History Main / GaidenGame

* ''VideoGame/PhoenixWright: VisualNovel/AceAttorney'''s bonus case, only present on the DS version (The original Japan-only GBA version ends at the fourth case), features a case where only 5 characters (Phoenix, Edgeworth, Gumshoe, the Judge and the Bellboy) from the rest of the series appear, the rest being completely new. This is due to the case taking place between the first and second games, and the writers couldn't mess with the continuity already set by the sequels which had already been released in Japan. The plot and characters feel perfectly like a sidestory.
** The fifth case has been worked into the Canon with Apollo Justice featuring Ema as the game's Gumshoe.

** It's not quite clear how ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' fits in - which is really odd since it was meant to be the fourth game in the main series; the first three entries were all more clearly connected to each other. The release of the ''actual'' ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' may clear up some of these questions, though.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay, the gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Mordheim}}'', American football parody ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle'), the naval fleet based game ''Man-O-War'' and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay, the gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Mordheim}}'', American football parody ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle'), the fleet based game Man-O-War and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay, the gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Mordheim}}'', American football parody ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle') and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

* Another gaiden game of sorts is ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST''; despite that 3 in the title, it actually takes place during ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', and involves some new characters.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Mordheim}}'', American football parody ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle') and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the gang-based ''Mordheim'', American football parody ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle') and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''Inquisitor'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''Necromunda'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

** ''Gyakuten Kenji'' (or ''VisualNovel/ACeAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth''), a GaidenGame where you play as Miles Edgeworth, Nick's rival. It follows the same general formula except that Edgeworth is actully on the map as a sprite and walks around rather then looking at a static image. There is no court segments (Unless the case taking place in a court house counts), but witnesses are still cross examined in much the same manner as the main series. It now has its own sequel, becoming a Gaiden Series.

** ''Gyakuten Kenji'' (or ''Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney Investigations''), a GaidenGame where you play as Miles Edgeworth, Nick's rival. It follows the same general formula except that Edgeworth is actully on the map as a sprite and walks around rather then looking at a static image. There is no court segments (Unless the case taking place in a court house counts), but witnesses are still cross examined in much the same manner as the main series. It now has its own sequel, becoming a Gaiden Series.

** The reason why ''ODST'' has a ''3'' in its title is because it was originally planned to be merely an add-on that still required ''Halo 3'' to play. But as the game grew and grew and more and more tweaks to the game engine were made [[hottip:* :the VISR system, the whole NAV/map/waypoint system, Firefight game mode, making groups of opponents patrol and thus successfully navigate large areas, and so on]], Bungie decided to make it a stand-alone product for half the price of a normal retail game. Then Microsoft "interfered" and added a second disk containing the multiplayer portion from ''Halo 3'' along with all the DLC map packs, and upped the price to that of a normal retail game.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' has three Gaiden games with each of them a part of the three major continuties ("Classic", [[SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha]], and [[SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Original Generation]]). The first Gaiden game ''[[SuperRobotWarsGaiden Super Robot Wars Gaiden: Lord of Elementals]]'' told of the origins of the Masou Kishin characters, a group of [[OriginalGeneration Banpresto-created originals not seen anywhere else]]. ''Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden'' focused on TimeTravel and wasn't necessary for players to enjoy the previous Alpha game (most likely because Banpresto wanted an excuse to show off obscure mecha series, since it was full of them). ''Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden'' fits this trope because it was shorter than the average [=SRW=], including several extras such as a battle viewer and a card game. It's also downplayed, though, since all three are essentially ''sequels'' that happen to have the word "gaiden" in their name. ''SuperRobotWarsAlpha'' depends on the player having some foreknowledge of the events set in ''SuperRobotWarsEX'' or ''SuperRobotWarsGaiden'' for background on the Masou Kishin characters, otherwise one can get too confused at the references they make to Alpha's back story. ''Alpha Gaiden'' is heavily referenced in the proper sequel ''Alpha 2'', where the [[GetterRobo Dinosaur Empire]] is defeated for the third time, and the finale ''Alpha 3'' assumes the player knows of Sanger Zonvolt's role at the Earth Cradle, despite the fact it was supposed to be highly secretive. Hell, the fact the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Titans]] are more or less liberally screwed and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Char Anzable's]] disillusionment with humanity DEPENDS on the events of Alpha Gaiden. In short, Banpresto's definition of "gaiden" means a game that provides story details bridging the gap and answering the EpilepticTrees present in the other games in continuity. In fact, there's very little an "Original Generation 3" couldn't reference the events of ''Original Generation Gaiden'', considering both the effects on existing characters and all the {{EarlyBirdCameo}}es present in that game.

** Since the release of the ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' series, and since the ''Ninja Gaiden'' titles are canonical to it, ''Ninja Gaiden'' can be considered a sidestory to ''Dead or Alive'' (and vice versa).

** There's also ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'' and ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''.

** There are more spinoff games then there are main series games. Hell, there are more games in the ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'' series [[CashCowFranchise than in the main series.]]
** There are even Persona spinoffs (a spinoff ''of'' a spinoff,) including fighting game Persona4Arena (which might not count, as it advances the plot of the series, even if only a little bit) a browser-based RPG, and a long series of cell phone games based on {{Persona 3}} (including one focusing on [[RobotGirl Aigis]] 10 years before the start of the game.)

* The recent spinoff games to the ''VII'' universe could be considered [[GaidenGame Gaiden Games]], including the PS2 sequel ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', and two prequels, ''VideoGame/BeforeCrisis'' for mobile phones and ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' on the PSP. Fans are divided how much material has been stapled on as a cash grab and how much was simply cut for time.

* Many gaidens are found in the ''Mega Man'' franchise -- in fact, each series seems to get at least one. Typical examples are ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'', ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' and ''The Misadventures of Tron Bonne'', and ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork: Battle Chip Challenge''.

* The handheld titles of the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' series are frequently considered a GaidenGames to the "main" series, perhaps because of their tendency towards ElectricBoogaloo titles and the fact that they're on handhelds, rather than consoles. This is not the case, these games are all full installments of the series which build upon the story of the games and lead directly into the next "main" game. ''Kingdom Hearts II'' makes more sense if you've played ''Chain of Memories'' and the games released after ''Kingdom Hearts II'' are ''quite clearly'' building up to a climax that will be resolved in the future ''Kingdom Hearts III''.

** A better example is ''[[VideoGame/EndlessFrontier Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier]]''. While a spin-off, the back-story establishes the events in Original Generation continuity ultimately influenced the entirety of Endless Frontier. Its upcoming sequel ''Endless Frontier EXCEED'' even manages to rope in characters ''from'' the main Original Generation games.

* There are two Japan-only games in the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series called, quite simply, ''Suikogaiden volumes 1 and 2''. These games are basically side-stories featuring a previously-unknown character from Harmonia named Nash Latkje (who would later appear as a Star of Destiny in ''SuikodenIII''). The two games take place around the time of Suikoden 2, the first starting before and during [[SuikodenII SII]], and the second taking place shortly after the end of [[SuikodenII SII]]. In both games, Nash interacts with various characters from ''SuikodenII'', giving more perspective on many of the less known-about characters.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' had an action-RPG, ''An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire'', and an action-adventure, ''The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard'' (another Elder Scrolls Adventures, ''The Eye of Argonia'', was planned but never made, though the Eye itself is mentioned in the main games). (Those who don't know this often erroneously assume that it's a reference to ''TheEyeOfArgon''.) There's also the ''Elder Scrolls Travels'' side-series, consisting of ''Dawnstar,'' ''Stormhold,'' and the mostly not canon ''Shadowkey,'' for the ill-fated NGage system. Finally, ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' will be an {{MMORPG}} set several hundred years, minimum, earlier than ''Arena''.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has had a bunch of side games. An incomplete list: the FirstPersonSnapshooter game ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap''; the PuzzleGame ''Pokemon Trozei!''; and the ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' series. Likewise, the main series games are all Gaiden Games of each other, with references and allusions but no actual interaction. Mystery Dungeon & Ranger also have references and allusions but no interactions to their own series's, so gaiden games that are gaiden games of each other...

* ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' spin-off ''Gun Hazard'' is not only a side-scrolling shooter, but also takes place in its own alternate universe.

* EpicBattleFantasy does this in a similar way to the Touhou examples above- and inverts it. How does it invert it? 1,2, and 3 are basically RPG games. EBF 3.3 is a bullet hell game.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the gang-based ''Mordheim'', American football parody ''Blood Bowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle') and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''Inquisitor'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''Necromunda'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.

* ''MeltyBlood'', the rather popular 2D Fighter GaidenGame to ''Tsukihime'', which follows a plotline of many that didn't quite make it into the actual visual novel.

* The ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' series has had multiple examples of this:
** ''Mass Effect: Galaxies'' (for the [=iPod=] Touch/[=iPhone=]) focuses on Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson between the events of the first and second game. Completing ''Galaxies'' unlocks more dialogue in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''.

Subtrope of SpinOff. Also of note is that having Gaiden in its title doesn't necessarily means the game pertains to this trope. Even if you exclude ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'', which has a troubled approach with its ''gaiden'' status. See the respective entry below.

Subtrope of SpinOff. Not to be confused with ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'', which has a troubled approach with its ''gaiden'' status. See the respective entry below.

Also of note is that having Gaiden in its title doesn't necesseraly means the game pertains to this trope.

* The aptly named ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Fire Emblem Gaiden]]'' is a side-story to the original ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', while ''Fire Emblem: Thracia 776'' is one to ''Genealogy of Holy War''. The two titles are generally considered full instalments in the ''Fire Emblem'' series, being the second and fifth respectively, though there are some portions of the Japanese fanbase who don't consider ''Gaiden'' to be a full ''FE'' game. Also present are the {{Satellaview}} instalments in the series, which are briefer games focusing on small groups of the cast of the first/third game doing things in the intervening time period between Dolhr's victory and the start of the first/third games; they were later remade and included as a bonus in ''New Mystery of the Emblem''.
* It could be argued that ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} 2'' and ''3'' were Gaiden Games, not to ''Xenosaga'', but rather to ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. There's a lot of legal difficulties in the connections between those, so just {{Wikipedia}} ''Xenosaga'' to learn more about the connections (and lack thereof).

* There's a couple in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series. ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure'' springs to mind. In the Japanese manual its said to take place before Tails' fateful meeting with [[HeterosexualLifePartners his iconic partner in crime fighting]]. In the Western version it's treated as a BusMansHoliday but in both, its still Tails's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in the limelight.]]
** There's also ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'' and ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''.
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' started off originally as a gaiden game of sorts in the Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei universe, taking place just before ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI''. It later became canon when the protagonist appeared in ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}'', and started the InterContinuityCrossover that occurs throughout the Megaten franchise.
** It's not quite clear how ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' fits in - which is really odd since it was meant to be the fourth game in the main series; the first three entries were all more clearly connected to each other. The release of the ''actual'' ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' may clear up some of these questions, though.
** There are more spinoff games then there are main series games. Hell, there are more games in the ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'' series [[CashCowFranchise than in the main series.]]

* Each ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' game had a Game Boy follow-up in the "Donkey Kong Land" series. The first was a completely separate adventure, the second was basically a port of Donkey Kong Country 2 and the third was a basic collection of very generic levels in the style of Donkey Kong Country 3.
* ''VideoGame/SailorMoonAnotherStory'' was not so much a franchise distancer as a nod that it is not canonical to the Manga/SailorMoon mythos in very BroadStrokes.
** Much the same is true of ''Manga/{{Dragonball}} Z Gaiden: Plan to Eliminate the Saiyans''. Its story has no bearing on the manga or anime, though Toei did produce a companion {{OVA}}.
** As well as ''Anime/{{Zoids}} Legacy'', which is like a MegaCrossover {{fanfic}} of all the series continuums in video game form.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' orginally was informally referred to as a GaidenGame before being treated as a direct sequel. Largely existing as an exercise in producing a sequel and light-hearted enough to occasionally take the piss out of its premise and characters, it was mainly dismissed in the West for being much sillier than its predecessor, and for deviating too much from the Final Fantasy formula.
** Even before ''X-2'', the developers weren't sure if ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' would be considered part of the main franchise due to how much is deviated from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''; it was less than a year before release that Square officially called it ''IX''.
* The recent spinoff games to the ''VII'' universe could be considered [[GaidenGame Gaiden Games]], including the PS2 sequel ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', and two prequels, ''VideoGame/BeforeCrisis'' for mobile phones and ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' on the PSP. Fans are divided how much material has been stapled on as a cash grab and how much was simply cut for time.
* ''[[VideoGame/JakAndDaxter Daxter]]'' takes place before the main events of ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade''. The game is ADayInTheLimelight for the sidekick, Daxter, without Jak having a playable role.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories'' (prequels to ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'', respectively)
* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'', ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'', and ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked''.

* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel EX'' is a non-canonical glorified giant minigame.
* The aptly named ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Fire Emblem Gaiden]]'' is a side-story to the original ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', while ''Fire Emblem: Thracia 776'' is one to ''Genealogy of Holy War''. The two titles are generally considered full instalments in the ''Fire Emblem'' series, being the second and fifth respectively, though there are some portions of the Japanese fanbase who don't consider ''Gaiden'' to be a full ''FE'' game. Also present are the {{Satellaview}} instalments in the series, which are briefer games focusing on small groups of the cast of the first/third game doing things in the intervening time period between Dolhr's victory and the start of the first/third games; they were later remade and included as a bonus in ''New Mystery of the Emblem''.
* It could be argued that ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} 2'' and ''3'' were Gaiden Games, not to ''Xenosaga'', but rather to ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. There's a lot of legal difficulties in the connections between those, so just {{Wikipedia}} ''Xenosaga'' to learn more about the connections (and lack thereof).

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar Gaiden'' was originally intended to fill in some side events to the series to act as the lead-in to an earlier concept for ''Phantasy Star 4''. As that game ended up using a different storyline in the final version, and there hasn't been a single game released in that continuity since, said Gaiden is now [[LeftHanging meaningless to the overall continuity.]]
* Many gaidens are found in the ''Mega Man'' franchise -- in fact, each series seems to get at least one. Typical examples are ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'', ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' and ''The Misadventures of Tron Bonne'', and ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork: Battle Chip Challenge''.
* The first two ''VideoGame/ShiningForce Gaiden'' games (Game Gear) were eventually bundled under the name ''Shining Force CD'' (Sega CD). And just to be confusing, ''Shining Force Gaiden III: Final Conflict'' is unrelated to the previous two Gaidens (aside from being on Game Gear) and is instead a bridge taking place between the first two 'proper' ''Shining Force'' games.
* The handheld titles of the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' series are frequently considered a GaidenGames to the "main" series, perhaps because of their tendency towards ElectricBoogaloo titles and the fact that they're on handhelds, rather than consoles. This is not the case, these games are all full installments of the series which build upon the story of the games and lead directly into the next "main" game. ''Kingdom Hearts II'' makes more sense if you've played ''Chain of Memories'' and the games released after ''Kingdom Hearts II'' are ''quite clearly'' building up to a climax that will be resolved in the future ''Kingdom Hearts III''.
** The series will, however, gain a true GaidenGame in the form of the currently nameless browser based game.
* The GBA remake of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' contained a short quest after beating the game, detailing what happened to all the dead party members after they died.
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' is almost an [[InvertedTrope inverted example]]; everything (bar a couple of throwaway references to Black Mesa) was original, and the connections to the ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life}}'' story were made in the main ''Half-Life'' series.
** Blue Shift, Opposing Force and Decay could probably also be considered Gaiden Games. Especially Opposing Force, which while set in the same time-frame as the original, introduced new aliens (Race X) and characters (Cpl. Adrian Shepard, Security guard Otis Laurey) that have not been considered "canonical" by Valve.
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' has three Gaiden games with each of them a part of the three major continuties ("Classic", [[SuperRobotWarsAlpha Alpha]], and [[SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Original Generation]]). The first Gaiden game ''[[SuperRobotWarsGaiden Super Robot Wars Gaiden: Lord of Elementals]]'' told of the origins of the Masou Kishin characters, a group of [[OriginalGeneration Banpresto-created originals not seen anywhere else]]. ''Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden'' focused on TimeTravel and wasn't necessary for players to enjoy the previous Alpha game (most likely because Banpresto wanted an excuse to show off obscure mecha series, since it was full of them). ''Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden'' fits this trope because it was shorter than the average [=SRW=], including several extras such as a battle viewer and a card game. It's also downplayed, though, since all three are essentially ''sequels'' that happen to have the word "gaiden" in their name. ''SuperRobotWarsAlpha'' depends on the player having some foreknowledge of the events set in ''SuperRobotWarsEX'' or ''SuperRobotWarsGaiden'' for background on the Masou Kishin characters, otherwise one can get too confused at the references they make to Alpha's back story. ''Alpha Gaiden'' is heavily referenced in the proper sequel ''Alpha 2'', where the [[GetterRobo Dinosaur Empire]] is defeated for the third time, and the finale ''Alpha 3'' assumes the player knows of Sanger Zonvolt's role at the Earth Cradle, despite the fact it was supposed to be highly secretive. Hell, the fact the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Titans]] are more or less liberally screwed and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Char Anzable's]] disillusionment with humanity DEPENDS on the events of Alpha Gaiden. In short, Banpresto's definition of "gaiden" means a game that provides story details bridging the gap and answering the EpilepticTrees present in the other games in continuity. In fact, there's very little an "Original Generation 3" couldn't reference the events of ''Original Generation Gaiden'', considering both the effects on existing characters and all the {{EarlyBirdCameo}}es present in that game.
** A better example is ''[[VideoGame/EndlessFrontier Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier]]''. While a spin-off, the back-story establishes the events in Original Generation continuity ultimately influenced the entirety of Endless Frontier. Its upcoming sequel ''Endless Frontier EXCEED'' even manages to rope in characters ''from'' the main Original Generation games.
** Amusingly, a remake of the original ''Super Robot Wars Gaiden'' has been announced, only it now carries the "OG Saga" subtitle instead. Thus, the name "Gaiden" has become reserved for half-sequels while "OG Saga" is given to the actual [[GaidenGame Gaiden Games]].
* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' is somewhat of a GaidenGame for ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', being set 10 years after the "present" time in the latter and retaining only a handful of characters, all of whom show up in three scenes or fewer. What really makes it gaiden, though, is the fact that, in the end, the entire point of the story is to resolve a hanging plot thread from its predecessor (see UrbanLegendOfZelda).
** ''Radical Dreamers'' was a Japan-only text adventure GaidenGame to ''Chrono Trigger'' released on the SNES' Satellaview addon. It was later overhauled, greatly expanded, turned into a proper RPG... and became ''Chrono Cross''.
* The ''Worlds of Ultima'' series were GaidenGame's taking the fantasy-based Ultima VI engine (and main character) to other settings, such as Mars. ''Ultima Underworld'' was also a GaidenGame, being a side story set in the main Ultima world but with a completely different interface and gameplay. ''Ultima Underworld II'' was ''not'' a GaidenGame, because its plot directly bridged ''Ultima VII'' and ''Ultima VII Part 2'' (in fact, in the latter the PC starts with a quest item obtained in [=UU2=] with no in-game explanation of where it came from).
** The two console games from the mid 90s, ''Ultima: Runes of Virtue'' and ''Ultima: ROV 2'', would certainly count as well. Both games are set in the usual Ultima game world, and feature characters and towns familiar from the parent series. But both games are more like action games than [=RPG=]s, and neither one is part of the official Ultima chronology. They are, like ''Underworld'', a separate mini-series of their own.
* There are two Japan-only games in the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series called, quite simply, ''Suikogaiden volumes 1 and 2''. These games are basically side-stories featuring a previously-unknown character from Harmonia named Nash Latkje (who would later appear as a Star of Destiny in ''SuikodenIII''). The two games take place around the time of Suikoden 2, the first starting before and during [[SuikodenII SII]], and the second taking place shortly after the end of [[SuikodenII SII]]. In both games, Nash interacts with various characters from ''SuikodenII'', giving more perspective on many of the less known-about characters.
** Also ''[[SuikodenTactics Suikoden Tactics/Rhapsodia]]'', set just after ''SuikodenIV''.
* ''MeltyBlood'', the rather popular 2D Fighter GaidenGame to ''Tsukihime'', which follows a plotline of many that didn't quite make it into the actual visual novel.
* ''Trilby: VideoGame/TheArtOfTheft'' is Yahtzee's Gaiden Game for the ChzoMythos series, featuring as it does one of the main characters years before the series proper starts, and an UnexpectedGameplayChange to stealth platforming.

* After the original ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear,'' X and X2 are sidestories like the drama cds. The main plot is now in ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear 2: Overture''. (Don't worry, WordOfGod still says it's canon...mostly...especially with the release of Accent Core plus...which seems to tell the story on how they got to Overture.)
* ''VideoGame/PhoenixWright: VisualNovel/AceAttorney'''s bonus case, only present on the DS version (The original Japan-only GBA version ends at the fourth case), features a case where only 5 characters (Phoenix, Edgeworth, Gumshoe, the Judge and the Bellboy) from the rest of the series appear, the rest being completely new. This is due to the case taking place between the first and second games, and the writers couldn't mess with the continuity already set by the sequels which had already been released in Japan. The plot and characters feel perfectly like a sidestory.
** The fifth case has been worked into the Canon with Apollo Justice featuring Ema as the game's Gumshoe.
** ''Gyakuten Kenji'' (or ''Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney Investigations''), a GaidenGame where you play as Miles Edgeworth, Nick's rival. It follows the same general formula except that Edgeworth is actully on the map as a sprite and walks around rather then looking at a static image. There is no court segments (Unless the case taking place in a court house counts), but witnesses are still cross examined in much the same manner as the main series. It now has its own sequel, becoming a Gaiden Series.

* The Dead or Alive [=XTreme=] games are (even more) [[{{Fanservice}} fanservicey]] gaiden games of ''DeadOrAlive''.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' had an action-RPG, ''An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire'', and an action-adventure, ''The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard'' (another Elder Scrolls Adventures, ''The Eye of Argonia'', was planned but never made, though the Eye itself is mentioned in the main games). (Those who don't know this often erroneously assume that it's a reference to ''TheEyeOfArgon''.) There's also the ''Elder Scrolls Travels'' side-series, consisting of ''Dawnstar,'' ''Stormhold,'' and the mostly not canon ''Shadowkey,'' for the ill-fated NGage system. Finally, ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' will be an {{MMORPG}} set several hundred years, minimum, earlier than ''Arena''.
* ''{{Gradius}} Gaiden'', the only ''Gradius'' title that allows the player to rearrange the power meter, and the second non-''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'' game to have multiple selectable ships (the MSX title ''Nemesis 3'' being the first). And for that matter, the MSX version of ''Salamander'', and MSX exclusives ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3''. The MSX ''Salamander'' plays more like a ''Gradius'' title, and has several new features such as a powerup that temporarily stops the screen scrolling. ''Nemesis 2'' is an original title with the ability to fly into about-to-be-destroyed boss ships and obtain new powerups such as an upward-firing laser, at the cost of having a longer power meter. ''Nemesis 3'' is a retelling of the more mainstram ''Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou'' with ''Nemesis 2''-style gameplay. Also, the ''Salamander'' series is a gaiden series to ''Gradius''.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' each have a number of spinoff tabletop games in their universes. Warhammer Fantasy's games include Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the gang-based ''Mordheim'', American football parody ''Blood Bowl'' (even referring to the mystical god 'Nuffle') and massive-battle ''Warmaster''. 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''Inquisitor'', space combat ''BattlefleetGothic'', small-scale ''Epic'', all-Ork ''Gorkamorka'', air-battle ''Aeronautica Imperialis'', gang-based ''Necromunda'' and recently the role-playing game ''DarkHeresy''.
** DawnOfWar was originally supposed to be this, creating an all-new SpaceMarine chapter, the Blood Ravens, to avoid stepping on continuity's toes. The fans liked them so much Games Wrokshop [[AscendedFanon went ahead and canonized them, the games, and the events therein.]]

* Because EverythingsBetterWithPenguins, TurnBasedStrategy series ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'' has a platformer spin-off for the PSP called ''Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?'' starring everyone's favorite explosive waterfowl squad.
* The ''DJ MAX'' series has primarily been a ''{{beatmania}}''-like game, but the newly-released arcade game ''DJ MAX Technika'' is a much different game, with touchscreen-based gameplay combining elements of ''OsuTatakaeOuendan''/''EliteBeatAgents'' and ''{{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.
* ''Higurashi Daybreak'', a doujin game for ''VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'' that's literally [[WordOfDante become a canon side story]].
** There's also Jan, in which the characters can (depending on the mode) go crazy and kill each other just like usual, and they're dueling with... [[CookingDuel mah-jong?]]
** Similarly, ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' will soon have its own Gaiden Game in the form of ''Umineko No Naku Koro Ni - Tsubasa'', and will contain all the side stories released beforehand.
* MortalKombat's action games: ''MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero'', ''MK: Special Forces'' (starring Jax), and the more recent ''MK: Shaolin Monks'' with Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
** Also the Konquest Mode from ''MK: Deception'', which starts 50 years before the main game's story and ends in the beginning of Deception, and shows the story of one of the characters' exploits while [[spoiler: unknowingly serving the BigBad's personal agenda]].
* ''DestroyAllHumans! Big Willy Unleashed'' is a GaidenGame in the ''Destroy All Humans!'' series.
* The ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' GameMod ''GameMod/{{Zodiac}}'' has JC Denton's brother Paul Denton investigate a separate conspiracy.
* ''Jet Set Radio Future'' is this to ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio''. It doesn't continue off of or add to the continuity of the original game. If anything, it's set in an [[AlternateContinuity alternate timeline]].
* The Enhanced Edition of ''TheWitcher'' has two additional stories named 'Side Effects' and 'The Price of Neutrality', which are completely unrelated to the main game, but feature locations and characters known from there.
* ''VideoGame/BarkleyShutUpAndJamGaiden'': A spinoff RPG from the original sports game ''Barkley: Shut up and Jam!'' There's also that ''Film/SpaceJam'' is also part of the game's canon.
* ''VideoGame/{{R-Type}} Leo'' has gameplay significant from a "real" ''R-Type'' game. Instead of a Force Pod, you had two smaller pods that provided additional firepower and had a homing charge attack, and the plot takes place before any other games in the series. The obscure ''Armed Police Unit Gallop'' is also a Gaiden Game.
* ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'': ''[[AlternateUniverse Tomoyo After: It's a Wonderful Life]]''.
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' is a RealTimeStrategy spin-off/prequel to the main ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series. Another gaiden game of sorts is ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST''; despite that 3 in the title, it actually takes place during ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', and involves some new characters.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 2'' is a two-disc set. The second disk, which you may think will extend the story, doesn't. It fits this trope by giving you a gaiden game in form of Lucia, letting you play as her for the parts of the story where she wasn't interacting with Dante. It makes little enough sense what she's doing that it could easily be considered a wholly different game played in the DMC format.
* The first ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' originally had the WorkingTitle ''Street Fighter Gaiden'' and the plot of the ''EX'' series (what little it has) is considered a side-story to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''.
* Despite being a small series (In terms of the number of entries, at least), ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' has one of these: ''Arm Wrestling''. It used the same two-screen arcade cabinet style of the original 2 games, its art style was similar to the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' series at the time, the main character resembled the arcade version of Little Mac (who had green hair), and arm wrestler Mask X, once his titular mask is removed, is revealed to be [[spoiler:Bald Bull]].
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'' and the two ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' games are officially recognize as "Gaiden" games in the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series ([[http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20050917/mgs23.htm see here]]), even though they don't really fit in the series' canon in any way.
* ''Christmas NiGHTS'' is this for the ''VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams'' series. However, it was added onto the UpdatedRerelease released only in Japan for [=PS2=], and the American digital distribution release.
* The numbering of the four * .5 games (''Immaterial and Missing Power'', ''Shoot the Bullet'', ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'' and ''Double Spoiler'') would imply that they're all gaiden games to the main VideoGame/{{Touhou}} series (Touhou 12.3, ''Hisoutensoku'', is an ExpansionPack to SWR), especially since none of them use the same gameplay system ([=IaMP=] and SWR are both 2D {{Fighting Game}}s, and [=StB=] and DS are {{Boss Rush}}es where you take pictures instead of fighting back). However, of the four, [=StB=] and DS are the only ones [[ExcusePlot without an actual plot]] -- whereas the events and new character introduced in [=IaMP=] are acknowledged in the [[AllThereInTheManual canon books]] ''Perfect Memento in Strict Sense'', ''Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red'', and ''Silent Sinner in Blue'' (SWR was made after those books came out).
** [=IaMP=] boss character Suika Ibuki appears in ''Subterranean Animism'', and the game actually elaborates on some of [=IaMP=]'s plot (that is, where the oni all went). Iku Nagae and Tenshi Hinanai from [=SWR=] are both in ''The Grimoire of Marisa''. The newest GaidenGame, Touhou 12.8 ''Great Fairy Wars'', is a direct continuation to a chapter of a Touhou manga, ''Strange and Bright Nature Deity''. Basically, Touhou is undergoing ContinuityCreep.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has had a bunch of side games. An incomplete list: the FirstPersonSnapshooter game ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap''; the PuzzleGame ''Pokemon Trozei!''; and the ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' series. Likewise, the main series games are all Gaiden Games of each other, with references and allusions but no actual interaction. Mystery Dungeon & Ranger also have references and allusions but no interactions to their own series's, so gaiden games that are gaiden games of each other...
* WarriorsOrochi is a gaiden crossover between SamuraiWarriors and DynastyWarriors
* ''VideoGame/YggdraUnison'' is a gaiden game to ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion''; it allows the player to command any army, make any alliances he or she wants, and aim for world domination in a WideOpenSandbox style of play. The game is considerably more lighthearted than its canon counterpart, and concentrates on character development and interaction over story.
* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' has had a minor constellation of GaidenGame treatments--at least two of them being released (along with a ComicBookAdaptation of ''IV'') fully [[FleetingDemographicRule seven years after the original release]]. These last two, ''Breath of Fire IV - The Sword of Flame & the Magic of Wind'' and ''Breath of Fire IV: Faeries Light Key'', are two separate side-stories of ''IV''. There's also a spinoff of the fishing minigame from ''IV'' as well as a "Great Dalmuti"/"Millionaire" game featuring characters from ''IV''. Unfortunately, due to the platform these were released on (Qualcomm's BREW OS, which is only common in Japan) these are likely to remain NoExportForYou permanently--much to the vexation of the English-speaking ''IV'' fandom.
* The ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' series has had multiple examples of this:
** ''Mass Effect: Galaxies'' (for the [=iPod=] Touch/[=iPhone=]) focuses on Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson between the events of the first and second game. Completing ''Galaxies'' unlocks more dialogue in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''.
** The [=iOS=] game ''Mass Effect: Infiltrator'' runs concurrently with the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', and follows an ex-Cerberus operative who works to free a number of captive civilians from Cerberus' laboratories. The game has similar mechanics to the main game, and completing it allows the player to export a War Asset and a weapon over to ''3''.
** ''Mass Effect: Datapad'' is another [=iOS=] game integrated with the third installment, and includes a galactic Codex, the ability to receive personal messages from squadmates and various characters in the universe, and a strategy minigame that allows you to increase your Galactic Readiness in the main game.
* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' had a canon gaiden game on the GameBoyAdvance, detailing a new training facility that was overrun by Morden's forces. Best of all, two of the trainees, playable characters Walter and Tyra, single-handedly take it all back.
* ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' spin-off ''Gun Hazard'' is not only a side-scrolling shooter, but also takes place in its own alternate universe.
* ''Kud Wafter'' is this to ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters''.

* ''TimeCrisis: Project Titan'', ''Crisis Zone'', and ''Razing Storm''.
** To clarify, Project Titan was a PSX-only sequel starring Richard Miller. It most definitely took place after 1 (note Wild Dog's mechanical arm); how long is uncertain. It doesn't affect anything that happens afterward, so it's no surprise you don't hear about it. Crisis Zone and Razing Storm are unrelated games which use the TC2-and-later engine.
* ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'' has its own gaiden game in the form of ''Syvalion''. You even have a Silver Hawk fly along side you in one stage and the metal dragon cameos in ''Darius Burst''.
* FunOrb's "Armies of Gielinor" is a TurnBasedStrategy based on the history of the world of ''{{Runescape}}''.
* Every ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' game from GTA III to San Andreas was a Gaiden Game; they all took place in the same universe and had some recurring characters, but took place in three different decades (the Stories games took place a few years before Vice City and III) and locations. Other than a few characters who appear in multiple games, the storylines are completely unrelated and don't affect one another. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' totally remakes the universe with a brand new Liberty City, though Vice City and San Andreas are confirmed to exist. How they've been redone is unknown, but will probably be seen in future sequels.

* ''VideoGame/NieR'' is one of ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'', with the former taking place after the most bizarre ending of the latter (Caim and Angelus chase an EldritchAbomination into modern day Tokyo and and after defeating it are blown to hell by fighter jets).
** Not only that, but Drakengard's joke ending becomes ''SeriousBusiness'' for Nier. [[spoiler: Caim, Angelus, and their quarry brought magic into the real world... and magical diseases like [[DepopulationBomb White Chlorination Syndrome]] [[ApocalypseHow against which a world without magic had no defense]]...]]
* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII'' is a Gaiden Game to the original ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles''. It takes place during the same time frame from the perspective of a different unit in the same army as the original game's protagonists.
* EpicBattleFantasy does this in a similar way to the Touhou examples above- and inverts it. How does it invert it? 1,2, and 3 are basically RPG games. EBF 3.3 is a bullet hell game.
* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' is an odd case of a GaidenGame that feels more like a sequel to its predecessor (''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'') than [[VideoGame/{{Fallout3}} the actual sequel]] does, due in part to the fact that ''3'' moved the setting to the opposite end of the country while ''New Vegas'' takes place closer to familiar ground.
** That's because F:NV is in a large part an adaptation of what the TRUE Fallout 3 (the cancelled Black Isle 'Van Buren' project) was supposed to be, since it was made by the same people (Obsidian is made up from Black Isle veterans). If anything, Bethesda's Fallout 3 is the unfortunately named Gaiden game.
* Back in the 1990's many PC and Amiga titles were made into a ChristmasSpecial Gaiden Game, usually released in some gaming magazine's cover disk as a present for fans. The games that got this treatment include at least ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'' and ''VideoGame/JazzJackrabbit'' (the latter of which actually got two separate Christmas editions, the 1994 "Xmas Edition" and the 1995 "Holiday Hare"). This also happened in the 1980s with ''Moley Christmas'', a ''VideoGame/MontyMole'' game exclusively distributed with a ZXSpectrum magazine with a self-referential plot.
* ''GargoylesQuest'' has the Japanese title ''Red Arremer: Makaimura Gaiden''; it is a spinoff of ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', or ''Makaimura'' in Japan.
* ''Aleste Gaiden'', in contrast to other ''{{Aleste}}'' games, has the hero running and jumping in PoweredArmor and a relatively limited weapon selection. The ending reveals that it takes place in AnotherDimension from the original ''Aleste'', with the same protagonist and villain.
* The ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' anime franchise has quite a few Gaiden Games, most of which are spinoffs of [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam the original series]] and depict events that take place at the same time as White Base's adventures but in different parts of the world. The best-known of these include ''Rise from the Ashes'' (set in Australia), ''Blue Destiny'' (set in North America), and more recently ''Gundam 0081'' (which takes place between the original series and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Gundam 0083]]''). Some other games shift between this and a full-on LicensedGame - ''Zeonic Front'' and ''[[GundamVsSeries Federation vs. Zeon]]'' on PlayStation2 alternate between missions totally separated from the events of the anime and missions that put you right in the middle of major battles from the anime.
* ''Shift Freedom'', which has the same mechanic as the main ''VideoGame/{{Shift}}'' series, but does not appear to be part of that story.
* The ''OgreBattle'' series has two. ''Ogre Battle: Legend Of The Zenobia Prince'', a [[NoExportForYou Japanese-only]] game for the NeoGeoPocket and ''TacticsOgreTheKnightOfLodis'', both of which tell the backstories of characters from ''OgreBattle'' and ''TacticsOgre'', respectively.

* ''VideoGame/ColonyWars III: Red Sun'' feels like this in comparison to its two predecessors. The main character is a neutral bounty hunter with no ties to either of the main factions, it takes place concurently with ''Vengeance'' rather than after it and the League/Navy conflict is mostly in the background, with most of the missions instead involving feuds between newly-introduced factions and the protagonist investigating an outside threat.
* The ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu'' series has a number of titles not in the main series -- ''LegendOfMana'', ''ChildrenOfMana'', and ''HeroesOfMana''. But what's more interesting is that the original game, released as Final Fantasy Adventure in the US....was actually called ''Seiken Desnsetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden'' (and was in fact the first game in the US to have a Chocobo in it!).
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has a couple {{DLC}} missions that don't star the Grey Warden: ''Leiliana's Song'', which explains how the secretive nun came to Ferelden, and ''Darkspawn Chronicles'', a WhatIf where the Warden didn't survive the joining and the Darkspawn won the war.
* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' has ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' and ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations''. These games still further the 2012 plot, but only games with new ancestors and new settings count as numbered sequels. Brotherhood and Revelations both show the rest of Ezio's life from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', while Revelations has some missions that show key moments from Altair's life, the character of the first game.

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' had ''Tales of the Sword Coast'', an expansion for the first game that added three new optional dungeons that had nothing to do with the main story.
* ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'' has an MMO FPS spinoff currently in beta titled ''VideoGame/DustFiveOneFour''.

* Though chronologically a sequel, ''{{Bioshock 2}}'' qualifies as the game is from the perspective of a [[HumongousMecha Big]] [[PoweredArmor Daddy]], specifically a prototype named Delta. The gameplay is similar, but the mechanics and weaponry are modified slightly to give the feel of controlling one, and you also have a relationship with [[CreepyChild Little Sisters]] similar to that of the Big Daddies themselves. The storyline also give some additional insight into the concept and technology of the Big Daddies as well.

* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' is a RealTimeStrategy spin-off/prequel to the main ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' series. Another gaiden game of sorts is ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST''; despite that 3 in the title, it actually takes place during ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', and involves some new characters.

* Though chronologically a sequel, ''{{Bioshock 2}}'' qualifies as the game is from the perspective of a [[HumongousMecha Big]] [[PoweredArmor Daddy]], specifically a prototype named Delta. The gameplay is similar, but the mechanics and weaponry are modified slightly to give the feel of controlling one, and you also have a relationship with Little Sisters similar to that of the Big Daddies themselves. The storyline also give some additional insight into the concept and technology of the Big Daddies as well.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' had an action-RPG, ''An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire'', and an action-adventure, ''The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard'' (another Elder Scrolls Adventures, ''The Eye of Argonia'', was planned but never made, though the Eye itself is mentioned in the main games). (Those who don't know this often erroneously assume that it's a reference to ''TheEyeOfArgon''.) There's also the ''Elder Scrolls Travels'' side-series, consisting of ''Dawnstar,'' ''Stormhold,'' and the mostly not canon ''Shadowkey,'' for the ill-fated N-Gage system. Finally, ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' will be an {{MMORPG}} set several hundred years, minimum, earlier than ''Arena''.

* ''BarkleyShutUpAndJamGaiden'': A spinoff RPG from the original sports game Barkley: Shut up and Jam! There's also that ''Film/SpaceJam'' is also part of the game's canon.

* BaldursGate had Tales of the Sword Coast, an expansion for the first game that added three new optional dungeons that had nothing to do with the main story.