20 game series that deserve a new sequel or remake
By Dave Aubrey
These days most big-budget games that get released are sequels. Even the ones that aren’t sequels are firmly slotted into a familiar genre, usually open world action RPG. Do I want developers to be given the freedom to make brand new games, like 2025’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Yes. Do I also want sequels to the best games from my childhood? Also yes.
I’ve been alive for more than three decades and have witnessed games transition from 2D sprites and 8-bit soundtracks into an era of realistic rendering that looks more like a TV show or movie than a video game, and in that time a lot of truly fantastic games have been entirely forgotten about.
Sometimes publishers just refuse to give gamers the games they want, and I’m breaking down 20 of the best games and franchises that fans believe deserve sequels, ports, remakes, just something new. These are in no particular order, but you probably already have a tier list of your own in mind.
Banjo-Kazooie
For a long time I argued that Banjo-Kazooie was a better overall game than Super Mario 64. I’m now old enough to realize just how absurd that claim was, but it hasn’t stopped me from loving Banjo-Kazooie and even Banjo-Tooie. The whimsical and sarcastic world that Rare had created was unlike any other, and surprisingly well developed. Unfortunately, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts barely counts as a sequel, and I have no idea if we’ll ever see Banjo star in a true platforming adventure again.
Binary Domain
On launch Binary Domain was seen as a fairly standard third-person shooter, but it’s deceptive. It was actually developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, now acclaimed for the Yakuza or Like A Dragon series. It had a hyped – and derided – voice command feature, but it should be remembered for the Trust system, which has your teammates' feelings about you change depending on how you direct them in battle. This ultimately leads to different end sequences, making Binary Domain distinct and memorable for those who played it.
Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer’s original arcade iteration recently returned with Arcade Archives on Nintendo Switch 2 and more, so it hasn’t been totally forgotten, but the last “new” Ridge Racer game to receive any kind of critical praise was 2011’s Ridge Racer 3D. The last all-original console game was 2012’s Ridge Racer Unbounded, and the two games since have both been free-to-play mobile fodder. After going back to the arcade original I found myself hungry for more fast-paced drifting action, and that’s exactly why we need a brand new Ridge Racer game.
Syphon Filter
Syphon Filter was a premier spy action game in its day, but sadly hasn’t had an opportunity for a brand new title in just shy of 20 years. This was the spy-action franchise before Splinter Cell rolled around, and competed head-to-head against Metal Gear Solid. Sadly there hasn’t been a new entry since 2007, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.
Jade Empire
Before BioWare was known for Dragon Age and Mass Effect, Jade Empire was going to be the studio’s big breakout game, a “dream project” for the studio’s founders. That was the intention, at least. Jade Empire fused Chinese mythology and martial arts with BioWare’s patented RPG gameplay, and it has plenty of fans that swear by it, but it’s been mostly forgotten about now. No matter how much fans plead for a sequel, it’s unlikely that BioWare will ever develop a Jade Empire game again.
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs might be the best GTA clone ever made. Calling it a GTA clone might sound like an insult, but there have been dozens of attempts and imitators, and only a few made any kind of lasting impact. If you want a lasting impact you can forget about True Crime or Saints Row, Sleeping Dogs is the game you need to play. This mafia-inspired open-world adventure shouldn’t be missed by anyone that loves cars, guns, and action.
Pokémon Conquest
Pokémon is an iconic RPG series, but for some reason it’s only had one turn-based strategy RPG spin-off. Back in 2012 Tecmo Koei and The Pokémon Company teamed up for Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition, known internationally as Pokémon Conquest. Legendary Japanese historical figures fight to take control of Japan via grid-based strategy combat and Pokémon abilities. This should’ve become a consistent subseries, and truly deserves a sequel.
Deus Ex
The modern Deus Ex series doesn’t even have a true ending, despite receiving overall critical acclaim. Mankind Divided continued the story of Human Revolution, but only manages to cover half a story arc in its own runtime. Mankind Divided desperately needed a sequel, but even if that’s not what we get, Deus Ex still deserves to return to the spotlight.
Impossible Creatures
Impossible Creatures is a slightly absurdist strategy game where you can just fuse real creatures into ridiculous fantasy creations. Here you use Dr. Chanikov’s cursed Sigma Technology to fuse animals together, so you can get fun cross breeds like Tiger Sharks, or Tiger Scorpions, or other animals that are not tigers. This game showcased incredible potential, and it could be realized if only it had another chance.
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an iconic and beloved game, and despite the fact that we’ve seen a lengthy gameplay video from the sequel, I’m not so sure it’ll ever actually release. Beyond Good & Evil 2’s debut trailer looked incredible, as did the follow-up gameplay demonstration, but it’s been more than seven years since then, and only last year the game got a new creative director. That’s a sign that the game is in development hell, and even if it does eventually launch, it might just be another Skull & Bones situation.
F-Zero
F-Zero is an electrifying racing game, and Nintendo doesn’t seem to think we need another one. Mario Kart 8 got F-Zero-themed DLC, and the Fast series – the latest being Switch 2’s Fast Fusion – acts as a spiritual successor, but nothing comes close to the GameCube’s F-Zero GX. Not even the same game being emulated on Nintendo Switch Online. F-Zero 99 is fun, but doesn't really count as a proper new entry in the series.
Earthbound
There are three original Earthbound games – known as Mother in Japan – but Mother 3 has never been officially translated. Some difficult subject matter has prevented its release despite multiple teases over the years, and fans who have played it say it’s truly incredible. Undertale and Deltarune act as spiritual successors, but fans still want an official Earthbound 3 release and a true sequel from Shigesato Itoi. Unfortunately, the man himself said in 2013 that a new game would be “impossible.”
Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story is a unique action RPG from the PS1 era that is made by the team responsible for Final Fantasy Tactics. It has the same heavy story beats and subject matter, but from a totally new perspective. It might not carry the Final Fantasy brand name, but Vagrant Story is a part of the Ivalice Alliance and shares its world with XII, Tactics, and even XIV’s Stormblood expansion.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
A collaboration between Konami and Platinum Games, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was a bombastic action adventure for MGS2’s legendary cyborg ninja Raiden. It might’ve taken years to actually release, but this game helped cement the team at Platinum as masters of the character action genre. It’s still worth playing even now, and absolutely deserves a sequel.
Bloodborne
What needs to be said about Bloodborne? This is the game so good that Sony is keen to remind us that it owns the brand, but seemingly doesn’t want to actually make a new entry, or even update or port the PS4 version. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’d take a lot of effort and development time, but it’d be more exciting than nine out of ten of Sony’s recently announced games. At this point it doesn’t matter if it’s a sequel, a port, or a remake, just please make Bloodborne happen.
Bully
This one might not be possible in 2025, admittedly. Bully was basically Grand Theft Auto, but in a school setting. You’re not the school bully, more of a school antihero, and you’ll be getting involved in all manner of trouble while also attempting to get good grades. It’s a very unique vibe, unlike any other Rockstar game, and that’s why fans still want a sequel. I don’t think it’ll ever happen, though.
Elite Beat Agents
These agents are elite, and they stay on beat. In Japan, this is a fairly different game known as Ouendan, and it even got a sequel. The dream would be to get EBA and the Ouendan games in a Switch 2 compilation, along with a true sequel down the line. If you’ve played the likes of Rhythm Heaven, then you’ll know just how good Elite Beat Agents is, and if that game can get a new entry on Switch 2, then EBA can too.
Titanfall
Titanfall 2 includes one of the best single player shooter experiences of all time, while also being bundled with one of the best multiplayer shooter experiences of all time. It has an incredibly high skill ceiling and it’s immensely replayable — Titanfall is a genuinely fantastic series. We love Apex Legends, too, but it’s not Titanfall, and it never will be. If EA were a benevolent publisher, it would let Respawn make Titanfall 3.
Skies of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia is a beloved Dreamcast RPG that later got an enhanced GameCube port, and it simply hasn’t been seen since. The world of Arcadia was genuinely memorable, filled with pirates who sail their ships through the skies to disconnected floating islands, and it came with an equally memorable storyline. It’s an incredibly charming world, and one of those rare RPG classics that was never seen again.
Half-Life
Nothing else needs to be said. 2020’s Half-Life: Alyx was a great return to the world of Half-Life, but we need a true sequel. Rumors indicate that Valve is indeed cooking one up, but when will we see it? Will we ever see it? Or is Gordon Freeman’s liberation of City 17 doomed to never come to pass? If you’re a Valve fan, you can pretend this entry includes Portal, Team Fortress, and Left 4 Dead, too.
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