History Main / NonLinearSequel

** Only afterwards, some games are now getting sequels, probably inspired by the success of the ''Compilation of VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. For example, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' has a cellphone[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiWare game sequel, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears''.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Aleste}}'' series kept a few main characters constant in its earlier installments, most of which could probably be linked together in order. Then there's ''Power Strike II'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem and ''Robo Aleste'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaCD, each of which is set in a different historical time period with different characters.
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Contra}} Contra 4]]'' was titled as such to indicate its placement as a sequel to ''VideoGame/ContraIIITheAlienWars''. It is actually the eleventh original installment in the series and the second one specifically made for a portable platform (following ''Operation C'' on the original UsefulNotes/GameBoy). The game got away with this due to the fact that none of the other ''Contra'' sequels between ''III'' and ''4'' were numbered (the actual game that followed ''Contra III'' was ''Contra: Hard Corps'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis).

* The [=PS2=]-era ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' game chronology goes: ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories Vice City Stories]]'' (set in 1984; released 2006), ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity Vice City]]'' (1986; 2002), ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]'' (1992; 2004), ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories Liberty City Stories]]'' (1998; 2005), ''Grand Theft Auto Advance'' (2000; 2004), ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'' (2001; 2001). From ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' onward, the games are effectively set in [[AlternativeContinuity Another Dimension]].

** Two other exceptions are the "Chronicles of Sorrow" duology (with ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow Dawn of Sorrow]]'' being a direct sequel to ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow Aria]]'') with the same protagonist) and ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' (being a direct sequel to ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'', [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo with Richter and Maria from that title playing a major role]]; the two games were eventually rereleased together as ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaTheDraculaXChronicles The Dracula X Chronicles]]'').

** As of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', the entire series takes place in a larger [[TheMultiverse Multiverse]], as did ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2''. The [[AllThereInTheManual Ultimania]] notes that [[spoiler:Shinra, the kid genius of the Gullwings, was the ancestor of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Rufus Shinra]]. He even babbles about a concept remarkably similar to that of TheLifestream at one point in the game.]]

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Contra}} Contra 4]]'' was titled as such to indicate its placement as a sequel to ''Contra III: The Alien Wars''. It is actually the eleventh original installment in the series and the second one specifically made for a portable platform (following ''Operation C'' on the original UsefulNotes/GameBoy). The game got away with this due to the fact that none of the other ''Contra'' sequels between ''III'' and ''4'' were numbered (the actual game that followed ''Contra III'' was ''Contra: Hard Corps'' for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis).

Some video games do not have a strict sense of a linear {{sequel}}. The game may--''may''--take place in the same continuity, but not necessarily in the same time period. Occasionally the only thing similar is the system of play or shared tropes and references.

This is because video games, uniquely among media, have another dimension by which installments in a series can be interrelated, other than characters, [[TheVerse setting]], plot, or tone; that dimension being gameplay mechanics. Of course, this also means you might get an installment that [[DolledUpInstallment isn't really one at all]]. Plus, it has the benefit of helping to avoid ContinuityLockOut--with non-linear sequels, it doesn't really matter if you start with, say, ''An RPG Adventure 1'' or ''An RPG Adventure 10''.

* The ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games, due to starting out as yet another UsefulNotes/WorldWarII series, have chronology all over the place. ''Call of Duty 2'' in particular has at least half of its missions taking place before most of the original's--though this also meant they could bring back Captain Price after his death on board the Tirpitz in the first game without having to explain a thing. Later games eventually split up the timeline into as many as ''five'' alternate timelines: the ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' timeline with ''[[VideoGame/CallofDutyInfiniteWarfare Infinite Warfare]]'' being a distant sequel, the ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps Black Ops]]'' timeline that also includes ''[[VideoGame/CallofDutyWorldAtWar World at War]]'', the standalone timelines of ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts Ghosts]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyAdvancedWarfare Advanced Warfare]]'', the ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyZombies Zombies]]'' timeline, and the WWII games that can go anywhere. The series could almost be seen as a ThematicSeries at this point.
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' was pretty straightforward for most of its life; the first game and its expansions are SimultaneousArcs, the second game follows up on them, and [[MissionPackSequel the Episodes]] are an ImmediateSequel to 2. But then ''VideoGame/HalfLifeAlyx'' came along and things got screwy, because while that game ''seems'' to be a mere {{Interquel}}, [[spoiler:it actually doubles as a StealthSequel to Episode 2 thanks to the TimeyWimeyBall at the end.]]
* The ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' franchise chronologically goes: ''VideoGame/HaloWars'', ''VideoGame/HaloReach'', ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}''[=/=]''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'', ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', ''VideoGame/HaloSpartanAssault'', ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'', ''Halo: Spartan Strike'', ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'', ''VideoGame/HaloWars2''. The core trilogy was released first, followed by ''Halo Wars'', ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Halo: Reach'', ''Halo 4'' (the start of a new trilogy), ''Halo: Spartan Assault'', ''Halo: Spartan Strike'', ''Halo 5: Guardians'', and ''Halo Wars 2''.

* In chronological order of the plotline, the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series goes as follows: ''VideoGame/{{Devil May Cry 3|DantesAwakening}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Devil May Cry|1}}'', ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', then ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2''. Then there's ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'', which was originally ''another'' prequel (more like ContinuityReboot in some aspects) set ''before'' ''3'' [[FlipFlopOfGod until it was relegated to]] [[AlternateContinuity a parallel universe]]. ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' returns to the setting of the first four games, taking place several years after not only ''[=DMC4=]'', but also the oft-ignored ''2''. In the period leading up to ''5''[='s=] release, Creator/{{Capcom}} would [[{{Retcon}} reshuffle the chronology of the series]], this time placing ''2'' before the events of ''4'' (and invalidating the title of the previously released ''3142 Graphic Arts'' artbook in the process). As it stands, the order of the games now goes ''3'' > ''1'' > ''2'' > ''4'' > ''5''.

** The series is the reigning king of bouncing around in the timeline, though the games all take place in the same continuity. Games have been set as far back as [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence the year 1094]] and as far forward as [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow 2036]]. Creator/{{Konami}} didn't even wait till the series left the NES before starting this habit--''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse'' was set more than 200 years before [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaI the first game]].

* Though the various ''Franchise/MegaMan'' games are released roughly in chronological order within their own series, the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series--which takes place after the end of the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX X]]'' series and before the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Legends]]'' series--began and ended years after the last ''Legends'' game came out. The newer ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' series takes place after ''Zero'' but still before ''Legends''. Also, in the time between the releases of ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'', the ''Zero'' series came and went (being the ''only'' series in the Classic timeline to have a GrandFinale, in fact), as well as two ''Legends'' games, two ''ZX'' games and four mainline ''X'' games (as well as [[VideoGame/MegaManXtreme two]] [[VideoGame/MegaManXtreme2 handheld]] ''X'' games), and the series has stuck to the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' era ever since.

** The ResetButton ending of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' and its inclusion in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' already make its place in continuity somewhat confusing. However, the game says that Blaze the Cat is from the same future as Silver the Hedgehog. The ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' series directly contradict this by saying that Blaze is from AnotherDimension. At the end of Silver's story in ''Sonic '06'' [[spoiler:Blaze absorbs Iblis and seals it and herself away disappearing in a flash of light]].

** To date, only ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVII'', ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'', and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestX'' seem to be standalone titles in the main series, as ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' hints at a multiverse due to [[spoiler:the Godbird Empyrea actually being one and the same as [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Ramia/Lamia]] from ''III'']]. Torneko Taloon from ''IV'' also cameos as an opponent in Morrie's Monster Arena in ''VIII''.

** Then there's the early ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' games--one's a prequel to ''VI'', another had a ''VII'' character wind up in the Erdrick Trilogy world long after the events of ''I - III''.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' was the first game in the series to be envisioned with other games (''VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0'' for example) sharing a continuity in mind, although from the get-go that "continuity" was outlined as a theme involving crystals steeped in mythology and nothing else, for the most part. While it eventually gained direct sequels, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' and ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'', the original vision changed quite a lot over the years, with ''Type-0'', originally sharing the XIII title as ''Agito XIII'', renamed before its release, and with the third game--the very well-anticipated ''Versus XIII''--announced way back in 2006 along with the other two changing into a large, separate verse so much that it's finally been renamed '''''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'''''. The end of the E3 trailer that announced this even implies that, as "a world in the Versus epic" (quote), Noctis will have his own saga in ''Franchise/{{Fabula Nova Crystallis|FinalFantasy}}'' (its title can be faintly seen at the beginning of the trailer), as Lightning has had.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' series has been doing this as far back as the second installment, ''Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins''--a prequel to the original. The order goes: ''Tenchu 2'' (2000); ''Tenchu: Dark Secret'' (2006); the original ''Tenchu: Stealth Assassins'' (1998); ''Tenchu: Fatal Shadows'' (2004); ''Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven'' (2003); ''Tenchu: Time of the Assassins'' (2005); ''Tenchu: Shadow Assassins'' (2008) and ''Tenchu Z'' (2006).

** Between the release of ''2'' and ''3'', there was also ''[[GaidenGame Dino Stalker]]'', a LightGunGame that, in fact, serves to tie together those games, however nebulously ([[spoiler:the Mother Computer in charge of the Noah's Ark Plan, due to its ability to genetically engineer dinosaurs, is suggested to be the precursor to the MTHR computers featured in ''3'']]). In spite of this, the cliffhanger from the second game remains unaddressed even though [[spoiler:Dylan and Paula are shown to have survived]].

** The spin-offs are a bit looser with chronology--the two ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak Outbreak]]'' games take place roughly concurrently with the greater Raccoon City outbreak from ''2'' and ''3'', the final chapter of ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheUmbrellaChronicles The Umbrella Chronicles]]'' takes place a year before ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 4]]'', and the main story of ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheDarksideChronicles The Darkside Chronicles]]'' shows Leon in South America two years before ''4'', which shows what happened between Leon and [[spoiler:Krauser (before his FaceHeelTurn)]].

* While ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' is very much a ThematicSeries wherein the titular MacGuffin, a redheaded shopkeeper named Anna, and a few other {{Recurring Element}}s are often the only constants between the various individual [[TheVerse Verses]], a few titles have approached the matter of continuity in this manner. WordOfGod confirms that Jugdral, the setting of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]'', is located in the same world as [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Arch]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem anea]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Valentia]], only in the distant past. This is supported by [[GreaterScopeParagon Naga]] playing a role in the backstory of all five games (though ''Gaiden'' would not bear this distinction until its 2017 VideoGameRemake did a better job of ArcWelding it to the events of Marth's games). Then, after chronicling adventures in three other distinct lands ([[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Eli]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade be]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Magvel]], and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Tell]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn ius]]) and giving both of Marth's outings the remake treatment, ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' came along, not only being set on a future version of Archanea (now known as Ylisse) but also [[CanonWelding linking together]] all other previous entries in some fashion, most notably including the return of the Deadlords from the Jugdral duology and featuring a DLC character who claims to be the direct descendant of [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]]. From here, the series once again shifted to largely standalone stories, though with a few wrinkles: certain in-game revelations and DLC chapters in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' set it up as [[spoiler:a partial StealthSequel to ([[TheMultiverse a version of]]) ''Awakening'']], post-game content in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia]]'' provides an origin story for [[spoiler:the BigBad of ''Awakening'']], and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' takes a page from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Heroes]]'' by having the main character aided by ([[OurGhostsAreDifferent the spirits of]]) past heroes from every corner of series history -- this time in a mainline installment.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' was written with each story assumed to be the last (as admitted by the author) so as such several of the later ones answer questions rather than continuing the story. As such ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'' was written and published 6th but takes place first. ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', which was first, is second. ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' was written fourth, published fifth, and set during a TimeSkip in ''[=LW&W=]''. With those three sorted out, however, the rest follow order of publication: ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'' (set centuries after ''[=LW&W=]''), ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', ''Literature/TheSilverChair'', and ''Literature/TheLastBattle''. It helps that time shifts in-universe because Narnia is a parallel world [[NarniaTime not perfectly synced with ours]]. After the author's death, his estate rearranged all subsequent editions of the books by chronological order, though fans will generally recommend the original reading order based on publication instead.

* The second ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' movie, ''Legends of Metru Nui'' is set a thousand years before the first, ''Mask of Light''. The third, ''Web of Shadows'' takes place before the ultimate scene of the second, making it an {{interquel}} -- save for the very last shot, which takes us back to the present timeline of ''Mask of Light''. But technically neither prequel ties directly into ''Mask of Light'', as that first film itself was a sequel to two and a half years' worth of books, comics, online games and videos, which bridge the gaps between the movies.

* Most of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' sequels are like this, the major exceptions being ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'', ''VideoGame/Persona2'', ''[[VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga Digital Devil Saga 2]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon]]''. Some other games are hinted/confirmed to take place in the same continuity as their predecessors, such as ''[[VideoGame/SoulHackers Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers]]'' and ''VideoGame/SoulHackers2'', ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'', and the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series from ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 P3]]'' onward, but feature completely different plotlines and characters, with only a handful of [[CallBack Call-Backs]] connecting them. Further confusing matters are the occasional mention/suggestion of [[TheMultiverse a multiverse]] as well as a [[AlternateTimeline timeline split]] that branches off from a crucial moment in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'': one split leads to ''SMT II'' (with ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNine NINE]]'', ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiImagine IMAGINE]]'', and ''VideoGame/GitenMegamiTensei'' suggested or outright confirmed to be other offshoots), whereas the other leads to not just ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'', but also ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' and ''Persona''. Then there's the implication that the events of the ''[[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy Raidou]] [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Kuzunoha]]'' duology (distant prequels to the original ''Devil Summoner'') also [[spoiler:[[CosmicRetcon negated]] ''SMT I'' and its resulting chronology from ever happening]]... but one recurring character from [[spoiler:that timeline]] ([[spoiler:Stephen]]) shows up throughout ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' and [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV its sequel]], and ''SMT IV'' itself has a backstory that, save for a few key details, is consistent with info divulged in ''SMT I'' and ''II''.

** Due to an unusual twist of plot [[spoiler:involving Lezard time traveling from the end of the first game to the past of the sequel]], ''[[VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile2Silmeria Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria]]'' comes both before ''and'' after ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile''. And ''[[VideoGame/ValkyrieProfileCovenantOfThePlume Covenant of the Plume]]'' is a prequel.

* The ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' series is a great example of this. Each successive game takes place several years, sometimes even decades after previous one and casts the player in the role of a new FeaturelessProtagonist with no connection to the previous one. Usually [[CapcomSequelStagnation the presence of a number in the title indicates]] a ContinuityReboot. So far, ''Armored Core'', ''Project Phantasma'', ''Master of Arena'', ''Armored Core 2'' and ''Another Age'' take place in one continuity. ''Armored Core 3'', ''Silent Line'', ''Nexus'', ''[[FanonDiscontinuity Nine Breaker]]'', and ''Last Raven'' take place in a second continuity. ''Armored Core 4'' and ''for Answer'' take place in a third. And ''Armored Core V'' takes place in a fourth continuity. There's also the GaidenGame ''Formula Front'', which uses elements from the ''Armored Core 3'' universe, but it clearly not set in it. It's really just a FightingGame [[HumongousMecha with Robots]]... [[VideoGame/VirtualOn No, not that one.]]

[[folder:Non-video Game Examples]]

* ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' film series ended up non-linear [[BreakoutCharacter because of the popularity of one character]] played by Creator/SungKang. Street racer Han [[PunnyName Seoul-Oh]] [[MentorOccupationalHazard dies]] in ''Tokyo Drift'' (the third installment, a BTeamSequel with only a cameo from the stars of the previous two). The fourth film, ''Fast & Furious'', brought him back by setting itself a few years before his death in Tokyo.[[note]]Incidentally, this shunts ''Tokyo Drift'''s events nearly a decade into the future - the movie came out in 2006, but retroactively takes place in 2014![[/note]] Kang then starred in the fourth, fifth, and sixth films, the epilogue of which [[BookEnds finally catches up to Han's death]] (now revealed to be [[ArcWelding a murder]]) and kicks off the plot of the seventh, finally making the series linear again.

* Most of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' sequels are like this, the major exceptions being ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'', ''VideoGame/Persona2'', ''[[VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga Digital Devil Saga 2]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon]]''. Some other games are hinted/confirmed to take place in the same continuity as their predecessors, such as ''[[VideoGame/SoulHackers Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers]]'' and ''VideoGame/SoulHackers2'', ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'', and the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series from ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 P3]]'' onward, but feature completely different plotlines and characters, with only a handful of [[CallBack Call-Backs]] connecting them. Further confusing matters are the occasional mention/suggestion of [[TheMultiverse a multiverse]] as well as a [[AlternateTimeline timeline split]] that branches off from a crucial moment in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'': one split leads to ''SMT II'' (with ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNine NINE]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiImagine IMAGINE]]'', and ''VideoGame/GitenMegamiTensei'' suggested or outright confirmed to be other offshoots), whereas the other leads to not just ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'', but also ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' and ''Persona''. Then there's the implication that the events of the ''[[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy Raidou]] [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Kuzunoha]]'' duology (distant prequels to the original ''Devil Summoner'') also [[spoiler:[[CosmicRetcon negated]] ''SMT I'' and its resulting chronology from ever happening]]... but one recurring character from [[spoiler:that timeline]] ([[spoiler:Stephen]]) shows up throughout ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' and [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV its sequel]], and ''SMT IV'' itself has a backstory that, save for a few key details, is consistent with info divulged in ''SMT I'' and ''II''.

* ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' is all over the place, partially owing to [[ConstructedWorld the Strangereal setting]] not being [[{{Worldbuilding}} extensively fleshed out]] until the fourth game and Project Aces having to retroactively [[CanonWelding fit previous entries into the universe]]. Even so, [[AnachronicOrder the chronology can be hard]] [[SequelNumberSnarl to keep track of]] if you're not familiar with the series. ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar Zero]]'' (set in 1995, released in 2006) [[EpisodeZeroTheBeginning is the first entry]], and from there the order goes ''[[VideoGame/AirCombat 1]]'' (1995; 1995) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat2 2]]'' (1997 or 1998; 1997 [[note]]2011 for its [[VideoGameRemake remake]], ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy Assault Horizon Legacy]]''[[/note]]) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies 04]]'' (2004-2005; 2001) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar 5]]'' (2010; 2004) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation 6]]'' (2015; 2007) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown 7]]'' (2019; [[SequelGap 2019]]) > ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatXSkiesOfDeception X]]'' (2020; 2006), with 2009's ''Xi'' as an {{interquel}} occupying the same general time period as ''X''. Meanwhile, 2011's ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatNorthernWings Northern Wings]]'' [[DashedPlotLine is running concurrently with]] ''04'', ''5'', and ''6'', though the game itself is of a dubious canonicity. This leaves ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere 3]]'', released in 1999 but set in 2040, as the DistantFinale, with ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatAdvance Advance]]'' (released in 2005, set around 2032) as ''its'' direct prequel. That's not even getting into ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatJointAssault Joint Assault]]'', ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon Assault Horizon]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatInfinity Infinity]]'', all of which are instead set on Earth but in mutually exclusive continuities (with some dialogue from your wingman in ''Assault Horizon''[[labelnote:*]][[ThisIsReality "This ain't Ace Combat, bro."]][[/labelnote]] confirming that the ''Ace Combat'' games actually exist in-universe). Additionally, the arcade predecessor to ''Ace Combat'' (also titled ''Air Combat'') and its arcade-exclusive sequel (''Air Combat 22'') share their own continuity.

* While ''VideoGame/BravelySecond'' is a direct sequel to ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', ''VideoGame/BravelyDefaultII'' takes the ''Final Fantasy'' sequel route, being a numbered sequel that takes place in a separate world from the previous two games.
* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFire'' has a remarkably similar situation going to ''Zelda'', only complicated by two, possibly three, ''canonical'' AlternateUniverse scenarios:

* Most of the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' sequels are like this, the major exceptions being ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'', ''VideoGame/Persona2'', ''[[VideoGame/DigitalDevilSaga Digital Devil Saga 2]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon]]''. Some other games are hinted/confirmed to take place in the same continuity as their predecessors, such as ''[[VideoGame/SoulHackers Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers]]'' and ''VideoGame/SoulHackers2'', ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'', and the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series from ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 P3]]'' onward, but feature completely different plotlines and characters, with only a handful of [[CallBack Call-Backs]] connecting them. Further confusing matters are the occasional mention/suggestion of [[TheMultiverse a multiverse]] as well as a [[AlternateTimeline timeline split]] that branches off from a crucial moment in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'': one split leads to ''SMT II'' (with ''VideoGame/GitenMegamiTensei'', ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNine NINE]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiImagine IMAGINE]]'' suggested or outright confirmed to be other offshoots), whereas the other leads to not just ''VideoGame/DevilSummoner'', but also ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' and ''Persona''.

* While ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' is very much a ThematicSeries wherein the titular MacGuffin, a redheaded shopkeeper named Anna, and a few other {{Recurring Element}}s are often the only constants between the various individual [[TheVerse Verses]], a few titles have approached the matter of continuity in this manner. WordOfGod confirms that Jugdral, the setting of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]'', is located in the same world as [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Arch]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem anea]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Valentia]], only in the distant past. This is supported by [[GreaterScopeParagon Naga]] playing a role in the backstory of all five games (though ''Gaiden'' would not bear this distinction until its 2017 VideoGameRemake did a better job of ArcWelding it to the events of Marth's games). Then, after chronicling adventures in three other distinct lands ([[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Eli]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade be]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Magvel]], and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Tell]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn ius]]) and giving both of Marth's outings the remake treatment, ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' came along, not only being set on a future version of Archanea (now known as Ylisse) but also [[ArcWelding linking together]] all other previous entries in some fashion, most notably including the return of the Deadlords from the Jugdral duology and featuring a DLC character who claims to be the direct descendant of [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]]. From here, the series once again shifted to largely standalone stories, though with a few wrinkles: certain in-game revelations and DLC chapters in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' set it up as [[spoiler:a partial StealthSequel to ([[TheMultiverse a version of]]) ''Awakening'']], post-game content in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia]]'' provides an origin story for [[spoiler:the BigBad of ''Awakening'']], and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' takes a page from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Heroes]]'' by having the main character aided by ([[OurGhostsAreDifferent the spirits of]]) past heroes from every corner of series history -- this time in a mainline installment.

* While ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' is very much a ThematicSeries wherein the titular MacGuffin, a redheaded shopkeeper named Anna, and a few other {{Recurring Element}}s are often the only constants between the various individual [[TheVerse Verses]], a few titles have approached the matter of continuity in this manner. WordOfGod confirms that Jugdral, the setting of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]'', is located in the same world as [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Arch]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem anea]] and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Valentia]], only in the distant past. This is supported by [[GreaterScopeParagon Naga]] playing a role in the backstory of all five games (though ''Gaiden'' would not bear this distinction until its 2017 VideoGameRemake did a better job of ArcWelding it to the events of Marth's games). Then, after chronicling adventures in three other distinct lands ([[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Eli]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade be]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Magvel]], and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Tell]][[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn ius]]) and giving both of Marth's outings the remake treatment, ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' came along, not only being set on a future version of Archanea (now known as Ylisse) but also [[ArcWelding linking together]] all other previous entries in some fashion, most notably including the return of the Deadlords from the Jugdral duology and featuring a DLC character who claims to be the direct descendant of [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]]. From here, the series once again shifted to largely standalone stories, though with a few wrinkles: certain in-game revelations and DLC chapters in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' set it up as [[spoiler:a partial StealthSequel to ([[AlternateTimeline a version of]] ''Awakening'']], post-game content in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia]]'' provides an origin story for [[spoiler:the BigBad of ''Awakening'']], and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' takes a page from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Heroes]]'' by having the main character aided by ([[OurGhostsAreDifferent the spirits of]]) past heroes from every corner of series history -- this time in a mainline installment.