10 Best Video Game Trilogies of All Time

In gaming, the best franchises come in threes. These are stories told across three games, each one picking up from the last. With each new iteration, gamers enjoy a more expansive world packed with more lore, characters, story, areas to explore, and more. Indeed, some of the worlds of trilogy games have become the best places to visit years and decades after release. And their praises continue to be sung far and wide, with a strong fanbase often referencing their works. 

In some cases, a trilogy is a work of improvement on the gameplay and functions of the original game. And as a result, by the time you arrive at the final showdown, the series becomes a masterpiece. Today, we take a deep dive into the best video game trilogies of all time. Buckle up.

10. Gears of War (Gears of War, Gears of War 2, & Gears of War 3)

Humankind is at war against the Locust Horde, and it’s up to your squad to save the day. Whether in campaign mode, as a single-player or co-op with your partner, you’ll control the COG soldiers Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as they engage in cover-based combat against waves of enemies. 

In Gears of War, you’ll first cleanse the Locust Horde in the world of Sera, then explore new areas and threats in the second, and conclude with the final stand against the Locust and the Lambent.

9. God of War (God of War, God of War II, & God of War III)

God of War is, indeed, a masterpiece action-adventure trilogy featuring Kratos' rise from Spartan warrior to, well, the god of war. The best part is the excellent mix of brutal combat, breathtaking exploration, brilliant puzzles, and an unforgettable story. As Kratos battles his troubled past, he goes on a rampage against the Greek gods and comes out on top.

8. Metroid Prime: Trilogy (Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, & Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)

Another action-adventure of the calibre of the best video game trilogies of all time is Metroid Prime. It follows the bounty hunter Samus Aran, navigating intergalactic alien space against savage pirates. Although the series had humble beginnings in 2D, it’s now remastered in a 3D environment. Environments are expansive and interconnected, and enemies are more brutal. 

7. Uncharted (Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, & Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception)

Mystery chasing and treasure hunting have never been as fun as in Uncharted. Just like the movie, you’ll enjoy exploring lush environments and globe-trotting around the world. Everything is here, whether stealth gameplay, tight platforming, or puzzle-solving. And the story is as dramatic as you’d imagine, with tales of love and betrayal interwoven throughout, embodying renowned Nathan Drake.

6. Prince of Persia (The Sands of Time, Warrior Within, & The Two Thrones)

A whole three decades and then some has rendered the Prince of Persia a must-play. Navigating through time and space, you’ll explore varied environments, from ancient to medieval Persia. While an action-adventure series, you’ll mostly master tight and precise platforming using exceptional acrobatic abilities. 

And with the trilogy, you’ll experience all incarnations of the famous Prince, leading up to the final showdown against the alter ego Dark Prince. 

5. BioShock (BioShock, BioShock 2, & BioShock Infinite)

The world has turned upside down, a retrofuturistic city plagued with mutations and psychosis. BioShock’s story is one of the most exceptional of the best video game trilogies of all time. But the combat is an absolute thrill, too, with a great balance of deadly weapons and superhuman abilities. Across its first-person shooter run, you’ll navigate dire choices with impactful consequences down the road.

4. Mass Effect Trilogy (Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, & Mass Effect 3)

You’ll need an elite squad to save the galaxy in Mass Effect’s military sci-fi run, with Commander Shepard at the helm of missions. If you’re down to curating the perfect squad, you’ll have tons of fun managing unique abilities for each companion. Feel confident? The vicious Reapers await your lethal bullet rounds.

3. Grand Theft Auto 3D Trilogy (Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, & Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)

Has open-world exploration gotten any better than GTA? And with the Grand Theft Auto 3D Trilogy, you can experience the chaos and upheaval of Vice City and San Andreas nonstop. It’s, indeed, a genre-defining classic, featuring three iconic cities and memorable stories to unravel. 

While the originals are now outdated, you can enjoy the remastered versions with modernized controls. Everything from better lighting and textures, with nothing left to chance. 

2. Dark Souls (Dark Souls: Remastered, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, & Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition)

Any dark fantasy fans in the house? It couldn’t get better than Dark Souls, equally daunting in its difficulty. This is the trilogy that cemented the Demon’s Souls' harsh gameplay and dark fantasy setting. If you’re up for it, Lordran awaits with its grueling dungeons and monsters. You’ll explore an interconnected world, challenging vicious enemies and bosses to battle. With every death, you lose souls, but in the benefit of learning from your mistakes. 

If you can beat the first game, you’ll have it relatively easier, having mastered the tight timing windows. And who knows? The second and third may very well be your new hobby, exploring more of the lore and rich world designs the series has to offer.

1. Halo (Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, & Halo 3)

Another military sci-fi you’ll absolutely relish is Halo, ranking in first place among the best video game trilogies of all time. Today, the Halo universe is so huge that you’ll hardly fall short of enemies or areas to explore. As a super soldier, you’ll have your generous flow of melee attacks, weapons, and grenades against waves of the Covenant and Banished aliens encroaching on Earth. 

By playing the Halo trilogy, you can make sense of where the fight began, how preventing superweapons that could destroy all sentient life spanned into a galactic war.