There are quite a few games that have expanded the overall world in which they have been set, and coming up with a bigger (and mostly better) sequels. In this article, we look at 8 such games that can potentially become a trilogy by landing a third great game in the series – one that can either take the series to a high like The Witcher series with the third one being the best game of the trilogy; or botch up the landing like Mass Effect 3.
Star Wars Jedi : Fallen Order / Star Wars Jedi : Survivor
| Release Year | 2019, 2023 |
| Developer | Respawn Entertainment |
| Publisher | EA |
When Star Wars Jedi : Fallen Order was first announced by EA, not many expected it to be the kind of experience that it turned out to be : a refreshing coming of age story with some pretty decent lightsaber combat and tough as nails boss fights not very different from a souls-like. This coupled with platforming and traversal challenges, some great story beats and cameos from the Star Wars universe made the first game a bona fide hit, and to no ones’ surprise, a sequel was announced.
Star Wars Jedi : Survivor fleshed out the main protagonist and the supporting cast more, added a lot more exploration opportunities, expanded the repertoire of lightsaber options to include dual-wield, heavy and a gun + lightsaber combination as well. Overall, in spite of launch day issues, the game was received well. The sequel also did the smart thing of building upon all the abilities learnt by the protagonist from the first game, rather than starting from scratch again.
Horizon Zero Dawn / Forbidden West
| Release Year | 2017, 2022 |
| Developer | Guerrilla Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
The first game in the series, Horizon Zero Dawn came out in 2017 and was an instant hit – the world-building was great : it was a post-apocalyptic world but very different from a Fallout or Mad Max. What starts of as a tale of a small tribe in one corner of the world, like any good story, keeps adding layers and mysteries with a healthy doze of sci-fi to become something that concerns the entire world. The sequel, like any good sequel serves up a bigger and better helping in all aspects – right from the story, to the overall world, to combat and to side activities and missions that fill up the world. The story after the second game (and the DLC) is at a point such that it is nicely setup for a grand finale; and should be an easy shoo in for a third game that will hopefully close the arc of Aloy (the first and second games protagonist) on a high.
Last Of Us Part I / II
| Release Year | 2013, 2020 |
| Developer | Naughty Dog |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Last Of Us Part 1 is probably one of the greatest video games ever made – the first half an hour strikes an emotional chord the way few experiences across TV, movies or games can; and the ending is one of the most talked about ones. The second entry was a divisive one – while it was received well across critics, it did not come anywhere close to be accepted by gamers, who were not able to get over a major decision around one of the key characters early on in the game. While combat, and the open zones in which each chapter played out were bigger with some variety in basic puzzle solving; the interaction between characters, the storyline that made an impact the first time were missing in the second one. A potential third game in the series which harkens back to what made the first one so great would be a perfect and fitting way to end the trilogy on a high, rather than where it sits right now.
Red Dead Redemption I / II
| Release Year | 2010, 2018 |
| Developer | Rockstar Games |
| Publisher | Rockstar Games |
The first one was a great western story of vengeance with everyone unanimously praising the depiction of the old West, the characters, and the plot. The second one, improbably, showed that it could still be done better, and is a vast, sweeping reflection on passing of the old ways under the intractable pushing ahead of the conveniences and progress of the modern world. A world-building that is incredibly detailed and filled to the brim with mysteries and easter eggs that people are still discovering; the sequel is one of the most complete gaming experiences of all time (with a finale that packs an emotional wallop even though you know it is coming). If Rockstar Studios is able to maintain the same trajectory of improvement, we are in for something special if and when the third one in this video game franchise comes about.
Spiderman I / II
| Release Year | 2019, 2022 |
| Developer | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
The games that took away the best superhero game distinction from the Batman Arkham trilogy; Spiderman I and II both have set benchmarks on how to tell a great story, make us feel like Spiderman when traversing across the city, come out with an extremely polished and refined game mounted on an epic scale with the high production values clearly evident in each and every frame. These are games which utilize the capabilities of a PS5 to the max; and it will be interesting how and when does the third game land – and whether it will help elevate the trilogy also above the Batman Arkham series
God of War / God of War Ragnarok
| Release Year | 2018, 2022 |
| Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
God of War was a brave step for Sony – first, uprooting the setting from Greek to Norse mythology, then taking an iconic character in an iconic franchise and giving him a different twist : he is no longer the young, angry Kratos full of anger and rage and out to destroy the Gods, he is a mature, subdued father happy to lead a simple life in one isolated corner. But, this worked perfectly well – the game, and the storyline added an emotional angle into the mix which elevated the game series. The sequel applied more of the same, but in a good way – and while pushing Kratos’s son almost to the forefront of the story, it worked since it completed a development arc for the relationship between Kratos and his son over the two games. If the developers can do to this series what God of War 3 did to the original Greek trilogy for God of War, then we are in for a treat!
Final Fantasy VII Remake / Rebirth
| Release Year | 2020, 2024 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
The only confirmed game on this list, the final game will bring to a close what has been a brilliant remake of a beloved and fan favorite entry in the Final Fantasy franchise, and both games have made their mark as one of the best games in their respective years of launch. And while the story is already known, the scale at which the key plot points have landed in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth makes the final game of the trilogy an almost assured hit – there is no way the final game in the trilogy is going to be anything less than a monster hit and is easily one of the most eagerly anticipated titles.
Dishonored I / II
| Release Year | 2012, 2016 |
| Developer | Arkane Studios |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
Going by the recent hit that Arkane Studios has taken thanks to Redfall, it is easy to forget that they have been the creative minds behind Dishonored – a unique blend of stealth gameplay, magical abilities set in some great gameplay levels ( the Clockwork Mansion would easily find a spot among the very best levels across games) and an intriguing world. The second game built upon the first one by giving us two playable characters and different endings depending on how you approached the game – and increasing replayability. This is a franchise just waiting to cap the promise of the two games into one of the best game trilogies of all time
Which of these do you think will convert to a great trilogy if and when the third game launches? Do let us know in the comments below. You may also want to check out our list of the 15 best game trilogies of all time, ranked
