10 Classic Games That Still Deserve Sequels in 2026
The gaming industry is built on the foundation of the sequel. Developers often use follow-up titles to refine mechanics, remove what didn't work, and expand upon the original vision. Iconic series like Red Dead Redemption, Halo, and Assassin's Creed owe their status to these successful iterations. However, not every great game gets that chance. As we move through 2026, many standout titles remain stranded without a franchise to call their own.
Open-World Crime and Action
Sleeping Dogs, the 2012 open-world hit starring a Hong Kong police officer working undercover in the Triads, is a prime example of a game that deserved a series. Unlike its peers in the genre, Sleeping Dogs focused on smooth, satisfying hand-to-hand martial arts combat rather than gunplay. Despite its 76 Metacritic score, the game has yet to see a successor. Similarly, Rockstar’s Bully remains a PS2 classic with no follow-up. Its unique school-based setting and cliques offered a distinct flavor of the developer's signature charm, yet the massive success of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series has kept the studio focused elsewhere.
Sunset Overdrive also stands out for its creativity. With traversal built around grinding on rails, wall-running, and zip-lining through a city populated by mutants created by an energy drink, it offered a premise and gameplay loop that remains unmatched in the open-world space.
Racing and Shooters
The racing genre saw a unique entry in 2010 with Split/Second. It blended realistic visuals with arcade-style destruction, allowing players to trigger "Power Plays" to blow up buildings or collapse airport terminals to change the track or eliminate opponents. Unfortunately, the closure of its developer makes a sequel highly improbable.
Meanwhile, the fast-paced third-person shooter Vanquish pushed players to use a high-tech sliding suit to navigate chaotic battlefields. While the story was secondary, the sheer speed of the combat made it a memorable experience that left players wanting more. In the realm of squad-based shooters, Star Wars: Republic Commando provided a grounded, tactical experience that remains a cult favorite. Its focus on squad management and command orders offers a different experience than the typical Jedi-centric Star Wars title, though the 2005 original is now showing its age.
Tactical and Atmospheric Classics
Marvel's Midnight Suns broke the mold for superhero games by opting for a tactical, turn-based RPG system combined with relationship-building mechanics. Despite the depth of its combat and the ability to bond with iconic heroes, there are no signs of a follow-up.
Finally, some games are held back by their commercial history or platform exclusivity. Grim Fandango, the 1998 adventure classic, initially suffered from low sales before finding its status as a masterpiece of art design and film noir writing. Similarly, The Simpsons: Hit and Run proved that licensed games could be excellent, offering a light-hearted, open-world take on Springfield that players still look back on with fondness. At the high-profile end of the spectrum, Bloodborne remains one of the most celebrated soulslike titles from 2015. Despite its massive atmospheric success and a film adaptation currently in the works, a direct gaming sequel remains absent from the horizon.