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10 Standalone Masterpieces That Absolutely Don’t Need a Sequel 
- Screenshot of Amygdala, Courtesy of FromSoftware Inc.

Sequels. They’re everywhere—in movies, in games, heck, even sometimes in your favorite TV commercials (looking at you, Geico). While plenty of games thrive on sequels (shout out to the God of War series), some titles are better left untouched. There are just those rare gems that manage to do it all in one go, leaving no room for improvement, much less expansion. A sequel? Don’t insult their perfection. 

Here’s a look at 10 standalone masterpieces that should remain, well, standalone, because milking them for more would just downright ruin the magic. 

1. Bloodborne (2015) 

A sequel to Bloodborne? Stop. Just stop. FromSoftware’s dark, horrifying, gothic masterpiece gave us all the eldritch nightmares you could binge on in one lifetime. With its innovative combat (parry or perish, right?) and a storyline perfectly wrapped up in cosmic horror vibes, what else is there to say? Sure, fans are drooling for Bloodborne 2—but how do you out-Lovecraft Lovecraft? Just give us a 60FPS remaster already, please. 

2. Portal 2 (2011) 

Portal 2 was the kind of sarcastic, mind-bending puzzle genius that caught lightning in a bottle. GLaDOS letting Chell go? Perfect. Wheatley out in space with his existential crisis? Also perfect. And the Companion Cube’s farewell? Yup, nailed it. Adding anything would feel like Valve is selling post-credit scenes (oh wait, they never make a third anything anyway). Portal 3? No thanks, we’ll take the cake instead. 

3. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016) 

Nathan Drake retired, people. RETIRED! The fact that Naughty Dog gave him a happy ending with his family (and a teenage daughter to make everyone cry about getting older) was the greatest gift of all. Please, leave him sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere instead of dragging him through yet another tomb that will probably collapse anyway. 

4. Mass Effect 3 (2012) 

Yeah, the Mass Effect 3 ending sparked outrage, but look, Commander Shepard’s story wrapped up. The Reaper war concluded, and humanity’s finest hero deserves some rest. Andromeda tried to rekindle the magic, only to serve up yet another meme-worthy disappointment (seriously, those facial animations?). BioWare, just stop. Stop while you’re…well, not ahead, but at least on a stable footing. 

5. Alien: Isolation (2014) 

10 Standalone Masterpieces That Absolutely Don’t Need a Sequel  1 Image from Alien: Isolation courtesy of Creative Assembly and Feral Interactive

Name a game that’s made you sweat profusely while clutching your controller. Oh, wait, we already know it’s Alien: Isolation. If a xenomorph can stalk you this perfectly, why ruin it with a gimmicky second attempt that inevitably drops the terror level by half? Alien sequels should stick to being bad movies, not bad games. 

6. Celeste (2018) 

Tiny pixels, massive feels. Celeste is more than a game; it’s a harrowing battle with self-doubt, anxiety, and literally climbing giant metaphorical mountains. You don’t sequel life-changing art, people. Madeline found herself on that mountain. Don’t make her come back to find…what, a smaller mountain? No thanks. 

7. Sunset Overdrive (2014) 

Insomniac struck pure, chaotic gold with Sunset Overdrive. Do you really need a sequel when the original not only reinvented video game traversal but was the perfect combo of pop-punk aesthetic, ridiculous weaponry, and absurdly campy storytelling? We’d rather see those traversal mechanics remain Spider-Man’s playground, thank you very much. 

8. BioShock Infinite (2013) 

Ken Levine gave us a tale so twisted it involved multiverses, floating cities, and a giant bird guardian. How do you follow up on perfection? Spoiler alert: You don’t. Leave Booker, Elizabeth, and the zillion alternate dimensions to rest in peace. Oh, and Burial at Sea? Literal chef’s kiss of a DLC. 

9. Rogue Galaxy (2005) 

Remember when JRPGs were just…ambitious? Rogue Galaxy was the PS2 nerd dream defined, and it had everything—from planet hopping to epic Star Wars nods. Do you risk following up with something sub-par (cough Mass Effect Andromeda cough)? Nope, you don’t. Leave it in the stars, pure and untouched. 

10. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013) 

Kojima’s bizarre brainchild, where you play a katana-wielding cyborg ninja, was action gaming at its meme-fueled, over-the-top finest. Revengeance was 100% self-aware ridiculousness, and that’s what made it perfect. A sequel probably can’t out-meme itself. Blade Mode is untouchable. Leave Raiden and his glorious hair in peace. 

Masterpieces Honorable Mentions 

We can’t talk about standalone masterpieces without shouting out The Last of Us Part II haters who wish Naughty Dog had quit after the original (yes, we hear you) and gaming legends who still argue Shadow of the Colossus was ruined by its own remaster. Whether you agree or not, some games are so sacred they simply don’t need sequels. 

Which masterpiece do you think is better left alone? Have an opinion? Drop it in the comments (bonus points for hot takes). If you’re holding your breath for a “Bloodborne 2” announcement, though…well, may the Old Gods have mercy on your soul. 

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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