As you might expect, most developers can become quite territorial when it comes to other developers encroaching on their famed IPs. Whether that be rivals trying to move into the genre that they helped establish, or worse, developers trying to piggyback on their success by outright stealing their winning formula.
However, despite this, there have been a few instances where developers, publishers, and IP owners have allowed new developers to take a crack at an established franchise. While this isn’t always a good idea, it can sometimes breathe new life into a long-running series.
That’s what we aim to focus on: games not created by the usual suspects that offer an experience that matches, if not exceeds, what came before. After all, just because you have the keys to a race car doesn’t mean you know how to drive it.
10 Sonic Mania
Gotta Go Fast
We start with one that is a little tenuous, but it would be a crime not to mention this one, as Team Sonic managed to do something that SEGA hadn’t managed themselves in years. Make a good Sonic game.
Sonic Mania is a game made by Sonic enthusiasts, for Sonic enthusiasts. Led by Christian Whitehead and his team, they managed to craft a 2D Sonic high-speed extravaganza that managed to offer just enough nostalgia, while offering something wholly new and exciting.
It effectively recaptured the lightning in a bottle of the arcade Sonic feel of yesteryear, which finally made going fast exhilarating rather than hurtling from one disaster to another. It’s the best modern Sonic game out there, and I’ll hear no questions on the matter.
9 Fallout New Vegas
With The Big Iron On His Hip
Never has a development team been set up for failure quite like Obsidian was when they were given the keys to the Fallout franchise.
Given just eighteen months, the team would need to produce a full open-world epic akin to Fallout 3, using the same dated engine. A task many would have floundered with. But, against all odds, they pulled it off.
Not only was Fallout New Vegas a roaring success. It showcased what Bethesda couldn’t offer in their games of the same ilk. Actual RPG design and writing chops.
It’s the only game since the Interplay days that does the Fallout lore justice; It’s the most complete RPG in the modern Fallout series, and the DLC is probably the finest assortment of add-ons to a game of all time. It’s high praise, but it’s all warranted.
8 Demon's Souls
The Seed That Sowed Souls
When you ask someone what the most visually stunning game on any gaming console is, it’s almost never a launch game that springs to mind. But, in the case of the PS5, it’s very hard to look past the modern remake of FromSoft’s first Soulsborne game, Demon’s Souls.
It’s staggering how Bluepoint managed to take the gritty, grotesque PS3 build of this game and turn it into a visual marvel. But what is even more impressive is that the gameplay, minus a few quality of life changes, remains largely the same as it was back in 2009.
That does include obtuse systems like World Tendency, and annoying carry weight mechanics. But, in truth, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the best way to experience the seed that blossomed into the Souls genre, and possibly one of the best launch titles of all time.
7 Final Fantasy Tactics
A Grid-Based Goliath
It only feels right to bring this one up now, as the remake has been announced at the time of writing. About time is all I can say.
It might seem strange that I’m suggesting this one, as Square had a significant role in its development. But this one was handed to the relative newcomer Yasumi Matsuno, who migrated from Quest after their success on the Ogre Battle series.
It was their job, alongside the team they built, to mold this series into a grid-based tactical JRPG. A bold move, but the results speak for themselves.
Tactics remains one of the finest games in the illustrious FF catalog to this day, offering refined systems, mindful tactical combat, and a surprisingly affecting story into the bargain.
It’s a shame that the series has never used this format again. But, thanks to the upcoming remake, we will finally get the chance to get back to the grid, Cid, Chocobos, and all.
6 Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy
This Trilogy is Fire!
Throughout the PSX era, two standout mascots pushed the brand forward and sold consoles like hotcakes. The other we will get to in a moment, but this entry is all about giving the little purple dragon his moment in the sun.
The original Spyro trilogy offered banger after banger, one-upping each other as the trilogy progressed. But, due to the limitations of the era, these games were a little hard to revisit decades later.
So in stepped Toys For Bob, who managed to recreate each game in the trilogy, and much like the aforementioned Demon’s Souls, managed to keep all the gameplay that made the series successful intact. But it also managed to give each game a much-needed facelift.
I don’t know if there is a hunger among gamers for a new Spyro game, because the little guy didn’t exactly stick the landing in the PS2 era and beyond. However, now that Skylanders aren’t a thing anymore, I think we can roll the dice.
5 Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy
Bringing The Bandicoot Back
As promised, we need to discuss Naughty Dog’s Wumpa Fruit-eating mascot, which stole the hearts of platforming fans decades ago.
Crash Bandicoot’s trio of titles during the PSX era were truly something special, arguably doing the opposite of Spyro’s trilogy and descending in quality as they went. But nonetheless, each game was a certified smash hit.
But, once again, time is a cruel mistress, and these relics of consoles gone by were in need of some TLC. So, Vicarious Visions offered their services and remade each title, making them even more challenging than they were before.
In fact, they did such a great job that Crash was given his fourth numbered entry decades later in the form of It’s About Time, and just like the others, it was a masterclass in platforming game design.
4 Bioshock 2
An Underrated Deep-Sea Gem
I don’t think anyone would deny that Ken Levine managed to create one of the most seminal games of all time when his team shipped Bioshock and invited us all to the underwater hellscape that is Rapture.
However, he is never one to rest on his laurels, and he was quickly onto the next project, which would later become the great but flawed Bioshock Infinite. But, in the interim, 2K Marin was assigned the task of adding to the narrative of Rapture.
So, placing you in the shoes of a Big Daddy, players returned to the crumbling utopia, and while it’s quite fashionable to call this game a failure, those who ignore that noise will enjoy a game that, at the very least, is better than Infinite that would come later.
Sure, it’s not as good as the original. But, you compare just about any game to Bioshock, and not many will come out the other side the victor. So, give the maligned sequel a fair chance.
3 Tetris Effect: Connected
Shapes & Colors
The phrase ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ always comes to mind when discussing Tetris, because even decades after its original release, the gameplay formula remains largely unchanged yet still holds mass appeal today.
It’s a timeless classic that arguably never needs to be tweaked. But Monstars were brave enough to take a crack at it, and not only did they craft a stunning Tetris game. They crafted a game that arguably offers the definitive way to play this classic title.
Tetris Effect: Connected takes the classic Tetris blueprint and then ups the ante with a focus on sight and sound to elevate the overall experience.
With a focus on VR functionality, a feeling of synesthesia when playing through each stage, and a more meditative outlook on puzzle solving, Tetris Effect serves as the ultimate Tetris experience. One that even Alexey Pajitnov would be proud of
2 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Keys To The Kingdom
More like The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Capcom, am I right?
That’s right, despite Nintendo being very territorial when it comes to their flagship IPs, Mario and Zelda, they, rather ironically, farmed out the development of The Minish Cap to Capcom and Flagship.
This new set of eyes on the Zelda franchise led to some very cool new ideas and directions for the series, with scale-based puzzles where shrinking Link down to Minish size was the ideal method for success, and new items and powers that reinvented rather than rehashing old staples of the series.
Admittedly, the Four Swords, Oracle, and Minish Cap offerings made by the Capcom/Flagship crew are seen amongst Zelda fans as underrated at best, and lukewarm entries at worst. But, I firmly sit in the ‘underrated’ camp.
These games were a breath of fresh air for the franchise, great handheld titles tailor-made for Zelda fans on the go, and proved that while Nintendo can produce an endless stream of Zelda hits, they aren’t the only ones who can.
1 Baldur's Gate 3
A CRPG Smash
It might be surprising to younger generations of gamers, who mainly know this series for the overwhelming wealth of content that came courtesy of the third title in the series. But this series has always been excellent, offering CRPG bliss to DND fans. However, this was mainly with BioWare at the helm.
However, due to BioWare’s downturn in fortunes and the roaring success of Divinity 2: The Original Sin, Larian Studios was given the nod to take a crack at this beloved series. Which they took to like a duck to water.
Using Divinity 2: The Original Sin as a blueprint, Larian Studios produced what is widely regarded as the best CRPG of all time, and in many circles, the best game of all time.
It’s a game that gives you more bang for your buck than you could ever imagine with deep RPG systems, a choose-your-own-adventure vibe, and co-op functionality into the bargain. It’s honestly the whole package, and the best Baldur’s Gate game in the series by a distance.
