History StillbornFranchise / VideoGames

Video Games that [[StillbornFranchise never went passed their first installments]], whether its original [=IPs=] or sub-series of highly successful properties.

* ''7 Grand Steps: What Ancients Begat'' was originally named ''7 Grand Steps, Step 1: What Ancients Begat'', when developers planned to make more games for the series. However, due to insufficient commercial success, the next steps were cut.

* ''VideoGame/ShowdownBandit'' was meant to be Kindly Beast's next horror game after ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'' with a similar release schedle of episodic chapters. However, future chapters were cancelled due to poor sales.

* This trope happened plenty of times with video game compilations where a CompilationRerelease that ends its title with "Volume 1" never actually gets a "Volume 2". Some examples are ''Sega Ages Volume 1'' for UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, ''Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volume 1'' for UsefulNotes/Nintendo64, ''Sega Smash Pack Volume 1'' for UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, ''Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol. 1'' for Sega Dreamcast, ''Jaleco Collection Vol. 1'' for UsefulNotes/PlayStation, ''Toaplan Shooting Battle 1'' for [=PlayStation=], ''Capcom Coin-Op Collection Volume 1'' for Microsoft Windows, and ''SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1'' for [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]], and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} (not counting PSP exclusive ''SNK Arcade Classics 0'' which was [[NoExportForYou only released in Japan]]). However, a particularly amusing subversion exists with the ''UsefulNotes/XboxLive Arcade Unplugged'' series. While the numbered series itself is restricted to only a Vol. 1, this was ''not'' the only entry in the line, with three more unnumbered entries going under different names.

** ''VideoGame/ShadowComplex'', on which ''Empire'' was based, was released on UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade to glowing reviews. Of course, in order to sell it to people without having a massive backlash strike out, the developers had to entirely ignore the novel Card had written to promote it.

* ''[[http://www.thebrothersduomazov.com/2013/01/seiya-monogatari-anearth-fantasy-stories.html AnEarth Fantasy Stories]]'', an open-world RPG originally developed for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine CD]], was apparently intended as the first installment of a trilogy. Being the very last game Creator/HudsonSoft published in Japan for the fading system may have been one reason why it never caught on, but [=MediaWorks=] tried again and remade the game for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, hopefully subtitling it ''The First Volume''. This remake, and the {{novelization}} released at the same time, is the last that's been seen of the series.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a CashCowFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'', being developed by the same team behind ''VideoGame/MarioKart'', boasting several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s, and having a graphic novel series planned. It proceeded to release to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with critics noting [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game supposedly intended for beginners]]. While [[PresumedFlop contrary to popular belief not a financial failure]], selling over two million copies in its first year, it paled in comparison to the overwhelming success of sister game ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' (which did similar numbers in its first three months). Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/{{Cocoron}}'' had a sequel, or possibly a remake, developed for the UsefulNotes/PCEngine called ''PC Cocoron'', which was apparently finished but never released.
* Due to ExecutiveMeddling, ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'', ''VideoGame/DiddyKongRacing'' and ''VideoGame/GrabbedByTheGhoulies'' each promised a sequel which never came to be. The most that ever came of any of these were remakes of ''Bad Fur Day'' for the original Xbox and ''Diddy Kong Racing'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. In 2015, Conker got a sequel called ''Conker's Big Reunion''; but it is a game made on ''VideoGame/ProjectSpark'', a GameMaker, so there's also material in it to make your own Conker game.

* ''[=everGirl=]'' was a multimedia IP and lifestyle brand for tween girls that Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} launched in 2004 with a website, a theme song by the Swedish girl group Play, and a clothing line. Then came the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVR9tgNk5NM tie-in game]] for PC and UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance that promptly flopped. Afterwards, a live-action TV series that had previously been announced was canceled, and the site was put on indefinite hiatus ("getting a makeover") in 2006 before eventually just redirecting to Nickelodeon's website in 2012.

* ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'' was Sony's last attempt to publish a killer app (and ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' replacement) for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita with a lot of advertising, a [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] visual guide explaining its mythos and setting and having a [[NoEnding inconclusive ending]] that sets up major events to come in a sequel. However, while the game sold slightly more than 700,000 copies worldwide (which is decent for a handheld game) and the developers were interested in making the sequel, Sony decided not to produce it as they expected the game to become a big hit (at least as big as ''VideoGame/GodEater'', a franchise by the same developers) in Japan.

* ''VideoGame/HavenCallOfTheKing'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 was supposed to be the first installment in a revolutionary video game trilogy that would defy all genres. What was actually released was [[SoOkayItsAverage mediocre]]: while it did mix together a lot of genres (action, platforming, RPG, driving) as promised, it didn't do any of them particularly ''well''. The lackluster sales killed the planned trilogy at the first game, whose planned UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube ports were also canceled.

* Sacnoth was already planning sequels to ''[[VideoGame/ShadowHearts Koudelka]]'' and there were also talks of a UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket port at some point but the game's middling reviews and sales put an end to all of it. Instead, they decided to develop a more conventional RPG that eventually led to the ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' trilogy.

* The UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum game ''Marsport'' was proudly advertised as "the first part of the ''Siege of Earth'' trilogy." The following two parts were to have been titled ''Fornax'' and ''Gath'', but they never saw the light of day.

* The instructions and advertising for the UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum text adventure ''Merlock the Mede'' describe the two games on the tape as the first of a set of eight -- and a player who solved all eight could win a digital watch. The first two received far from glowing reviews, and nothing was ever seen of the other six.

* ''Pearl Harbor Trilogy -- 1941: Red Sun Rising'' was meant to be released as the first of a trio of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII-themed UsefulNotes/WiiWare flight sims (or more accurately, the PC game ''Attack on Pearl Harbor'' chopped up into three parts) but poor sales have prevented the rest of the series from seeing the light of day.

* ''Ride to Hell'' originally started development in 2008, then was cancelled, then [[UnCancelled restarted]] and intended to be a series of three games -- one on retail discs, one as a downloadable UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade[=/=]UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork game, and one on smartphones. Only the retail product, ''VideoGame/RideToHellRetribution'' was released, receiving immense backlash from all corners and quickly being declared one of the worst games ever made. Unsurprisingly, neither Creator/DeepSilver nor Eutechnyx made a peep about the other two games, ''Beatdown'' and ''Route 666'', suggesting that they were unceremoniously cancelled.

* ''Wars and Warriors: UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc'' was a PC game released in 2004 to mixed reviews. There were plans on making a UsefulNotes/XBox port as well as sequels, none of which ever left the drawing board.

* [[Creator/Level5 Level-5 Studios']] ''VideoGame/WhiteKnightChronicles'' was originally planned to be a UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 launch title and the first installment of a new [=PlayStation=]-exclusive tentpole RPG franchise. However, production difficulties incurred from adding on an ill-advised quasi-MMORPG game mode led to the finished product being unfocused and decidedly mediocre. It failed to meet sales expectations, as did its "sequel", ''White Knight Chronicles II'', which was actually just a stealth release of the originally unfinished and shelved back half of the first game. Sony has since tried its best to ignore its existence, and even Level-5 seems to be [[CreatorBacklash sheepish and cringey whenever its specter is brought up]].

* ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'' saw a fairly strong positive reception on both the critical and commercial front, and Creator/SquareEnix saw it as a potential launching point for a new franchise. Work on a sequel began and a film adaptation starring ''Creator/DonnieYen'' was announced; however, the sequel was scrapped so the developers could focus on ''Triad Wars'', an MMO spin-off instead. When the game fell through and the developers closed down, it pretty much killed off any hope to see the franchise continue. No word about the film has surfaced since its announcement.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blasto}}'' was released after a long development rife with issues to a middling reception. However, the titular character, voiced by Creator/PhilHartman, was very well-received even by reviewers critical of the game. The developers had already started planning a sequel, and an entire franchise was intended for ''Blasto'', with Hartman described as "the soul" of Blasto. But when Phil Hartman was murdered, two months after the game's release, the creators of ''Blasto'', who felt Hartman helped define the character, saw little point in continuing with the character and the franchise plans were quietly cancelled.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blinx}}'' was Xbox's early attempt to have a SeriesMascot like Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'', Sega's ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', and Sony's (then) ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot''. The game was deemed simply "average" by many reviewers, with much of the criticism directed towards the difficult controls. The game got a sequel but otherwise dropped off the radar; the overwhelming success of Franchise/{{Halo}}, which also cemented the platform's heavy teenage audience and led to the FirstPersonShooter surpassing the PlatformGame in popularity on consoles, resulted in Master Chief becoming the brand's mascot instead.

* Neither ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' nor ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' are dead by any means. However, their crossover series ended after its first installment -- ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken''. Between the game being OvershadowedByControversy over DLC packs that were already on the disc and the BribingYourWayToVictory gem system, the lukewarm-to-negative reception of the game itself, and the underwhelming sales, the intended sequel ''Tekken X Street Fighter'' has yet to materialize (other than Akuma being a GuestFighter in ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' and Ryu and Kazuya Mishima being playable in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''). Notably, Capcom had very big plans for this one--they assumed it would sell as much as the most recent ''Tekken'' and ''Street Fighter'' games ''combined'', and had a roadmap to keep releasing new gem packs for years to come. Instead, they ended up spending most of the game's post-launch window doing damage control, eventually releasing a patch that at least put the game in a good state before shifting focus back to ''Street Fighter''. The official statement is that the game has been [[{{Vaporware}} shelved with about 30% of the work already done]], and in 2021, Harada had to dispell rumors that the game was cancelled that rose from his words being misinterpreted.

* ''VideoGame/{{Loadstar}}'' was a RailShooter released in 1994, featuring {{live action cutscene}}s with Creator/BarryPrimus as the protagonist. The game was extremely ambitious, being requiring ''3'' [=CDs=] (which was a lot at the time), and its opening hinted on a larger conspiracy going on with the main story, the game ends with the protagonist successfully leaving the Moon and arriving to Phobos with the police in hot pursuit after which a message of "Stay tuned..." is shown. The game was planned as a trilogy with the sequel presumably taking place in the aforementioned Martian moon, but poor sales killed those plans, and with many of the main actors either retiring or passing away it's safe to call this one dead.

* ''VideoGame/{{Loadstar}}'' was a RailShooter released in 1994, featuring {{live action cutscene}}s with ''Creator/BarryPrimus'' as the protagonist. The game was extremely ambitious, being requiring ''3'' [=CDs=] (which was a lot at the time), and its opening hinted on a larger conspiracy going on with the main story, the game ends with the protagonist successfully leaving the Moon and arriving to Phobos with the police in hot pursuit after which a message of "Stay tuned..." is shown. The game was planned as a trilogy with the sequel presumably taking place in the aforementioned Martian moon, but poor sales killed those plans, and with many of the main actors either retiring or passing away it's safe to call this one dead.

* ''VideoGame/BalanWonderworld'' was clearly meant as the start of a new franchise; with the developer being named Balan Company and the intent to make more games and other material (an ExpandedUniverse novel was even written to compliment the game). Instead, the game ended up a huge critical and commercial letdown. Creator/YujiNaka has since left Creator/SquareEnix and [[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/sonic_and_balan_wonderworld_creator_yuji_naka_is_now_making_smartphone_games shifted to indie development for smartphones instead]], though with Naka's arrest for insider trading charges in 2022, any chance of ''Balan Wonderworld'' receiving new content is, while not impossible, very slim.

* ''VideoGame/{{Nightshade}} Part 1: The Claws of Sutekh'' was not followed by a Part 2.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'' was designed as a prologue to a multimedia franchise centred upon a planned [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPG]] with the WorkingTitle ''Project Copernicus''. Unfortunately, [[http://hothardware.com/News/38-Studios-Is-Dead-Fallout-Over-Company-Implosion-Takes-On-Life-Of-Its-Own/ catastrophic financial shenanigans]] ensued, revolving around an ill-advised government loan for $75 million (with wildly-unrealistic repayment terms) and incredible mismanagement on behalf of developer 38 Studios. The resulting monetary implosion meant the game needed to sell three million copies to break even, and despite selling over one million in a few weeks, the company went under. The rights then reverted to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, who attempted to auction off the IP. While the game ''did'' sell well by normal, non-bankruptcy-involving standards, Rhode Island was unable to find a buyer until 2018 when it was acquired by THQ Nordic, who are now working on a remaster of the game with new content, ''Re-Reckoning'', that seeks to avert this trope entirely.

* [[Creator/Level5 Level-5 Studios']] ''VideoGame/WhiteKnightChronicles'' was originally planned to be a UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 launch title and the first installment of a new [=PlayStation=]-exclusive tentpole RPG franchise. However, production difficulties incurred from adding on an ill-advised quasi-MMORPG game mode led to the finished product being unfocused and decidedly mediocre. It failed to meet sales expectations, as did its "sequel", ''White Knight Chronicles II'', which was actually just a stealth release of the originally unfinished and shelved back half of the first game. Sony has since tried its best to ignore its existence, and even Level-5 seems to be [[OldShame sheepish and cringey whenever its specter is brought up]].

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyGhosts'' doesn't resolve the central conflict and ends on a major SequelHook with the main villain somehow surviving being shot in the head and dragging away the main hero to torture into becoming a killer like him. It also ended up being the poorest performing modern ''Call of Duty'' title in terms of sales and critical reception. As a result, Infinity Ward ended up developing ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyInfiniteWarfare'' instead of continuing the ''Ghosts'' storyline.

** The name of ''VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero'' alone confirms there were plans for more games with other characters. Unfortunately, the first game turned out to be ''MK Mythologies: Sub Zero'' and no others appeared.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a CashCowFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'', being developed by the same team behind ''VideoGame/MarioKart'', boasting several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s, and having a graphic novel series planned. It proceeded to release to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with critics noting [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game supposedly intended for beginners]]. While not a financial failure, selling over two million copies in its first year, it paled in comparison to overwhelming success of sister game ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' (which did similar numbers in its first three months). Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

%%* ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'', which also [[CreatorKiller took down its developer]].

* ''VideoGame/DaysGone'' clearly angled for a sequel, in spite of the lukewarm reviews and... well, not terrible, but not exactly stellar sales figures. Director John Garvin blamed the lack of sequel on "woke" reviewers who hated Deacon and Boozer for being white manly-men. Several other member of the dev team came forward and announced that the real reason was that Garvin's attitudes towards... well, everything, but primarily his subordinates, were just as toxic as his attitude towards reviewers (among other things, the only ideas that made it into the game were Garvin's, and the ones the rest of the dev team could convince Garvin were his) and Sony preferred pulling the plug on the franchise to dealing with him.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blinx}}'' was Xbox's early attempt to have a cute SeriesMascot like Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'', Namco's ''VideoGame/PacMan'', Sony's (then) ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' and Sega's ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''. The game was deemed overrated and simply "average" by many, the most troublesome part being the difficult controls. The game got a sequel but other than that has dropped off the radar (while [[Franchise/{{Halo}} Master Chief]] was the one who became the mascot).

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a CashCowFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'', with an entire Nintendo Direct being dedicated to it and several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s being left in the game. Then it actually came out to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with particular criticism being given to both [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content and hence replay value]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game intended for beginners]], and over 2 million copies in its first year - while impressive, nowhere near the 3.61 million copies sold in the first ''three months alone'' by ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' which released a month later. Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/MightyNo9'' was an extreme example of putting the cart before the horse. During its ({{troubled|Production}}) production, Creator/KeijiInafune publicly announced plans for not only a sequel, but also a [[VideoGame/RedAsh spin-off]], [[https://www.polygon.com/2014/7/21/5922717/mighty-no-9-the-animated-series-interview an animated series]], [[Anime/RedAshGearworld an animated series for the spin-off]], a film (or even two), and much more. When the game was finally released, it turned out to be a technical trainwreck and was met with scathing reviews, leaving little chance of the franchise getting off the ground, though this didn't stop game studio Comcept (which was more of a design studio than an actual developer) from still wishing to do a sequel. Comcept was bought out by Creator/Level5 a year later, and hasn't made anything but a single mobile game since then. The most ''Mighty No. 9'' has had since then is the spinoff crossover in ''VideoGame/MightyGunvolt Burst'', which is admittedly considered a decent game but a far cry from the heights Inafune dreamed for the franchise.

* ''VideoGame/DaysGone'' clearly angled for a sequel, in spite of the lukewarm reviews and... well, not terrible, but not exactly stellar sales figures. Director John Garvin blamed the lack of sequel on "woke" reviewers who hated Deacon and Boozer for being white manly-men. Several other member of the dev team came forward and announced that the real reason was that Garvin's attitudes towards... well, everything, but primarily his subordinates, were just as toxic as his attitude towards reviewers (among other things, the only ideas that made it into the game were Garvin's, and the ones the rest of the dev team could convince Garvin were his).