When a game series has that extra something, that feeling of please let there be more, the necessary and inevitable spin-off game fills the need for more. Now, despite sounding like second-rate or poorly realized knockoff-like games, spin-offs feature some of the most important and critically acclaimed games of all time. The spin-off sometimes even overtakes its main series, becoming the thing people actually want to play more of.
There are certainly poorly executed or rushed spin-off games; however, these are the ten spin-off games that not only helped develop and expand the original series but also created their own bold new marks on the industry. Sure to break hearts in some fashion as the possibilities for this list are incredible, here are the top ten spin-off games worth playing and then some.
10 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7
One very exciting feature of the spin-off category is that of expanding the original game’s narrative to flesh out and fully realize the plot, and its characters, and the nuances involved. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 does an excellent job of achieving this. A prequel on PSP, Crisis Core is able to both explain the events of the original ps1 game but also add to the story, and enhance existing parts of the plot.
While this game is too heavy-handed and cheesy for some, holding it back on our list here, if you can buy into the game’s over-the-top narrative and romantic characters, then you are in for a touching and fun game. The bust sword is even improved through awesome lore, too cool.
9 Mega Man X
Arguably a perfect game in many respects, the Mega Man original series spin-off is 16-bit bliss. With a rockin’ soundtrack, a killer color palette, excellent sprite work, fantastic controls, and memorable bosses and locations, X is gonna give you everything. The game also features great replay value with secrets, including the street fighter hadoken and little touches like beating one level to change another’s weather or lighting.
The only thing holding it back here is the game’s length, as when you know what your doing, it’s pretty quick, but, wow, is it a sublime and smooth ride while it lasts. Check out the music, especially as it’s some of the best on Super Nintendo, a true feat.
8 Final Fantasy Tactics
The most proficient killer of time ever crafted for many, Final Fantasy Tactics creates a relaxing and beautiful chess match of magic and sword. Tactics is an incredibly well-thought-out and well-designed turn-based, grid-based strategy masterpiece. Featuring an engaging and LONG narrative campaign, magic and summons, classes and jobs, and even Cloud Strife himself, this is the PS1 Final Fantasy companion piece.
While a turn-based strategy RPG is not everyone’s cup of tea, holding it back here, Final Fantasy Tactics is 350 plus hours of refined and perfected RPG bliss. Part of the golden era of SquareSoft on PlayStation 1, every PS1 fan should at least try this all-time classic. Just remember, the outside world is still a thing.
7 Donkey Kong Country
The epitome of great controls, Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo is one of the best platformers ever created. Fantastic level design with fun-to-find secrets, great colors, and those ever-perfect pre-rendered 90s graphics, cool characters, and the best music on Super Nintendo, there is not much wrong with DKC.
Holding it back here is the fact that most of the boss fights are rather easy after coming back to the game a few times, as well as a few secrets just being unexplained leaps of faith over and over until locating them. Do not let that or anything else stop you from playing one of the finest 2-D video games ever created. God bless composer David Wise. A Nintendo-born classic.
6 Pokemon Go
An instant worldwide phenomenon, lightning struck twice when Pokémon Go was initially released for mobile phones in 2016, as it was downloaded over 500 million times in 12 months. Within the first few seconds of playing the game, everyone realized just how genius the seemingly simple application is, a total work of art.
The real-world locations you’ll see and the people you may meet along the way, the journey itself, is what really helps this game still impact the world on a daily basis. While walking around is not possible or even a good time for everyone, holding the game back here, the nearly universal appeal of the original Pokémon games was still brilliantly expanded upon here, a truly revolutionary title.
5 Half-Life: Counter Strike
A perfect candidate for a first-person shooter Mount Rushmore (Doom, Wolfenstien, Goldeneye), Counter-Strike is THE fps to a majority of anyone who has ever clicked a computer mouse. One of the most highly competitive things humans have created, the Half-Life mod has captivated and enraged millions for decades.
The PC-only requirements for this masterwork hold it back here as many just couldn’t run this properly even with a decent computer; however, this game goes down as one of the first worthy E-Sports and ultimate adrenaline-laced meme factory. This is still played today at extremely high levels, a testament to its greatness. Boom headshot!
4 World of Warcraft
More than a game to its most devoted, WoW is a way of life to most of its players. A totally brilliant and finely crafted MMORPG experience compared to its competitors upon release, and still today, Wow and the land of Azeroth is a fun-filled joy to explore. There is always something to do, someone to talk to, another quest, better gear, a new mount; it just actually never ends.
Its ability to literally consume all of your waking life holds it back here, maybe a little too engrossing and demanding for most people, but that is both a positive and negative, depending on who you ask—a must-play for MMO fans of any kind.
3 The Sims
A must-play experience for anyone, the original Sims PC game is a sharp and silly work of art. A revolution in design; it really felt like doing just about anything you could think of was somehow unlockable or possible. The joys of building your own dream homes over and over, taking the ladder out of the pool, and trying to put out fires, this game was an experience.
Though the game is kinda genre-less and hard to define, leading some to not enjoy the rather open or non-linear style holding it back here, those who truly understand The Sims can’t live without it. Entering the Rosebud cheat to add to that pool you always wanted never gets old.
2 Portal
The ultimate in presentation and narrative communication, Portal is one of Valve’s and gaming’s greatest achievements. Featuring some of the smartest puzzles across any medium, this game remains an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking wonder to play. GLaDOS, the companion cube, the cake, creating a never-ending fall, everything in this game is distinctly memorable and stupidly fun.
The harsh and bleak setting and fantastic ambient soundtrack also do a great job of creating a memorable and horrifying MK Ultra-like lab that is equal parts fun, intriguing, and scary. If you have never played Portal or know the truth about the cake, this is still a near-perfect game. It would be the best spin-off game ever made, that is if it wasn’t for gaming’s #1 icon.
1 Super Mario
Nintendo’s love-able plumber, Mario, is the absolute undeniable king of spin-off games. As this list would be mostly Mario spin-offs, we have combined all of the fabled Nintendo all-star’s fantastic and critically acclaimed spin-off games here.
Super Mario Kart, Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario, Dr. Mario, Super Mario 99, Mario Paint, Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, Mario Party, Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga, Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Yoshi’s Cookie, Super Mario Maker, it just seemingly never ends! Nintendo and Mario are the Lords of the spin-off game, the undisputed champions by far.
