
The sixth game in the series that began in 1992, 2008’s Alone in the Dark was meant to be a glorious return for the psychological horror series. Yet, when it did finally hit store shelves seven years after its predecessor, few people were enamored with the end result. Critics called out its bland story and lack of truly frightening moments. In fact, reviews of the game were so disappointing that Atari threatened legal action against several publications. But even that controversy couldn’t distract from the poor sequel.
Duke Nukem Forever
In the 1990s, Duke Nukem was one of the most popular first-person shooter franchises. By the time that Duke Nukem Forever released in 2011, the world had changed but this series had not. The game just feels like something from a different time. Whether it is the offensive jokes, the old fashioned tropes, or just outdated gameplay, it has been utterly left behind by modern shooters. Anyone who waited the 15 years for this sequel would have been severely disappointed.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has fallen somewhat over the last decade. New games just cannot recapture the charm and success of the early titles in the series. However, the 2006 game is arguably the worst sequel in this once-great franchise. Touted as the game that would revive the fortunes of Sega’s mascot, it utterly failed in every possible regard. Whether it was the clunky controls, nonsensical story, or game-breaking technical issues, there is nothing redeemable about Sonic ’06.
Perfect Dark Zero
Perfect Dark is widely considered to be one of the best shooters of all time. The 2000 game helped set the standard for the FPS genre, building on the success of the 1997 game GoldenEye. When Microsoft announced they were working on a sequel for the Xbox 360, fans were understandably excited. Disappointingly, what these fans got was 2005’s Perfect Dark Zero, a game failed to move with the times. The developers just didn’t update the game to make it appeal to a modern audience, leading to poor sales and reviews.
Bomberman: Act Zero
Most gamers will remember Bomberman as a colorful puzzle-based maze game that was popular in the ’80s. But in 2006, somebody had the bright idea of making a gritty reboot of the series, Bomberman: Act Zero. Taking the Bomberman formula into a dystopian future with dark and mature themes simply did not work. What made matters worse is the dated graphics and a number of technical problems. This game effectively killed the franchise for a number of years.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5
Many gamers remember a time when the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series was a dominant force. In recent years, the skateboarding genre has faded almost entirely from view. A big reason for that is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5. This 2015 game was an absolutely awful experience. Terrible controls, a wide array of glitches, and underwhelming locations resulted in a game with almost no redeeming qualities. It is no wonder that the franchise went into hibernation since this release. Although, the franchise is about to come back in a big way. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remakes are set for release on September 4, 2020.
What game sequels are so bad they ruined the entire series for you? Sound off in the comments below!
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