5 Spin-off Games That Were Overshadowed by Their Series

If you dig a little deeper into any universally acclaimed video game series, chances are you'll find a spin-off entry that has all the raw qualities to outshine its main series. Though, more often than not, we gloss over a spin-off without a second thought. And that's a pretty awful habit to have, more so if its developer has a long-standing history of producing genuinely great games. But, you know, we've all been there, and we'll be the first to hold our hands up and plead guilty for giving worthy games the cold shoulder.

It's 2022, and the catalog of forgotten spin-offs is bulkier than ever. Therefore, if you're keen to go on a little expedition away from the frontlines, then be sure to give these following five some tender loving care. Chances are, you'll wind up liking them far more than their weighty counterparts. That is, if you can still get your hands on them.

5. Agents of Mayhem

Saints Row has become such a fantastic series that it's actually theoretically impossible to replicate its originalities and quick-wit charms. At least, it is outside of Volition's ingenious and absurdly creative minds. And to think, once upon a time the community associated the open-world action-adventure series with Grand Theft Auto, slating it as a watered-down clone with a number of similarities.

Agents of Mayhem, on the other hand, was a side project for Volition, one that would further prove that the franchise was evolving, and that its priorities were shifting from semi-serious tones to witty humor. The downside to its creation, of course, was that it was quickly overshadowed by the flagship series. And that's a crying shame, given that it possessed an equal amount of hilarious bullet-heavy missions and ludicrously loveable one-liners. Here's hoping Volition give it a little extra nudge in the future with a redeeming sequel.

4. Resident Evil: Outbreak

It seems as though every time we gloss over the best Resident Evil spin-offs, Outbreak is given the cold shoulder. That, or it just doesn't make an appearance whatsoever. And when it does pop up, it's usually overshadowed by the sheer quantity of worthy alternatives. However, given its striking online multiplayer segment, it was definitely ahead of its time—even if it wasn't all that popular.

Outbreak had you and a number of other survivors pitted against Raccoon City's infamous undead bracket in a relatively lengthy episodic adventure. Over the course of several levels and zones, you had to work together, using special abilities to outsmart the enemy and make progress. If anyone happened to meet a rather grizzly end, then the show continued through to its bitter end. With that, it was all about who could make it through the woods and come out swinging.

3. Grand Theft Auto IV Episodes

It wasn't long after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV that fans started pleading Rockstar Games for a sneak preview of the next chapter. Despite having only just come out, action-adventure fans just wanted something new, away from Liberty City and a stone's throw away from familiar territory. It was because of this, of course, that Rockstar's follow-up attempt to keep the candle alight was met with mixed feedback.

The Lost and the Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony were two episodes that helped flesh out the Liberty City underworld. Two vastly different tales with different questlines, and yet, still somehow overshadowed by the hype that engulfed the unknown. Looking back, both episodes were fantastic additions to the Grand Theft Auto lore, and a serious reminder that Rockstar knew how to develop solid spin-offs. It's just that, well, the episodes slid beneath the radar for a huge portion of players.

2. Assassin's Creed Chronicles

We'll admit that, when next to the main series, Assassin's Creed Chronicles does look a little lacklustre. It fails to revive the open-world setting that the franchise was known and celebrated for, which didn't bode well with long-term fans of the series. But deep down, in all honesty, there was still something to love. It just took a lot of determination to see if for what it really was.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles is a far cry from its full-fledged stealth timeline, that's a given. In fact, it borders the side-scroller genre, which is partly why many fans glossed over it without sampling its new waters. But, for what it's worth, Chronicles featured a pretty riveting line of episodes. Although bite-sized in comparison to its headline series, it was a breath of fresh air for die-hard Assassins fans. It also came with a relatively low price tag. So, well worth the cost of admission, given that it handed out three games for the price of one.

1. The Last of Us: Left Behind

Coming off the back of one of the most successful PlayStation exclusives of 2013, it was only natural for Naughty Dog to conjure up something new, if only to satisfy a few hungry eyes before phasing out. Little did we know at the time, of course, was that The Last of Us: Left Behind was really just a farewell note before the series took a lengthy hiatus. But boy, did it prep the stage for its 2020 return.

While it wasn't the most action-heavy game on the block, it was certainly the most beautiful of the bunch. Thanks to Naughty Dog, the short but incredibly sweet cinematic experience went on to explore Ellie's backstory in much further detail. Comprised of heart-wrenching flashbacks and riveting tearaways, the slept on expansion told a post-apocalyptic tale unlike any other. Though, not that many people experienced it before picking up The Last of Us: Part II.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.