5 Video Game Sequels We’re Still Waiting For

It pains us to admit that, in spite of all the great games we have at our fingertips, we're still somewhat salty about the countless unfinished sequels that never quite made it to fullfilment. Needless to say that the acrimonious feeling is still very much present and accounted for, and it bothers us that some games, as fantastic as they were, never went on to produce any virtual offspring.

Of course, there are a number of reasons why a game wouldn't always go on to receive a sequel, and it isn't always down to the developers or their publishers, either. In fact, a lot of sequels are never made because time, among a number other factors, are rarely in favor of the project at hand. Still, what we'd give for a select few long-awaited sequels to grace the system in this day and age. Specifically, these five universally acclaimed classics.

5. Bully II

Canis Canem Edit, which also released under the pseudonym of Bully, was one of Rockstar's most underrated open world RPGs of the mid-noughties. Because of this, you would have thought that sixteen years having passed since its release would typically make it eligible for a sequel. Turns out, though, that Rockstar has little to no interest in returning to Jimmy Hopkins and the world of Bullworth Academy anytime soon, and it's unclear whether the IP will ever see the light of day again or simply fade into the abyss.

Although the demand is evidently there, the simple fact is Bully II is probably a lot further away than Rockstar's other projects. With focus being primarily cast on the development of Grand Theft Auto VI, the likelihood of seeing a sequel to Bully is fairly low. And if it was to release at any point in the future, then we'd probably put a pin on a rough 2027 slate for it. The point is, you shouldn't get your hopes up about seeing it this console generation.

4. L.A. Noire II

L.A. Noire was another one of Rockstar's critically acclaimed crime dramas that rocked the system through its all-star innovations and themes. And for a while, it was said that a sequel would arrive before Grand Theft Auto V came about. Unfortunately, though, after Rockstar shifted its priorities over to San Andreas and its online counterpart, talks of L.A. Noire receiving a sequel eventually phased out. A decade later, and there are still no signs of it ever coming to fruition.

Of course, the fact there isn't a sequel to Cole Phelps' tale all boils down to Rockstar's cash cow, and how it makes the lion's share of what's needed to stay afloat. Take into account that L.A. Noire took seven years to develop, and how a sequel would take a similar amount of time to keep on par with its original, and you've got one ridiculously expensive and time-consuming task. For that reason alone, Rockstar is far more interested in throwing the money it has at an IP that it knows will ship billions. Enter Grand Theft Auto VI.

3. Left 4 Dead 3

While you could argue that Back 4 Blood was a worthy spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead 2, we can't pretend that Left 4 Dead 3 wouldn't have been a more welcome addition to the first-person shooter field. The fact that millions are still hoping and praying that a third entry to the split-screen co-op eventually comes to pass is reason enough to conceive it, surely? And yet, Turtle Rock Studios seem to be more interested in establishing roots elsewhere than adding branches to the decade-old tree.

Turns out, Left 4 Dead 3 was actually in development for a short period of time. According to Turtle Rock Studios, the game was going to be set in an open world Morocco. This was until, of course, its publishers decided to can the concept before ultimately moving on to other IPs. Since then, the only thing that has been able to keep the beloved series afloat is Back 4 Blood. And while it's a far cry from what we initially wanted, it's still as close to Left 4 Dead 3 as we're probably ever going to get.

2. Sleeping Dogs 2

What started out as a fresh True Crime game eventually underwent a number of transitions, which led to Square Enix acquiring the IP and molding it into Sleeping Dogs. This newfound IP finally became an open world action-adventure game, and a pretty darn good one at that. Unfortunately, though, it never went on to break the financial targets Square had planned for it, which meant the hopes of seeing a sequel soon diminished.

Funny thing is, Sleeping Dogs 2 was actually in its pre-production phase for a time. Shortly after the release of the first game, United Front quickly begun stringing together the outline for the sequel. But with Square Enix branding the game as a commercial failure, it failed to get its start. Long story short, Square Enix still has no interest in it, and the IP remains lost in limbo with little to no light to guide it.

1. Days Gone 2

In spite of the millions of sales worldwide, the zombie-infused open world game Days Gone never actually went on to receive its well-deserved sequel. What makes this hit a little harder than most failed sequels is the fact that Bend Studio actually had all the pieces in line to develop one. And yet, to our surprise, Sony branded the game as something of a failure, claiming that it didn't meet the financial targets it set prior to its launch.

The fact that Days Gone ended with a cliffhanger and a number of potential plot points definitely makes this one a tougher pill to swallow. Unfortunately for Bend Studio, though, it was Ghost of Tsushima that ended up stealing Sony's heart. Despite both franchises accruing a similar profit, PlayStation ended up favoring the latter, leaving Days Gone 2 to sizzle on the back burner for the foreseeable future.

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