The state of a series is always a difficult thing to assess. Are there still meaningful stories to tell? Is the story complete? Has the series jumped the shark? Does the series need to start fresh? There's no shortage of questions a developer asks themselves before they hone in on what's next for that respective series.
All of these questions can be summed up with a single inquiry: Should this game receive a sequel or does the series need a reboot? Pursuing a sequel ensures that the primary canon of that series continues to be built upon, but it also risks the series overstaying its welcome and alienating fans. A reboot is a clean slate to approach the series but can just as easily alienate a fanbase. It's a tough decision and one that's produced mixed results in the past. There are a couple of games that have reached this important fork in the road.
10 Sequel: Quantum Break Deserves A Second Chance
Remedy Entertainment's Quantum Break was a fascinating experiment. Quantum Break was designed to blend video games and television by allowing players to see the consequences of their choices through a live-action companion series. The time-bending Quantum Break stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men's Iceman) as Jack Joyce, a man who finds himself with time-manipulation powers after an accident. Other notable actors include Aidan Gillen (Game Of Thrones' Littlefinger) and Lance Reddick (John Wick's Charon).
Quantum Break sold well, becoming one of Xbox One's highest-selling new intellectual properties. Quantum Break deserves a sequel to build upon its intriguing foundation, and possibly even a first chance outside of Microsoft. There may still be hope yet as another Remedy series, Alan Wake, is set to receive a long-awaited sequel.
9 Reboot: Prince Of Persia Could Use Another Do-Over
Prince Of Persia is no stranger to sequels and reboots. The two most recent Prince Of Persia titles were a 2008 reboot of the same name and a 2010 interquel for the Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time trilogy, The Forgotten Sands. The Prince Of Persia series has been largely dormant ever since with only a remake of The Sands Of Time on the horizon.
While the 2008 reboot is set up for a sequel, Prince Of Persia might be better suited for another reboot. This reboot, if Ubisoft enters with a definitive long-term story plan, could blend some of the best elements of past titles in an epic saga.
8 Sequel: Banjo-Kazooie Fans Have Long Waited For A True Banjo-Threeie
Banjo-Kazooie fans were elated when they learned Microsoft greenlit Rare to begin work on a third Banjo-Kazooie title. That sequel, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, took the series in a strange direction by centering gameplay around constructing vehicles.
Nuts & Bolts wasn't critically panned, but many Banjo-Kazooie fans felt as though it didn't live up to the series' pedigree and began wishing for a true "Banjo Threeie." With Banjo-Kazooie's appearance as a DLC character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now would be the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot.
7 Reboot: Resistance Can Retell The Alien Invasion Story In A New Era
Insomniac Games certainly has its hands full. If they're not making a new Ratchet & Clank title, they're expanding their Marvel Universe with Spider-Man or Wolverine. One Insomniac series that deserves another look is their Resistance series, which depicts a 1950s world where an alien race called the Chimera invades.
Resistance's story perfectly wrapped up in 2011's Resistance 3. However, the concept behind Resistance could easily be revitalized through a reboot that can take place in any time period. The Chimera could instead invade during modern times or centuries or millennia beforehand.
6 Sequel: A New Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics is among the most beloved titles in the long-running Final Fantasy series. Despite that, Tactics is still an underutilized sub-series. Tactics did receive two follow-ups: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance for the Game Boy Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire Of The Rift for the Nintendo DS.
The tactical role-playing genre isn't forgotten over at Square-Enix. The second title in Square-Enix's pursuit of HD-2D titles, Triangle Strategy, can be viewed as a modernized spiritual successor to Tactics. While Triangle Strategy may satisfy some Tactics fans, other Tactics fans have become increasingly more eager to revisit Ivalice once again in this newfound HD-2D style.
5 Reboot: Eternal Darkness Should See The Light Again
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002. Eternal Darkness drew comparisons to Resident Evil for its gameplay and puzzles but tells a starkly different story taking place over different time periods.
An attempt to develop a spiritual successor in Shadows Of The Eternals began through a 2013 Kickstarter. Sadly, the Kickstarter failed to meet its goals, leaving Eternal Darkness in video game purgatory. With the increasing amount of love and attention the horror genre has received in recent years, the time is right to revisit this overlooked horror classic.
4 Sequel: It's Time For Darkstalkers To Be The Center Of Attention
Capcom has a vast catalog of fighting game franchises. The most notable of these is Street Fighter, which just had a sequel announced in February. With the Marvel Vs. Capcom series in a state of flux after Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite, Capcom should take this opportunity to give Darkstalkers its time in the spotlight.
With its ironic combination of colorful and gothic visual styles, a Darkstalkers sequel could make for an intriguing use for Resident Evil's RE Engine. Darkstalkers fans will have a chance to make that dream a reality as it is heavily featured in the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection. With high enough sales, it may be enough to get Capcom's attention.
3 Reboot: Let's Get Star Fox Right This Time
Few of Nintendo's iconic franchises have faced as much turbulence as the Star Fox series. While Star Fox initially got off to a great start, its recent history has left a lot to be desired. Lately, Fox McCloud and his pals have primarily been fixtures in the Super Smash Bros. series.
What may be an encouraging sign for Star Fox fans has been the Metroid series' recent renaissance through Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid: Dread, and the upcoming Metroid Prime 4. Metroid's success may compel Nintendo to give Star Fox another look. A reboot with the same love and attention shown in MecurySteam's Metroid titles can be exactly what Star Fox needs.
2 Sequel: Sly Cooper, Once Again, Left Fans Hanging
The conclusion of 2005's Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves provided fans with a fun cliffhanger pointing the Sly Cooper series toward time-traveling shenanigans. The Sly Cooper series, however, went dormant. But, Sanzaru Games was handed the keys to Sly Cooper after producing a remaster of the Sly Cooper trilogy. Sanzaru Games would go on to resolve Sly 3's cliffhanger by making Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time in 2013. Problem is, Thieves In Time also ended on a cliffhanger.
A fifth and final game would be able to tie up any loose ends and give Sly Cooper, Murray, Bentley, and Inspector Carmelita Fox a proper sendoff. A new Sly Cooper is currently rumored to be development, but whether it's Sly Cooper 5 or a reboot to go hand-in-hand with a television adaptation remains to be seen.
1 Reboot: Metal Gear Can Offer A New Take Through A Different Visionary
A controversial suggestion to be sure, but the Metal Gear story is complete. Hideo Kojima was able to tell his story. The idea behind rebooting Metal Gear is to allow another visionary to establish their take on the concept and themes of the series, whether a retelling of Big Boss and Solid Snake or with a fresh cast of characters.
This would be incredibly difficult since Konami is shifting away from large-scale video games. However, if the rights to Metal Gear were to fall in the hands of a developer other than Kojima Productions, that could prove to be an appealing opportunity to bring back Metal Gear without taking away from what Kojima accomplished.