We live in the era of sequels, but not all sequels are created equal. Are you playing a true sequel, or do you want a prequel? Restart, extension, or maybe triple? Don't get caught, people. Our succession strategy will plan all out.
This post originally appeared on 9/26/18.
Here, informally, there are 12 types of video game sequences. Except for "threequel," because it's actually not a thing.
1. Ordinary Sequel
This is very straightforward for sequels. This is just another chapter that follows the most recent one, and then the story goes on. The sequel should not be the second game, it should be the next. If it's second, it might have been unplanned when the writers made the first one, even though it might have been a blink of an eye on someone in the writers' room. There's almost always a number in the name, which means you'll be getting more out of something you liked.
G / O Media may receive a commission
Examples: Basically any game with a number near the title.
2. Severely Delayed Sequel
Sometimes a game comes out, it's going right, and that's it. Years, maybe even decades, pass. Afterwards, some studio executives decided to resurrect it and give it another go. Usually a new game will be created by a completely different developer than the original. The announcement seems to come from nowhere, and is sometimes met with laughter or disbelief. Oh, clean, I remember that. How random.
Examples:Red Redemption, Duke Nukem Forever, Max Payne 3, Elite: It's dangerous
3. The Prequel
Though released recently, the prequel goes back to pre-events. This would be useful if, say, most beloved characters died in the main timeline, as the prequel allows everyone to go back to the time they were alive. It also allows authors to check for standard characters without having to worry about keeping an event timeline established at first entry.
Examples:Metal Gear Solid III, Metal Gear Solid V, Deus Ex: Man's Rebellion (of course the Prequel Delay Delight), The Origin of the Assassin's Cave