History Main / GaidenGame

* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' has a canon gaiden game on the UsefulNotes/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/TimeCrisis: Project Titan'', ''Crisis Zone'', and ''VideoGame/RazingStorm''. 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''.
* ''VideoGame/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: Bullet Heaven'' is a BulletHell game.
* ''Aleste Gaiden'', in contrast to other ''VideoGame/{{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. Interestingly, ''Musha Aleste'' (''M.U.S.H.A.'') is officially a sequel to this game, whereas ''GG Aleste'' follows the alternate timeline of ''Aleste 2''.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** ''[[VideoGame/HaloSpartanAssault Spartan Assault]]'' is a side-story interquel which takes place between ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}''.
** ''[[VideoGame/HaloSpartanStrike Spartan Strike]]'' is a side-story which takes place both concurrently with the beginning of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' and around the end of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}''.
* ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''[='=]s companion game, ''Star Fox Guard'', is a TowerDefense game starring Slippy Toad which is based around a twelve-camera security system. Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto himself visualises these games as TV shows, with ''Zero'' as a primetime series and ''Guard'' as a late night series.
* ''VideoGame/LinksCrossbowTraining'' for the Wii is vaguely set during the events of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' and stars the same Link. The game's actual canon status is rather iffy, though.

* The Dead or Alive [=XTreme=] games are (even more) [[{{Fanservice}} fanservicey]] gaiden games of ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive''.

* Website/FunOrb's "Armies of Gielinor" is a TurnBasedStrategy based on the history of the world of ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}''.

* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'':
** The 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 fully worked into the canon with ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'' featuring Ema as the game's Gumshoe.
** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'', a Gaiden Game where you play as Miles Edgeworth, Nick's rival. It follows the same general formula except that Edgeworth is actually on the map as a sprite and walks around rather than looking at a static image. There are no court segments (unless the case taking place in a courthouse counts), but witnesses are still cross-examined in much the same manner as the main series. It later got its own sequel, becoming a Gaiden Series.

* ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'' is this to the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' series, being a story-heavy ThirdPersonShooter rather than a VisualNovel set between the [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc first]] and [[VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair second]] games and not having a mutual killing game, starring the first game's protagonist's sister and a secondary character from the first game.
%%* ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'': ''[[AlternateUniverse Tomoyo After: It's a Wonderful Life]]''.

* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' is a tabletop game set in the eponymous universe created by ''Creator/HPLovecraft''. '''''Trail''' of Cthulhu'' is a lighter variant which masks the rate of player attrition by simplifying the rules. Similar in many ways, like the ''Dark Heresy'' example just above, but not quite the same.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' had nearly as many secondary games as Warhammer, mostly examining stages of combat outside of the HumongousMecha. ''Aerotech'' focused on [[SpacePlane Aerospace Fighters]], ''Battlespace'' was about large-scale space combat between {{Drop Ship}}s and [[StandardSciFiFleet Warships]], and ''Battletroops'' was about Infantry-scale combat. The "Total Warfare" rules set eventually folded most of them into the main game.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearGhostBabel'' and the two ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' games are officially recognized as "Gaiden" games in the ''VideoGame/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 (''Ghost Babel'' ignores the events of ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', while the ''Ac!d'' games serve as alternate follow-ups to ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 2|SonsOfLiberty}}''.

* ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'' is a gaiden crossover between ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors''.
* The ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'' series has ''VideoGame/VirtuaQuest'' (released in Japanese as ''Virtua Fighter: Cyber Generation''), a beat-em-up set in {{Cyberspace}}. The original ''Virtua Fighter'' roster appears as ghost data that bestow their fighting techniques upon the player.
* ''Resident Evil: Resistance'' is a gaiden game released alongside ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Remake'': an AsymmetricMultiplayer game that pits four ActionSurvivor[=s=] against a Mastermnd summoning and controlling zombies and deadly traps while taking liberties with series canon for the sake of gameplay.

* The first three ''VideoGame/TombRaider'' games were eventually re-released as the "Tomb Raider Gold" series, and each game got its own Gaiden Game. [=TR1=] had Unfinished Business, [=TR2=] had Golden Mask and [=TR3=] had Lost Artifact.
** The downloadable game ''Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light'' seems to also be this, not taking place in the continuities of the original Core Design series or the Crystal Dynamics-developed games.

* ''VideoGame/MafiaII'' is branded by most as a SpiritualSuccessor to the the first game, but it's technically a gaiden as it shares the same universe with the original Mafia in a similar fashion with GTA.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'' (taking place between ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'') is unique in that while you don't have to play it to understand the story of ''Metal Gear'', it makes it easier to understand the story as the ending reveals how The Patriots where created, and fills in how the Philosophers became the Patriots. [[spoiler:They didn't.]] It also shows us that [[spoiler:[[NotQuiteDead Sokolov didn't die after all.]]]]

* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'':
** When Koji Igarashi took over as producer of the games (starting with 2002's ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance''), he declared that the Nintendo 64 games ( ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania 64}}'' and its UpdatedRerelease ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness''), and ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon'' for the Game Boy Advance were side-stories to the main ''Castlevania'' storyline. The UsefulNotes/GameBoy game ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegends'' on the other hand, is no longer part of the canon.
** In Japanese, ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness'' was titled ''Akumajō Dracula Mokushiroku Gaiden: Legend of Cornell'', making it a Gaiden Game to the earlier N64 title, whose Japanese title was ''Akumajō Dracula Mokushiroku''.
** The ''VideoGame/KidDracula'' games for the Famicom and UsefulNotes/GameBoy were never intended to be canon, though the BigBad, Galamoth, would later appear in the regular series.
* While not directly linked to another game, ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheFateOfAtlantis'' could be considered a Gaiden Game to the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' series of movies.
* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''

* ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans Big Willy Unleashed'' is a Gaiden Game in the ''Destroy All Humans!'' series.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'' 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 ''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 ''[[VideoGame/GundamVsSeries Federation vs. Zeon]]'' on UsefulNotes/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.
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheForgottenSands'' is is [[TrilogyCreep the fourth installment]] in the ''Sands of Time'' series and an {{interquel}} between [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime the first]] and [[VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin the second]] but it's actually a standalone story. The events of the first game are mentioned once or twice and the forgotten sands are unrelated to the Sands of Time.

* ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'', the rather popular 2D Fighter Gaiden Game to ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', which follows a plotline that didn't quite make it into the actual visual novel.

* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
** The action games serve this role: ''VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces'' (starring Jax), and the more recent ''VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks'' with Liu Kang and Kung Lao. ''Mythologies'' serves as a distant prequel to the events of ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' while also setting up the elder Sub-Zero's [[ArchEnemy enmity with Scorpion]] and [[spoiler:eventual transformation into Noob Saibot]], whereas ''Shaolin Monks'' is a BroadStrokes retelling of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat1 the first]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombat2 two games]] with a noticeable changes to the narrative (though ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' makes a nod or two its way all the same). No one likes to talk about ''Special Forces'', but it was eventually and definitely rendered [[CanonDiscontinuity officially non-canon]] by ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' and its corresponding comics.
** The Konquest Mode from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', 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]].

* 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/ArtOfFighting 3''[='s=] Japanese name is ''ART OF FIGHTING: Ryūko no Ken Gaiden'', instead of being a numbered sequel. The game itself reflects its Gaiden status, as only Ryo and Robert return from the previous games (Yuri still hangs around as a non-playable NPC, though, and Kasumi is PromotedToPlayable) and the plot revolves around Robert going to Mexico to help out an old friend, with no real connections to the plot of the previous two games.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST''; despite that ''3'' in the title (and being based off ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}''[='s=] engine), it actually takes place during ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', and involves an almost totally different cast of characters. The reason why it has that ''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[[note]]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[[/note]], 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/HaloReach'' is a side story prequel to ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' that takes place concurrently with the latter parts of ''Literature/HaloTheFallOfReach''. This one is a downplayed example, as Bungie treated ''Reach'' more like a full entry in the series instead of an expansion, and its game mechanics are much closer to the other Halo shooter games.
* Most of ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorFrontline'', except for the D-Day prologue, is set in between the third and fourth missions of the original game. ''[[VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault Allied Assault]]'' also has a few {{continuity nod}}s to that.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4: VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, in relation to the versions released on UsefulNotes/XBox360, PC, and UsefulNotes/{{PS3}}. The game features similar missions, but featuring characters from other teams operating either in parallel or in support of the teams from the main release. Every "main" release in the series has since been followed by a handheld, mobile, and/or, in one case, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 last-gen version]] that acts as a side-story to the main game; the aforementioned last-gen version, for ''World at War'', is notable in that it and the DS version both included a British campaign like every other UsefulNotes/WorldWarII-based game in the series had, whereas the 360, [=PS3=], and PC version had its British campaign and associated assets cut.
* The second ExpansionPack for ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' is this for both the original game and its first expansion pack, starting within the last hour or so of the original game and ending before the first expansion does.
* ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'' takes place in the same universe as the ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'' series. However, focuses entirely on the eponymous DeadlyGame that is held after the events of the main games' stories.
* Players of ''VideoGame/DustFiveOneFour'' take the role of ground-based mercenaries in the ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'' universe. EVE players can hire Dust players to seize or defend planetary facilities for them, and provide [[OrbitalBombardment air]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45mlVuLs_Nw strikes]]
* Though chronologically a sequel, ''VideoGame/BioShock2'' 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/BioShockInfinite'' outdoes its predecessor even more in this regard. Setting-wise, it takes place in an AlternateUniverse, and instead of the {{underwater city}} of Rapture circa the 1960s, it's in the [[FloatingContinent flying city]] of Columbia in 1912. Instead of being a horror-leaning ImmersiveSim, it's [[ActionizedSequel a bright and action-packed swashbuckling shooter]]. It does retain a political and philosophical bend, but instead of deconstructing IndividualismVsCollectivism, it tackles themes of [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalism]], [[FullCircleRevolution mutual extremism]], as well as more personal themes like redemption and forgiveness, driven by how ''Infinite'' is also vastly more character-focused, [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter with the playable Booker DeWitt being a major entity and player in his own narrative instead of just a blank slate]]. It also mixes the series' broader examination [[VideoGamesAndFate on the limits of free will]] with the paradigm of [[HistoryRepeats constants]] and [[ForWantOfANail variables]], which ends up being a big reason for why this is ''still'' ultimately a ''VideoGame/BioShock'' game.

* There's a couple in the ''VideoGame/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 English version it's treated as a BusmansHoliday but in both, its still Tails's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in the limelight.]]
** There's also ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'' and the two games from the ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries'' (''Secret Rings'' and ''Black Knight'').
* Each ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' game has a Game Boy follow-up in the ''Donkey Kong Land'' series. The first is a completely separate adventure, the second is basically a port of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' and the third is a basic collection of very generic levels in the style of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble''.

* Creator/HighImpactGames' ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'' and ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'' have their settings unconfirmed, but known to be after the third game. While Creator/InsomniacGames [[https://twitter.com/insomniacgames/status/818582634951380993 does consider both games canon]] as of 2017, the two games have little to no bearing on the series' overall plot, and have never directly been referenced in Insomniac's titles.

* ''Trilby: VideoGame/TheArtOfTheft'' is Yahtzee's Gaiden Game for the VideoGame/ChzoMythos series, featuring as it does one of the main characters years before the series proper starts, and an UnexpectedGameplayChange to stealth platforming.
* 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 included ''VideoGame/CannonFodder'', ''VideoGame/{{Dizzy}}'', ''VideoGame/FireAndIce'' (coverdisk for the Christmas 1992 issue of ''Magazine/AmigaPower''), ''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 UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum magazine with a self-referential plot.
* ''VideoGame/GargoylesQuest'' has the Japanese title ''Red Arremer: Makaimura Gaiden''; it is a spinoff of ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', or ''Makaimura'' in Japanese.

* Command & Conquer is FULL of Gaidens in various genres, from Sole Survivor to Renegade to Zero Hour.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
** ''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. Part of this crossover is with the ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'' games which goes into detail sometimes as to ''why'' the events of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'' didn't happen, and the protagonist of ''If'' later works for the famed Kuzunoha detective agency from ''Devil Summoner'' by the time of ''Persona 2'', whose protagonist also [[ItMakesSenseInContext is implied to be posessing someone]].
** ''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. ''IV Apocalypse'' also had a crossover DLC where the heroes of ''I, II, III Nocturne and IV'' team up, confirming some degree of continuity which ''Strange Journey'' lacks other than some easter eggs.[[/note]].
** There are more spinoff games than there are main series games. Hell, there are more games in the ''Franchise/{{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).
* ''VideoGame/SailorMoonAnotherStory'' was not so much a franchise distancer as a nod that it is not canonical to the ''Anime/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 ''VideoGame/ZoidsLegacy'', which is like a MegaCrossover {{fanfic}} of all the series continuums in video game form.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''

* 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 look at the ''Xenosaga'' article on Wiki/TheOtherWiki to learn more about the connections (and lack thereof).
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'':
** ''Phantasy Star 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.]]
** Although ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution'' is technically a major expansion, it takes place at the far end of the game's timeline, has an entirely new cast, and introduces a sudden GenreShift into a CardBattleGame (as the title implies). Its successor, the PC-exclusive ''Blue Burst'', is more conventional to the series by comparison.
** ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarNova'' is one to ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'', being set in the same universe and sharing most of the same concepts but introducing an entirely new setting and cast with original story elements. Some of the concepts used in ''Nova'' were integrated back into its parent game in later expansions.
** It is heavily implied that ''VideoGame/IDOLAPhantasyStarSaga'' is another Gaiden Game to ''Online 2'' despite being set in an AlternateContinuity.
* Many gaidens are found in the ''Franchise/MegaMan'' 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 GBA remake of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' contained a short quest after beating the game, detailing [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse what happened to all the dead party members after they died]].

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' is somewhat of a Gaiden Game 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 Gaiden Game to ''Chrono Trigger'' released on the SNES' Satellaview addon. It was later overhauled, greatly expanded, turned into a proper RPG... and became ''Chrono Cross''.

* 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 ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII''). The two games take place around the time of ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'', the first starting before and ending during ''II'', and the second taking place shortly after the end of ''II''. In both games, Nash interacts with various characters from ''Suikoden II'', giving more perspective on many of the lesser-known characters. Lastly, ''[[VideoGame/SuikodenTactics Suikoden Tactics/Rhapsodia]]'' is another example, set just after ''VideoGame/SuikodenIV''.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': In addition to its main series of WideOpenSandbox WesternRPG style games, the franchise includes several other games which take place in the same world and are generally treated as canon, but offer different experiences from the main series. To note:
** ''VideoGame/AnElderScrollsLegendBattlespire'' is an action-oriented DungeonCrawler with downplayed RPG mechanics. Originally planned as an expansion to ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', it was released as a stand-alone game and takes place during the time frame of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]''. The Battlespire, a WizardingSchool for Imperial [[MagicKnight Battlemages]], comes under attack by the forces of [[DestroyerDeity Mehrunes Dagon]], who seek to use it as a conduit for invading Tamriel. A single student (the PC), must fight through the Battlespire to defeat Dagon and [[ItsPersonal free their partner]]. A good chunk of the information of the things known about the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedra]] originates in this game.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsAdventuresRedguard'' is a spin-off ActionAdventure game with very few RPG elements. Some 400 years before ''Arena'', a Redguard by the name of Cyrus travels home to find his sister missing and himself embroiled in a web of political intrigue. It was well received by critics and fans, but due to the cost of production and being built on outdated technology, it was a financial flop. The ''Pocket Guide to the Empire'', [[{{Feelies}} which came with the game]], gave one of the first comprehensive looks at the series' [[{{Backstory}} background lore]], which would be greatly expanded on in future games.
** Another ''The Elder Scrolls Adventures'' game, ''The Eye of Argonia'' was planned but never made, though the Eye itself is mentioned in the main series. (Those who don't know this often erroneously assume that it's a reference to ''Literature/TheEyeOfArgon''.)
** 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]] (though elements of ''Shadowkey'' have been mentioned in the main series).
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' is an {{MMORPG}} prequel of the main series, set roughly 500 years prior the events of ''Arena''.
* ''EverQuest Online Adventures'' takes place 500 years before the first ''VideoGame/{{Everquest}}''. ''Lords of EverQuest'' is an [[RealTimeStrategy RTS]]. ''Champions of Norrath'' and ''Champions: Return to Arms'' are action games set in the [=EverQuest=] universe. The Pocket PC games ''Hero's Call'', ''Hero's Call 2'' and ''War On Faydwer'' share some thematic connections to the main games.
* The ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' GameMod ''VideoGame/{{Zodiac}}'' has JC Denton's brother Paul Denton investigate a separate conspiracy.
* The Enhanced Edition of ''VideoGame/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.
* ''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', so gaiden games that are gaiden games of each other...
* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' has had a minor constellation of Gaiden Game 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.
* ''VideoGame/FrontMissionGunHazard'' is not only a side-scrolling shooter, but also takes place in its own alternate universe.
* ''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). Drakengard's joke ending becomes [[CerebusRetcon very serious]] 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/NierAutomata'' is a DistantSequel (as in, ''thousands'' of years in the future) to the original ''[=NieR=]'', and other than Emil being a supporting character and a vague allusions to the previous game, there's no need to have played the original to appreciate ''Automata'' (though it does make certain details about [[spoiler: the Devola and Popula that appear in ''Automata'']] way more of a MetaTwist.)
* ''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.
* ''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 ''[[VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren 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.
** ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'' is an base building game that's a side game made to hold the fanbase over until fallout 4
** ''VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel'' is a side-game that takes place in a different part of the post-apocalyptic United States and, as the title implies, focuses more on turn-based tactical battles than exploring a sandbox environment. It is officially considered to be semi-canon in the series lore: while the events of the game contradicted ''3'' and were thus considered non-canon, the concept of splinter factions of the Brotherhood of Steel would be incorporated into later games, and references would be made to the Chicago-based faction of the Brotherhood.
* 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.
* The ''VideoGame/WorldOfMana'' series has a number of titles not in the main series -- ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', ''VideoGame/ChildrenOfMana'', and ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMana''. But what's more interesting is that the original game, released as ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure'' in the US....was actually called ''Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden'' (and was in fact the first game released in the US to have a Chocobo in it!).
* ''Franchise/BaldursGate'':
** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' had ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGateTalesOfTheSwordCoast 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/BaldursGateIII'' is shaping up to be this, taking place [[DistantSequel long after the Bhaalspawn trilogy]] but otherwise having no connections outside of sharing a setting.
* 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.
* ''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.
* ''VideoGame/LufiaTheRuinsOfLore'' is one to the ''{{VideoGame/Lufia}}'' series, dealing with a subplot from ''VideoGame/LufiaIIRiseOfTheSinistrals'' rather than the overarching plot of the rest of the series. Even its Japanese name is ''Estpolis Gaiden''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Growlanser}}'' II it could be argued is more of a addendum to the first game than a full on sequel. For starters it has many elements that cause it to stick out in comparison to the rest of the series, such as having a voiced protagonist, a lack of a continuous over-world, no base building, plus a significantly shorter length (It can be beaten in around 15-20 hours in comparison to the 60-70 of the rest of the games in the series.) It also assumes knowledge the player is aware of the events of the first game (which is ironic because it [[NoExportForYou never left Japan.]])
* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', as a {{crossover}} with ''VideoGame/PaperMario'', is one to both series simultaneously, but moreso the former. As confirmed by WordOfGod, to keep the budget down, several musical themes are reused from earlier games and the settings and characters draw more from the main platformer games than other installments before. Adding to this, it's the only ''Mario & Luigi'' game to eschew NumberedSequels in its Japanese release.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' revolves mainly around a whole new cast of characters, though the cast from the previous game make frequent appearances as {{Guest Star Party Member}}s.
* ''VideoGame/DigimonStoryCyberSleuthHackersMemory'' focuses on a seperate cast dealing with their own issues that mix with the plot of ''Cyber Sleuth'' and its cast along the way. It has various new dungeons and Digimon as part of its story, though the revised edition of ''Cyber Sleuth'' released in a bundle with ''Hacker's Memory'' does have several of the new gameplay additions like costumes and added Digimon due to both being built on the same engine. It was stated that the various things shared between both games like dungeons and music was the result of it being an interim game made to fill in the gap as other teams worked on more time-consuming projects.

[[quoteright:300:[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilGaiden https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/resident_evil_gaiden.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Can't get much more explicit than this.]]]]

!!Examples:

!!!'''Video games:'''

!!!'''Other media:'''

** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' is an installment focused on online multiplayer (but also with a single-player campaign) which canonically takes place between ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. ''Hunters'' is completely detached from the Phazon storyline that's at the core of every other entry in the original ''Prime'' trilogy, including ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce Federation Force]]]''. Instead, [[ExcusePlot what little story the game has]] concerns Samus and a group of other bounty hunters all fighting each other over a rumored "ultimate power." Beyond being the debut of Sylux, who would eventually be set up as a new antagonist following the defeat of Dark Samus, the game has no effect whatsoever on the overarching plot.

** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'', a Gaiden Game 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.

[[folder:Tabletop Game]]

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 centered another type of core-gameplay than what is usual for the series.

[[folder:Tabletop Game]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' 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 ''TabletopGame/ManOWar'' and massive-battle ''TabletopGame/{{Warmaster}}''.
** There is also ''Path To Glory'' for fantasy which you play as an aspiring champion of chaos.
** 40k has the large-scale "narrative wargame" ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}'', space combat ''TabletopGame/BattlefleetGothic'', massive-battle ''TabletopGame/{{Epic}}'', all-Ork ''TabletopGame/{{Gorkamorka}}'', air-battle ''TabletopGame/AeronauticaImperialis'', gang-based ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' and the role-playing game ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy''.
** ''VideoGame/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 that Games Workshop [[AscendedFanon went ahead and canonized them, the games, and the events therein.]]
** Also there is ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000KillTeam Kill Team]]'' for 40k that has a small team of elite units infiltrating and completing a objective.
* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' is a tabletop game set in the eponymous universe created by ''Creator/HPLovecraft''. '''''Trail''' of Cthulhu'' is a lighter variant which masks the rate of player attrition by simplifying the rules. Similar in many ways, like the ''Dark Heresy'' example just above, but not quite the same.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' had nearly as many secondary games as Warhammer, mostly examining stages of combat outside of the HumongousMecha. ''Aerotech'' focused on [[SpacePlane Aerospace Fighters]], ''Battlespace'' was about large-scale space combat between {{Drop Ship}}s and [[StandardSciFiFleet Warships]], and ''Battletroops'' was about Infantry-scale combat. The "Total Warfare" rules set eventually folded most of them into the main game.
[[/folder]]

* There's a couple in the ''VideoGame/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 English version it's treated as a BusMansHoliday but in both, its still Tails's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in the limelight.]]

* The ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'' series has ''VideoGame/VirtuaQuest'' (released in Japan as ''Virtua Fighter: Cyber Generation''), a beat-em-up set in {{Cyberspace}}. The original ''Virtua Fighter'' roster appears as ghost data that bestow their fighting techniques upon the player.

* The original ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' trilogy for the NES, along with the arcade game released alongside the first NES installment, weren't actually side-stories to anything. In Japan, the series was originally known as ''Ninja Ryūkenden'' (Ninja Dragon Sword Legend). The use of "gaiden" in the English version is an example of GratuitousJapanese, since the developers were not sure how to localize the Japanese title ("Ninja Dragon" was considered one point, but Data East beat them to it with their beat-'em-up ''Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja'', and a literal translation was considered to be [[OverlyLongName too long]]). With that cleared up, ''Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword'' could be considered one to the Xbox series.

** In Japan, ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness'' was titled ''Akumajō Dracula Mokushiroku Gaiden: Legend of Cornell'', making it a Gaiden Game to the earlier N64 title, whose Japanese title was ''Akumajō Dracula Mokushiroku''.

* There's a couple in the ''VideoGame/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.]]

* ''VideoGame/GargoylesQuest'' has the Japanese title ''Red Arremer: Makaimura Gaiden''; it is a spinoff of ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', or ''Makaimura'' in Japan.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' had nearly as many secondary games as Warhammer, mostly examining stages of combat outside of the HumongousMecha. ''Aerotech'' focused on [[SpacePlane Aerospace Fighters]], ''[[Battlespace]]'' was about large-scale space combat between {{Drop Ship}}s and Warships, and ''Battletroops'' was about Infantry-scale combat. The "Total Warfare" rules set eventually folded most of them into the main game.

** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'': The entire sub-series serves this role, taking place chronologically between ''VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''. While the ''Prime'' games are fully canon to the mainline 2D series, the events take place so early in the timeline, they don't get much more than the occasional ContinuityNod.

* ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' outdoes its predecessor even more in this regard. Setting-wise, it takes place in an AlternateUniverse, and instead of the {{underwater city}} of Rapture circa the 1960s, it's in the [[FloatingContinent flying city]] of Columbia in 1912. Instead of being a horror-leaning ImmersiveSim, it's [[ActionizedSequel a bright and action-packed swashbuckling shooter]]. It does retain a political and philosophical bend, but instead of deconstructing IndividualismVsCollectivism, it tackles themes of [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalism]], [[FullCircleRevolution mutual extremism]], as well as more personal themes like redemption and forgiveness, driven by how ''Infinite'' is also vastly more character-focused, [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter with the playable Booker DeWitt being a major entity and player in his own narrative instead of just a blank slate]]. It also mixes the series' broader examination [[VideoGamesAndFate on the limits of free will]] with the paradigm of [[HistoryRepeats constants and variables]], which ends up being a big reason for why this is ''still'' ultimately a ''VideoGame/BioShock'' game.

* ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' outdoes its predecessor even more in this regard. Setting-wise, it takes place in an AlternateUniverse, and instead of the {{underwater city}} of Rapture circa the 1960s, it's in the [[FloatingContinent flying city]] of Columbia in 1912. Instead of being a horror-leaning ImmersiveSim, it's [[ActionizedSequel a bright and action-packed swashbuckling shooter]]. It does retain a political and philosophical bend, but instead of deconstructing IndividualismVsCollectivism, it tackles themes of [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalism]], [[FullCircleRevolution mutual extremism]], as well as more personal themes like redemption and forgiveness, driven by how ''Infinite'' is also vastly more character-focused, [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter with the playable Booker DeWitt being a major entity and player in his own narrative instead of just a blank slate]]. It also mixes the series' broader examination [[VideoGamesAndFate on the limits of free will]] with the paradigm of [[HistoryRepeats constants and variables]], which ends up being a big reason for why this is still a ''VideoGame/BioShock'' game.

* Though chronologically a sequel, ''VideoGame/{{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/FinalFantasyX2'' originally 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.

** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' is a gaiden game that combines elements of the series' RPGMechanics with a 3D arena-style FightingGame. It would have a follow-up in the form of ''VideGame/DissidiaFinalFantasyNT'', which also got a gaiden of its own: ''DissidiaFinalFantasyOperaOmnia'', which plays more like a traditional RPG while borrowing gameplay elements from ''Dissidia''.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' originally 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.

[[caption-width-right:300:Can't get much more explicit than this.]]

** The Konquest Mode from 'VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', 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/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'', [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures Four Swords Adventures]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'' were supposed to be a Gaiden Trilogy, with their main villain being Vaati instead of Ganon, and then ''Four Swords Adventures'' [[HijackedByGanon shoehorned Ganon into the plot]] and connected it to the main series (also, the game was eventually placed much later in the chronology by ''Hyrule Historia'').

[[folder:Rhythm]]
* 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.
[[/folder]]

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening Link's Awakening]]'' involves the Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' waking up on a mysterious island during his travels. Later, a Creator/{{Capcom}}[=/=]Creator/{{Nintendo}} collaboration made the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle]]'' series as a midquel set between the two.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' has the Link from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', going to Termina after saving Hyrule. The game's working title was ''Zelda Gaiden''. It was supposed to be an add-on of sorts using the 64DD peripheral.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]'' is a side-game/sequel to ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', detailing one of Link's and Tetra's adventures during their quest to find a new land to settle.
** The ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords Four]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures Swords]]'' [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap trilogy]] was supposed to be made up of these, with their main villain being Vaati instead of Ganon, and then ''Four Swords Adventures'' [[HijackedByGanon shoehorned Ganon into the plot]] and connected it to the main series.

** The entire ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid Prime]]'' sub-series effectively serves, taking place between ''VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''. While the ''Prime'' games are fully canon to the mainline 2D series, the events take place so early in the timeline, they don't get much more than the occasional ContinuityNod.
*** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'', an online multiplayer focused installment which canonically takes place between ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. ''Hunters'' is completely detached from the Phazon storyline that's at the core of every other entry in the original ''Prime'' trilogy, including ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce Federation Force]]]''. Instead, [[ExcusePlot what little story the game has]] concerns Samus and a bunch of other bounty hunters all fighting each other over a rumored "ultimate power." Beyond being the debut of Sylux, who would eventually be set up as a new antagonist following the defeat of Dark Samus, the game has no effect whatsoever on the overarching plot.
** ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', the only 3D game in the franchise not under the ''Prime'' banner. The game takes place between the events of ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' and explores elements of Samus's past; mostly her time as a soldier working directly under the Federation before leaving to do solo contract work. While the game does the needed work to fit into the timeline as a "[[{{Interquel}} Metroid 3.5]]", just like ''Hunters'', it has zero effect on the overarching story, which was exemplified by series producer Yoshio Sakamoto introducing ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' as the end to a five, not six, game story arc.

** 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'' ([[SharedUniverse and vice versa]]).
* When Koji Igarashi took over as producer of the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' games (starting with 2002's ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance''), he declared that the Nintendo 64 games ( ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania 64}}'' and its UpdatedRerelease ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness''), and ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon'' for the Game Boy Advance were side-stories to the main ''Castlevania'' storyline. The UsefulNotes/GameBoy game ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegends'' on the other hand, is no longer part of the canon.

** Subverted when it basically became its own series.
* After the original ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', the following titles, ''Guilty Gear X'' and the ''Guilty Gear XX'' [[CapcomSequelStagnation installments]], were officially designated as sidestories like the novels, drama [=CDs=], and ''Guilty Gear Xtra'' manga, with ''Guilty Gear 2: Overture'' being touted as the "true" continuation of the first game's story. WordOfGod says they're still very much in-canon, with ''Accent Core Plus'' telling (part of) the story of how certain characters got to where they are [[TimeSkip by the time of]] ''Overture''.

* ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur II]]'''s Weapon Master Mode appears to be a gaiden storyline, as it takes place... somewhere other than Europe and Asia. Also, none of the ''Soul'' series characters appear in Weapon Master Mode; the characters in Weapon Master Mode use the fighters as "avatars," i.e. you're not actually fighting Mitsurugi, you're fighting some guy named Edgar. [[spoiler:Although there is a Lizardman named Calcos, aka Aeon Calcos who was transformed into Lizardman in the first ''Soulcalibur''.]] [[MindScrew Boy is this complicated.]]

* ''Franchise/MortalKombat''[='s=] action games: ''VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero'', ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces'' (starring Jax), and the more recent ''VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks'' with Liu Kang and Kung Lao. ''Mythologies'' serves as a distant prequel to the events of ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' while also setting up the elder Sub-Zero's [[ArchEnemy enmity with Scorpion]] and [[spoiler:eventual transformation into Noob Saibot]], whereas ''Shaolin Monks'' is a BroadStrokes retelling of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat1 the first]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombat2 two games]] with a noticeable changes to the narrative (though ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' makes a nod or two its way all the same). No one likes to talk about ''Special Forces'', but it was eventually and definitely rendered [[CanonDiscontinuity officially non-canon]] by ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' and its corresponding comics.
** Also the Konquest Mode from 'VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'', 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/StreetFighterOnlineMouseGeneration'' is a one-off game in the series that has no connection to the main series.

* ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' is a Gaiden Series to the ''VideoGame/{{Unreal}}'' series, taking place within the Unreal universe but having little to do with the Skaarj invasion.
** And the ''[[VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004 Unreal Championship]]'' games for consoles are a spinoff from ''Unreal Tournament'', creating a Gaiden Game of a Gaiden Game.

** The entire ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid Prime'' sub-series effectively serves, taking place between ''VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''. While the ''Prime'' games are fully canon to the mainline 2D series, the events take place so early in the timeline, they don't get much more than the occasional ContinuityNod.

** ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', the only 3D game in the franchise not under the ''Prime'' banner. The game takes place between the events of ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and 'VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' and explores elements of Samus's past; mostly her time as a soldier working directly under the Federation before leaving to do solo contract work. While the game does the needed work to fit into the timeline as a "[[{{Interquel}} Metroid 3.5]]", just like ''Hunters'', it has zero effect on the overarching story.

* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
** The entire ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid Prime'' sub-series effectively serves, taking place between ''VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''. While the ''Prime'' games are fully canon to the mainline 2D series, the events take place so early in the timeline, they don't get much more than the occasional ContinuityNod.
*** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'', an online multiplayer focused installment which canonically takes place between ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. ''Hunters'' is completely detached from the Phazon storyline that's at the core of every other entry in the original ''Prime'' trilogy, including ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeFederationForce Federation Force]]]''. Instead, [[ExcusePlot what little story the game has]] concerns Samus and a bunch of other bounty hunters all fighting each other over a rumored "ultimate power." Beyond being the debut of Sylux, who would eventually be set up as a new antagonist following the defeat of Dark Samus, the game has no effect whatsoever on the overarching plot.
** ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', the only 3D game in the franchise not under the ''Prime'' banner. The game takes place between the events of ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' and 'VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' and explores elements of Samus's past; mostly her time as a soldier working directly under the Federation before leaving to do solo contract work. While the game does the needed work to fit into the timeline as a "[[{{Interquel}} Metroid 3.5]]", just like ''Hunters'', it has zero effect on the overarching story.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' is connected to the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' (itself a Gaiden interquel between ''VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'') since it takes place between ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', but that's where the connections end. While the ''Prime'' series focuses on recurring element, Phazon, Hunters does not use or reference Phazon at all, but the story focuses on Samus and a bunch of other bounty hunters all fighting each other for a rumored absolute power contained somewhere in the galaxy. The game focuses a lot more on the online multiplayer as well, whereas the ''Prime'' trilogy only used multiplayer once (local, no online) and it was a side thing instead of a main attraction.