Top 10 Video Game Threequels

Easily one of the most popular RTS franchises of all time, the Warcraft series improved with every game released, reaching a high point in the third entry. A number of new features were introduced including doubling the number of playable races from two to four. Like previous Blizzard title Starcraft, the four races had separate campaigns that constructed a complete story. Of course the real fun was getting some friends together and playing some multiplayer.

Often hailed as a leap forward for open world games, what really sets Far Cry 3 apart is the interesting character arc undertaken by the player. The moral weight of each outcome drives the game, as the protagonist walks the line between a savior to his friends and cold blooded murderer. Every corner of the vast island where the game is set is teeming with secrets and Easter eggs, making it a truly unique and immersive experience.

The third Duke Nukem changed the game, quite literally in fact. While the first two Nukem games were noteworthy in their own as platformers, Duke Nukem 3D changed everything when it moved the series from 2D to 3D and adopted a first person perspective. Along with other early FPSs, like Doom, it is considered largely responsible for popularizing the genre. It’s over the top violence, tongue in cheek humor and bevy of one liners fully secured it’s place in videogame history.

Right from the start you knew you were in for something special as even the character creation for Morrowind was highly praised. This was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of character customization, which is integral for the character through the game. The game was packed with culture and backstory drawing inspiration from Middle Eastern, Japanese, and ancient Egyptian civilizations. The amount of detail in the game rivaled any game of its time, and along with its ahead of time graphics, made it one of the generation’s best RPGs.

The Zelda franchise, and adventure games in general, have been using A Link to the Past as a template for years. While the original Zelda was certainly ground breaking, it was not until the third entry in the series that the formula was really nailed down. The technological improvement from the NES to the Super NES allowed for new and interesting features including two separate worlds, a deeper plot, interesting dialog and characters, and of course more varied enemies.

This entry in the massively popular Metal Gear franchise is probably one of the most well-known and beloved stealth franchises ever. For this 3rd entry, the action shifted from urban areas in the near future to the height of the Cold War in the a dense jungle. Snake Eater kept the stealth feel of past Metal Gear games while also utilizing the jungle environment for everything from camouflage to keeping yourself filled up.

Far darker than Nintendo’s other banner franchises, Super Metroid pushed the series to heights it has not reached before or since. Picking up exactly where Metroid II left off, we find Samus returning to Zebus to experience an immersive world unlike anything we had seen before in a video game. Like A Link to the Past, Super Metroid utilized the improvements on the Super Nintendo, giving Samus iconic powers like the screw attack, but it also worked well within the technologies limitations of the time, perfecting the silent hero trope.

Released a decade after Fallout 2, the third Fallout had a long road to release, but it quickly proved to be worth the wait. Fallout 3 faithfull recreated the feel of it’s predecesors despite the monumental jump to 3d. Players we’re treated to a dense world, full of decaying ruins, horrific monsters and uynique characters – sandbox that was practically begging to be explored. Truly making the franchise their own, Bethesda delivered much more than just Elder Scrolls with guns – which probably would have been just fine anyway.

Often hailed as one of the greatest games of all time, and for good reason. Super Mario Bros. 3 took something great and improved on it in almost every way, introducing new enemies, mechanics, level themes, dynamics, and of course new power ups including the flying raccoon suit. The game was designed to appeal to experienced and novice players, with both challenging enemies and hidden power-ups. It has gone on not only to influence Mario and platforming games, but the gaming industry as a whole.

Before we reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions:

“Halo 3” (2007)

“God of War III” (2010)

“Bioshock Infinite” (2013)

“Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening” (2005)

“Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition” (2005)

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” (2015)

The Grand Theft Auto series is one of the most popular and addictive of all time, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who played either of the first two games. For the third game though, GTA went through a drastic change by shifting the perspective to the 3rd person and setting players lose in a fully 3d environment – unleashing a shocking amount of player freedom in the process. By popularizing the sandbox genre, GTA 3 not only shifted the focus of the series for good, but changed the direction of the gaming industry itself.

Do you agree with our list? Which gaming threequel is your favorite? For more innovative lists published daily be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.