Storytelling in video games has evolved significantly over the last couple of decades. Some of the most renowned series in the industry, likeMetal Gear SolidorUncharted, have told their narratives across multiple entries that spanned years of development.
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While it’s great to see our favorite characters return every few years for a new adventure, sometimes it’s best to experience a more focused story across two games instead of many. There aren’t many video game duologies out there, but these games are made better by having a second chapter within a series or as a whole. If you’re looking for a pair of titles to play, these duologies are the best for telling complete stories within a shared universe.
9Okami & Okamiden
WhenOkamioriginally came out in 2006, it instantly enamored critics and fans with itsgorgeous art style, compelling narrative, and originality. It stars a white wolf known as Amaterasu after she is summoned by a village leader and is tasked with lifting a curse that torments the region.
Okamiden launched on theNintendo DSfour years after the original game. Though it’s often considered to be more of a spiritual successor, it features the iconic Celestial Brush mechanic and the children of the characters from Okami. It takes place shortly after the events of Okami and stars Amaterasu’s son, Chibiterasu.
8Little Nightmares & Little Nightmares 2
Little Nightmaresis a short but memorable horror-puzzle game that is perfect for anyone who likes titles like Inside or Limbo. You play as a young girl named Six and must escape a giant ship known as The Maw by sneaking past grotesque characters and solving environmental puzzles.
The prequel,Little Nightmares II, was released in 2021 and expanded on the world established by the original game and features even more creatures to haunt you while you sleep. This time you play as a boy named Mono, and his adventure includes more areas to explore and a few twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
7Gravity Rush & Gravity Rush 2
Sony spent significant time and resources during the PlayStation 4 era as they tried to establish new IPs likeDays GoneandConcrete Genie. Though Gravity Rush was initially released on the PlayStation Vita, it was later ported to the PlayStation 4 to bring it to wider audiences with improved visuals and all the previous DLC included.
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Gravity Rush 2 came out five years after the original title and improved nearly every aspect of it, including the size of the map and the number of missions to complete. The series has remained dormant since 2017 but is still fondly remembered for its visuals and unique gravity manipulation mechanic.
6Final Fantasy X & X-2
Final Fantasyis one of the longest-running series in video games and has more than a dozen main entry titles and a slew of spin-offs to keep fans entertained. Most of the mainline games have self-contained adventures and characters, but Final Fantasy X was the first to have a sequel that extended its narrative into a two-part story.
Instead of just being a sequel with the same characters and plot, X-2 changes just enough to make it feel like its own game. After playing through all of Final Fantasy X as Tidus, X-2 instead has Yuna leading the charge - alongside returnee Rikku and newcomer Paine - and they must work together to defeat Shuyin and save Spira from absolute destruction.
5The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
TheAce Attorneyseries has been around for nearly two decades, and almost every entry follows Phoenix Wright and his companions as they fight to defend justice in a court of law. A duology of games starring a new lawyer during the dawn of the 20th century debuted in Japan in 2015 and 2017, and eventually released together internationally in 2021.
Both of the Great Ace Attorney games feature five mysterious and intriguing cases to solve, but it’s the connected narrative between the two games that help them feel extraordinary. Certain characters and plots from the first Great Ace Attorney are cleverly brought back in the sequel. It does a phenomenal job wrapping everything up after one of themost unforgettable final casesin the Ace Attorney series.
4Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic & Knights Of The Old Republic 2
There are moreStar Warsvideo games than movies or TV shows, and many of them allow you to take on the role of a Jedi, as you explore new planets and meet fascinating characters. While most are great, few have been as heavily praised as the pair ofKnights of the Old Republicgames.
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The first Knights of the Old Republic game was developed by Bioware and features a handful of elements that would become more prevalent in the studio’sMass Effectseries. Its role-playing mechanics allow you to craft a narrative around your decisions and influence the events and conclusion of its dark story. The sequel, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, takes place five years later and delivers a story with higher stakes and more decisions that will help determine the fate of the galaxy.
3Portal & Portal 2
Valvehas become notorious over the years for developing two games in a series, then abandoning it. BetweenHalf-LifeandLeft 4 Dead, the company has created some of the most immersive and influential titles ever made, but neither feels as connected nor complete asPortalandPortal 2.
The original game was released in 2007 and introduced a mind-bending mechanic that allowed you to create portals to warp yourself or an object between two locations. It was incredibly immersive, and Portal 2 somehow found a way to improve on everything from its predecessor. Portal 2 is hilarious, features a cooperative mode, and builds on the established world in meaningful and surprising ways.
2Super Mario Galaxy & Super Mario Galaxy 2
Whenever Nintendo decides to grace the world with a new 3D Mario game, it’s usually a one-off adventure with a defining gameplay mechanic like the Capture ability inSuper Mario Odyssey. Potentially due to the Wii’s success,Super Mario Galaxyis the only 3D Mario game to receive a direct sequel, only three years after it came out.
Like Portal, Super Mario Galaxy 2 somehow found a way to improve nearly everything from the original game’s foundation. Not only do the levels feel more dynamic and creative, but the orchestral soundtrack is also bigger and better than before to make the journey through space feel even more epic. After playing Super Mario Galaxy, you’ll want to boot up its sequel immediately to continue living in these fun worlds for as long as possible.
1God Of War & God Of War: Ragnarok
Kratos is one of the few characters that has had the privilege to star in a trilogy, a duology, and a handful of prequels and spin-offs. Many of his blood-soaked adventures are relentlessly brutal as the Spartan searches for revenge and redemption, but the Norse duology of games features an older and more reserved Kratos that would prefer to stray away from violence than seek it.
The developers at Santa Monica Studio could have easily strung Kratos and his son’s journey across Midgard and beyond for a third game. Instead, they decided to contain it to a second installment that wraps almost everything up in a satisfying and rewarding conclusion. Multiple staff members ofGod of War: Ragnarokhave confirmed that Kratos' epic journey through Norse mythology is over, but we can always hope.
