The Best Video Game Sequels

Ranker Games
Updated September 15, 2025 63 items
Ranked By
1.5Kvoters15.2Kvotes
8reranks
Voting Rules
Only the second game in a series. Vote up the best games that followed (and even surpassed) the first game in a series.

Video games have gone from something you did with buddies at the local arcade to a multi-billion dollar industry that spends and makes more money than Hollywood does making films. With so much money coming in, it's no surprise video games get sequels made to keep the cash flowing, but which video game sequels are the best? There are hundreds of them out there, but only a few could be considered to be equal or even better than their predecessors.

This list focuses specifically on direct sequels to the first game—there are no Super Mario Bros. 3s or Tekken IIIs in here. All games ranked on this list are second to one and are considered to be some of the greatest video game sequels ever made. What makes these games good has a lot to do with the games that came before, but in the end, these sequels stand on their own.

If we missed any of your favorites, add them to the list and don't forget to rank the games you think are the best sequels of them all!

Most divisive: The Sims 2
Over 1.5K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Greatest Game Sequels
This list is dynamically ranked based on user voting. The order reflects the consensus of our voters and is not influenced by paid placements or editorial bias.
Ranked by
    • Developer: Rockstar Studios
    • Genres (Video game): Action-adventure
  • Portal 2
    2
    2011
    530 votes
    • Developer: Valve
    • Genres (Video game): Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
  • Silent Hill 2
    3
    2001
    329 votes
    • Developer: Team Silent
    • Genres (Video game): Puzzle, Adventure
  • Half-Life 2
    4
    2004
    488 votes
    • Developer: Valve
    • Genres (Video game): Shooter
  • Resident Evil 2
    5
    1998
    388 votes
    • Developer: Tiger Electronics
    • Genres (Video game): Horror, Third-person Shooter, Survival horror, Science Fiction
  • Batman: Arkham City
    6
    2011
    580 votes
    • Developer: Rocksteady Studios
    • Genres (Video game): Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure