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| 3 | %% This page had been alphabetized by the title of the most recent video game. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks! |
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| 6 | SpiritualSuccessor in VideoGames. |
| 7 | ---- |
| 8 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 9 | |
| 10 | [[folder:Video Gaming itself]] |
| 11 | * The first VideoGames (and arcade games in general) can be seen as a SpiritualSuccessor to various carnival games such as the claw game, shooting ranges and {{Pinball}} as you spend little money for one game that is quickly over and in the case of pinball you aim for a high score. It also helps that the only business experience Nolan Bushnell had before founding Atari was from maintaining these at a carnival. However, they're more a spiritual successor to the earlier electromechanical arcade games, at least some of which had a similar cabinet design to those first video games. |
| 12 | %% * {{Casual Video Game}}s are the spiritual successors to MediaNotes/{{Arcade Game}}s. |
| 13 | [[/folder]] |
| 14 | |
| 15 | [[folder:0-E]] |
| 16 | * The freeware game ''VideoGame/ZeroAD'' can be considered a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires'' series as a whole: it was originally going to be a total conversion mod of Age of Kings before the decision was made to create a whole new engine for it, it is set in a similar time period to the original VideoGame/{{Age of Empires|I}}, and its graphics quality is currently on par with ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIII'' while also having a similar premise for the multiplayer function (that the player is in charge of a colony or settlement of the larger civilization, rather than building from the ground up). It even has (or will have) a lot of the same civilizations as the first two games. |
| 17 | * ''VideoGame/TheFivePillars'' and ''VideoGame/TheReincarnation'' are successors of the [[WebGames browser game]] ''VideoGame/{{Archmage}}''. |
| 18 | * ''10.000 Bullets'' can be a worthy successor to Creator/{{Capcom}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}'', because Creator/{{Rockstar|Games}}'s ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' actually started life by Capcom as an arcade-style, stylized version of ''VideoGame/DeadToRights'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, and ''VideoGame/FreedomFighters'' influenced the gameplay of Rockstar's ''Revolver''. It can also seen as this to ''VideoGame/{{Gungrave}}''. |
| 19 | * ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3lpcQ9U-0U Aaero]]'' is ''VideoGame/GitarooMan'' meets ''VideoGame/{{Rez}}'' with a {{dubstep}} soundtrack. |
| 20 | * ''VideoGame/LaAbadiaDelCrimen'' is essentially a video game adaptation of ''Literature/TheNameOfTheRose'', to the extent of opting to ape the book's working title when they couldn't secure the rights to the original. |
| 21 | * ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfLomax'' is a ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'' spin-off, but the gameplay and art style make it clearly a spiritual successor to ''The Misadventures of Flink'', by the same developers. |
| 22 | * The ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders'' series is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/MasterOfMagic''. |
| 23 | * ''VideoGame/AkaSeka'' is the spiritual successor of ''VideoGame/OneHundredSleepingPrincesAndTheKingdomOfDreams''. |
| 24 | * ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' developed by Remedy Entertainment, is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' also by Remedy. Both are third person shooters with a gimmick, ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' has BulletTime while ''Alan Wake'' has weaponized WeakenedByTheLight; both have ShowsWithinAShow; both use a genre that video games do not normally dabble in (FilmNoir and Creator/StephenKing-esque horror), [[spoiler: both have evil old ladies as the main antagonists]], and both have {{Shout Out}}s to Norse mythology. |
| 25 | * The original ''VideoGame/{{Aleste}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/{{Zanac}}'', both by Creator/{{Compile}}. Both games feature a plot about an evil supercomputer ravaging the world, high-speed scrolling, a DynamicDifficulty system, a "main shot" weapon and multiple choices of subweapons represented by numbered icons, and extensive use of [[CoresAndTurretsBoss Cores-and-Turrets Bosses]]. Some enemies in ''Aleste'' are even lifted straight from ''Zanac'', such as the "mortar" enemies that shoot [[MacrossMissileMassacre endless streams of missiles]], "almond" enemies that fire a 3-way spread and split into two indestructible halves if not killed quickly, and midbosses work the same way (they bounce off hits from your weapons to reduce your fire rate (although they still take damage), [[ShowsDamage gradually turn redder as they take damage]], and [[TakingYouWithme explode into an 8-way spread of missiles when defeated]]). However, subsequent ''Aleste'' games would deviate from this formula to give the series its own identity. |
| 26 | * ''VideoGame/AliensInfestation'' can be seen as a SpiritualSuccessor to the ''Alien 3'' video game on Super Nintendo and Genesis, and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''. It also requires saving people during the game (althrough with the difference that in ''Aliens: Infestation'' saved people are marines, and are later playable thanks to it), a similar visual style, and {{Metroidvania}} style of play, similar to that in the ''Alien 3'' game. The PDA's in ''Aliens: Infestation'', also work similarly to the terminals in the ''Aliens 3'' game. From ''Metroid II'', it has the requirements to use special tools/abilities to get further, a similary variety of enemies, and the general feel of the game is similar, which has sense, seeing how the Metroid series is a SpiritualAdaptation to the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise, with ''Metroid II'' being especialy similar to ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. |
| 27 | * After ''VideoGame/SilentHills'' was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork unceremoniously]] [[TroubledProduction canceled]], British studio Lilith Ltd. created ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Road_(video_game) Allison Road]]'' in order to give players ''some'' way of playing a full-length version of ''Silent Hills''[='=] acclaimed ''P.T.'' demo. |
| 28 | * Doublesix's ''VideoGame/AllZombiesMustDie'' is a spiritual successor to their earlier zombie-slaying game, ''VideoGame/BurnZombieBurn''. |
| 29 | * ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'' is a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' and ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', an action-RPG where choices result in tangible consequences and gameplay is more heavily affected by one's character sheet than most games, including other [=RPGs=]. More cynically, ''Alpha Protocol'' gets a lot of undeserved flak and is often brushed aside as an attempt at "''Franchise/MassEffect'' [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace with SPIES]]" that failed miserably, so it also shares living with a bad rap (as well as some genuine technical problems) with ''Bloodlines.'' |
| 30 | * Nintendo's ''Toys/{{Amiibo}}'' line of NFC products has been described as partially a successor to the e-Reader accessory for the Platform/GameBoyAdvance, which allowed players to scan cards to unlock certain game features; in this case, however, the function is built into the game hardware rather than requiring a separate peripheral (save for the original-model Platform/Nintendo3DS, which requires a small accessory that connects to the system via an infrared sensor). Additionally, you don't need to buy another system in order to use amiibo.[[note]]One of the biggest factors of the e-Reader's failure outside of Japan was the fact that since it connected to the GBA through its cartridge slot, a link cable and a second GBA were needed to use e-Reader-centric features in compatible games. Since [=GBAs=] never exactly sold for peanuts and since e-Reader features tended to be quite minor, many in the west felt that the cost did not justify the reward.[[/note]] While amiibo were initially just in the form of figures, amiibo cards eventually debuted alongside ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingHappyHomeDesigner'', suggesting the possibility of similar uses to the e-Reader. Since then, the amiibo cards have found use in ''Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival'' and the ''Welcome amiibo'' update for ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf''. The figurines themselves also successors to the NFC figures for ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble U''. |
| 31 | * Several people have remarked on ''VideoGame/AmongUs'''s similarity in premise and gameplay to ''VideoGame/SpaceStation13'', to the point that the latter is mentioned on its Wikipedia page. |
| 32 | * ''[[https://division6.itch.io/aqua-ippan Aqua Ippan]]'' is an upcoming run-n-gun game heavily inspired by the ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' series, down to the detailed pixel graphics, gameplay, HUD, jazzy soundtrack and so on. The only differences are the addition of a combo system, the player characters being two girl divers and the prisoners being kids with facemasks instead of bearded blond men. However, the dev mentioned in the comments that the full game is going to bring more original features. |
| 33 | * ''VideoGame/{{Aquaria}}'' is essentially ''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin'' with a mermaid and a little {{Metroidvania}}. It also may be considered a better adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'' than the licensed games of prior generations. |
| 34 | * ''VideoGame/ArcRiseFantasia'' is more or less a ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' game, but with turn-based battles. There are three morally-grey nations that eventually fight each other, a number of "summon spirits" - Rogress, critique of organized religion, and a FantasticRacism subplot. There's also costumes for your party (unfortunately, they show up only in menus), ''Tales''' trademark skits, and even a [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo cameo battle]], using a trio of characters from ''VideoGame/LuminousArc''. Later plot developments include [[spoiler:existence of TheMole in your party]], [[spoiler:death of one of your party members]], and [[spoiler:a BittersweetEnding, that separates TheHero from the party]], all of which can be seen in several ''Tales'' games. Perhaps not coincidentally, two of the developers, director Hiroyuki Kanemaru and scenario writer Takumi Miyajima, worked on ''Tales'' games in the past. |
| 35 | * ''VideoGame/ArmedPoliceBatrider'': |
| 36 | ** The game is a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga'', as it inherits many of ''Battle Garegga''[='s=] mechanics, such as [[RewardingVandalism bombing the scenery]] for powerups and medals, as well as the medal chaining system, and even has [[GuestFighter guest appearances]] by the ships of ''Battle Garegga'' and the ''Mahou Daisakusen'' series. ''Batrider'' in turn had a spiritual sequel in ''Battle Bakraid'', which borrows ''Garegga'''s option changing feature, has a somewhat modified medal chaining system, and the "tickle laser"-cum-charge-shot from ''Batrider''. |
| 37 | ** The DynamicDifficulty system of these games is lifted from ''VideoGame/{{Zanac}}'', of all things, only made completely and utterly inconvenient (notably, the removal of every rank reduction method except dying.) |
| 38 | ** ''VideoGame/{{Ibara}}'', sharing the same main designer also counts as a SpiritualSuccessor, if you can count a near-exact copy of the rank system of Garegga as one. Its sequel, ''Pink Sweets'', is considered a successor to ''VideoGame/{{Recca}}'', with unlimited but charging bombs, separate option firing, and variable speed options. |
| 39 | * ''VideoGame/{{Armikrog}}'' is a PointAndClickGame with StopMotionAnimation, all in the same style as Creator/DougTenNapel's earlier ''VideoGame/TheNeverhood'' and ''VideoGame/{{Skullmonkeys}}''. It was even advertised as such on Website/{{Kickstarter}}. |
| 40 | * The ''Surge Concerto'' series (''VideoGame/ArNosurgeOdeToAnUnbornStar'' and ''VideoGame/CielNosurge'') was thought to be one to the ''[[VideoGame/ExaPico Ar tonelico]]'' series, until ''Ar nosurge'' established a solid connection. |
| 41 | * The ''Asphalt'' series of free-to-play racing games from Gameloft is basically ''VideoGame/{{Burnout}}'' with real licensed cars and ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer'' drifting. |
| 42 | * ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': |
| 43 | ** The franchise as a whole is considered by many to be a SpiritualSuccessor to Ubisoft's ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia'' series. However, fans of ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia'' are very confused by that notion, seeing as the two titles have almost nothing in common, gameplay and story wise. This may be due to the fact that ''Assassin's Creed'' started out as a ''Prince Of Persia'' game, but it was [[DivorcedInstallment made into its own separate franchise]], due to those differences in tone, story and gameplay. |
| 44 | ** ''Assassin's Creed'' itself now has its own SpiritualSuccessor in the form of ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'', sharing many thematic elements while still being distinct series. ''Watch_Dogs'' also shares a lot in common with the ''VideoGame/{{Driver}}'' series, specifically ''[=DRIV3R=]'' and ''Parallel Lines''. |
| 45 | ** A lot of people consider [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI the first game]] to be an excellent follow-up to ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven''. |
| 46 | * Wanako Studios' ''VideoGame/AssaultHeroes'' can be seen as a spiritual successor to Konami's ''VideoGame/{{Jackal}}'', as both games put you in control of a heavily-armed jeep (though ''Assault Heroes'' adds such features as multiple weapons, on-foot stages and dual analog-stick control). |
| 47 | * ''VideoGame/{{Astebreed}}'' is the spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/EtherVapor''. |
| 48 | * ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'': |
| 49 | ** Developers Creator/Cyberconnect2 states the game was meant to be a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/GodHand'' in the sense of over the top action, but the concept of the game itself is more like one of these to ''VideoGame/TimeGal'' or ''VisualNovel/{{Yarudora}}'' due to being touted as an Interactive anime like the aforementioned games. |
| 50 | ** There are many reasons why many refer to Asura as the Japanese ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' due to both storylines starring a father that's favored but then betrayed by godlike figures getting revenge by massacring them all in a rage (though [[ChaoticGood Asura]], to his credit, is much nicer than [[ChaoticEvil Kratos]] is for the most part). |
| 51 | * ''VideoGame/AxiomVerge'' is a modern adaptation of the classic 2D ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' games. |
| 52 | * ''VideoGame/Back4Blood'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', both having been developed by Turtle Rock Studios (the latter while part of Creator/ValveSoftware, who holds the ''Left 4 Dead'' IP). |
| 53 | * ''VideoGame/BalanWonderworld'' is meant to be one for ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'', even sharing the same producer (Yuji Naka). |
| 54 | * ''VideoGame/BallisticNG'' has been considered to be a spiritual successor of the ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}}'' (especially to the [=PlayStation=] 1 trilogy) since the dissolution of Psygnosis and its moddability. |
| 55 | * ''VideoGame/BangaiO'' was originally supposed to be a remake of an old Japanese PC game called ''VideoGame/HoverAttack''. |
| 56 | * ''VideoGame/BangDreamGirlsBandParty'' is perhaps the closest that RhythmGame fans outside of Japan will get to ''VideoGame/{{CHUNITHM}}'', with its lane-based touch-device gameplay that features tap, slide, and flick notes. |
| 57 | * The ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' duology for the Gamecube is a SpiritualSequel to ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'': both games share several staff members, have the same art style (hand-painted backgrounds with 3d sprites), and have similar battle systems. |
| 58 | * ''VideoGame/BattleBrothers'' has been called an unofficial video game adaptation of ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'', and a turn-based TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} strategy game. |
| 59 | * Capcom's obscure arcade beat-em-up ''VideoGame/BattleCircuit'' seems to be a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/CaptainCommando'', complete with the protagonist, Cyber Blue, being an {{expy}} of Captain Commando. |
| 60 | * ''VideoGame/BattleChefBrigade'' has been called a great sequel to ''VideoGame/GourmetWarriors'', as well as a great video game adaptation of ''{{Manga/Toriko}}''. |
| 61 | * ''VideoGame/BattlePrincessMadelyn'' is ''very'' clearly (and openly) inspired by the ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'' series of games. Even Madelyn's movements and body language are reminiscent of Sir Arthur's. |
| 62 | * ''VideoGame/BeamNG.drive'', with its intricate crash physics model and stunt-heavy gameplay, is a more than worthy follow-up to the ''VideoGame/{{Burnout}}'' series. |
| 63 | * ''VideoGame/{{Bemani}}'': |
| 64 | ** ''VideoGame/SoundVoltex'' is this to ''VideoGame/{{Beatmania}}'', featuring a row of white keys, a row of black keys, more white keys than black, and a "build up your LifeMeter up to a certain point to pass the song" mechanic. However, while ''beatmania'' focuses on hitting keys to piece together the complete song, ''Sound Voltex'' involves taking an existing complete song and adding effects on top of it. |
| 65 | ** ''VideoGame/NostalgiaBemani'' is this to ''VideoGame/{{Keyboardmania}}'', being also based on playing a piano and even having a few songs that originated in the latter. |
| 66 | ** ''VideoGame/DanceEvolution'' is this to both ''VideoGame/ParaParaParadise'', another motion-sensor dance game, and ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'', the original Konami "dance simulation" game, but instead of just stepping on tiles you have to use your entire body and ''actually dance''. Better yet, both games have heavy involvement by Naoki Maeda, who was the sound producer for ''DDR'' and producer for console ''DDR'' games for a while before moving on to produce ''[=DanEvo=]''. |
| 67 | * Creator/{{Bethesda}}: |
| 68 | ** ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', developed after Bethesda purchased the rights to the series following Creator/{{Interplay|Entertainment}}'s bankruptcy, have the distinction of being direct sequels to the earlier ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' games, while also being "spiritual sister" games to Bethesda's other major property, ''The Elder Scrolls'' series. ''Fallout 3'' was created using ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''[='s=] engine, while ''Fallout 4'''s engine would be used in the UpdatedRerelease of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', intertwining the two series even further. |
| 69 | ** A literal In-Universe case of this occurs within ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series' lore. Talos, the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedric Divine]] DeityOfHumanOrigin formerly known as Tiber Septim, [[FounderOfTheKingdom founder of the Third Cyrodiilic Empire]]. While the exact means of Talos' apotheosis is hotly debated, he is almost uniformly connected to Lorkhan ([[IHaveManyNames aka Shor, Shezzar, Sep, etc.]]), the [[GodIsDead "dead" creator god]] of Mundus, the mortal plane. Two of the most prominent theories have either [[MergerOfSouls their souls fusing]] or [[BecomingTheMask Talos ascending to Lorkhan's former station via an act known as "mantling"]]. In either case, Talos is the spiritual successor deity to Lorkhan, being a [[HumansAreSpecial champion to mankind]] to who is despised by most [[CantArgueWithElves Elves]]. |
| 70 | * ''VideoGame/BitLife'' is a non-educational, DenserandWackier AllegedlyFreeGame version of ''VideoGame/RealLives''. |
| 71 | * ''VideoGame/{{Black}}'' is where ''Film/{{XXX}}'' adapted as a FirstPersonShooter done right since Warthog Games' official game was cancelled. |
| 72 | * ''[[https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/08/ex-metal-slug-developers-announce-black-finger-jet-a-new-run-and-gun-game Black Finger JET]]'' is an upcoming run-n-gun being made by Kohachi Studio, which is actually formed by former Irem, SNK and Nazca Corporation employees... in fact, the creatives behind the original ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' game! It looks like it's going to be a 2.5-D game instead of purely sprite-based, with a more fantasy/sci-fi setting, but for the rest the gameplay stays exactly the same, with the heroes mowing down dozens of identical mooks and facing gigantic mechanical bosses. Even some of the sound effects and the iconic announcer returned! |
| 73 | * ''VideoGame/BladedFury'' is a Metroidvania sequel to the long-lost ''VideoGame/{{Valis}}'' series. |
| 74 | * ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', with more emphasis on offense and greater penalty for turtling. Early in development, Creator/ArcSystemWorks received a lot of flak for basically just giving ''Guilty Gear'' a huge makeover. |
| 75 | * ''VideoGame/BlazingChrome'' is a [[RunAndGun Run 'n Gun]] video game that serves as a spiritual successor to both Creator/{{Konami}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' series and Nazca/Creator/{{SNK}}'s ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' series. |
| 76 | * ''VideoGame/BlazingStar'' is the semi-official sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Pulstar}}'', which in turn is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/RType''. It may not be coincidence that Aicom/Yumekobo was founded by former Irem personnel. |
| 77 | * ''VideoGame/BloodOmen2LegacyOfKain'' may be counted as a spiritual sequel to ''ComicBook/ChakanTheForeverMan'' as they have the same lead artist doing the same bleak horror style. |
| 78 | * ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'' is a 2-D {{Metroidvania}} video game that's meant to be a successor to Creator/{{Konami}}'s ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series. |
| 79 | * ''VideoGame/BlueDragon'' takes heavily from ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'', even getting Creator/AkiraToriyama to do the character designs. |
| 80 | * ''VideoGame/BlueRevolver'' is basically ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'' but with a more forgiving version of ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga''[='=]s [[DynamicDifficulty rank]] system and [[ViolationOfCommonSense intentional death incentives]] and ''VideoGame/DangunFeveron''[='=]s ship customization variety. |
| 81 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Boktai}}'' series (including ''Lunar Knights'') can be considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel''. The game engine is very similar, and Ikuya Nakamura, the director of all the ''Boktai'' games, was also the character designer of ''Ghost Babel''. |
| 82 | * ''VideoGame/BombRushCyberfunk'' is undoubtedly a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio'', down to its gameplay, aesthetics, and it even has its main composer, Hideki Naganuma, working on the soundtrack. |
| 83 | * 2009's ''VideoGame/BorderBreak'' is Creator/{{Sega}}'s own spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/VirtualOn''. It takes the storyline conceit of ''Virtual On'' that the arcade consoles are networked to future actual HumongousMecha by networking them on the Internet to play against other players in other arcades. |
| 84 | * ''VideoGame/BorderDown'': Successor to ''VideoGame/MetalBlack'', a ShootEmUp by Creator/{{Taito}}. Hiroyuki Maruyama, the president of G.rev, started the company and did subcontracting work for Creator/{{Treasure}} and Taito to generate revenue just to make this game. Why? He just really liked ''Metal Black''. |
| 85 | * ''VideoGame/{{Broforce}}'': |
| 86 | ** The Alien levels remind people of ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}''. |
| 87 | ** If you're playing as [[Franchise/IndianaJones Indiana Brones]], you're pretty much playing ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}''. |
| 88 | * ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'''s "Stage Battles" were intended as a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/HerzogZwei''... and they do have some strong similarities, but also to ''VideoGame/{{Sacrifice}}'' -- not surprising, as they had a developer for that game on the dev team. |
| 89 | * ''VideoGame/BuckBumble'' for the N64 is a [=3D=] spiritual successor to Codemasters' C64/NES game ''VideoGame/Bee52''. |
| 90 | * ''VideoGame/BugFables'' aims to be one to the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series, namely the [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 first game]] and [[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor its sequel]]. |
| 91 | * ''VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}}'' |
| 92 | ** The game is this to ''VideoGame/{{Painkiller}}''. |
| 93 | ** The game is also considered to be a better ''VideoGame/DukeNukem'' game than ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever''. The main character, Grayson, is seen as a throwback to protagonists like Duke and his ilk. It's even more ironic now, since the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition]]'' has Duke Nukem as a playable character. There are others that see it as an [=FPS=] version of ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' or ''VideoGame/Wild9'' due to use of TheJoysOfTorturingMooks, VideoGameCrueltyPotential, and a [[YouWillNotEvadeMe electric, leash weapon]]. |
| 94 | * Many UK video game magazines of the era argued that ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/SkoolDaze''. They weren't wrong. |
| 95 | * The original ''VideoGame/{{Burnout}}'' was heavily inspired by the arcade game ''Thrill Drive''. Beside the basic premise of being a checkpoint-based point to point racer with an emphasis on violent crashes, the two games share similar graphics and interface. |
| 96 | * ''VideoGame/TheCallistoProtocol'' is one to ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'', created by the same minds behind the original series. From its gory presentation to even having the Kinesis and Stasis power equivalents, it makes no attempts at hiding it's supposed to be just like ''Dead Space''. |
| 97 | * Some of the later games in the ''Call of Duty'' series, starting with ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyAdvancedWarfare'' before [[VideoGame/CallOfDutyWWII the return to the more grounded settings]], have been compared to the ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'' games due to the addition of PoweredArmor suits with various abilities. |
| 98 | * ''Carrier Air Wing'' is more or less Creator/{{Capcom}}'s successor to ''[[VideoGame/Area88 U.N. Squadron]]'', only without the licensed characters from ''Manga/Area88''. |
| 99 | * ''VideoGame/ChaseTheExpress'' is one of these to the movie ''Film/UnderSiege2DarkTerritory'', being a [[DieHardOnAnX Die Hard on a Train]] hijacked by terrorists looking for a nuclear weapon onboard, and the protagonist being a special forces elite attempting to diffuse the hostage situation on his own. The protagonist even looks a little like Steven Seagal [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase_the_Express#/media/File:Chase_the_Express_cover.jpg on the cover]]. |
| 100 | * ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' can be seen as ''VideoGame/LiveALive''[='s=] SpiritualSuccessor due to the similarities of both games. Both games were also created by the same director, Takashi Tokita. |
| 101 | * ''VideoGame/CitizensOfEarth'' [[http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198067505253/recommended/258910/ has been described]] as a Spiritual Successor to ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}''. |
| 102 | * ''VideoGame/CitiesSkylines'' is so similar to the ''VideoGame/SimCity'' series, despite being made by a completely different developer with no involvement whatsoever from Maxis or [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA]], that many consider it to be a better ''[=SimCity=] 5'' than the actual ''[[VideoGame/SimCity2013 SimCity 5]]''! The dev team behind ''Cities: Skylines'' was also behind the ''VideoGame/CitiesInMotion'' games, and such is reflected in ''Cities: Skylines''[='=] heavy focus on designing efficient transportation networks. |
| 103 | * ''VideoGame/CityOfTitans'' is this to ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''. Both being {{superhero}} [=MMO=]s with its own original lore and setting and full of customization options. The former is being made to fill the void left by the latter's cancellation by [=NCSoft=]. In fact, [[PromotedFanboy Titans is being developed by a team that were diehard fans of Heroes]]. |
| 104 | * ''[[VideoGame/CliveNWrench Clive 'N' Wrench]]'' is this to Creator/{{Rare}}ware collectathon platformers, specifically ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' for the gameplay, and the worlds having a similar time travel/fairytale motif to the unreleased ''Twelve Tales: Conker 64''. |
| 105 | * ''VideoGame/CodeOfPrincess'' to ''VideoGame/GuardianHeroes''. Some of Creator/{{Treasure}}'s former employees [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/11/28/guardian-heroes-devs-working-on-code-of-princess worked on the game]]. |
| 106 | * ''VideoGame/CodeVein'' is a successor to ''VideoGame/GodEater''. As another anime themed action RPG made by ''Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment'', but BloodierAndGorier and NintendoHard. [[spoiler:A reveal late in the story shows that it's actually a StealthSequel.]] |
| 107 | * ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/DuneII'', both done by Creator/WestwoodStudios. |
| 108 | ** And ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'' is in turn the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'', both done by the same development team under a different name: after EA bought up Westwood, their [[ExecutiveMeddling high quality expectations coupled with restrictive development timeframes]] resulted in successive C&C titles losing critical acclaim which became an excuse to assimilate Westwood into EA Los Angeles and put the ex-Westwood personnel to work at EA's own titles instead (fans still rage about it to this very day). Many disgruntled ex-Westwood personnel left and formed Petroglyph Games to produce ''Universe At War'' as the first installment of a planned series... [[WhatCouldHaveBeen that never got the green light from SEGA]]. |
| 109 | ** Now it seems that ''VideoGame/EndOfNations'' is another spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'', also made by Petroglyph Games who decided to move on to another publisher, [[VideoGame/{{Rift}} Trion Worlds]]. |
| 110 | ** And yet another one, the 8-Bit series is a spiritual successor of the original ''Command and Conquer''.... BUT ALSO ALL major RTS franchises, including a ''Warcraft'' expy and a ''Starcraft'' expy. It is probably the closest to an official version of a RTS ''Super Smash Brothers'' (though there are mods for other games that fit this bill better). |
| 111 | * Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/ConfidentialMission'' is considered by many a spiritual successor to their ''VideoGame/VirtuaCop'' games. |
| 112 | * The Sega arcade game ''VideoGame/CongoBongo'' may had seemed like a blatant ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''-ripoff, but in reality the game's developer, Ikegami Tsushinki, was the same company Nintendo contracted to handle the programming for ''Donkey Kong''. |
| 113 | * ''VideoGame/ContagionMonochrome'' is a spiritual successor to the first two ''VideoGame/ZombiePanic'' games, being made by the same developers. |
| 114 | * ''VideoGame/CookServeDelicious'' was originally the third game to a series of fangames based on an obscure [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] game ''VideoGame/OreNoRyouri''. |
| 115 | * The Namco MediaNotes/ArcadeGame ''[[VideoGame/CosmoGangTheVideo Cosmo Gang: The Video]]'' seems to be trying very hard to be a ''VideoGame/{{Galaga}}'' sequel while still maintaining a fair resemblance to the original electromechanical ''Cosmo Gang''. |
| 116 | * ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot4ItsAboutTime''[='=]s character roster can be seen as a revival of the character roster formula seen in ''VideoGame/YoshisIslandDS''. Crash is the equivalent to Baby Mario, being the JackOfAllStats, Coco is Baby Peach, being the DistaffCounterpart with only very minuscule changes, Tawna is Baby Donkey Kong, being the heavyweight who specializes in [[KnowsTheRopes tethering]], Dingodile is Baby Wario, being the AntiHero who specializes in WeaponsThatSuck, and Dr. Cortex is Baby Bowser, being the TokenEvilTeammate who specializes in [[LongRangeFighter projectiles]] [[spoiler:and makes a FaceHeelTurn]]. |
| 117 | * The open world racing game ''VideoGame/TheCrew'', published by Ubisoft, is developed by Ivory Tower -- a company that includes former employees from Eden Games, the company that created the ''VideoGame/TestDriveUnlimited'' games. And it shows. |
| 118 | * ''VideoGame/CrudeBuster/Two Crude'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/BadDudes'', also by Creator/DataEast. |
| 119 | * ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' to Creator/{{Treasure}}'s ''VideoGame/SilhouetteMirage'', a similar 2D Platformer/Shoot 'Em Up hybrid also featuring a red and blue main character who uses a FingerGun that shoots energy blasts at enemies as their primary attack. |
| 120 | ** In a similar vein, ''Cuphead'' itself is also one to ''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'', as both are CuteEmUp shooters parodying the popular media and have cartoonish art styles donned on it. Both also started out on Microsoft platforms[[note]]''Parodius'' started out on Platform/{{MSX}}, and ''Cuphead'' started out on Platform/MicrosoftWindows and Platform/XboxOne[[/note]]. |
| 121 | ** It's a modern-day ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier''. Both games are challenging RunAndGun games with lots of bosses with light platforming segments in between. |
| 122 | ** It can also be considered a successor to ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim'', as ''Cuphead's'' sprites and animation are derived from hand drawn cartooning, in an evolution of the process that created the 90's annelid hero. |
| 123 | * ''VideoGame/CuteKnight'' is quite similar to the ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker'' series of games, as are ''VideoGame/CuteKnightKingdom'' and ''VideoGame/SpiritedHeart'', and the Flash game ''VideoGame/ProjectPrincess''. |
| 124 | * A lot of ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' can be played like a modern ''[[Franchise/DeusExUniverse Deus Ex]]'' game (especially ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided''), especially since that franchise is currently stuck in limbo. You're in a futuristic cyberpunk dystopia, given objectives that can be beaten in multiple ways, and can upgrade yourself with cybernetics to open up more pathways to complete stuff. |
| 125 | * Konami's ''VideoGame/DanceMasters'' is sort of a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/ParaParaParadise'', and even has several parapara/eurobeat songs, including the famed "Night of Fire". |
| 126 | * The ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' games could be considered spiritual successors to ''VideoGame/ActRaiser'', given their emphasis on reconstructing the world with RPG elements. Sega's 2019 release ''VideoGame/SolSeraph'' is an even more blatant successor, even recruiting Yuzo Koshiro to do the music. |
| 127 | * ''VideoGame/DarkFall - The Journal'' is the closest thing we're ever likely to get to a ''Series/SapphireAndSteel'' video game, being an homage to Assignment 2. |
| 128 | * ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': |
| 129 | ** With its near-identical ActionRPG gameplay, the original game probably would be ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls 2'' if Sony didn't own the IP. That Other Wiki outright classifies them as part of the same series (the ''Souls'' series). |
| 130 | ** And then came ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'', another horror ActionRPG by the director of ''Dark Souls'' and ''Demons Souls'', but set in a new continuity. ''Bloodborne'' might also be considered a Spiritual Successor to the [=PlayStation=] classic ''VideoGame/NightmareCreatures''; another NintendoHard survival horror game where you play as a flintlock-toting warrior in a city filled with monstrosities. Even more, due to it being a CosmicHorrorStory, it has also been considered to be an adaptation of Creator/HPLovecraft's works and the Franchise/CthulhuMythos. Its monster-mash themeing and [[{{Metroidvania}} interconnected levels]] also call to mind the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series. |
| 131 | ** ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' is yet another dark fantasy action RPG created by the same developers with its own similar but different setting. It isn't ''Dark Souls IV'' not for any intellectual property reason, [[https://gameranx.com/updates/id/285227/article/elden-ring-director-unveils-why-they-didnt-make-the-game-into-dark-souls-iv/ but mainly to give]] guest writer Creator/GeorgeRRMartin more creative freedom. |
| 132 | ** ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' are the 3rd-person, multi-player spiritual descendants of the 1st person dark fantasy dungeon crawlers ''VideoGame/KingsField'' and the two ''VideoGame/ShadowTower'' games. Elements taken from those earlier games include the Moonlight Sword and a poisonous land that'll quickly deplete your health if you don't have adequate protection. |
| 133 | * ''The Dark Pictures Anthology'' (which so far includes ''VideoGame/ManOfMedan'', ''VideoGame/LittleHope'', and the upcoming ''House of Ashes'') is a spiritual successor to Creator/SupermassiveGames' breakout hit ''VideoGame/UntilDawn''. ''Until Dawn'' introduced the shtick: an interactive horror movie with a group of playable characters whose fates would be determined by the players' actions. ''The Dark Pictures Anthology'' debuted four years later, with the intention of releasing two short games per year following the same formula (though so far it's been released annually). Other than the fact that the ''Dark Pictures'' games are shorter than ''Until Dawn'' (5-6 hours vs. 10-12 hours) and feature fewer playable leads (5 instead of 8) the concept is the same. |
| 134 | * ''VideoGame/{{Darkwatch}}'', because of Creator/{{Capcom}} publishing the game in 2005, has some believe it to be a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}''. In actuality, Sammy Studios, before Capcom publishing it, announced the game in 2004, more-in-line with being a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}''. |
| 135 | * ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar II'' plays more like ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' than the first ''Dawn of War''. It largely abandons base-building, which was a major part of the first ''Dawn of War''. |
| 136 | * ''VideoGame/DeathStranding'', headlined by Creator/HideoKojima, seems to be a continuation of the concepts ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV'' introduced to the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series. It carries over the open world setting; the Creator/AlfonsoCuaron style [[TheOner Oner]] cutscenes; the [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombie-like enemies]]; and vehicle and character customization (weapons customization has yet to be announced, but likely). It also carries on more general series traditions, such as having stealth mechanics, long cutscenes, weirdly-named characters, a radio support team and a cynical DeadPanSnarker protagonist with a gravely voice. |
| 137 | * ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/TheHalloweenHack''. Both games were made by Toby Fox, both with the theme of choice and whether said choices matter or not (''The Halloween Hack'' has Varrick break free of the narrator's given choices, while ''Deltarune'' [[spoiler:has Kris seemingly break free from the player's control at the end]]. Both feature traipsing through a normal town before TheReveal of something more sinister hidden within. Finally, both games have you play as a non-emotive knight that is hinted to be [[spoiler:someone else from their prequel games]] ([[spoiler:Ness]] for Varrick and [[spoiler:Chara]] for Kris). |
| 138 | * Taito's ''VideoGame/DemonSword'' is the spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfKage'', both being {{Wuxia}}-influenced platformers with a [[InASingleBound high-jumping]] ninja protagonist. Creator/{{Irem}}'s ''VideoGame/NinjaSpirit'', although made by completely different developers, was also a spiritual successor (pardon the pun). |
| 139 | * [[http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=6105 Parodied by Valve]], who tried to pass off ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' as the spiritual successor to Midway's Rail Shooter ''VideoGame/RevolutionX'', starring Aerosmith. |
| 140 | * ''VideoGame/Dishonored2'' has been cited by some players as the "true successor" of the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' franchise, due to how many ideas and concepts are carried over from the latter series. A game with Creator/StephenRussell voicing a main character (one of two), a prologue sequence dedicated to showing the main character training a young woman (possibly influenced by the SequelHook set up at the end of ''VideoGame/ThiefDeadlyShadows'', in which it's implied that lead character Garrett will train a young girl), deliberate references to aspects of ''Thief'''s mythology (a reference to Garrett's line, "It's a long way down..."; the presence of clockwork robots built by a mad inventor, who speak in a third-person tone and deliberately reference their own creator, pronounced steampunk elements) and contributions by several former Ion Storm staff, including Terri Brosius, who provides her voice to a character that the player can hear while exploring a largely-desolate area (Shalebridge Cradle/Dunwall in the final mission). |
| 141 | * The ''VideoGame/{{DJ MAX}}'' series has primarily been a ''VideoGame/{{beatmania}}''-like game, but ''DJ MAX Technika'' is a much different game, with touchscreen-based gameplay combining elements of ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'', ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'', and ''VideoGame/{{Lumines}}''. Due to its similarities to the former and its harsh LifeMeter, it's a very NintendoHard game; you can easily fail a song in the first 10 seconds. |
| 142 | * ''VideoGame/DominoRally'' to ''VideoGame/NoOneCanStopMrDomino''. |
| 143 | * ''Donkey Kong Jr'' was the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3'', differing in that ''Donkey Kong Jr'' made the protagonist the antagonist where ''Wario Land'' made the antagonist the protagonist. ''Wario Land'', a ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' SpinOff of a [[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand Super Mario Bros spinoff]], was in turn the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'', a ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' Spinoff of a [[VideoGame/MarioBros Donkey Kong spinoff]]. ''Donkey Kong Country'' was in turn the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'', another spinoff that took a new mechanic from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' and ran with it. ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU'' and ''VideoGame/CaptainToadTreasureTracker'' are in turn spiritual successors to the ''Wario'', ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Yoshi'' platform series. |
| 144 | * ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'' was this to Technos' earlier beat-em-up ''VideoGame/KunioKun a.k.a Renegade'', although each also had their own series of sequels. |
| 145 | * ''VideoGame/DragonBallAdvancedAdventure'' is a spiritual successor to a game based on ''Manga/DragonBall'' released on the NES that's better known overseas as ''Dragon Power'': both are action games with 2D fighting elements based on Goku's adventures, with ''Advanced Adventure'' improving heavily on the gameplay and expanding the scope of the game beyond the Emperor Pilaf saga to include everything up through the King Piccolo saga. |
| 146 | * ''VideoGame/DragonBallZKakarot'' is an open-world RPG that recaps ''DBZ'''s story reminiscent of the ''[[VideoGame/DragonBallZTheLegacyOfGoku Legacy of Goku]]'' series. |
| 147 | * ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown'' is a successor to Capcom's ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsChroniclesOfMystara''. Both games are cooperative multiplayer-focused side-scrolling [[BeatEmUp Beat'em Ups]] set in a highly detailed fantasy world. George Kamitani, one of the designers on the ''Mystara'' games, later became president of Creator/{{Vanillaware}}, developer of ''Dragon's Crown''. |
| 148 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' games are a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/RealmsOfArkania'' series, being the first video game adaptation of TabletopGame/TheDarkEye system and setting since ''Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva''. The first game ''Drakensang: The Dark Eye'' was even nicknamed ''Realms Of Arkania 4'', before being published. Although the RealTimeWithPause playing style, and the interactions with companions, also show a large influence of ''Infinity Engine'' games, especialy the ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' series, and that influence was confimed by the creators. And all of this goes even further back, as the original ''Realms of Arkania'' games, were confimed as having influenced the making of the ''Baldur's Gate'' games. |
| 149 | * ''VideoGame/{{Driveclub}}'': |
| 150 | ** Created by Creator/EvolutionStudios, the game is more a spiritual successor to Creator/{{Taito}}'s long-discontinued ''VideoGame/BattleGear'' series than their own ''VideoGame/MotorStorm'' series. The driving physics are somewhat similar, and they are more of skill-based racing games set on fictionalized courses. |
| 151 | ** ''Driveclub'' itself is also a spiritual successor to Creator/{{Sega}}'s discontinued ''VideoGame/OutRun'' series, in a similar way like above. Both ''Driveclub'' and ''Out Run'' are score-based racing games in regard, except the latter has branching routes lead to MultipleEndings when the former has [[NoPlotNoProblem no plot at all]]. |
| 152 | * ''[[VideoGame/DukeGrabowskiMightySwashbuckler Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler]]'' is a pretty obvious one to the ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' series. |
| 153 | * ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsChroniclesOfMystara'', as a HackAndSlash game with RPGElements, is a successor to Capcom's earlier ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheRound'' and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfDragons''. |
| 154 | * Although ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'' shares the same villain, [[spoiler:the SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Giegue/Giygas (albeit in a [[EldritchAbomination vastly different form]])]], with its predecessor ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'', it's more this than a direct sequel to it. The main plot revolves around stopping an AlienInvasion just like the first game, and it stars characters that are [[{{Expy}} close Expies]] of the party in the first game for the most part (to the point of the main protagonist of the game, [[TheAllAmericanBoy Ness, being near-identical to his predecessor Ninten]]). However, it takes place in an entirely different setting: {{Eagleland}}, as opposed to America of the first game. |
| 155 | * ''VideoGame/EiyudenChronicleHundredHeroes'' is marketed as a CreatorDrivenSuccessor to ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'', being a fantasy RPG created by the former lead writers of the ''Suikoden'' games with loads of recruitable characters, war sequences, and sidequests like a cooking competition inspired by the one in ''Suikoden II''. |
| 156 | * ''VideoGame/EndlessOcean'' is a spiritual successor to Arika's previous ''[=EverBlue=]'' games, which comes across more in its Japanese title -- ''Forever Blue''. |
| 157 | * Several developers of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena'' said they were inspired by ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' (kind of given, nobody could ignore ''Ultima'' back then) and, more importantly, by an obscure underappreciated 1992 game ''[[VideoGame/LegendsOfValourVolumeITheDawning Legends of Valour: Volume I ~ The Dawning]]''. Many distinguishing features of ''TES'' first appeared in ''VideoGame/LegendsOfValour''. |
| 158 | * ''VideoGame/ElementalGearbolt'' is the spiritual successor to ''[[VideoGame/ProjectHornedOwl Project: Horned Owl]]''. |
| 159 | * ''VideoGame/ElementalWarOfMagic'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/MasterOfMagic''. |
| 160 | * ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier''[[note]]Full title ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration OG Saga:]] Endless Frontier''[[/note]] is considered a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom''. Both games are developed by Creator/MonolithSoft, and shared a similar action-styled battle system, even though the latter game was structured like a TurnBasedStrategy game, and the former being more a EasternRPG. The kicker is though that the protagonists of ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', Reiji Arisu and Xiaomu, get caught up in the events of ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'', while chasing down the BigBad [[NotQuiteDead they thought they had killed]] at the end of ''Namco X Capcom'', thus making the two games in continuity. It was then followed by ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'', bringing back the crossover (and TurnBasedStrategy) elements in full force (Creator/{{Sega}} even joins the fun!) and includes the protagonists of ''both'' NXC and EF (and [[VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} KOS-MOS]] too, of course). |
| 161 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uny7FGK4vMc Esoteric Ebb]] is a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium''. The protagonist is an... eccentric cleric in a StandardFantasySetting. |
| 162 | * Raw Thrills, the arcade game devhouse headed by Creator/EugeneJarvis, has several instances of this. |
| 163 | ** ''VideoGame/TargetTerror'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/Area51'' and ''VideoGame/MaximumForce'', down to the similar graphical style. |
| 164 | ** Their ''[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Fast and the Furious]]'' arcade racer series is the SpiritualSuccessor to Jarvis' ''VideoGame/{{Cruisn}}'' series. They eventually brought back the ''Cruis'n'' brand in 2017 for ''[[VideoGame/CruisnBlast Cruis'n Blast]]''. |
| 165 | ** ''VideoGame/H2Overdrive'' is this to ''VideoGame/HydroThunder'', from the same developers as the classic 1998 boat racer. Seriously, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbeJsqVpyvk just look at the thing.]] |
| 166 | ** ''VideoGame/WinterXGamesSnocross'' is this to ''VideoGame/ArcticThunder''. Both cabinets have small fans designed to blow on the player and simulate the rush of wind from riding a snowmobile, and they even both have tracks set in a snowed-over UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC and UsefulNotes/{{Moscow}}. |
| 167 | * ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' to ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''. The first game is a successor to mainly ''[=RE4=]'', while ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin2'' is a successor to ''[=RE=]'', ''[=RE2=]'', ''[=RE3=]'', and ''[=RE4=]''. |
| 168 | * ''VideoGame/EYEDivineCybermancy'' has been called a successor to ''VideoGame/DeusEx''. |
| 169 | [[/folder]] |
| 170 | |
| 171 | [[folder:F-L]] |
| 172 | * Video System's ''[[VideoGame/F1GrandPrix F-1 Grand Prix]]'' and its sequel are the successors to their similar but unlicensed Formula 1 RacingGame ''[[VideoGame/TailToNoseGreatChampionship Tail to Nose: Great Championship]]''. |
| 173 | * ''VideoGame/FarCry1'', as well as spawning a couple of re-imaginings, also has a spiritual sequel in ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}''. It was made by the same company, it's set in a similar location, and includes similar themes. |
| 174 | ** In fact, ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'' plays ''much'' more like a sequel to ''Far Cry'' than ''VideoGame/FarCry2'' does. ''Far Cry 2'' was developed by a different team, is highly non-linear in terms of both storyline and gameplay, and isn't connected to the original's story in any way. |
| 175 | * The ''VideoGame/{{FAST Racing|League}}'' series is often considered this to the ''VideoGame/FZero'' series. |
| 176 | * ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' to ''VideoGame/StreetSmart''. The first stage music from the latter is even featured as the Versus Mode theme in the former. |
| 177 | ** It is also a spiritual successor to the first ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI'', due to both games having Creator/TakashiNishiyama at the helm. |
| 178 | * ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' has multiple games filling in the legacy of frantic BulletTime FirstPersonShooter combat with highly destructive environments and intelligent enemy soldier behavior, namely ''VideoGame/Trepang2'' and ''VideoGame/SeveredSteel''. |
| 179 | * ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyBraveExvius'' has clear influences from ''VideoGame/BraveFrontier''. |
| 180 | * ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': |
| 181 | ** ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' started development as a sequel to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyThe4HeroesOfLight'', itself a love letter to the early ''Final Fantasy'' entries (''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI I]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII III]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV V]]'' in particular). Along with its ClassAndLevelSystem, its save-the-crystals plot and Warriors of Light are lifted straight from there and then given a twist. |
| 182 | ** Another game by Square-Enix, that's technicaly a spin-off, but also feels like a throwback to the first six Final Fantasy games, is ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyDimensions''. Many characters, not seen since ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' return here, like Bikke and his crew, Matoya, and the Prince (well, now King) of Alfheim. The Final Boss [[spoiler: is also a form of Chaos]], and the {{Superboss}} is the Omega Weapon from the Gameboy Advance port of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI''. |
| 183 | ** Technically, ''Final Fantasy'' can be seen as a "Spiritual Series", as virtually none of the games have direct relation to each other, unless they have odd numberings or alternate subheadings, like ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' and ''[[VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus Final Fantasy: Dirge of Cerberus]]''. Every numbered ''Final Fantasy'' game has no direct relation to any other other than a few series trademarks. Even though they are technically sequels based on numberings, fans never consider them to be actual sequels. Thus ''Final Fantasy'' takes Spiritual Successor to the extreme. |
| 184 | ** In the other direction, Richard Eisenbeis of ''Kotaku'' [[http://kotaku.com/this-generations-best-final-fantasies-werent-named-f-1449859509 argued]] that ''VideoGame/LostOdyssey'' and ''VideoGame/TheLastStory'' were closer to being ''Final Fantasy'' games than the actual ''Final Fantasy'' games that came out during MediaNotes/{{the Seventh Generation|OfConsoleVideoGames}}. This is particularly notable given both games' lineage -- they were made by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the ''Final Fantasy'' series, with music by Creator/NobuoUematsu, who scored ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' through ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX X]]''. |
| 185 | * Although the two games are very different, much of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'''s dungeon/castle layout system is seen in ''VideoGame/TreasureOfTheRudra''. |
| 186 | * ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' is slated to be something of a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', with its storyline that revolves around TimeTravel through the centuries with the goal of preventing the postapocalyptic future one of your main characters hail from and multiple endings depending on your actions in the game. |
| 187 | * Despite being a [[BeatEmUp beat-'em-up]] instead of a competitive FightingGame, ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' is a spiritual successor to the original ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''. It was even marketed at trade shows under the WorkingTitle ''Street Fighter '89''. Guy and Sodom would later show up as playable characters in the original ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'', followed by Rolento, Cody, and Poison in the sequels. |
| 188 | ** ''VideoGame/CaptainCommando'' is in turn a spiritual successor to ''Final Fight'' as a beat 'em up set in Metro City (albeit in the future). A bust of Mike Haggar is even a collectible. |
| 189 | * The ''VideoGame/FireProWrestling'' series, along with ''VideoGame/HALWrestling'' for the Platform/GameBoy, is this to Nintendo's classic ''VideoGame/ProWrestling'' game, following the same style of play mechanics as well as the use of CaptainErsatz versions of existing wrestlers. |
| 190 | * ''VideoGame/FishingSuperstars'', the successor to ''Website/GaiaOnline'''s fishing minigame. |
| 191 | * Following development of the late-80s soccer simulation ''VideoGame/KickOff'' and its sequel, author Dino Dini left publishers Anco. Although Anco released a poorly-received "official" ''Kick Off 3'', ''[[VideoGame/DinoDinisGoal Dino Dini's Goal]]'' (written for another company) is considered to be the true successor to ''Kick Off 2''. |
| 192 | * ''VideoGame/FootballManager'' to the earlier ''VideoGame/ChampionshipManager'', as the development studio Sports Interactive split from the publisher, retaining the game code but not the name of the franchise. |
| 193 | * ''VideoGame/Siren1'' was made by former members of Team Silent, the original developers for the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series. |
| 194 | * According to Creator/Turn10Studios, they consider ''VideoGame/ForzaMotorsport 3'' to be the true spiritual successor to Polyphony Digital's ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'' series. To paraphrase Polyphony Digital president Kazunori Yamauchi, "No it bloody well isn't". |
| 195 | * The ''VideoGame/FotoFlash'' duology of games by Studio Gamaii is a successor to the ''VideoGame/FranksAdventure'' series of Flash adventure games, about a photographer working for an adult magazine completing various tasks to take cheesecake pics of various models. |
| 196 | * ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations'' is this to ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion 2''. In fact, it's a better ''Master Of Orion 3'' than ''Master Of Orion 3'' was, since ''[=MoO3=]'' was Spreadsheets InSpace. |
| 197 | * The Tiger Platform/GameCom could be considered the spiritual successor to the Platform/GameGear, as the Game.com featured games from Sega licenses (like ''Virtua Fighter II'' and ''Sonic Jam''), and was launched the same year as the Game Gear was discontinued in 1997, with Sega not making a new full handheld console after that. |
| 198 | ** To a lesser extent, the Platform/NeoGeoPocketColor could also be considered a spiritual successor to the Platform/GameGear, as it also featured games from Sega licenses and can be linked to a Platform/SegaDreamcast. |
| 199 | * Creator/{{Taito}}'s ''VideoGame/{{Gekirindan}}'' is a spiritual sequel to the ''Truxton/Tatsujin'' games, being developed by former Creator/{{Toaplan}} members. |
| 200 | * ''VideoGame/GeneralChaos'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Pigskin}}'', a "footbrawl" game developed by the same people back when they worked at Creator/MidwayGames. |
| 201 | * ''VideoGame/GodHand'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and a GenreThowBack to the BeatEmup genre as a whole. |
| 202 | * The ''VideoGame/GIJoe'' arcade game by Creator/{{Konami}} is a spiritual sequel to an obscure pseudo-[=3D=] shoot-'em-up titled ''VideoGame/{{Devastators}}'' by the same company, which itself was loosely based on the [=3D=] stages from the original ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}''. |
| 203 | * No pun intended, but ''VideoGame/GhostMaster'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/HauntingStarringPolterguy'' |
| 204 | * ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'' is a Spiritual Successor to the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series. Both of the games even share the same director and creator, Shu Takumi. This got recursive once ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' came out, as much of its cast are outright {{exp|y}}ies of ''Ghost Trick'' characters. |
| 205 | * Many players of the defunct browser-based RPG ''VideoGame/{{Glitch}}'' have recreated their avatars and in-game communities as "Folk" in ''VideoGame/HereBeMonsters''. |
| 206 | * ''[[VideoGame/GLoc G-Loc]]'' was developed as a spiritual successor to Sega's ''VideoGame/AfterBurner''. |
| 207 | * ''VideoGame/{{Gobliiins}}'' trilogy didn't get a proper sequel for two decades. In the interim there were: |
| 208 | ** ''VideoGame/TheBizarreAdventuresOfWoodruffAndTheSchnibble'', by the same studio and also featuring art and character design by Pierre Gilhodes. |
| 209 | ** ''[[Animation/InvestigationHeldByKolobki Pilot Brothers]]'' games don't share any creators, but feature slapstick misadventures of a RedOniBlueOni investigating duo similar to ''Gobliins 2''. They were created by fans of ''Gobliins 2'' in the dark time when a real sequel was beyond hope. |
| 210 | * Creator/StrategicSimulationsInc's legendary ''VideoGame/GoldBox'' MediaNotes/GameEngine and the eponymous WesternRPG meta-series running on it had at least three successors: the Black Box series, a.k.a. ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder'', by Creator/WestwoodStudios; the Infinity Engine meta-series by Creator/BioWare and Creator/BlackIsleStudios; and the ''VideoGame/SevenDragonSaga'', announced in 2015 (!) by Tactical Simulations Interactive (an indie studio comprised of SSI veterans). The former two in particular had strong ties, as both were based on the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' GameSystem, and [=BioWare=] developers noted the Gold Box series as one of the inspirations for ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' (also, David "Zeb" Cook worked on both ''[[VideoGame/GoldBox Pool of Radiance]]'' and ''Baldur's Gate'', the first games on the Gold Box and the Infinity Engine, respectively). Another SpiritualSuccessor specifically to the Gold Box-based 1991 MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', is Creator/CrypticStudios' MMORPG ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter}}''. |
| 211 | ** The two ''VideoGame/IcewindDale'' games that run on the Infinity Engine, are argubly the most similar to Gold Box games in general feel and gameplay. In the ''Icewind Dale'' games, like in Gold Box games(and many other older games), the player creates the whole adventuring party. |
| 212 | ** The ''VideoGame/RealmsOfArkania'' series creator, Guido Henkel, outright admited in an interview, that the split into the first person exploration, and isometric view battle mode, is patrly inspired by the Gold Box games. In turn, the founders of Bioware admited that the ''Realms of Arkania'' games, were also one of the inspirations for the Infinity Engine games, like ''Baldur's Gate''. Guido Henkel himself latter worked personaly on ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', one of the Infinity Engine games. It's actualy even him in make-up as the Nameless One, on the game's box. |
| 213 | * Creator/{{Rare}}'s ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' is often described as an unofficial sequel to their ''VideoGame/{{GoldenEye|1997}}'' game, albeit with the Franchise/JamesBond license swapped out for a near-future sci-fi setting and a DistaffCounterpart to Bond in the form of Joanna Dark (a classy, British-accented super-spy equipped with a vast suite of high-tech gadgets). It was built on the same MediaNotes/GameEngine as ''[=GoldenEye=]'', so it feels like a natural extension of the same game, despite Bond being nowhere in sight. They even use guns and settings from ''[=GoldenEye=]'' with the names slightly changed. ''[=GoldenEye=]'' later had another Spiritual Successor in the form of the ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters'' games, done by the core team behind ''[=GoldenEye=]''. ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters2'' especially is very similar to ''[=GoldenEye=]'', and with the use of the Map Maker, one can get extremely close to it. |
| 214 | * WordOfGod says that ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' is this to the ''VideoGame/ShiningForce'' tactical RPG series, which makes sense considering Camelot was the ones who developed said series before they split with SEGA. In fact, the [[ExecutiveMeddling botched release]] of ''VideoGame/ShiningForceIII'' on the [[Platform/SegaSaturn Saturn]] is the whole reason why they split and started ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''. |
| 215 | * ''VideoGame/GotchaForce'' is considered by its fans a thematic successor to ''VideoGame/VirtualOn''. It's also a Spiritual Successor-slash-SerialNumbersFiledOff version of the VideoGame/GundamVsSeries. |
| 216 | * The [[ThoseTwoGuys Two Guys]] [[AuthorAvatar from Andromeda]], the guys behind the ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest'' games, have just recently come back together to try and create a "[[http://tgakick.com SpaceVenture]]" that looks every inch like it'll be a successor to their previous series. They've even gotten Gary Owens back to narrate again! |
| 217 | * Codemasters' ''VideoGame/{{GRID}}'' is a spiritual sequel to the ''VideoGame/TOCARaceDriver'' series, while ''VideoGame/{{DIRT}}'' was the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/ColinMcRaeRally''. |
| 218 | * ''VideoGame/GrimDawn'' shares the same game engine, gameplay mechanics, and game development team as ''VideoGame/TitanQuest''. |
| 219 | * ''VideoGame/{{Gubble}}'' is a spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Crystal Castles|1983}}'', with a SciFi setting instead of fantasy. Both games were developed by Franz Lanzinger. |
| 220 | * ''VideoGame/TheGuidedFateParadox'' is a spiritual successor to another Nippon Ichi-developed {{roguelike}}, ''VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject''. Whereas ZHP's protagonist is a loser who becomes a superhero, GFP's protagonist is a loser who is selected at random to become a god. |
| 221 | * ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear 2: Overture'' is a spiritual successor to the ''[[VideoGame/HerzogZwei Herzog]]'' Real-Time-Strategy/Action hybrid games. Really. |
| 222 | * The Platform/NeoGeo & Platform/SegaDreamcast PlatformGame ''VideoGame/{{Gunlord}}'' is essentially this to ''VideoGame/{{Turrican}}''. |
| 223 | * ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'' was considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/ContraIIITheAlienWars'' due to the fact that two of its main programmers worked on both games. In fact, it was the closest thing to a ''Contra'' game for the Platform/SegaGenesis before Konami decided to release ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps''. |
| 224 | ** A similar case of a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' games could be made with ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', another game by Creator/{{Treasure}}. It also has programmers returning from ''Contra III: The Alien Wars'', and the very story and setting of game is very much a [[DarkerAndEdgier darker]] version of ''Alien Wars''. It was, and is also regarded as way superior 3D Contra game, than the contemporary ''Contra: Legacy of War'' and ''C: The Contra Adventure''. |
| 225 | * ''VideoGame/{{Hacknet}}'' is one to ''VideoGame/{{Uplink}}''. |
| 226 | * Some consider Creator/{{Bungie}}'s ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series a spiritual sequel to their earlier ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' series. |
| 227 | ** The other theory is that the ''Halo'' series takes place between ''VideoGame/PathwaysIntoDarkness'' and ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'', though that seems more unlikely now due to the ''Halo'' IP no longer being owned by Bungie. With that said, ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'' appears to be a successor to that franchise. |
| 228 | * ''VideoGame/HauntingGround'' is considered to be the SpiritualSuccessor to the ''VideoGame/ClockTower'' series due to its similar gameplay and style. The fact that it was made by some of the same people behind ''VideoGame/ClockTower3'' didn't hurt either. |
| 229 | * ''VideoGame/{{HAWX}}'', to ''VideoGame/BlazingAngels'' (both arcade flight sims by Creator/{{Ubisoft}}'s Romanian studio). |
| 230 | * The game ''VideoGame/HeavenlyGuardian'' was originally supposed to be a game in the ''VideoGame/KikiKaiKai'' series (''Pocky & Rocky''), and had its sprites reworked into a new game when the publisher lost the license. |
| 231 | * ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Fahrenheit}}''. Both from the same developer and both being mostly interactive movies. |
| 232 | * ''VideoGame/HellPie'' to ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'', a similarly crass and vulgar 3D Platformer. |
| 233 | * ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'' to ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''. |
| 234 | * ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''. Both are published by id Software, and both use the id Tech 1 game engine. In fact, using the GodMode and Weapons cheats from ''Doom'' will result in [[NoFairCheating death and loss of all weapons]], respectively, when used in ''Heretic''. |
| 235 | * ''VideoGame/HeroesOfNewerth'' was intended to be the CaptainErsatz of ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncientsAllStars''. With the only real difference being that the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}''-based characters and visuals are replaced with ones from S2 Game's previous game, ''Savage'', all the mechanics, items, and heroes are nearly identical to the original, barring a few new additions. With Icefrog leaving development to work with Valve to create ''VideoGame/Dota2'' however, the game was left to its own and became a more straightforward example. |
| 236 | * ''VideoGame/HeroesOfThePacific'' is a spiritual successor to Creator/{{Capcom}} arcade classic ''VideoGame/NineteenFortyTwo'' and its sequels. |
| 237 | * ''VideoGame/HometownStory'' was made by Yasuhiro Wada, who is better known for making ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon''. Its general idea is ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace with the player running a shop instead of a farm]], but the DatingSim aspect gets downplayed in favor of forming friendship bonds with all ''32'' main villagers. |
| 238 | * ''VideoGame/HorizonChase'' is such an unabashed tribute to SNES classic ''VideoGame/TopGear'', the soundtrack was commissioned from Barry Leitch, the original game's composer. |
| 239 | * ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'' has a very similar premise to ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}''; you fail and/or die a lot, must learn the layout of the levels and the placement/patterns of the enemies in order to progress, and so on. |
| 240 | * ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to Creator/{{Treasure}}'s earlier game ''VideoGame/RadiantSilvergun'', and had the WorkingTitle ''Project [=RS2=]''. The octahedron-shaped object also makes an appearance in both games; the track that plays when you fight it is even called "The Stone-Like", which was its name in ''Radiant Silvergun''. |
| 241 | * ''VideoGame/IllusionOfGaia'' and ''VideoGame/{{Terranigma}}'' are considered to form a thematic, though unofficial, trilogy as successors to ''VideoGame/SoulBlazer''. Although there ''are'' direct links included; The first boss of ''Soul Blazer'' is a {{Superboss}} in Illusion of Gaia, with a storyline explanation of why, albeit a somewhat bizarre one. Meanwhile, ''Terranigma'' is explicitly referred to as "Illusion of Gaia 2" in a DevelopersRoom EasterEgg. |
| 242 | ** There's also a dog named Turbo who shows up in all three games. |
| 243 | ** To some, ''VideoGame/TheGranstreamSaga'' on the Platform/PlayStation may be considered a fourth game due to a few shared themes. |
| 244 | * The Infinity Engine games themselves had a colossal impact on the WesternRPG genre and, thanks to their complicated parentage (it's virtually impossible to separate [=BioWare=] and Black Isle's contributions to their awesomeness), received a plethora of successors: |
| 245 | ** [=BioWare=]'s ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' (a series later continued by Black Isle's successors) was a successor both to their own ''Baldur's Gate'' series and to the aforementioned Gold Box game by the same title. All three games were based on ''D&D''. |
| 246 | ** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', also from [=BioWare=], was another successor to ''Baldur's Gate'', although the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series started severing ties to their TabletopRPG-based ancestry almost immediately thereafter. |
| 247 | ** ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'' by Creator/ObsidianEntertainment (the aforementioned Black Isle successors) borrows elements from all three Infinity Engine series: the companions and exploration of ''Baldur's Gate'', the dungeon-delving and tactical combat of ''VideoGame/IcewindDale'', and the storytelling and themes of ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. Stretch goals added George Ziets, the lead writer of ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2: NeverwinterNights2/MaskOfTheBetrayer'', to the team. |
| 248 | ** ''VideoGame/TormentTidesOfNumenera'' by Creator/InXileEntertainment (an offshoot of Creator/InterplayEntertainment, who published all Infinity Engine games) is being billed as a direct successor to ''Planescape: Torment''. They avert DuelingGames with ''Pillars of Eternity'' because Obsidian is very supportive of the project. |
| 249 | * Rage's ''VideoGame/{{Invasion}}'' is vastly superior ''Film/IndependenceDay'' game compared to [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames infamous]] official one by Creator/RadicalEntertainment. |
| 250 | * ''VideoGame/IronHelix'' can be considered a SpiritualPredecessor to SurvivalHorror games like ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' and ''VideoGame/{{Outlast}}'', which [[FollowTheLeader popularized]] the idea of running away and hiding from the monster as opposed to challenging it head-on, which is what most mainstream horror games [[ActionizedSequel were doing at the time]]. |
| 251 | * ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'' has a spiritual successor by the name ''VideoGame/BattleKidFortressOfPeril'', endorsed by the maker of ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy''. |
| 252 | ** ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'' itself is arguably the spiritual successor to a Japanese flash game known as ''Zinsei Owata no Daibouken/The Big Adventure of Owata's Life'', which inspired IWBTG's creator. ''Owata'' acknowledged this in its final version, which ended in a {{Homage}} to ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy''...followed by a {{Crossover}} appearance of the main character as the FinalBoss. |
| 253 | * ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' is either the successor to ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'', or the only game adaptation it's ever going to get. |
| 254 | * ''VideoGame/JimmyAndThePulsatingMass'' is clearly being inspired by ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound|1994}}'', being a RPG with simple colorful graphics, quirky characters and a similar battle system (with similar psychedelic backgrounds too) which hides some serious and creepy themes behind the cheerful facade. Theme-wise, it also reminds of ''VideoGame/{{Rakuen}}'', in that you play as a young boy with cancer who travels to a fantasy world that is a distorted, colorful reflection of his own life and experiences. |
| 255 | * Japanese video game developer Arzest, is essentially Artoon, without actually being Artoon. Many key staff members, such as SEGA veterans Yoji Ishii and Naoto Ohshima, worked for Artoon before it went defunct and then moved on to work at Arzest. Additionally, many games developed by Arzest resemble games developed by Artoon, including games in the ''Yoshi'' series. |
| 256 | * Creator/DataEast's Platform/NeoGeo platformer ''VideoGame/{{Spinmaster}}'' stars the same characters from the Platform/SegaGenesis game ''[[VideoGame/DashinDesperadoes Dashin' Desperadoes]]'', but plays more like a modernized version (literally and figuratively) of the original ''VideoGame/JoeAndMac'' (aka ''Caveman Ninja'') than the game it's supposed to be a sequel to (which was more of a racing platform game). ''Spinmaster'' might as well had been called ''Joe & Mac'' [[RecycledInSpace AS INDIANA JONES-STYLE TREASURE HUNTERS]]. |
| 257 | ** Speaking of ''Joe & Mac'', ''VideoGame/JoeAndMac Returns'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/TumblePop''. |
| 258 | * ''VideoGame/JewelryMaster'' is Arika's attempt at making a FallingBlocks game that isn't a ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' game with all the copyright baggage that follows. Like ''VideoGame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'', one of Arika's best known series, ''Jewelry Master'' features a speed level counter that increases with each piece dropped (in addition to each line cleared), a short delay between when a piece reaches the stack or floor and when it locks in place and a "firm drop" command that instantly drops the piece ''without'' locking it in place. The key difference is that instead of clearing lines, you try to surround gems with blocks to clear them. |
| 259 | * ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' is pretty much the successor to ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus''. |
| 260 | * The Platform/{{Wii}} game ''VideoGame/{{Saint}}'' is effectively the successor to ''[[VideoGame/TheMonkeyKingTheJourneyBegins The Monkey King: The Journey Begins]]'', with a more realistic art style. They were clearly developed on the same engine, and are both very loosely inspired by ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest''. |
| 261 | * ''VideoGame/JumpingFlash'' is a spiritual successor to a Platform/SharpX68000 game called ''Geograph Seal''. Same developers, similar gameplay blend of FirstPersonShooter and PlatformGame. Have a look at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qca_bXtxIe4 video]] and compare the two. |
| 262 | * ''VideoGame/KaneAndLynch'' can be seen as a successor to ''VideoGame/FreedomFighters2003''. Both were developed by Creator/IOInteractive and feature music by Music/JesperKyd, and aside from the co-op mode in the former game, the gameplay in the two games is practically identical. |
| 263 | * ''VideoGame/KazeAndTheWildMasks'' to the classic ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' games. Kaze plays very similarly to Dixie Kong, the Wild Masks function much like the Animal Buddies, and many other elements of the games are reproduced; for example, giant crossbows that Kaze can launch herself out of stand in for the series's signature barrel cannons. |
| 264 | * ''VideoGame/{{Kengo}}'' serves as the spiritual successor to the deceased ''VideoGame/BushidoBlade'' series. |
| 265 | * ''VideoGame/KenkaBancho'' is sometimes considered to be the [=3D=] version of ''[[VideoGame/KunioKun Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun]]'' that Technos never got to make. |
| 266 | * ''Videogame/KeroBlaster'' by Creator/StudioPixel is this to his most famous game, ''VideoGame/CaveStory''. Both are RunAndGun type games using a strong {{Retraux}} aesthetic with a variety of unique upgradeable weapons, and a healthy dose of {{Surprisingly Creepy Moment}}s. Also, a few of the music tracks in it are remixed from ''Cave Story''. |
| 267 | * ''VideoGame/Killer7'' and ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'', both brainchildren of [[Creator/Suda51 Goichi Suda]]. Travis, the protagonist of ''No More Heroes'', can learn special abilities themed after the various personalities from ''[=Killer7=]'' by bringing balls to a drunk in a bar. |
| 268 | ** ''VideoGame/KillerIsDead'' also shares motifs and themes. |
| 269 | * ''VideoGame/KillSwitch'', to ''VideoGame/WinBack''. |
| 270 | * NetDragon announced a Chinese company is developing an MMORPG featuring all of the Disney franchises separated into different worlds that the players can visit called "Disney Fantasy Online". That's right, it's an MMORPG version of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' with the Square elements subtracted. [[http://dsn.91.com/ The website]] really screams it out, since the Disney characters are wearing the same outfits they do in ''Kingdom Hearts''. |
| 271 | * ''VideoGame/{{Knack}}'' to the Creator/NaughtyDog-developed ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' games. Mark Cerny, one of the chief architects of the Platform/PlayStation4, was an executive producer of the latter game, and director of the former. |
| 272 | * While ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' is the sequel to ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', it is the '''spiritual''' sequel to ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''. The first ''Knights of the Old Republic'' itself is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights''. |
| 273 | * Since a direct sequel of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' fell through (although they ended up making ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''), ''Franchise/MassEffect'' is seen as this due to the story progression, outer space setting and decision making system, along with a type of morality meter. |
| 274 | * ''VideoGame/KrazyRain'' is a spiritual sequel to the massively-multipler online RhythmGame ''VideoGame/O2Jam''. |
| 275 | * The NES game ''VideoGame/LaserInvasion'' can be considered the successor of the two first ''VideoGame/TopGun'' games released by Konami for the NES. ''Laser Invasion'' shares the same engine used in ''VideoGame/TopGunTheSecondMission'' and similar HUD, except that you control a gunship instead of a F-14, and there's a few [[GenreShift light gun and maze sequences]] set on foot. |
| 276 | * ''VideoGame/LANoire'' is a spiritual successor to the (very) rough but surprisingly ambitious ''ComicStrip/DickTracy'' videogame on the [=NES=]. With a nigh-identical open-world structure about finding clues and using them to interrogate and incriminate perps with shooting sections in between. |
| 277 | * ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs'' is a DarkerAndEdgier successor to the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series. Both are made by Creator/NaughtyDog. |
| 278 | * ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' is one to ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'' since most of its dev team previously worked on earlier versions of Dota. |
| 279 | * ''VideoGame/{{Legasista}}'' is a spiritual successor to Creator/NipponIchi and System Prisma's ''VideoGame/{{ClaDun}}'' games, and features some of the same elements, such as [[PlayerMooks create-a-character mode]] and RandomlyGeneratedLevels. |
| 280 | * The first ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI Legend of Zelda]]'' game was planned from the start as a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. In fact, the working title for the game was "Adventure". |
| 281 | ** ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}'' itself was a graphical spiritual successor to ''[[VideoGame/ColossalCave Colossal Cave Adventure]]''. |
| 282 | ** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening Link's Awakening]]'' is a spiritual successor to ''[[VideoGame/ForTheFrogTheBellTolls For the Frog the Bell Tolls]]'' because both are action-adventures for the [[Platform/GameBoy Game Boy]] that run on the same [[MediaNotes/GameEngine engine]]. The rival character from the game, Richard, even makes a cameo in ''Link's Awakening''. |
| 283 | ** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes Triforce Heroes]]'' is a spiritual successor to the Super Famicom title, ''Marvelous: Another Treasure Island'' as both games are [[TeamWorkPuzzleGame teamwork puzzles]], and both were directed by Eiji Aonuma. |
| 284 | ** The infamous [[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaCDiGames CD-i games]], ''Link: The Faces of Evil'' and ''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'', were designed by the creator of the acclaimed ''VideoGame/BelowTheRoot'' and have a rather similar gameplay style. So it's easy to see them as spiritual successors. Whether or not they're ''worthy'' successors, that's a different question. |
| 285 | * ''VideoGame/LEGOIndianaJones'' to ''VideoGame/LEGOStarWars'', and further LEGO games to both of ''them'' -- we tropers have even filed all of them as [[VideoGame/LegoAdaptationGame a single series]]. |
| 286 | ** Similarly, ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesGreatestAdventures'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to the ''VideoGame/SuperStarWars'' games, being built on the same engine. |
| 287 | * ''VideoGame/LEGOMinifiguresOnline'' is one to ''VideoGame/LegoUniverse''; both are LEGO minifigure MMORPGS. |
| 288 | * ''VideoGame/LenEn Project'' has a lot of influences from ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', from the FantasyKitchenSink setting to the {{Exp|y}}ies of Touhou's characters to the spellcard system. Heck, some of the assets from Len'en were initially used in unpublished [[FanRemake Fan Remakes]] of the PC-98-era Touhou games made by the same creator! |
| 289 | ** ''Touhou'' itself was heavily inspired by ''VideoGame/PockyAndRocky''. Not to mention the two ''Phantasmagoria'' games are one to ''VideoGame/TwinkleStarSprites'', and ''VideoGame/TouhouShinkirouHopelessMasquerade'' and its sequels are sucessors to ''VideoGame/AstraSuperStars''. |
| 290 | * The ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' series is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Shenmue}}'', being an action-adventure game with in-depth combat, a WideOpenSandbox with a plethora of content to uncover, and various minigames, sidequests, and other diversions. |
| 291 | * ''VideoGame/LittleDragonsCafe'' is a Spiritual Successor of a Spiritual Successor. It's ''VideoGame/HometownStory'' (in itself a ''Harvest Moon'' successor) but in a cafe. ''Little Dragons Cafe'' is made by the same team who created ''Hometown Story'' and all three series share a creator. |
| 292 | * ''VisualNovel/LongLiveTheQueen'' is markedly similar to ''Princess Maker'', but with a more story-driven gameplay with many skill checks and [[TheManyDeathsOfYou fail states]] added to it. |
| 293 | [[/folder]] |
| 294 | |
| 295 | [[folder:M-S]] |
| 296 | * ''Mad News'' to ''VideoGame/MadTV1991''. Both were designed by Ralph Stock, but for different publishers. The only major difference is that you run a newspaper instead of a TV station; it is heavily "implied" that you still control the same character, just with the SerialNumbersFiledOff. |
| 297 | * ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' appears to be a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/GodHand'', being made by [[Creator/PlatinumGames the reassembled remains of Clover Studios]], creators of the original game. |
| 298 | * ''VideoGame/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAsPortable: The Gears of Destiny'' is this for the ''VideoGame/WildArms'' series. To start with, the OriginalGeneration main character is a combined {{Expy}} of the various ''VideoGame/WildArms'' protagonists, and she comes from a dying wasteland planet that's a Filgaia {{Expy}} and whose restoration serves as one of the main plots of the game. It helps that Kaneko, the ''VideoGame/WildArms'' creator, is the one in charge of the game's development, and that he and Tsuzuki, the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' creator, are old acquaintances. This was confirmed in an interview Tsuzuki included in the guide, where he mentions that the ''VideoGame/WildArms'' elements were included as a show of respect to Kaneko and the franchise he made, of which he had been a fan of since ''VideoGame/WildArms3''. |
| 299 | * ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' was not only a successor to the previous ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' games, but to ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' as well because of the infamous snaking mechanic: both games required a vehicle with low drift stats to spam boosts on straight lines. |
| 300 | * ''VideoGame/MarsMatrix'' is a spiritual sequel to the ''VideoGame/GigaWing'' games. |
| 301 | * ''VideoGame/MartialMasters'' doesn't even try to hide that it's first and foremost an unlicensed fighting game adaptation of the ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' film series, to the point that some of the characters have the exact same names in the Taiwanese version (Wong Fei-Hung, Ghostfoot Seven, 13th Aunt and White Lotus Master). |
| 302 | * ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroesWarOfTheGems'' is this to ''VideoGame/XMenMutantApocalypse'': Both games are BeatEmUp with PlatformGame elements, developed by Creator/{{Capcom}}; both share the same gameplay and graphic style, even Wolverine's sprites are reused. |
| 303 | * ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' serves as this to ''VideoGame/BruteForce'', both RatedMForManly games featuring similar squad-based gameplay, similar UI elements (the red bar is health and the blue bar is energy), and a similar sci-fi setting. |
| 304 | * ''VideoGame/TheMatrixOnline'' development started a year before the films as a MMORPG remake of mid-1980s ''VideoGame/AlternateReality'' series. Those were an unfinished [[EpisodicGame episodic]] sandbox RPG (only 2 parts were released) with LotusEaterMachine planned as TheReveal for part 7. |
| 305 | * ''[[VideoGame/MaxTheCurseOfBrotherhood Max: The Curse of Brotherhood]]'' is a successor to ''VideoGame/HeartOfDarkness'' |
| 306 | * ''VideoGame/MaximoGhostsToGlory'' was created as an heir to the ''[[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]'' series, to the point of borrowing the first-stage music of the latter, and having protagonist stripped to his boxer shorts after taking enough damage. |
| 307 | * ''Franchise/MegaMan'': |
| 308 | ** The platformer ''VideoGame/MightyNo9'' is one to the classic ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'' series, from the bright cartoony artstyle, upbeat music styling (which also has an 8-bit rendition composed by Manami Matsumae), similar run and gun gameplay but the crux of the gameplay is built around the character's faster mobility, and copying some other abilities beyond their special weapons. |
| 309 | ** ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'' is a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series, and developed by the same company, Creator/IntiCreates. It loosely takes the themes and gameplay of said series, particularly when the sequel introduced Copen as a playable character, whose PowerCopying abilities are rather evocative of Mega Man. |
| 310 | ** ''VideoGame/MightyGunvolt'' is more a retro-throwback to the ''Classic'' series' platforming with Beck and Gunvolt as the stars, with various other characters thrown in for good measure. |
| 311 | ** ''VideoGame/DragonMarkedForDeath'' is yet another spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' series, and in fact was deliberately designed that way by Creator/IntiCreates. Whereas ''Gunvolt'' is loosely inspired by ''Zero'' and ''ZX'' in theme and gameplay, ''Dragon: Marked for Death'' looks, plays, and feels like a Zero or ZX game if you replaced all of the futuristic elements and PowerCopying with [[DarkFantasy medieval fantasy]] and multiple character classes. |
| 312 | ** A roguelike game going by the name ''VideoGame/OneStepFromEden'' can be considered one for the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series, given its fast-paced grid-based combat is based on it and [[VideoGame/MegaManStarForce its sequel series]], to the point where the most widely used description for it is ''Mega Man Battle Network'' meets ''VideoGame/SlayTheSpire''. |
| 313 | * ''VideoGame/{{Melatonin}}'' is very clearly inspired by the ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven'' series and replicates its gampleplay (a series of unique rhythm-based minigames, followed by a level that switches between multiple games) precisely, although its art, music, and mood are very different. ''RH'''s creators are given special thanks in the credits, to make this explicit. |
| 314 | * ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Gunforce}} 2'' and ''VideoGame/InTheHunt'', which were made by the same staff back when they were working for Creator/{{Irem}}. |
| 315 | ** By the same developers, the Platform/NeoGeo golf game ''VideoGame/NeoTurfMasters'' is a spiritual sequel to the ''VideoGame/MajorTitle'' series. |
| 316 | * ''VideoGame/Metro2033'' and ''VideoGame/MetroLastLight'' are considered by many to be the successors to the ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'' franchise. They are very similar in theme, the major difference in setting being Metro taking place mostly in the underground Metro in Moscow, and for the gameplay, that Metro is a traditionally linear fps as opposed to the sandbox of the Stalker series. |
| 317 | * The Konami arcade game ''[[VideoGame/MIAMissingInAction M.I.A.: Missing In Action]]'' is pretty much an unofficial official sequel to ''VideoGame/RushNAttack'' (aka ''Green Beret''), using what is essentially a more advanced version of the same engine, but with a different setting (being set in Vietnam instead of Russia). |
| 318 | * ''VideoGame/MidnightFightExpress'' is this to both ''Videogame/HotlineMiami'' and ''Videogame/{{RUINER}}'', being a BeatEmUp in a top down or isometric view. |
| 319 | * The ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' video game by Bandai for the Platform/SuperNES is a spiritual successor to the ''Series/ChoujinSentaiJetman'' game by Angel for the Platform/{{Famicom}}. Not that surprising, considering Creator/{{Natsume}} developed both. |
| 320 | * The old Creator/{{Taito}} game ''VideoGame/MizubakuAdventure'' AKA ''VideoGame/LiquidKids'' could be considered a successor to ''VideoGame/TheNewZealandStory''. Both of them are cutesy maze-like platformers with a hero who needs to rescue his kidnapped relatives/friends from cages in every level, have enemies pop up from randomly appearing portals, and have warps to other levels that appear by shooting empty portions of the stages. They also both have the same font for in-game messages! |
| 321 | * ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' itself has two of these. ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts'' is one, created by the [[InNameOnly new Infinity Ward that Activision created]] after much of the original Infinity Ward left to create Respawn Entertainment. Respawn's game ''VideoGame/TitanFall'' can also be seen as a SpiritualSuccessor as it seems to share many of the same ideas, although it diversifies significantly from the Modern Warfare games. |
| 322 | * ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault'' led to Infinity Ward's ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 1'', 2, and the ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' trilogy''. |
| 323 | * ''VideoGame/{{Moonlighter}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/RecettearAnItemShopsTale'', giving its own take on the dungeon crawler/shop management hybrid gameplay. |
| 324 | * ''VideoGame/MrDo'' could be considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/DigDug'', what with the tunneling, the center-screen prizes and the boulders/apples. |
| 325 | * The open-source game ''VideoGame/{{Naev}}'' is a FanSequel to ''VideoGame/EscapeVelocity'', meant to be what ''EV 4'' might have been if Creator/AmbrosiaSoftware hadn't stopped making games. The also open-source game ''VideoGame/EndlessSky'' is much the same, although goes in different directions to ''Naev'' in what it changes. In either case, the line between SpiritualSuccessor and FanSequel is blurred by ''Escape Velocity'' having been a ThematicSeries. |
| 326 | * ''VideoGame/NamuAmidaButsuUtena'' is this to ''VideoGame/BungoToAlchemist'' is this to ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' is this to ''VideoGame/KanColle''. |
| 327 | * ''VideoGame/NaughtyBear'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Manhunt}}'' with teddy bears. |
| 328 | * ''VideoGame/NBAJam'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/ArchRivals'' (both are arcade-style basketball games created by Midway which played fast and loose with the rules). |
| 329 | * Saber Interactive's ''VideoGame/NBAPlaygrounds'' series is a spiritual successor to both ''VideoGame/NBAJam'' and ''VideoGame/NBAStreet''. |
| 330 | * ''VideoGame/NickelodeonAllStarBrawl'' is this to both the web-browser ''[[VideoGame/NickelodeonSuperBrawl Super Brawl]]'' series (a fighting game featuring ''Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}'') and ''VideoGame/CartoonNetworkPunchTimeExplosion'' (a ''VideoGame/{{Super Smash Bros}}''-like clone with characters from a children television channel). |
| 331 | * ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit2010'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Hot Pursuit 2'' and the ''VideoGame/{{Burnout}}'' series. ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted2012'' has been near universally referred to by the gaming press as a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/BurnoutParadise''. |
| 332 | * ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' is a practically a sequel to ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos]]'', only without the Capcom characters. |
| 333 | * ''VideoGame/NexusWar'' to ''VideoGame/UrbanDead'', with the added twist that the former made off with a substantial chunk of the latter's ''player base'' when it came out. So not only does it have similar mechanics and interface, it's played by all the same people. |
| 334 | * ''VideoGame/NFLBlitz'' to ''VideoGame/HighImpactFootball''. |
| 335 | * The rare coin-op ''VideoGame/NightmareInTheDark'' is a spiritual successor of sorts to the more well-known ''VideoGame/SnowBros.'', except that you control a hunchback who engulfs enemies in balls of fire rather than snowmen burying enemies in snow by pelting them with snowballs. |
| 336 | ** ''Snow Bros'' itself is one to ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble''. |
| 337 | * The Platform/NintendoSwitch is ironically one to the Platform/PlaystationVita outside of Japan [[AmericansHateTingle where the system bombed]]. The Vita, after [[ScrewedByTheNetwork developers jumped ship and western retailers abandoned it]], became known for its selection of ports, remakes, and indie titles. Within its first year, developers announced a bunch of ports, remakes, and support from indie developers - making the Switch an unknown SpiritualSuccessor. |
| 338 | * ''VideoGame/NiNoKuniIIRevenantKingdom'' is a direct sequel to the first ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni,'' but it borrows a lot of elements from Level-5's much older RPG ''VideoGame/RogueGalaxy.'' Both ''Ni no Kuni II'' and ''Rogue Galaxy'' are action [=RPGs=] where each character uses both a melee and a ranged weapon, where battles in dungeons take place on the dungeon map instead of in specialized arenas, and jumping is an important mechanic. Compared to the first ''Ni no Kuni,'' which was not a pure action RPG, was {{Mons}}-focused, and, while you could jump, it was a bonus ability that was [[GameBreaker not supposed to be as good as it was.]] |
| 339 | * ''VideoGame/NoMansSky'' to ''VideoGame/{{Noctis}}'', as both games feature gameplay revolving around exploring lots of [[ProceduralGeneration procedurally-generated]] planets. |
| 340 | * ''VideoGame/NotForBroadcast'' is this to ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' and ''VideoGame/NightTrap'', borrowing story elements from the former and gameplay elements from the latter and even giving {{Shout Out}}s to both. |
| 341 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' clone ''[[http://tetrisconcept.net/forum/showthread.html?t=1381 NullpoMino]]'' is somewhat of a spiritual successor to ''Heboris: Unofficial Expansion'' (sharing the same font and a similar level of customization), developed from scratch due to ''Heboris UE'''s source code--a mixture of C++ and a gaming script -- being an [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Programming Abomination]]. |
| 342 | * ''VideoGame/{{Obliterator}}'', a PlatformGame by Creator/{{Psygnosis}}, features a slightly more refined form of the mouse-based control system and gameplay of their earlier game ''VideoGame/{{Barbarian}}'' ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks not to be confused with]] ''VideoGame/BarbarianTheUltimateWarrior''), but takes place in a science fiction setting instead. |
| 343 | * ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'': |
| 344 | ** Producer Masashi Takahashi considers the game to be a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' [[http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/875722/octopath-traveler-concu-comme-l-evolution-de-final-fantasy-vi.htm in terms of game mechanics]], in the same way that ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' built upon ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV''. |
| 345 | ** As far as art style, setting, and combat system goes, ''Octopath'' might as well be considered a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' series. (This is a little contentious for some, though, as while the producers at Square-Enix worked on both games, the development studios are different - Silicon Studios for ''BD'' vs. Acquire for ''Octopath''.) |
| 346 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfLegacy'' shares the same concept of choosing one of many characters and watching their story unfold within the same setting, while also recruiting any other characters that weren't chosen from the start. The vague connections between each character's story also hearkens back to [[Creator/SquareEnix Square]]'s own game ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', which would later see a remake in ''Octopath'''s HD-2D visual style. |
| 347 | ** Finally, the overall structure of the game, with the choosing of a protagonist, the freedom to go in your own direction, and even the arrangement of the battle screen, harkens back ''heavily'' to the ''VideoGame/{{SaGa|RPG}}'' series, particularly the ''VideoGame/RomancingSaGa'' games. It's to the point that a number of fans jokingly say that the game's other title is ''Romancing [=SaGa=] 4''. |
| 348 | * ''VideoGame/{{Oddity}}'' was developed, art style, gameplay, and all, to be a successor to the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series. This is an invoked trope, though, as it was initially conceived as an outright fan sequel. |
| 349 | * ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to the little-known and [[NoExportForYou Japan-exclusive]] Platform/SegaSaturn title ''VideoGame/PrincessCrown'', being created by the same director and company, and featuring several thematic similarities, including the "little girl reading the game story in a book" narrative device. |
| 350 | ** The Platform/NintendoWii game ''VideoGame/MuramasaTheDemonBlade'' is a spiritual successor to both of them, and was in earlier stages referred to as ''Princess Crown 3'', in the same way ''Odin Sphere'' was named ''Princess Crown 2''. |
| 351 | * ''VideoGame/OfLoveAndEternity'' is a {{Retraux}} SurvivalHorror game where you play as a [[KnightInShiningArmor literal]] FailureKnight who is murdered along with his girlfriend in the intro cinematic. BarredFromTheAfterlife and stuck in purgatory as undead, he has to reunite with her soul and set right [[MyGreatestFailure his greatest failure]] so they can rest in peace. For anyone who has played ''VideoGame/{{Medievil}}'' on the original [=PS1=], this setup seems really familiar. |
| 352 | * ''VideoGame/OmegaFive'' is a successor to Capcom's ''VideoGame/ForgottenWorlds'', using the same rotary aiming mechanic, as well as Natsume's own NES game ''VideoGame/{{SCAT}}'', which also drew inspiration from ''Forgotten World''. |
| 353 | * ''Manga/OnePiece: Gigant Battle'' for the DS was developed by Ganbarion, makers of ''Jump Super Stars'' and ''Jump Ultimate Stars'', and reuses many of the same assets. |
| 354 | * ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'': |
| 355 | ** After a falling out between the developer and publisher, the publisher won the rights to the name and would reuse it for [[VideoGame/OperationFlashpointCodemasters a rather different duology]], while the developer kept the rights to the engine behind ''Operation Flashpoint'' and went on to create the ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}}'' series, which is widely considered to be the true successor to ''Operation Flashpoint'' to the point that the developers collectively call both series the [[TheVerse Armaversum]]. |
| 356 | ** As a twist, for the tenth anniversary of the original ''Operation Flashpoint'', the developers released a final patch (just over six years after the penultimate patch) that actually renamed the game to ''ARMA: Cold War Assault'', as well as removing the Codemasters-developed expansion campaign "Red Hammer." |
| 357 | * The Mitchell arcade game ''[[VideoGame/CannonDancer Osman]]'' and feelplus[=/=]Creator/SquareEnix's recent ''VideoGame/MoonDiver'' are this to Capcom's ''VideoGame/{{Strider}}'', both developed by the same designer (Kouichi Yotsui). |
| 358 | * While official ''Series/StargateSG1'' game was cancelled, ''VideoGame/{{Outcast}}'' is the closest can get to a game based on ''Franchise/{{Stargate}}'', even features the time-traveling portal! |
| 359 | * ''VideoGame/{{Overload}}'', by the creators of ''VideoGame/{{Descent}}'', is a spiritual successor to that series. |
| 360 | * The Pandora is the spiritual successor to the [=GP2x=] which is the spiritual successor to the [=GP32=]. While all three handhelds differ in developers, companies, and even nationalities, the philosophy of being and open games device anyone can make games for has been present and strengthened throughout the series. |
| 361 | ** A more closely-related successor to the [=GP2X=] is the Wiz, made by the same company (Gamepark Holdings). The Pandora, it should be noted, is made by a separate group of developers though its underlying philosophy is very similar to the [=GP32=], [=GP2X=], and Wiz. |
| 362 | * The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series was conceived and created in-house by Nintendo's Intelligent Systems after a direct sequel to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' became impossible due to Nintendo and Square's late-nineties falling-out. |
| 363 | ** Likewise for the hand-held ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'' series. Practically the only differences between ''Mario & Luigi'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' are the plot, characters, and change of perspective from isometric to more traditional side-scrolling. Incidentally, Alphadream, the development company, is made of staff originally from Square. |
| 364 | ** Two licensed games, ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'' and ''Steven Universe: VideoGame/AttackTheLight'', are both successors to ''Paper Mario'' as ActionCommand-heavy [=RPGs=] despite being based on two shows that couldn't be more different. |
| 365 | ** ''VideoGame/BugFables'' takes direct inspirations from the ''Paper Mario'' games, taking its aesthetics and combat system and turning it on its head in a bug-themed world. |
| 366 | * ''VideoGame/PhantomBreaker'' is one to the ''VideoGame/Asuka120Percent'' series. It was developed by former Fill-in-Café employees Masatoshi Imaizumi (''Asuka 120%'', ''VideoGame/MadStalkerFullMetalForce'', and ''VideoGame/PanzerBandit'') and Masaki Ukyo (who also worked on ''Mad Stalker'', and for a time worked with ''Creator/{{Treasure}}'' on games such as ''VideoGame/GuardianHeroes'' and ''Manga/YuYuHakusho: Makyō Tōitsusen''), and share similar TournamentArc themes featuring pretty girls. |
| 367 | * ''VideoGame/PizzaTower'' is one to the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series, mostly taking its inspiration from the third and fourth games. |
| 368 | * ''VideoGame/PlanetCoaster'' is one to ''VideoGame/RollercoasterTycoon 3''. Both of which were developed by Creator/FrontierDevelopments. |
| 369 | ** Same as goes with ''VideoGame/PlanetZoo'' from the same developers that are widely considered to be the successor of ''VideoGame/ZooTycoon'' series. |
| 370 | * The emergent "battle royale" genre of game, including TropeCodifier ''VideoGame/PlayerUnknownsBattlegrounds'' and [[FollowTheLeader its competitor]] ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}} Battle Royale'', are spiritual successors to the controversial Japanese novel ''Literature/BattleRoyale''. Both of the aforementioned games follow very similar sets of rules to the novel's eponymous death game: players are dropped off in the battlefield and tasked with killing one another until only one player (or team of players) is left standing. As the game progresses, areas of the map become cordoned off, forcing players into closer proximity with one another and forcing them to fight, less they be killed for staying out of bounds. |
| 371 | * For some, the original Platform/PlayStation is considered the spiritual successor to the Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem even more so than its actual successor the Platform/Nintendo64. This is mostly due to the fact that the Platform/PlayStation was originally an add-on to the SNES, both systems have similar controller layouts (which is especially noticeable with the original controller), and many third-party developers for the SNES moved to the Platform/PlayStation during the [[MediaNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames fifth-generation]]. |
| 372 | * One could make a case for the entire ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series being a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' series, considering that the two series were made in part by a common developer (Creatures Inc.), and share [[http://fangamer.com/forum/Games/Mother2/Earthbound-nods-references-and-similarities-in-the-Pokemon-games a number of uncanny similarities]]. |
| 373 | ** In particular, ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' is one to ''VideoGame/Mother3'' in many ways: |
| 374 | *** The music: The Nuvema town theme, the Surfing theme, Route 10 theme, and N's Farewell are all {{suspiciously similar|Song}} to songs from ''Mother 3'' (respectively: Hinawa's Theme, The Green Train's Fun, Too!, Run, My Dog, Run!, and the Love Theme). |
| 375 | *** The story: [[spoiler:The backstory reveals that Unova's two dragons, Reshiram and Zekrom (and probably Kyurem) were once one, and twin heroes formed Unova alongside it. However, one twin wanted things to remain natural and the other was in favor of urbanization. The dragon then split in two as a result, the older twin forming Reshiram and the younger twin forming Zekrom. N and Ghetsis are said to be the descendants of one of these twins.]] |
| 376 | *** The Pokémon: Drilbur and its evolution, Excadrill, are reminiscent of the Mischievous Mole and Reconstructed Mole enemies respectively. Garbodor is similar to the Forlorn Junk Heap. Many others resemble enemies from the other ''Mother'' series games. |
| 377 | ** Mewtwo looks quite similar to Giygas from ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'', except with some purple and a few extra details added. |
| 378 | ** ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'''s plot is also this to ''Mother 3''. [[spoiler:A benevolent-looking modern society gets established within a quaint island area, with many outsiders praising it as an utopia. [[FalseUtopia Inside it, it turns out that there are unethical experiments that have been conducted by masked men (including the creation of chimeras), the inhabitants that they house are treated horribly, and the leader is insane and has a strange obsession.]]]] |
| 379 | ** Furthermore, ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', in addition to being a remake of ''VideoGame/PokemonYellow'', can also be considered this to ''VideoGame/HeyYouPikachu'', ''VideoGame/PokemonChannel'', and ''VideoGame/PokeParkWii'', all of which were ''Pokemon'' games aimed at younger audiences than the main series that focused on cute Pikachu antics. |
| 380 | * ''VideoGame/PokerNightAtTheInventory'' and its sequel ''VideoGame/PokerNight2'' are successors to both ''VideoGame/TelltaleTexasHoldEm'' as a poker video game where you play against four other players with lots and lots of funny dialogue and ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' since it features both of the titular protagonists in both of the games and was devised as a form of RevisitingTheRoots with the sense of humor that their ''Sam and Max'' games pioneered. |
| 381 | * Valve's ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' is officially the SpiritualSuccessor of ''VideoGame/NarbacularDrop'', and the whole team behind ND now works at Valve. |
| 382 | * ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia1'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/{{Karateka}}'', an earlier Jordan Mechner game. The [[{{Rotoscoping}} rotoscoped]] kicks and punches in ''Karateka'' prefigured the rotoscoped swordplay in ''Prince of Persia''. ''Karateka'' even included a gory instant-death BoobyTrap. |
| 383 | * ''VideoGame/ProjectExonaut'' is this to ''VideoGame/FusionFall''. Both are online games revolving around redesigned Creator/CartoonNetwork characters. |
| 384 | * The ''VideoGame/ProjectGothamRacing'' series is a spiritual successor to the Dreamcast game ''VideoGame/MetropolisStreetRacer''. In turn, ''VideoGame/ForzaHorizon'' is a spiritual successor to PGR, with its development team including many former Bizarre Creations employees. |
| 385 | * ''VideoGame/ProjectWingman'' confessed right from its Kickstarter pitch that it was aiming to be ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' with the SerialNumbersFiledOff after the latter series had been dormant for a number of years. After the game was funded, ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' was announced and released to considerable acclaim. When Sector D2 released their effort a year later, the revitalized fanbase [[FriendlyFandoms congratulated them on releasing Ace Combat 8 so quickly.]] |
| 386 | * ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction''. Both are superhuman WideOpenSandbox games by Radical Entertainment that downright relish in their VideoGameCrueltyPotential. |
| 387 | ** According to WordOfGod, the inspiration for ''Prototype'' came about due to Hulk's "weaponize" ability; that is, the ability to turn vehicles and such into {{improvised weapon}}s, rather than limiting the player to "pick up and throw." Reportedly, during testing, somebody posed the question "what if you could weaponize the ''player?''" |
| 388 | ** Continuing the chain of succession is ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'', which features a set of superpowers that control and function almost identically to the ones in ''Prototype''. |
| 389 | * The team that worked on ''VideoGame/ProWrestling'' later formed Human Entertainment and developed the ''VideoGame/FireProWrestling'' series. |
| 390 | * ''Pochi & Nyaa'', the last game Creator/{{Compile}} was working on before they went bankrupt, was an obvious attempt to recapture some of the gameplay and aesthetics of the ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' CashCowFranchise which they no longer owned. |
| 391 | * ''[[VideoGame/ProjectSnowblind Project: Snowblind]]'' actually was meant to be a spinoff of ''Deus Ex'', but was retooled when [[VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar its actual sequel]] sold poorly. |
| 392 | * ''[[VideoGame/PropellerArenaAviationBattleChampionship Propeller Arena: Aviation Battle Championship]]'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/WingArms'' on the Platform/SegaSaturn. |
| 393 | * ''VideoGame/PumpItUp Pro'' is, oddly enough, this to ''VideoGame/InTheGroove''. Since the rights to ''ITG'' were picked up by Creator/{{Konami}} (in other words, Konami nixed ''ITG''), the team behind ''ITG'', who had collaborated with ''PIU'' developer Andamiro for the ''In the Groove 2'' dedicated cabinet, decided to collaborate with Andamiro once again, this time working on a ''Pump It Up'' game geared towards the same sort of players who enjoy ''ITG'', featuring a lot of ''ITG'' elements such as the use of the ''VideoGame/StepMania'' engine, notes colored by beat (rather than each column having its own color like in mainline ''Pump'', although the option to use that coloring scheme exists), scoring based purely on accuracy rather than other factors like note streaks, and a good chunk of the soundtrack consisting of songs from artists who contributed to ''ITG'' such as Kyle Ward. In short, it's ''In The Groove'' [-WITH A ''PUMP IT UP'' PAD LAYOUT!-] |
| 394 | * ''VideoGame/PumpkinJack'' bares more than a few similarities to ''VideoGame/MediEvil''; 3D {{Defanged Horror|s}} platformers about men brought back to life in a cartoonish, cel-shaded, StandardFantasySetting with their mission to kill a wizard. Health comes in the form of a green potion, their soundtracks are similar and the protagonist's reward is safe passage into the afterlife. |
| 395 | * Barring the change to true 3D, ''VideoGame/QuakeI'' is so close to the earlier ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' that it's common for fans to consider it to be effectively a sequel by a different name. If anything, it's more like ''Doom'' than it is like ''VideoGame/QuakeII'' (which is something of a DolledUpInstallment). Nearly all the weapons are shared in some form, both have [[ASpaceMarineIsYou a space marine protagonist]] fighting his way through a demonic horde (though ''Quake'' has a Lovecraftian tinge compared to ''Doom'''s focus on heavy-metal-cover Satanism), and the overall gameplay and feel is very recognizable as an evolution of ''Doom''. Its biggest differences compared to ''Doom'' are its graphics, its use of true verticality, and its far more elaborate multiplayer. The two are close enough that a lot of ideas from ''Quake'' leaked into ''VideoGame/Doom2016''--that quad-damage powerup had to come from somewhere. |
| 396 | * The UK-based company Graftgold ported ''VideoGame/RainbowIslands'' to the [[Platform/CommodoreAmiga Amiga]] and other European-market home computers. They followed it up with a game called ''VideoGame/FireAndIceTheDaringAdventuresOfCoolCoyote'', which had somewhat similar game mechanics (in particular, combat is done by shooting something that immobilizes an enemy and then touching it while immobilized, enemies left immobilized for too long will [[TurnsRed become stronger]], every level contains a certain amount of enemy-dropped items which the player is supposed to collect, and [[StalkedByTheBell taking too long to finish a level causes something to chase the player character]]), and its box cover had a quotation from a review that called it "the best platformer since ''Rainbow Islands''". |
| 397 | * ''VideoGame/RagingBlasters'' by Creator/{{Terarin}} is a love letter to the ''VideoGame/StarSoldier'' series, featuring [[{{Retraux}} graphics in the style of 16-bit games]], a 5-way shot similar to the one used in ''Star Soldier'', and a focus on destroying waves of enemies rather than the modern-day standard of [[BulletHell dodging hailstorms of bullets]]. It even has a Caravan mode in the style of the ones in ''Star Soldier'' (in which the player has a fixed amount of time to earn as many points as possible in a target-rich environment). |
| 398 | * ''VideoGame/{{Rakuen}}'' has been compared to ''VideoGame/ToTheMoon'', an MediaNotes/RPGMaker game that ''Rakuen's'' creator Laura Shigihara has composed songs for. While they go about it using different methods, both games are ultimately silly but heartfelt stories about [[spoiler: granting the final requests of dying patients by experiencing their memories with the help of an alternate dream-like world.]] |
| 399 | * ''VideoGame/{{Rampage}}'', to ''VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp''. |
| 400 | ** ''VideoGame/WarOfTheMonsters'' to both ''VideoGame/{{Rampage}}'' and ''VideoGame/KingOfTheMonsters''. |
| 401 | * Creator/{{Rare}}: |
| 402 | ** The ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' series seems like a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', where they took everything that set that game apart from the earlier Mario games and expanded on it, and the gameplay was even reminiscent of a Mario game. Keep in mind that ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' only picked up its sequel status for American release. |
| 403 | ** ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong64'' is more of a successor to ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' rather than the ''Country'' games. [[VideoGame/BanjoTooie Note that this was before the latter got an actual sequel.]] |
| 404 | ** The ''Banjo-Kazooie'' series also got a spiritual successor in 2017 with ''VideoGame/YookaLaylee'', made by former Rare developers. |
| 405 | * ''VideoGame/{{Ray|Series}}Storm'': spiritual successor to ''[=RayForce=]''. ''[=RayCrisis=]'' is the official prequel to ''[=RayForce=]''. |
| 406 | * ''VideoGame/RazingStorm'' is the spiritual sequel to ''VideoGame/CrisisZone'', the GaidenGame to ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis''. Like ''Crisis Zone'', you use a machine gun instead of ''Time Crisis'''s handguns (though for bigger targets, you automatically switch to stronger weapons), and instead of hiding behind objects, you take cover behind a heavy-duty shield. ''Razing Storm'' has since been renamed ''Time Crisis: Razing Storm'' for its [=PS3=] release. |
| 407 | ** ''Time Crisis'' is itself a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/RollingThunder'', borrowing some elements from the older games. TakeCover and a TimedMission is a common similarity between them. The themes are also similar. |
| 408 | * While ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' is the official sequel to ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'', ''Redemption'' has a lot more in common with the Activision-made ''Gun'' than its true predecessor. |
| 409 | ** Also, ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' is considered a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' (namely, Grand Theft Horse). |
| 410 | ** ''VideoGame/LANoire'' is also considered a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' (what if ''GTA'' was a film noir?), though arguably less so, due to the fact that this one's much more story-driven; the WideOpenSandbox aspect of GTA and Redemption is not used in the main storyline. Instead, it has you moving from one mission directly into the next. |
| 411 | ** On the topic of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', the series also started out as this to ''VideoGame/BodyHarvest'' |
| 412 | * ''VideoGame/{{Refazel}}'' was supposed to ''be'' the sequel to ''[[VideoGame/FerazelsWand Ferazel's Wand]]''--hence the similar title. Sadly, the fellow who was in charge of the first game left Ambrosia Software shortly afterwards, and they wouldn't give him the sequel rights, so he made it into a sort of inverted DolledUpInstallment. |
| 413 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Remothered}}'' trilogy for the ''VideoGame/ClockTower'' series, unsurprisingly, considering it started out as a FanRemake of the first ''VideoGame/ClockTower1995'' game before it [[DivorcedInstallment slowly morphed its own thing]] during its long development. Despite the changes in story, it retains the atmosphere and AloneWithThePsycho-style gameplay that defined the ''Clock Tower'' games. It even has traces of the original ''Clock Tower'' plot and characters, most notably in how it ended up swapping the roles of Jennifer and Mary, with the originally villainous Mary -- now named Rosemary -- being the protagonist of ''Remothered''. |
| 414 | * ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' also borrowed the control scheme from the original ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark1992.'' ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' is also something of a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark'' as both games feature a female character called to an old mansion to investigate the suicide of a family member; an investigation that leads to [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian]] horrors. |
| 415 | * The original ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' was conceived when Capcom wanted an updated version of their Famicom horror RPG ''VideoGame/SweetHome1989''. An [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15_EyEajMg early teaser]] for ''Biohazard'' even used an arrangement of the ''Sweet Home'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsUdzKuXMFg battle theme]] and it is believed that the international title of ''Resident Evil'' came from a line in ''Sweet Home'' which describes the mansion where the game is set "a place of residing evil." |
| 416 | * ''VideoGame/{{Resogun}}'' is the modern successor of ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}''. |
| 417 | * The game ''VideoGame/Reunion1994'' followed by ''VideoGame/ImperiumGalactica'' series and then ''VideoGame/HaegemoniaLegionsOfIron'' series. All are plot-heavy FourX [[RealTimeStrategy real time strategies]] about humans expanding to space. The publishers kept collapsing before the next instalment was ready, but kept the rights. |
| 418 | * The 1995 {{pinball}} machine ''Pinball/AttackFromMars'' turned out to be a huge seller, but didn't get a proper sequel until the Pinball 2000 machine ''Pinball/RevengeFromMars''. In the meantime, the 1997 pinball ''Pinball/MedievalMadness'' was created by the same developers and, despite the different premise, was far more similar to the original game's structure than the sequel was. |
| 419 | * ''VideoGame/{{Rime}}'': Another "Myst"-like game, very much in the mold of the original. The protagonist lands on an eerie, beautiful island, is given no prompting, so the only way forward is to start exploring. The story unfolds as puzzles are solved. |
| 420 | * ''VideoGame/{{Risen}}'' to ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}'' series after ''Gothic 3''. Developers -- Piranha Bytes -- left the publisher, who retained rights to the title, world and most characters. ''Risen'' uses similar mechanics, but tries to correct the drawbacks of ''Gothic'' games. |
| 421 | ** After mixed response to the former's sequels; ''VideoGame/{{ELEX}}'' would take up the mantle in a [[RecycledInSpace sci-fi setting]]. |
| 422 | ** The ''Gothic'' series is already a SpiritualSuccessor to the ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series, with the future Piranha Bytes seeing ''VideoGame/UltimaIX'', and trying to do a better 3D ''Ultima'' game. The interactivity with the surroundings, life-like [=NPCs=] with their schedules, and many more will seeM familiar to fans of the ''Ultima'' series. The war with orcs, is even similar to the war with gargoyles from ''VideoGame/UltimaVI'', [[spoiler: with the orcs, like gargoyles being also revaled as a much more sympathetic species, that averts AlwaysChaoticEvil]]. [[spoiler: The Sleeper]] is also defeated in a similar way to Exodus. [[spoiler: both are defeated not in battle, but by destroying the things that bound them to reality. In Exodus' case, you insert 4 punchcards into slots in Exodus' computer interface, which overloads and destroys it, while in the Sleeper's case, you must stab the 5 hearts that anchor him in the Mortal Realm.]] |
| 423 | * ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'', a strategy game designed by Brian Reynolds, is to some degree a SpiritualSuccessor of ''Civilization III''. |
| 424 | ** ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'' ''is'' the third ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires'' game. Period. |
| 425 | ** In turn, ''VideoGame/RiseOfLegends'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations''. |
| 426 | ** Mobile game ''[=DomiNations=]'' is in turn yet another SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'', not only being developed by the revived Big Huge Games but also having Reynolds as head developer. |
| 427 | * While ''VideoGame/GuitarHero III'' is obviously the notional sequel to ''Guitar Hero II'', many feel that the "soul" of the franchise has moved along to ''VideoGame/RockBand''. After Harmonix, the series' creator, sold the Guitar Hero IP to Activision, they moved on to Rock Band, making it the game which still employs the ''Guitar Hero II'' development team, game engine, and philosophy regarding note chart design. |
| 428 | ** While we're on the subject of ''VideoGame/RockBand'', ''Unplugged'' for the PSP hearkens back to Harmonix's pre-Guitar Hero days, playing much more like ''Frequency'' or ''Amplitude'' (in fact, it was orginally supposed to be a direct sequel to the latter, but Sony then vetoed the idea, forcing Harmonix to slap the ''Rock Band'' label on it). The DS version of ''Rock Band 3'' continues the trend, while the DS version of ''Lego Rock Band'' is a similar but more watered-down game. The similarities then ballooned into ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Band_Blitz Rock Band Blitz]]'', which is little more than a direct self-plagiarism of ''Amplitude''. This means that, in a way, [[FridgeBrilliance Harmonix finally got that]] ''[[FridgeBrilliance Amplitude]]'' [[FridgeBrilliance sequel they wanted!]] |
| 429 | *** And now, Amplitude has its own ''successor'', thanks to Kickstarter. |
| 430 | ** The fan made ''Clone Hero'' is aiming at being a Spritual Successor to ''Guitar Hero III''. |
| 431 | * Players of both ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' and ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' have each joked that ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to their games, as they're all about collecting party hats, known for their "The one with the most hats wins" rule. In turn, ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' is often considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. |
| 432 | * ''VideoGame/RType'' had a line of actual sequels, but before most of these Irem made a spiritual successor titled ''X-Multiply''. |
| 433 | * ''VideoGame/SatelliteReign'' is the spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}''. It was created by the lead programmer of ''Syndicate Wars'', who was irked to see the renowned action-strategy series rebooted as a first person shooter. |
| 434 | * The shoot 'em up-fighting game hybrid ''VideoGame/SenkoNoRonde'' (known as [[MarketBasedTitle WarTech]] in other countries) is one to ''VideoGame/PsychicForce''. Both games are developed by Creator/{{Taito}}'s arcade division, who then split up and formed G.rev, and both titles also share similar gameplay flow. What sets these two apart however is that ''Psychic Force'' is much more akin to a traditional fighting game, whereas ''Senko no Ronde'' plays much more like a bullet hell shooter. |
| 435 | * ''VideoGame/SerpentInTheStaglands'' to ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}''. LowFantasy WideOpenSandbox in a world where medieval or pre-Christian beliefs are real. Not as much historical accuracy, though. No watercolor illustrations, but pixel art and sepia sketches are quite similar. |
| 436 | * ''VideoGame/{{Shadowverse}}'' is one to ''VideoGame/RageOfBahamut''. In fact, nearly ''every'' card in this game uses card art from ''Rage of Bahamut'' (not to mention the huge failure of ''Rage of Bahamut'' in the west due to ScrewedByTheNetwork). The second expansion is even called "Rise of Bahamut". |
| 437 | * Fumito Ueda's ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'' was thought to be a SpiritualSuccessor to his previous game, ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}''. However, he revealed a direct connection between the two games in an interview several months after the game's release: [[spoiler: the protagonist of ''Shadow of the Colossus'' is actually a direct ancestor of the protagonist in ''Ico'']]. However, the two play very differently and have no further storyline connections. In turn, ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'' is part of this world. |
| 438 | * Crowd-funded effort ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheEternals'' was meant to be ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness 2'' in all but name. |
| 439 | * ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': |
| 440 | ** The original ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI Shin Megami Tensei]]'' is a spiritual successor to the original Famicom ''VideoGame/MegamiTensei'' games, refining gameplay elements introduced in those games while creating an original story inspired by both the ''Literature/DigitalDevilStory'' novels (and the ''Megami Tensei'' adaptation) and the post-apocalyptic setting of ''VideoGame/MegamiTenseiII''. |
| 441 | ** ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' is an obvious spiritual successor to one-off [=MegaTen=] GaidenGame ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' This is most prominent in the first ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'', with there being a truly astounding number of parallels between the two games, but even later ''Persona'' games have some of this; if nothing else, the "persona" system remains a greatly revised and expanded version of the "guardian" system found in ''If...''. |
| 442 | ** At the time of release, ''VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Persona'', featuring some noticeable similarities in both story and gameplay. However, the ''Persona'' series itself has been fully revived since then, thanks to the success of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and subsequent games. |
| 443 | ** ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor'' is a Spiritual Successor for the ''Majin Tensei'' spinoff series, although this statement is based only on the fact that they are strategy games. |
| 444 | ** ''VideoGame/Persona4'': |
| 445 | *** A group of young adults and a nonhuman solve a supernatural mystery, [[spoiler:and the BigBad is a human]]. This is basically the best ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'' game ever made. |
| 446 | *** Its narrative similarities, {{Fighting Spirit}}s, small town setting and [[spoiler:the fact that the BigBad has the same power as the heroes]] makes it the best ''[[Manga/{{JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable}} Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' game out there. |
| 447 | *** A psychological story about having to directly face one's inner demons while needing to deal with a {{fog|of doom}} that never lifts and attracts monsters to the town it infests makes this a rather lighthearted retelling of ''VideoGame/SilentHill2''. |
| 448 | ** ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'' ended up not becoming a typical ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' spin off given that it incorporates day and nighttime social interactions of Japanese cities to find clues when not exploring dungeons, while level exploration takes more from a typical action rpg, especially with its elements of platforming and stealth as opposed to the focus on defeating large number of enemies to guard points on a map. With combat itself also emphasizing Megaten weakness exploitation, the game is pretty much a modern ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy'' in both setting and release. Funny enough, Raidou was the first Megaten star to dress in black with a talking black cat sidekick. |
| 449 | * One of the victory conditions in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} II'' is to make a journey to Alpha Centauri, thus beginning the colonization of the galaxy by your side. ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' can thus be seen as the direct sequel to this particular victory. Or, it's just ''Civilization II'' [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE!]] |
| 450 | ** Taken full circle in ''VideoGame/CivilizationBeyondEarth'', which is a ''Civilization''-series game that borrows a lot from ''Alpha Centauri''. |
| 451 | * ''VideoGame/ShadowTacticsBladesOfTheShogun'' is an attempt to resurrect the gameplay codified by the classic stealth-strategy series ''VideoGame/{{Commandos}}'', but replacing the UsefulNotes/WorldWarII setting with the [[UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod Sengoku Jidai]], and [[MultinationalTeam hardened Allied special forces operatives]] with a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits ragtag gang of ninjas]]. |
| 452 | * ''VideoGame/Shantae2002'' is a successor to the [[WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries Sabrina]] [[VideoGame/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeriesZapped licensed]] [[VideoGame/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeriesSpooked games]] for the Game Boy Color. They both star a teenaged HalfHumanHybrid with magical powers embarking on an adventure. Both games run on similar themes, share similar level designs, and even run on the same engine with the exact same controls. Notably, they also have [[Creator/WayforwardTechnologies the same developer]]. |
| 453 | * ''VideoGame/SigmaStarSaga'' is considered this in regards to ''VideoGame/TheGuardianLegend''. While both games are hybridizations of the ActionAdventure and ShootEmUp genres, ''Sigma'' is more story-driven. |
| 454 | * Creator/ElectronicArts's ''VideoGame/{{Skate}}'' is a successor to their NES-era game ''VideoGame/SkateOrDie''. |
| 455 | ** And interestingly enough, the series it used to [[DuelingGames duel]] with, ''VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater'', is itself a spiritual successor to ''720 Degrees''. |
| 456 | * ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' is considered to be a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' since both were developed by Sega's Overworks studios, and they're both turn-based roleplaying games. In fact, some fans consider Skies to be more a successor to Phantasy Star than ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline''. |
| 457 | * ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' is being considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/ArcanaHeart'', according to people in the fighting game community who attend [[TournamentPlay professional tournaments]] and have played both of them. |
| 458 | * ''Anime/TheSkyCrawlers: Innocent Aces'', a Wii flight sim game made by Project Aces with [=WW2=] like planes, is this to the ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' series. |
| 459 | * ''VideoGame/SmashTV'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to the arcade classic ''VideoGame/Robotron2084''. |
| 460 | ** ''Smash TV'' later got its own SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/TotalCarnage'', with the same gameplay and over-the-top violence, except you're fighting a Saddam Hussein lookalike instead of going through a futuristic game show. |
| 461 | *** [[spoiler: It's actually Hitler]]. |
| 462 | * ''VideoGame/SoccerSpirits'', the successor to ''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa'', ''[[VideoGame/TecmoCupSoccerGame Tecmo Cup: Soccer Game]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Blitzball]]''. |
| 463 | * ''VideoGame/{{Sockman}}'' is a spiritual successor to the Platform/ZXSpectrum classic ''VideoGame/ManicMiner''. |
| 464 | * ''VideoGame/SolatoroboRedTheHunter'' can be seen as this to ''VideoGame/MegamanLegends'' due to the surprising about of overlapping concepts and themes the two games share, from having a adoptive brother-sister hunter duo who live on a mobile airship (Red and Chocolat on the ''Asmodeus''/Mega Man and Roll on the ''Flutter''), steampunk-inspired civilizations segmented by islands and are under constant threats of sky pirates, objects from an advanced ancient civilization being a constant source of interest, and everyone using some form of Mini-Mecha in their daily lives, [[spoiler: The comparison grows when, like Mega Man, Red is also unknowingly tied to a villainous group that wants to commit genocide against the world, and the "Reset" is mentioned as a major catalyst in both franchises (though the "Reset" was never mentioned in ''Legends'' specifically, it was in the ending of ''[=ZX=] Advent'')]]. It's enough to make ''Solatorobo'' be considered the ''Legends 3'' that never was, even moreso when Creator/CyberConnect2 went on record saying they would develop ''Legends 3'' in a heartbeat if Capcom gave them the offer. |
| 465 | * The ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' can be considered one to the ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' series. Another HistoricalFantasy fighting game featuring a [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai samurai]] who [[BloodKnight loves to fight strong enemies]]. It comes in full circle when Haohmaru becomes a GuestFighter in ''VideoGame/SoulCaliburVI''. |
| 466 | * The laserdisc arcade game ''VideoGame/SpaceAce'' was an obvious Spiritual Successor to Creator/DonBluth's ''VideoGame/DragonsLair''. |
| 467 | * Sega's ''{{Spikeout}}'' series is the 3D successor to ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage''. |
| 468 | * ''VideoGame/{{Spore}}'' is this in some ways to ''VideoGame/SimEarth''. |
| 469 | * ''VideoGame/{{Squad}}'' is for the ''VideoGame/ProjectReality'', a GameMod for ''VideoGame/Battlefield2''. ''Squad'' actually spun-off from a failed ''Project Reality 2'' project, which was slated to be a standalone version of the mod in a more modern engine. |
| 470 | * ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', as one of the developers of ''Terraria'' is the head developer of ''Starbound''. |
| 471 | * ''VideoGame/StardewValley'' was [[WordOfGod apparently]] always designed to be a spiritual successor to the ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' games, borrowing many elements from them while also rectifying a number of common criticisms, such as the lack of a GayOption. It uses an art style especially similar to the original SNES ''Harvest Moon''. |
| 472 | * ''VideoGame/StarCitizen'' is the successor to Chris Roberts' earlier titles ''VideoGame/WingCommander'', ''VideoGame/{{Starlancer}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Freelancer}}''. The single-player "Squadron 42" portion is more like ''WC'' and ''Starlancer'', while the WideOpenSandbox MMO half is more like ''Freelancer''. |
| 473 | * ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' can be argued to be a spiritual successor to the first two ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' games, also made by Creator/BlizzardEntertainment. |
| 474 | * ''VideoGame/StarFlight'' and ''StarFlight 2'' influenced several others: |
| 475 | ** ''Protostar'' started as ''[=StarFlight=] 3'' under the same producer, Joe Ybarra, but had SerialNumbersFiledOff after disagreements between developer and publisher. |
| 476 | ** The first ''VideoGame/StarControl'' game, was inspired by ''Starflight'', but bore little resemblance. ''[[VideoGame/StarControl Star Control 2]]'' came much closer. Both were designed by one of ''Starflight'' designers Paul Reiche III. |
| 477 | ** ''VideoGame/AlienLegacy'', also produced by Ybarra, has a smaller scope -- only a single star system and only 1 on-screen alien race -- but shares similar AfterTheEnd / ApocalypseNot mood, as well as scouring the surface of alien planets for many kinds of AppliedPhlebotinum and quest items. |
| 478 | ** ''Franchise/MassEffect'' director called ''Starflight'' a key inspiration. More so, the twist ending reveal Creator/DrewKarpyshyn originally planned was quite similar: the frequent use of mass effect caused stars to explode, thus Reapers wiped all advanced civilizations, hoping one of the harvested races would be able to figure a solution. (And harvesting Protheans took so long, it almost destroyed the galaxy. And [[spoiler:[[HumansAreSpecial the human proto-reaper]]]] seemed like their best bet.) |
| 479 | * In Japan, Creator/HudsonSoft produced the NES and MSX ports of ''VideoGame/StarForce'' and ran a nationwide tournament around it. But ''Star Force'' was a Creator/{{Tecmo}} game, and so Hudson developed a rather similar game called ''VideoGame/StarSoldier'' to feature in the next year's tournament. ''Star Force'' and ''Star Soldier'' each had their own line of sequels. |
| 480 | * ''VideoGame/StarOcean1'' was a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', the first game in the VideoGame/TalesSeries. They share many gameplay and interface elements, and even things like items and spells; the original ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' team splintered into the two series, with the exception of music composer Motoi Sakuraba, who remains the composer on ''both'' series. |
| 481 | ** ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia'' design-wise. Never mind that it's already a long-distance prequel to ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', which makes it a spiritual successor as far as the theme is concerned. |
| 482 | *** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' is the spiritual successor to Symphonia, particularly in terms of gameplay, but also in cartain thematic elements. This is due to it sharing Symphonia's development staff ("Team Symphonia"). It was followed in turn by ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', making a sort of spiritual trilogy. |
| 483 | * The Platform/Atari2600 game ''VideoGame/{{Solaris}}'' was intended as an unofficial sequel to ''VideoGame/StarRaiders'' by Doug Neubauer, who programmed both games. |
| 484 | * ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline's'' space navigation/combat portion is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/StarTrekStarfleetCommand''. |
| 485 | * ''VideoGame/StellaDeusTheGateOfEternity'' is a successor to ''VideoGame/HoshigamiRuiningBlueEarth'', as the two games share a lot of the same battle mechanics. |
| 486 | * ''VideoGame/Strikers1945 series'': Successor to the ''VideoGame/AeroFighters'' series, but more BulletHell-ish. |
| 487 | * ''Street Racing Syndicate'' can be where Creator/{{Genki}}'s unreleased game based on ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' done right ("Winning's winning." - [[Creator/VinDiesel Dominic Toretto]]). |
| 488 | * ''VideoGame/SunsetOverdrive'' as this to ''VideoGame/TotalOverdose'', ''VideoGame/{{Crackdown}}'', and to lesser note ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' and ''VideoGame/JetSetRadioFuture''. |
| 489 | ** It also can be this to ''VideoGame/{{Infamous}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'', abelt LighterAndSofter with ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank''-esque humor. |
| 490 | * ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': |
| 491 | ** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros2'' is strongly influenced by ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', from the Tanooki Leaf power-up, to those colorful rectangular sheet platforms Mario can walk on, the Koopalings, and each World's map being a wide rectangle. Reznor's role in this game is also rather similar to that of Boom Boom, guarding the midpoint of each World. |
| 492 | ** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosU'' is likewise heavily based on ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', featuring the return of Yoshi after his absence from the above, baby Yoshis, visual elements like the slanted polygonal hills seen in the background of some levels, EdibleThemeNaming, a level select consisting of one large map instead of eight separate small ones, a haunted shipwreck, and the hidden BrutalBonusLevel Superstar Road. |
| 493 | ** ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' is highly based on the American ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'', as it involves Mario being joined by Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad on an adventure to another world to free a world of cute fairy creatures from the bad guy. The characters keep their own unique abilites (Mario is balanced, Luigi jumps higher, Toad moves fast, Peach can float) like in said game. The Sprixies are a stand-in for the Subcon fairies. The "Player Select" theme from Mario 2 get a MusicalNod in the Lucky Houses. Toad in particular even has his color scheme from the NES version of the game rather than his normal look. Finally, Bowser, who wasn't in Mario 2 originally, apes the original BigBad Wart in the idea of capturing the Sprixies and [[FairyInABottle imprisoning them]] inside of a jar. |
| 494 | ** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosWonder'' is for all intents and purposes a 2.5D successor of the afforementioned ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' even down to similar plots, scenarios, and gimmicks. Mario and Friends explore a new kingdom that is attacked by Bowser? Check. Tiny Green character based on royalty? (Sprixie Princess/Prince Forian) Check. Multiple playable characters? Check. A quirky new power-up introduced that is based on an animal (Cat/Elephant)? Check. A new race of cute creatures is introduced (Sprixies/Poplins)? Check. Bowser undergoes a new transformation that is fought in the final battle? Check again. |
| 495 | ** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' is basically a modernized, larger-scale version of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. |
| 496 | *** A sandbox collectathon platformer, in which a hero and his sidekick change into myriad different forms to navigate the world? Sounds like a damn fine ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' game. |
| 497 | * ''VideoGame/GlitchStrikers'' is this to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosCrossover'' in that the game is based on characters from vastly different games with their gameplay retained. The differences in this case are that ''Glitch Strikers'' is a WritingAroundTrademarks version for commercial release (as such, the characters are replaced with {{exp|y}}ies -- Mario himself, for example, is replaced by a German miner named Manni), the worlds in the game are based on each of the characters rather than solely emulating ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'', and there's an actual storyline that ties everything together. |
| 498 | * ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsJudgment Super Robot Wars J]]'' for the Platform/GameBoyAdvance. Despite being in separate continuities, they both share many of the same series' (''Literature/FullMetalPanic'', ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', and ''Anime/TekkamanBlade'' are the standouts), with units even using the same sprites and attacks. W also has many of the same features as J, such as Unit Switching with battleships, altering background music, and series favorites. A common [[EpilepticTrees fan theory]] is that the other race ''J's'' Fury mention they're avoiding is in fact ''W's'' Database, or at least will be once their storylines come up in the Original Generation series. Similarly, ''K'' has a similar engine and graphics, but series-wise it really only shares ''SEED'' This all culminates in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars High School'', which combines all three. |
| 499 | ** Similarly, the original mecha of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance'' are descended from the mecha of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars64'', and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsMX SRW MX]] is considered to be a successor of the Compact/Impact series. |
| 500 | ** ''K'' is actually a successor to ''Z'' -- created out of all the content the devs wished they could have put in the latter, and sharing a few series and several themes. |
| 501 | ** ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ'' is likewise one for ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Gaiden'', sharing many of the same series as well as largely taking place in a post-apocalyptic setting. |
| 502 | * A case of one with a fan work: ''VideoGame/SuperSmashPonies'' is considered a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/MyLittlePonyFightingIsMagic''. |
| 503 | * The ill-fated 1st party Platform/PlayStationVita action game ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'' has one: ''[[VideoGame/SwordArtOnline Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet]]'', of all games. ''Fatal Bullet'' is made by the same developers and features a more RPG-oriented spin on most of ''Freedom Wars''' core mechanics. It even includes a hookshot mechanic that is clearly inspired by the Ibara Hookshot. |
| 504 | * ''VideoGame/{{SWIV}}'' was created by the developer of the home computer versions of Creator/{{Tecmo}}'s ''VideoGame/SilkWorm'', reusing some of the sound effects, and was all but advertised as a sequel to it. "Silkworm IV" was only one of three official [[FunWithAcronyms expansions]] of the InitialismTitle. |
| 505 | * ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' has three. ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'' retains the gameplay of ''VideoGame/SystemShock2'', ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'' retains the horror atmosphere and setting, and ''VideoGame/{{Prey|2017}}'' mixes up between gameplay of 2 and the setting of 1 with ''Bioshock'''s influence mixing in on both front. |
| 506 | ** ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' can be considered as a spiritual successor to ''System Shock'' as well. Warren Spector, the creator of ''Deus Ex'' worked on ''System Shock'' in the past. |
| 507 | *** ''Deus Ex'' also shares many similarities to [[Platform/{{Amiga}} Commodore Amiga]] adventure game ''VideoGame/{{KGB}}'', also known as ''Conspiracy''. |
| 508 | [[/folder]] |
| 509 | |
| 510 | [[folder:T-Z]] |
| 511 | * ''Shiwuyu[=/=]VideoGame/TheTaleOfFood'' is essentially ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' to ''VideoGame/FoodFantasy'''s ''VideoGame/KanColle'' – they're both Chinese games with a premise of CastOfPersonifications of food items, but the former, with its exclusive focus on Chinese cuisine, takes an approach more heavily based in Chinese culture and history than the latter's international one. |
| 512 | * ''VideoGame/TheTalosPrinciple'': To co-writer Jonas Kyratzes's [[http://www.kongregate.com/games/JonasKyratzes/the-infinite-ocean earlier game]] about an android questioning human spirituality in what might be the ashes of our civilization. |
| 513 | * ''VideoGame/TechRomancer'', a 3D HumongousMecha-themed fighting game, is a spiritual successor to another Creator/{{Capcom}}-made HumongousMecha-themed fighting game, ''VideoGame/{{Cyberbots}}''. One of the mechs from ''Cyberbots'', Blodia, and its pilot, Jin Saotome, appear as a playable character in the home console version. |
| 514 | * ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesShreddersRevenge'' is a spiritual sequel to the classic Creator/{{Konami}}-era beat'em ups ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTheArcadeGame'' and ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTurtlesInTime'', [[https://www.gamereactor.dk/grtv/583193/DotEmu+The+Arcade+Crew+Cyrille+Imbert+Interview/ as stated in this GameReactor interview with the DotEmu CEO Cyrille Imbert]]. |
| 515 | * ''VideoGame/TellMeWhy'' feels like ''Franchise/LifeIsStrange 3'' in all but name. Developed by ''Life is Strange'' developer Creator/DontnodEntertainment, ''Tell Me Why'' features a coming-of-age narrative, sympathetic focus on LGBTQ+ characters, and young people developing superpowers in EverytownAmerica. Some have even speculated that the stand-alone nature of ''Tell Me Why'' is mainly due to the game having a different publisher, suggesting that it might have been tied in to ''[=LiS=]'' in some way if not for that. |
| 516 | * ''VideoGame/TellingLies'' has similar themes and gameplay to ''VideoGame/HerStory'' (a prior game by the same creator), but a different plot and [[SequelEscalation a broader scope]]. |
| 517 | * ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' was originally Acquire's work but then Creator/FromSoftware had the license. This would lead to Acquire making the similar ''Shinobido'' games, which has Tenchu's stealth kills and Ki-meter for detecting enemies. Creator/FromSoftware had plans on returning to the world of Tenchu, but instead their Project Ninja would become ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice''. |
| 518 | * ''VideoGame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'' is the spiritual successor to Sega's ''Tetris'' games, and borrows many elements such as the piece colors, the bottom-biased rotation system, fast sideways movement and soft drop, and piece lock delay (a feature present in all of Sega's ''Tetris'' games but not in Nintendo's, at least for a while). |
| 519 | * The 1997 comedy hospital management game ''VideoGame/ThemeHospital'' had a spiritual successor in 2018, in the form of ''VideoGame/TwoPointHospital'', and several old hands from Bullfrog (the developer of the original) worked on the successor. |
| 520 | * ''VideoGame/{{Timespinner}}'s'' gameplay and aesthetic are very closely based on ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''-era Castlevanias, especially ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia''. |
| 521 | * ''[[http://thegg.net/press-releases/japanese-developers-team-up-for-military-tactics-game-tiny-metal/ Tiny Metal]]'' is one for ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'', as both are TurnBasedStrategy games with a colorful cast of characters. |
| 522 | * The cancelled ''Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe'' / ''Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Looniverse'' is a gameplay successor to Creator/{{Treasure}}'s earlier ''VideoGame/RakugakiShowtime''. |
| 523 | * ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'' to ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'', more specifically ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'', due to the fact that developer Respawn Entertainment is composed of the majority of developers from Infinity Ward who left Creator/{{Activision}} following the release of Jason West and Vince Zampella, the co-founders of Infinity Ward. |
| 524 | * ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}'' is a spiritual succesor of ''VideoGame/{{Fate}}'' and/or ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''. |
| 525 | * Chris Taylor's ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' and ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander''. |
| 526 | ** Uber Entertainment is trying to fund a new one called ''Planetary Annihilation'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhEYvOYceNs&feature=player_embedded on Kickstarter.]] |
| 527 | * The ''VideoGame/{{Trackmania}}'' series is considered to be the SpiritualSuccessor of an early 90's game called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunts_(video_game) Stunts]]'', which not only has the merit of sporting super-sleek 3D graphics (for the time of course), but is about clearing obstacle-laden tracks on powerful sports cars. Coincidentally, ''Trackmania Nations'', to put an example, is about clearing obstacle-laden tracks in an Formula-1-lookalike racing car. |
| 528 | * ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated: The Game'' is a successor to ''VideoGame/TheLostVikings'' as a [[TeamworkPuzzleGame teamwork]] PuzzlePlatformer. |
| 529 | * ''VideoGame/{{Transistor}}'' to the earlier ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}''. |
| 530 | * Chris Sawyer's ''VideoGame/TransportTycoon'' and ''VideoGame/{{Locomotion}}''. |
| 531 | ** And to those, Urban Games' ''VideoGame/TrainFever'' and ''VideoGame/TransportFever''. |
| 532 | * Creator/{{Treasure}}'s ''Bleach'' fighting games for the Nintendo DS are considered to be spiritual successors to their Platform/MegaDrive fighting game ''[[VideoGame/YuYuHakushoMakyoToitsusen Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyo Toitsusen]]''. |
| 533 | * Even though it's an entirely different setting and story, ''VideoGame/TreeOfSavior'' has been hailed as a successor to ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' for a multitude of reasons: |
| 534 | ** ''Tree of Savior's'' developer, IMC Games, was founded by one of ''RO's'' original developers (prior to the Samsung buyout that caused most of Gravity Corporation's founders to leave). Several other people from those days are also working on ''Tree of Savior''--notably, [=SoundTeMP=], who provided most of ''RO's'' memorable soundtrack. |
| 535 | ** The game has a TwoAndAHalfD SpritePolygonMix, like ''RO'', and the in-game art style looks like a higher-detailed evolution of ''RO's.'' |
| 536 | ** ''Tree of Savior'' shares many game mechanics with ''RO''--it can be controlled via mouse, it has a similar CharacterClassSystem and PointBuildSystem, and features a number of things that were planned for ''RO'' by the original devteam [[WhatCouldHaveBeen but never happened]]. |
| 537 | * ''VideoGame/TheTuringTest'': To ''VideoGame/Portal1'' and ''VideoGame/TheTalosPrinciple''. |
| 538 | * ''VideoGame/TwinCobra'' was a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/TigerHeli'', which in turn had a predecessor in ''Gyrodine'', whose programmers went on to found Creator/{{Toaplan}}, the company which made the other two games. All three of these helicopter-based vertical shooters were distributed by Creator/{{Taito}}. |
| 539 | * ''VideoGame/TyTheTasmanianTiger'' to ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot''. |
| 540 | * In a rare example of spiritual sequels crossing from one franchise to another, a group of developers wanted to make a new ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' game, but failed to secure the license. They changed the project to a SpiritualSuccessor in an original IP, ''VideoGame/ArxFatalis''. They were later hired by Ubisoft, and created a SpiritualSuccessor to Arx Fatalis as part of Ubi's revived ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' brand, becoming ''VideoGame/DarkMessiah''. |
| 541 | ** ''VideoGame/UltimaVI'' received its own spiritual sequel in the form of ''VideoGame/{{Cythera}}'', which featured an improved resolution and expanded skills. |
| 542 | ** The upcoming ''VideoGame/ShroudOfTheAvatarForsakenVirtues'' is the spiritual SpiritualSuccessor to classic ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}} series'', and it's MMORPG offshoot, ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'', being even developed by Richard "Lord British" Garriot, the ''Ultima'' series creator. Interestingly, you will apparently be able to control if the game will be a single player, few friends online, or a full-blown MMORPG experience. The setting of game is even called "New Britannia", the player character will be called the Avatar, and there are other, almost sequel-like nods to the old series. |
| 543 | ** ''VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld''. |
| 544 | ** ''VideoGame/LegendsOfAria'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline''. |
| 545 | * ''VideoGame/UnboundSaga'' is one to ''VideoGame/ComixZone'', both being old-school arcade style BeatEmUp action games set inside a comic book world. The stages in both games are designed in a similar way, too, looking like comic book panels where you leap out one panel to another to progress. |
| 546 | * ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' too is considered such to ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia''. While Valkyria is a strategy RPG instead of turn-based, it has some members of Sega's now extinct Overworks studios on its development, and even Skies protagonists Vyse and Aika [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo make a cameo in it]]. |
| 547 | * The ''VideoGame/ValkyrieDrive'' series is basically this to the ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'' series. |
| 548 | * The Creator/VicTokai {{Platform Game}}s ''Kid Kool'', ''VideoGame/PsychoFox'', and ''VideoGame/DecapAttack'' all feature different characters (and the Japanese versions are different still), but have many elements in common, including the acceleration physics. |
| 549 | * ''VideoGame/ViperPhase1'', while having [[NoPlotNoProblem no real plot of its own]], retains much of the look and feel of the same developer's ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}}'' series, specifically ''Raiden II''. |
| 550 | * Irem's ''VideoGame/{{Vigilante}}'' is pretty much a more advanced version of their earlier single-plane BeatEmUp ''VideoGame/KungFuMaster'' in a different setting, although there was an official sequel for the Family Computer in Japan titled ''Spartan X 2''. |
| 551 | * ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' is this to ''VideoGame/DarkSector''. Developers at some point hinted to Warframe taking place in the same universe, thousands of years in the future, though this was since recanted. They have also stated that Warframe is the game they wanted to make back when they were in early development of darkSector. |
| 552 | * ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' to the ''Sound Bomber'' mode of ''VideoGame/MarioArtist: Polygon Studio'', and ''VideoGame/MarioArtist'' to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint''. |
| 553 | * ''VideoGame/WarlockMasterOfTheArcane'' is one for ''VideoGame/MasterOfMagic'' |
| 554 | * ''VideoGame/WarForTheOverworld'' is regarded as a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper'', and actually began as a fan-made remake of the game before the developers decided to file off the serial numbers and sell it as its own game due to fear of copyright issues with EA. |
| 555 | * The turbulent history of ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland}}'''s developers has prompted a lot of this: |
| 556 | ** After Interplay made ''Wasteland'' for Electronic Arts, EA made a "sequel" named ''VideoGame/{{Fountain of Dreams}}'', which they ultimately decided not to market as a sequel to ''Wasteland''. |
| 557 | ** Since Interplay couldn't get the rights to ''Wasteland'' back from EA, Interplay (specifically, the RPG group, which later became Creator/BlackIsleStudios) instead repurposed a prototype ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' RPG to make ''VideoGame/{{Fallout|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout2''. |
| 558 | *** After ''Fallout 2'', Interplay committed many dark and evil deeds that [[ExecutiveMeddling sapped away Black Isle's strength]] and ultimately led to all of their development efforts (including ''Fallout 3'', codenamed "[[VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren Project Van Buren]]") being canceled. After firing droves of Black Isle employees, shutting them down, and ultimately going down in flames itself, Interplay put Fallout on the auction block. |
| 559 | *** Much of Black Isle had regrouped as Troika and created another SpiritualSuccessor to the series: ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura''. |
| 560 | ** As the crowning glory to this nonsense, [=InXile=] head Brian Fargo (the producer of the original ''Wasteland'') reacquired the rights to ''Wasteland'' and released [[VideoGame/Wasteland2 an actual sequel]] in 2014 thanks to the [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2 Kickstarter's success.]] Oddly enough, this game works in many ways as the spiritual successor to the first two ''Fallout'' games, since the ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' that was released is often considered to be different compared to the first two. |
| 561 | ** Then there's ''VideoGame/TheOuterWorlds'', developed by ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' developer Creator/ObsidianEntertainment and led by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, key staff in the creation of ''Fallout''. While ''Fallout'' is about 1950s culture in the 21st century, ''The Outer Worlds'' is about Gilded Age space exploration, and essentially embraces and advances the concepts that were largely abandoned by Bethesda, including the emphasis on player choice over linearity. |
| 562 | ** The scepter then has to go to ''Afterfall'' which is being developed as a spiritual successor to ''Fallout'', set in Nuclear Winter Eastern Europe. |
| 563 | ** Interplay also released ''VideoGame/DragonWars'', the spiritual successor to ''[[VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy The Bards Tale]]'' trilogy they developed for EA. Brian Fargo then obtained the rights to ''The Bard's Tale'' and published another game under that title in 2004. |
| 564 | *** Similarly to the ''Starflight'' and ''Mass Effect'' example below, one of the ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' series' designers, Kevin Martens, named ''The Bard's Tale'' game and series among the most important inspirations. |
| 565 | *** After Michael Cranford, the main creator and programmer of the first two ''Bard's Tale'' games, stopped working with Interplay, and wasn't involved in the creation of ''The Bard's Tale III'', he created his own take on how he would make the third part of his game, ''VideoGame/CentauriAlliance'', which was more, or less ''Bard's Tale'' [[RecycledInSpace In Space!]], although with a lot of improvements to gameplay, and a battle-mode similar to that found in the VideoGame/GoldBox games. ''Centauri Alliance'' even had an option to transfer characters from the three ''Bard's Tale'' games. |
| 566 | * ''VideoGame/TheWestportIndependent'' has been frequently compared to ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' in style, theme, and tone. Both have a low-fi dictatorship setting, a somewhat similar art style, rebellious organizations, "choices mean everything" plots, and gameplay revolving around paperwork. The former revolves around a newspaper that must adjust to new government regulations or aid a rebellion, while the latter is about a border checkpoint official. Interestingly, ''Papers Please'' author Lucas Pope had also created a game with a similar premise called ''The Republia Times'' prior to the development of ''Westport'', though the ''Westport'' development team have stated that they were unaware of Pope's first game until their game jam was over. |
| 567 | * ''VideoGame/WiiParty'' appears to be one of ''VideoGame/MarioParty''. |
| 568 | * The Wii's menu system (including the default channels and at least part of ''VideoGame/WiiSports'') is a Spiritual Successor to ''VideoGame/MarioPaint''. The music is too similar to be a coincidence, and the Wiimote works a lot like the old SNES Mouse did. |
| 569 | ** The way you can customize the Wii menu through drag-and-drop is also very similar to the GBA Movie Player. Both the Wii and GBAMP also have 512MB of memory. |
| 570 | ** ''[=WarioWare=] D.I.Y.'' also shares a lot of elements with ''Mario Paint'', such as the usable colors. The music maker borrows all of the symbols used for notes and the man running above the staff outright. |
| 571 | * ''VideoGame/TheWitness'': Very much in the style of ''Myst'' (even more so its sequel ''VideoGame/{{Riven}}''), with the lonely BeautifulVoid and numerous puzzles aimed towards a common goal. |
| 572 | * The 2000 RPG ''Wizards and Warriors'' by D. W. Bradley (not to be confused with the NES VideoGame/WizardsAndWarriors game) is one for the ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' series. Bradley was also the creator of ''Wizardry'' games 5 through 7. |
| 573 | ** ''VideoGame/ClassOfHeroes'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to the ([[NoExportForYou Japan-only]]) ''Wizardry Xth'' subseries, although much of the races, and (in the first game only)classes are almost identical to those in the ''Dark Savant Trilogy'' (''Wizardry'' 6 through 8). |
| 574 | ** ''VideoGame/TheDarkSpire'' is a SpiritualSuccessor to the first three and fifth ''Wizardry'' games, even coming with an option to change graphics and sound to be like from a game produced in TheEighties. |
| 575 | * ''VideoGame/WolfQuest'' is this to ''VideoGame/WolfDOS.'' Both games are very similar, having the same subject matter and made with the same goal in mind: Educating people about wolves. |
| 576 | * ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'', a Platform/WiiU game by Creator/PlatinumGames, seems to be based somewhat on ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe''. |
| 577 | * The Platform/WonderSwan can be considered to be a spiritual successor to the original Platform/GameBoy since they were both made by Creator/GunpeiYokoi. |
| 578 | * ''VideoGame/WorldsEndClub'' is set up as a successor to ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'', in a deliberate attempt to make the player believe it's just another "death game". The plot then spins off in another direction, and it ends up feeling like a ''VisualNovel/ZeroEscape'' successor instead, although it's significantly more lighthearted than either. |
| 579 | * The ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series is widely considered a SpiritualSuccessor to ''VideoGame/{{Elite}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Privateer}}''. |
| 580 | * The original Platform/{{Xbox}} is widely considered to be the spiritual successor to the Platform/SegaDreamcast, since many Dreamcast games - particularly those from Sega themselves - were ported to (''VideoGame/ShenmueII'') or received sequels on (''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon Orta'', ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio Future'') the system, they both have similar controller layouts, the Xbox was at one point going to be backwards compatible with the Dreamcast, and both are compatible with Windows CE and MediaNotes/DirectX. |
| 581 | ** To a noticeably lesser extent, the Platform/PlayStation2 can also be considered a successor to the Dreamcast. While the two don't share any hardware or software, the [=PS2=]'s [[OvershadowedByAwesome mere existence]] being a factor in the Dreamcast's failure meant that those Dreamcast games which didn't see ports to or sequels on the Xbox instead saw them on the [=PS2=]. Amusingly, the [=PS2=] even managed similar third-party support long after its time had ended -- the Dreamcast still saw official releases in Japan until 2007 (and indie devs are still making the occasional game for it beyond then), while the [=PS2=]'s last official release was in 2013, just two months before the debut of a ''[[Platform/PlayStation4 fourth]]'' [=PlayStation=]. |
| 582 | ** Even the Platform/NintendoGameCube can be seen as a spiritual successor to the Dreamcast, as many Dreamcast games like ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'', and ''VideoGame/CrazyTaxi'' received updated ports on the [=GameCube=], and both systems used proprietary disc formats. Also, the dual-screen functionality with the [=GameBoy=] Advance link-cable can be seen as a spiritual successor to the Dreamcast's VMU. |
| 583 | * When developers leave their parent company to start a new studio or otherwise lose the rights to their previous intellectual properties, it's not uncommon for them to create spiritual successors. For example, when the development team responsible for ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' and ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' left [=SquareSoft=] to form Creator/MonolithSoft, they created successors to those games in the form of the ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' and ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' games, respectively. When the developers behind ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'', ''VideoGame/PN03'', ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' and ''VideoGame/GodHand'' left Creator/{{Capcom}} to form Creator/PlatinumGames, they created ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Vanquish}}'', ''VideoGame/TheWonderful101'' and ''VideoGame/MadWorld'', respectively. |
| 584 | * ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' was one for ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. This was due to copyright, as Creator/SquareEnix owned ''Xenogears'', while all the people who worked on it and wished to do more with it went on to create their own studio called Creator/MonolithSoft, under Creator/BandaiNamco. There are a metric ton of {{Shout Out}}s and characters that are strikingly similar, and the third game and the sourcebooks would even hint that the two take place in the same timeline. WordOfGod, however, states that ''Xenosaga'' was a ContinuityReboot for ''Xenogears'', and not an actual prequel. |
| 585 | ** History would repeat itself with the ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'' series, which is a spiritual successor to both, though it originally wasn't meant to be: the continued use of the ''Xeno'' name came from their new owners at Creator/{{Nintendo}} thinking it would be a cool ProductionThrowback. Unlike its predecessors, the ''Blade'' games are more loosely-connected, taking place in the same universe, but being [[NonLinearSequel standalone stories featuring completely different characters and settings]]. |
| 586 | ** The ''Xeno'' games as a whole can be considered spiritual successors to the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, as ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' was originally proposed to be ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', but rejected as it was considered "too dark" (which says a lot considering what ''Final Fantasy VII'' [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasyVII ended up being]]). Most of Creator/MonolithSoft's senior developers also got their start working on the pre-''VII'' ''Final Fantasy'' games, thus providing further links to the JRPG titan. |
| 587 | * The popular, but now dated, ''VideoGame/XCom'' series has a number of unrelated spiritual successors, including the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' series, ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}'', the open-source ''VideoGame/UFOAlienInvasion'', and ''Rebelstar: Tactical Command'' for the GBA. Like ''VideoGame/XCOM2'', ''Xenonauts 2'' would take place in an AlternateUniverse from the first game. |
| 588 | ** ''X-COM: UFO Defence'' itself is kind of a prequel to earlier Gollop's game ''VideoGame/LaserSquad'', quite successful on Platform/ZXSpectrum, but nearly unknown elsewhere. ''VideoGame/XCOMApocalypse'' even borrowed MegaCorp names from ''Laser Squad''. This came a full circle with ''[[VideoGame/LaserSquadNemesis Laser Squad: Nemesis]]'' -- a true sequel to ''Laser Squad'' and SpiritualSuccessor to ''X-COM''. |
| 589 | ** After the series reboot by Creator/FiraxisGames in 2012, ''VideoGame/XCOMApocalypse'' received a spiritual successor in the form of ''VideoGame/XCOMChimeraSquad'' in 2020, which like its predecessor takes place in a single city and revolves around a multi-species squad, but in a far less dystopian setting. |
| 590 | * ''VideoGame/XMenNextDimension'' was an attempt at doing a 3D take on the old Capcom-produced Marvel fighting games, like ''VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom'' and the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' series. ''Next Dimension'' even had moves that were obviously lifted from ''Marvel vs. Capcom''. |
| 591 | * ''VideoGame/{{Nexuiz}}'': after the ''Creator/IllFonic'' fiasco with ''[[VideoGame/NexuizPS3 PS3!Nexuiz]]'', the community created their own SS in the form of ''VideoGame/{{Xonotic}}'', retaining the gameplay and most of the content. |
| 592 | * ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'' to ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters''. |
| 593 | * ''VideoGame/ZeraMythsAwaken'' was a ''Spyro'' FanGame that was shut down due to a cease-and-desist order. It was reworked but it still looks awfully ''Spyro''-esque. |
| 594 | [[/folder]] |
| 595 |
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