5 RPG Series That Peaked With The First Game

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Unlike most movies or books, video game sequels often surpass the original. When a game does well enough to get a follow-up, developers usually have more resources and time to improve on what they’ve already created. This is especially true for role-playing games (RPGs), as developers don’t need to spend time building the game’s world from scratch – they can dive straight into the exciting parts. While sequels are typically better, there have been instances where the first game in an RPG series is actually the best one.

Here are five RPG series where everything was downhill after that first game.

5) Chrono

Considered by many to be one of the best video games ever made, Chrono Trigger was a huge success for Square on the Super Nintendo. It captivated players with its innovative time travel story and multiple possible endings. Surprisingly, despite its popularity, Square never released a direct sequel.

Following the release of Chrono Trigger in 1995, Square created Radical Dreams, a text-based side story only available in Japan. A proper sequel, Chrono Cross, arrived in 1999. While it was well-received by critics and sold well, it didn’t quite reach the same level of popularity as the original. Despite this, Square never made another main Chrono game, and fans have been hoping for a third installment for decades.

4) Fallout

The Fallout series is quite extensive, unlike the Chrono series. While the first two Fallout games were created by Interplay and Black Isle, Bethesda took over development in the mid-2000s and has consistently released new Fallout titles – both main games and spin-offs – every few years. Most of these games are well-received, but many fans still consider the original Fallout from 1997 to be the best.

Fallout didn’t just create a compelling post-apocalyptic world—it set the standard for all that followed. Interplay crafted a deeply immersive experience where your choices truly matter, blending humor and heartfelt moments with engaging turn-based combat. While the spin-off, New Vegas, came close, no other Fallout game has quite measured up.

3) Golden Sun

I first got into the Golden Sun games when they dropped on the Game Boy Advance, and wow, they really made the system shine! Camelot Software totally nailed it with this RPG – it looked amazing for the GBA. But it wasn’t just pretty; the story was really engaging, and the battles were awesome. They were quick and action-packed, but also made you think with some clever puzzles. It was a huge success – over a million copies sold! – so Camelot immediately started working on a follow-up, which was super exciting.

While The Lost Age was a decent game, it wasn’t nearly as popular as the first title. After that, there were no new installments for eight years. Camelot released Dawk Dawn in 2010, but it didn’t make much of an impact. Sadly, the developers became so successful with Mario sports games that they’ve been focused on those ever since, leaving fans waiting for another Shining Force adventure.

2) Deus Ex

I still remember when the original Deus Ex came out – it totally blew my mind as a PC gamer! It felt so freeing to just be dropped into this world and figure things out however I wanted. The developers, Ion Storm, really wanted you to have complete control, letting you tackle missions and conversations in any way you could imagine. The choices felt truly open-ended, and that was amazing.

The original Deus Ex is a landmark immersive sim that still influences game design today. Though Invisible War was a decent follow-up and later games tried to recapture its magic, none have quite reached the same heights. It’s understandable, considering how groundbreaking the first Deus Ex was, but it absolutely deserves a place on this list.

1) Dragon Age

It often feels like BioWare hasn’t quite figured out how to best utilize the potential of the Dragon Age series. The first game was a fantastic tactical RPG that encouraged players to think strategically in combat, and it featured a truly memorable group of companions, making the overall experience incredibly enjoyable.

Given the incredibly tight deadline BioWare faced while making Dragon Age II, it’s not surprising they shifted towards faster-paced combat. However, even with the release of two subsequent Dragon Age games, neither has fully returned to the strategic, beloved combat system that made the original Origins so popular.

The storylines in recent games haven’t improved, and the new characters haven’t been as memorable as the original group. While each game usually has a few great companions, the cast from Origins is widely considered the best Dragon Age has ever offered. Unfortunately, given the problems surrounding The Veilguard, it could be a long time before another Dragon Age game is released.

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2026-03-19 23:13