The Follow-Up We’re Still Waiting For
Some video games arrive with huge potential, build passionate fan bases, and then disappear without ever receiving the sequel players were hoping for. Sometimes a follow-up gets canceled, sometimes the studio closes, and occasionally a publisher simply moves on to another project. Years can pass while fans continue wondering what could've happened if these worlds had been given another chance.
1. Bully
The students will never know what they missed if Bully receives another sequel. Rockstar Games surprised players by crafting a humorous open-world playground from rival classes, lessons, mischief, and general mayhem. While it wasn’t among the publisher’s most recognizable franchises, Bully featured a strong cast and an identity that set it apart from its peers.
2. Sleeping Dogs
An open-world crime saga mixed with martial arts action and a Hong Kong-inspired setting, Sleeping Dogs fought to find its identity among similar action games, yet its hand-to-hand combat gave it a personality that stuck with players long after finishing Wei Shen’s undercover journey. The planned franchise never developed into the series many players expected.
3. L.A. Noire
Developing technology to replicate real-life facial animations was only part of what made L.A. Noire such a groundbreaking experience. Its facial animation technology and investigative gameplay made it unusually ambitious for its time. A sequel could've expanded the detective mechanics while exploring another city or historical period, but that opportunity has never properly materialized.
4. Spec Ops: The Line
Before players even made it through the prologue of Spec Ops: The Line, its story had players questioning the genre itself. Many remember the military shooter for how it pushed players to think about their actions and choices through its narrative themes. A direct sequel might've been difficult to create, but the game's ideas were strong enough that many players would've welcomed another entry.
5. Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 managed to create something truly special with its ridiculously fast traversal, gigantic robots, and one of the best single-player campaigns the genre has ever offered. Instead of delivering players a direct sequel, Respawn pivoted toward an open-ended approach with Titanfall 3. Even its multiplayer mode was beloved.
6. Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil’s colorful world, charming characters, photo-based puzzles, and intrigue have earned it a lasting following years after its release. Rumors and announcements of a sequel have been circulating for more than a decade, leaving fans to wonder if this long-awaited return will ever become a reality.
7. The Simpsons: Hit & Run
What started as a mod received its own unexpected sequel within The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Its simple structure made it easy to pick up, while its missions and references gave fans plenty of reasons to keep playing. A modern sequel could take the original concept much further, but players have instead been left hoping someone will finally bring the idea back.
8. Alien: Isolation
Few games have ever captured the suspense of being pursued by something as intelligent as Alien: Isolation’s Xenomorph. Stealth and resource management became even more important. Amanda Ripley’s story could easily support another terrifying adventure, yet a direct follow-up still hasn't arrived.
9. Vanquish
PlatinumGames' Vanquish was a stylish third-person shooter built around speed, sliding, and aggressive combat. Its fast-paced gameplay felt different from many shooters released around the same period, and its short campaign left plenty of room for another installment. Although it has grown more popular in recent years, Vanquish has never received a sequel.
10. The Order: 1886
A mix of supernatural themes and Victorian-era alternate history provided players with The Order: 1886. While it received mixed reviews at launch, players were left wondering what more Ready at Dawn could have done with its intricate London, werewolves, secret societies, and technological marvels. A sequel could have addressed its critiques.
Nikita Kachanovsky on Unsplash
11. Days Gone
Days Gone took open-world gameplay, combined it with motorcycles, and led players across the scenic wilderness to survive against desperate Freakers and mutants. What separated its enemies from most other foes was their numbers. Bands could appear around every corner, turning a relaxing ride into a desperate struggle to stay alive.
12. Prey
Life aboard the spaceship Talos I was filled with wonder and mystery in Prey. Arkane Studios created a captivating environment with humanoid Mimics, interestingly detailed rooms, and opportunities to tackle challenges with flexibility. Players still dream about what another game in that universe could do.
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13. Mirror's Edge Catalyst
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst opened up the original concepts during Faith’s urban workout. Players were treated to a larger sandbox to run around in and an upgraded version of her movement system. Dodging across rooftops and scaling the city’s vertical space created a momentum that remains fun to play through today.
14. Sunset Overdrive
Sunset Overdrive was everything it set out to be: absurdly fun, mindlessly crazy, and ultra-colorful. Players were encouraged to utilize Sunset Overdrive’s movement system by grinding across pipes and bouncing off walls. Its energetic approach to movement and combat left plenty of room for another adventure.
15. Portal 2
Portal 2 may be beloved by fans of puzzle games, but who wouldn’t want to see GLaDOS and Chell’s adventure continue? Its wit, memorable characters, and brain-teasing puzzles left players wanting more as soon as they defeated the final boss. Fans continue to wonder what an actual Portal 3 could look like.
16. Left 4 Dead 2
Left 4 Dead 2 gave players unpredictable moments through its adaptive AI system and thriving online community. Every time players booted up a campaign, they never knew how zombies would alter the next run through the game’s spattered catacombs. But a proper Left 4 Dead 3 remains one of gaming's most famous missing sequels.
17. Prototype 2
In Prototype 2, players continued destroying cities as Alex Mercer gained additional powers and abilities to lay waste to everything in his path. Running around an open world as a destructive force can only go so far, yet players still wonder how modern hardware could further amplify the series’ chaos.
18. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided offered players political intrigue, cybernetic enhancements, and detective work across dystopian Europe. Its flexible gameplay allowed players to approach missions through combat, stealth, hacking, or conversation. The story clearly left room for more, which makes the absence of another installment particularly noticeable.
19. Sleeping Dogs: Triad Wars
Sleeping Dogs got a free sequel by simply existing. Why players didn’t receive more from the story of Wei Shen is beyond most players who picked up the original. The cancellation left players without another major opportunity to explore that setting, even though the original game's world had plenty of potential.
20. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic received a sequel years ago with Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, but fans can never have too much of a good thing. A new game set in that era could introduce an entirely new cast while giving players another chance to explore one of the franchise's most interesting periods.
