History Main / GaidenGame

* The aptly named ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'' is a side-story to the [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia original]] ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game, and the UpdatedRerelease, ''Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'' also links it to the distant past of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', while ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776'' is one to ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Genealogy of the 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 UsefulNotes/{{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''.

** The ''Elder Scrolls Travels'' is a side-series of small, mobile phone games developed for Java-enabled devices, including the UsefulNotes/NGage. ''Travels'' consists of ''Dawnstar'', ''Stormhold'', and ''Shadowkey'', with the canonicity of each [[CanonDiscontinuity unclear at best]].

* The ''VideoGame/{{DJ MAX}}'' series has primarily been a ''VideoGame/{{beatmania}}''-like game, but the newly-released arcade game ''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.

** The ''Boku Dracula-kun'' games for the Famicom and UsefulNotes/GameBoy (the latter brought over to the U.S. as ''Kid Dracula'') were never intended to be canon, though the BigBad, Galamoth, would later appear in the regular series.

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' started off originally as a gaiden game of sorts in the SMT universe, taking place just before ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI''. It later became canon when the protagonist appeared in ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Persona2'', and started the IntercontinuityCrossover that occurs throughout the Megaten franchise.
** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' may sort of count; despite the fact that it was originally meant to be the fourth game in the main series, it doesn't have a clear-cut connection with the previous three entries (which themselves were pretty closely linked together); Amusingly enough, it turned out that the ''actual'' ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' isn't all that connected to the other main series games either[[note]]WordOfGod actually stated that the prerequisite for an SMT game to be considered part of the main series is for it to "occur in Tokyo". Strange Journey, despise being a strong constestant for the 4th title, instead got branded as a Gaiden Game exactly because it doesn't happen anywhere remotely close to Japan. Which wasn't the case for SMTIV[[/note]].

** Also the Konquest Mode from ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat 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]].

** ''VideoGame/BaldursGateI'' 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. The ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' games share the setting of the main games, but not the story.

* ''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.

* The ''Worlds of Ultima'' series were Gaiden Game's taking the fantasy-based Ultima VI engine (and main character) to other settings, such as Mars. ''Ultima Underworld'' was also a Gaiden Game, being a side story set in the main Ultima world, 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). There are also the two console games from the mid 90s, ''Ultima: Runes of Virtue'' and ''Ultima: ROV 2''. 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.

* ''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. The ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' games share the setting of the main games, but not the story.
** ''Baldur's Gate III'' is shaping up to be this, taking place [[DistantSequel long after the Bhaalspawn trilogy]] but otherwise having no connections outside of sharing a setting.

[[folder:Third-Person Shooter]]
* The ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series has had multiple examples of this:
** ''Mass Effect: Galaxy'' (for the [=iPod=] Touch/[=iPhone=]) focuses on Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson between the events of the first and second game. Completing ''Galaxy'' 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.
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* The aptly named ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'' is a side-story to the [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia original]] ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game, and the UpdatedRerelease, ''Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'' also links it to the distant past of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', while ''Fire Emblem: Thracia 776'' is one to ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Genealogy of the 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 UsefulNotes/{{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''.

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

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' started off originally as a gaiden game of sorts in the SMT universe, taking place just before ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI''. It later became canon when the protagonist appeared in ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' and ''VideoGame/Persona2'', and started the IntercontinuityCrossover that occurs throughout the Megaten franchise.

** There are more spinoff games than 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 a browser-based RPG, and a long series of cell phone games based on ''VideoGame/Persona3'' (including one focusing on [[RobotGirl Aigis]] 10 years before the start of the game).

* The handheld titles of the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series are frequently considered Gaiden Games to the "main" series, perhaps because of their tendency towards {{Word Salad Title}}s 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. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' makes more sense if you've played ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories Chain of Memories]]'' and the games released after ''Kingdom Hearts II'' are ''quite clearly'' building up to a climax that will be resolved in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''.

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'' and ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'' have their settings unconfirmed, but known to be after the third game. However, their canon status is disrupted, and are completely [[{{CanonDiscontinuity}} ignored]] by Creator/InsomniacGames.

* ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'' is part of the canon of the ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'' series, focused on the eponymous DeadlyGame that is held during the events of the main games' stories.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' share the same basic platforming elements like Franchise/SuperMarioBros, but take some liberties with the story, settings and items. Instead of rescuing Peach from Bowser like usual, Mario takes a trip to a neighbour country of the Mushroom Kingdom to save a different princess from an evil alien in the first game. In the sequel, Mario has to take back his private island from his evil counterpart, Wario. The [[VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3 third game]] distances itself completely from Mario and gives birth to the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series instead. Notably, none of the games were designed by Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto, but were well-received nonetheless.

* ''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.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0'', part of ''Franchise/FabulaNovaCrystalisFinalFantasy'' is a gaiden game of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', and was given the WorkingTitle of ''Final Fantasy Agito XIII''. While ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 XIII-2]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII Lightning Returns]]'' are direct continuations of ''XIII'', ''Type-0'' tells a different story that takes place in a completely separate setting while using elements of the lore of ''XIII''. Another gaiden game titled ''Final Fantasy Versus XIII'' was originally planned before it was changed into a main series title, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV''. Even though it is also part of ''Fabula Nova Crystalis'', it has practically no connection to ''XIII'' beyond being part of the same subseries.

A game which takes place in or refers to another video game, but isn't really a sequel. It can be a simple side story, a PerspectiveFlip, or a chance to [[ADayInTheLimelight give a popular character background they didn't get in the original game]]. The major stipulation is it is not usually ''required'' to canonically fit into the main game or require having played it to enjoy. It also frequently (but not necessary) dips into GenreShift by being centred another type of core-gameplay than what is usual for the series.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0'', part of ''VideoGame/FabulaNovaCrystalis'' is a gaiden game of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII''. While ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 XIII-2]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII Lightning Returns]]'' are direct continuations of ''XIII'', ''Type-0'' tells a different story that takes place in a completely separate setting while using elements of the lore of ''XIII''. Another gaiden game titled ''Final Fantasy Versus XIII'' was originally planned before it was changed into a main series title, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV''. Even though it is also part of ''Fabula Nova Crystalis'', it has practically no connection to ''XIII'' beyond being part of the same subseries.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' orginally was informally referred to as a Gaiden Game 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.

** ''Guilty Gear Judgement'' is the only one of [=ArcSys'=] ''Guilty Gear'' games from its more experimental phase with an actual plot, and it's completely disconnected from the overall MythArc, as well as anything that happens in the ''XX'' games.

* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaInfinite'' (also for the PSP) can also be considered a Gaiden Game to the series. You also play as a Prinny in this game, however the approach is different than in the previous title.

* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar: Chains of Olympus'' (a prequel to the original game)

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' is an odd case of a Gaiden Game that is more of a sequel to its predecessor (''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'') than [[VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} the actual sequel]] is: ''3'' was made by a different developer (Bethesda) than Black Isle, the developers of the first two, and moved the setting to the opposite end of the country. ''New Vegas'''s developer (Obsidian) had many key members in common with Black Isle, takes place closer to familiar ground, and incorporates many elements from the cancelled ''Van Buren'' project that was originally going to be ''Fallout 3''. Additionally, most of the add-ons for ''3'' and ''New Vegas'' have a separate map from the main game, as well as a self-contained story.
* The ''VideoGame/OgreBattle'' series has two. ''Ogre Battle: Legend Of The Zenobia Prince'', a [[NoExportForYou Japanese-only]] game for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket and ''VideoGame/TacticsOgreTheKnightOfLodis'', both of which tell the backstories of characters from ''VideoGame/OgreBattle'' and ''VideoGame/TacticsOgre'', respectively.