00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the video games and game series
00:13spun off from other games or series that exceeded their predecessors in quality and or popularity.
00:19Number 10, Donkey Kong Country Series
00:33The original Donkey Kong games are important milestones in the development of platforming
00:45video games and were wildly popular arcade titles, but Donkey Kong Country is unquestionably
00:51a major step up. The original Rare series revolutionized pre-rendered graphics on home consoles and packed
00:57each title with incredibly challenging levels with amazing music.
01:09Retro Studios revived the franchise and carried on its legacy of precision gameplay, while
01:13also including a high degree of variety within each stage. The DKC games may drive us bananas
01:19sometimes, yes, but they're also a barrel of fun, and then some.
01:29Number 9, Mega Man X Series
01:31The OG Mega Man games are fantastic games for their simple yet fun premise. Kill 8 bosses,
01:37get their weapons to use against each like, basically rock-paper-scissors. However, they
01:41are prone to difficulty spikes, and they're often limited by hardware or design choices.
01:46Then along comes Mega Man X. This spin-off series features crisper graphics, better movement options,
02:01a more in-depth story, and a more rock-inspired soundtrack. The X series took everything great
02:06about the original games and turned it all up to 11. Not that Capcom remembers, since they
02:10haven't released a game in this series that wasn't a mobile title or a collection in 20
02:15years. Why do you insist on sitting on gold mines, Capcom? Come on now.
02:25Number 8, Fallout New Vegas
02:27Bethesda taking over the Fallout series brought the franchise to a whole new audience, and increased
02:32its popularity many times over. And yet, another developer managed to beat them at their own
02:46game, literally. Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout New Vegas is the perfect Fallout experience.
02:52The story is rich, the settings and characters are memorable, and the RPG elements are just
02:57right. New Vegas offers an unparalleled level of choice and consequences for the franchise,
03:02resulting in a unique post-apocalyptic adventure for practically every player out there. The
03:06series has never managed to recapture the magic of this surprisingly great spin-off. Basically,
03:11what happens in New Vegas stays in New Vegas.
03:14Number 7, Portal series
03:22Portal series
03:23It can be hard to remember, but Portal is actually set in the same world as Half-Life.
03:27The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.
03:34And while the latter is something of a sacred cow in the gaming community, we'd still argue
03:38that Portal is better, in some regards at least. The darkly comedic edge the Portal games
03:42have is incredibly enjoyable. Plus, the puzzle platforming and use of the titular gateways
03:47is downright fantastic. The game's controls are a bit more polished than their predecessors,
03:56which makes them a bit more approachable for casual gamers. Portal is also better at releasing
04:01new games, but then again most series are, so yeah.
04:08Number 6, The Sims series
04:18The SimCity games are among the most popular simulation games. However, managing a cityscape,
04:23while cool, yes, is tough for most people to connect with. The franchise's spin-off The
04:28Sims instead brings the emphasis on simulated people and their homes, which has helped it
04:33achieve a far greater and more consistent level of success.
04:44Running the lives of simulated people can be played out endlessly, and yet, expansion packs
04:48are still being released for games that came out well over a decade ago, offering even more
04:53options to players. The Sims took a niche franchise and brought it right into the mainstream.
05:06Number 5, Pokemon Legends Arceus
05:08Given that Pokemon is the single highest grossing media franchise, well, ever, you'd think that
05:13it'd be impossible for one of their spin-offs to actually exceed them, but you'd be wrong,
05:17of course. The main Pokemon games have stagnated as time has gone on, both graphically and in terms
05:22of gameplay. But then, Game Freak decided to go against their own mold and release Legends Arceus.
05:34It has a large open setting to catch Pokemon in. Battles and catching Pokemon are much faster,
05:46leading to less downtime spent mindlessly pressing A until you can move on. Even the graphics,
05:51while not really up to the industry standards, are still at least a step up. Granted, Game Freak
05:56may have set the bar low, but Legends Arceus still leaps it higher than we expected.
06:06Number 4, World of Warcraft
06:08The Warcraft games are real-time strategy titles through and through. Although relatively popular
06:13in their genre, of course, they weren't exactly well-known among non-gamers.
06:16Now hurry. Illidan has a considerable lead on us. We must capture him before he causes any more harm.
06:23But when Blizzard decided to break into the MMORPG market, World of Warcraft eclipsed not only its
06:29predecessors, but also every other MMO out there. Its minimal load times, massive world,
06:34and fun gameplay loop proved popular, successful, and downright addicting.
06:38WoW has even spawned spin-offs of its own. World of Warcraft is a household name at this point in
06:48time, while the original games that spawned it are practically forgotten by everyone but the hardcore fans.
06:54Number 3, Metroid Prime Series
07:03The 2D Metroid titles revolutionized platformers with their sprawling interconnected worlds,
07:08filled with upgrades and secrets to discover.
07:10However, the franchise's transition to three dimensions with the sub-series improved upon
07:24that already stellar legacy, and increased the scale and scope overall.
07:34The Metroid Prime games are primarily in the first-person perspective, which only serves to
07:38heighten the immersion they offer. The huge gorgeous worlds, fantastic graphics,
07:42and amazing music are all an improvement on what the earlier games were capable of.
07:47The Metroid Prime games live up to their name, because this is Prime Metroid right here.
07:58Number 2, Persona Series
07:59The Megami Tensai franchise is a long-running and prolific JRPG series with many devoted fans.
08:08However, one of its spin-offs, Persona, has eclipsed it by a considerable margin. While Persona maintains
08:18a similar combat style to Megami Tensai, its other elements have helped to become much more popular.
08:28Thanks.
08:30The games have style and flair for days, and their more lighthearted tone and humor make them more
08:35approachable to new fans. Additionally, their high school settings and emphasis on social simulation
08:40are other factors in their broader appeal. It's these differences in Persona's approach that have
08:45helped to become a much greater hit internationally than its parent series.
08:48We shall meet again, when your fate reaches its conclusion.
08:53Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
08:58about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos, or all of them.
09:03If you're on your phone, make sure to go into your settings and switch on notifications.
09:09Number 1, Super Mario Series
09:11Yep, Mario is a spin-off, who would've thought? Video gaming's favorite plumber began his life as the
09:16protagonist of Donkey Kong, but once the mustachioed hero got his own games, he quickly left DK in the dust.
09:29Nearly every single Super Mario game has been a genre and or era-defining title.
09:33Super Mario Bros. laid the template for 2D platformers, while Super Mario 64 became the
09:38gold standard for 3D games that followed in its wake. Its own spin-offs are Legion,
09:43have become wildly successful in their very own rights. And Mario himself is basically
09:47the face of not only Nintendo, but video games in general. Not too shabby.
09:58So, is there a video game spin-off that overtook its predecessor to become
10:02Top Banana that we forgot to mention? Share your picks in the comments.
10:05THE TABLE
10:18.
10:18.
10:18.
10:20.
10:27.
Comments