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Top 20 Best Video Game Duologies of All Time

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Gaming - March 24th 2025, 19:28 GMT+1

Cropped Ni no Kuni II Revenant Kingdom — 20. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (2011) & Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (2018)

If Studio Ghibli made a video game... oh wait, they kind of did! Ni no Kuni is a beautiful blend of heartwarming storytelling, imaginative worlds, and magical JRPG combat that hits right in the feels. The first game follows young Oliver as he tries to save his mom (cue the tears), while the sequel swaps that for a kingdom-building fantasy with an adorably earnest boy-king and surprisingly competent sidequests. Both games offer a feast for the eyes and a soundtrack that'll move your soul – thank you, Joe Hisaishi. They're not mechanically identical, but they share that distinct cozy-yet-epic vibe, like curling up with a cup of cocoa... that sometimes casts fire spells. | © Level-5

Cropped A Plague Tale Requiem — 19. A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019) & A Plague Tale: Requiem (2022)

Who knew rats could be this terrifying and... emotional? A Plague Tale brings stealth, sibling bonding, and swarms – so many swarms – of plague rats to your screen. The first game introduces Amicia and her little brother Hugo as they flee Inquisition soldiers and supernatural plague nonsense in 14th-century France. The second? It's like the same recipe, but with more emotional damage and way more rats per square foot. It’s grim, dramatic, beautifully rendered, and somehow makes you care deeply about the fate of these poor, unlucky kids. Honestly, the only thing scarier than the rats is how invested you’ll get. | © Asobo Studio

Cropped The Evil Within 2 — 18. The Evil Within (2014) & The Evil Within 2 (2017)

Ah yes, the duology that feels like Resident Evil had a fever dream and then tried therapy. The Evil Within throws you headfirst into a grotesque survival horror maze with limited bullets and maximum blood. It’s twisted, gory, and gloriously confusing. The sequel tones down the chaos just a bit and gives protagonist Sebastian Castellanos a more emotional core, plus a semi-open world to explore (and get horribly mauled in). It’s the horror series that nobody expected to get better with its sequel – but it absolutely did. Scary, stylish, and weirdly heartfelt by round two. | © Tango Gameworks

Cropped Dino Crisis 2 — 17. Dino Crisis (1999) & Dino Crisis 2 (2000)

Let’s be real: these games are basically Resident Evil, but with dinosaurs. And you know what? That’s not a complaint. The original Dino Crisis is survival horror with tension so thick you can hear the raptor footsteps in your dreams. It’s slow, methodical, and absolutely terrifying when a T-Rex crashes through a window. Then the sequel says, “What if we just made this an action movie?” – and it works! With faster pacing, dual protagonists, and arcade-style dino-slaying, Dino Crisis 2 is pure, chaotic fun. Together, they’re a dino-mite pair that sadly never got the trilogy it deserved. | © Capcom

Cropped System Shock 2 — 16. System Shock (1994) & System Shock 2 (1999)

Before BioShock was blowing minds underwater, System Shock was already messing with heads in outer space. The original (a little clunky by today’s standards) was pioneering stuff – immersive sim, narrative-driven, and hauntingly atmospheric. Then came System Shock 2, which threw in RPG elements, co-op, and an AI villain – SHODAN – who is still one of the most unsettling antagonists in gaming. You thought GLaDOS was mean? SHODAN’s on another level. These two games basically wrote the book on how to scare you with existential dread, limited resources, and voice logs. A techno-horror masterpiece in two acts. | © Looking Glass Studios & Irrational Games

Cropped Divine Divinity — 15. Divine Divinity (2002) & Divinity II: Ego Draconis / The Dragon Knight Saga (2009/2010)

Before Divinity: Original Sin stole the spotlight, there was Divine Divinity – a game with a name so redundant it loops back around to being iconic. The original is peak early-2000s action RPG chaos: isometric perspective, loot galore, and a surprising amount of narrative depth buried beneath the jank. Then came Divinity II, where you could straight-up turn into a dragon. Like, mid-combat. It took some swings – some of them wild – but its ambition was undeniable. These two games are a messy, lovable duo from a studio that clearly had big dreams… and eventually made them all come true. | © Larian Studios

Cropped Ori — 14. Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) & Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020)

These games didn’t come to play – they came to punch you in the heart, softly, with a beautifully animated paw. Ori and the Blind Forest introduced us to its tear-jerking prologue, fluid platforming, and jaw-dropping art. It felt like Metroidvania meets Pixar, and somehow, that combo worked flawlessly. The sequel, Will of the Wisps, said “hold my spirit energy” and upped the ante on combat, movement, and emotional storytelling. It’s smoother, grander, and still absolutely devastating in the feels department. If you didn’t cry at least once, are you even human? | © Moon Studios

Cropped Alice Madness Returns — 13. American McGee’s Alice (2000) & Alice: Madness Returns (2011)

Take Lewis Carroll’s whimsical world, dip it in psychological horror, and you've got American McGee’s Alice. The first game is a twisted, blood-stained fever dream where Wonderland is as broken as Alice’s psyche. Then Madness Returns dives even deeper, blending action-platforming with art design that swings from gothic to industrial to straight-up surreal. These games don’t just reimagine Wonderland – they redefine it, with a heroine who’s more scalpel than sugar. Dark, poetic, and painfully underrated, this duology is for anyone who’s ever looked at a fairytale and thought, “What if this had trauma?” | © Rogue Entertainment / Spicy Horse

Cropped The Talos Principle — 12. The Talos Principle (2014) & The Talos Principle 2 (2023)

What if Portal got a philosophy degree and started quoting Nietzsche? That’s The Talos Principle in a nutshell. These first-person puzzle games are about robots, humanity, god-complex AIs, and puzzles that make you question your intelligence and your existence – sometimes at the same time. The first game delivered a smart, slow-burn mystery wrapped in laser-reflecting puzzles and existential monologues. The second expanded on everything: bigger world, deeper lore, better beardy-statue aesthetics. They're meditative, beautifully written, and occasionally mind-melting. You don’t just solve puzzles – you reflect on why you’re solving them at all. | © Croteam

Cropped Middle earth — 11. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) & Shadow of War (2017)

This duology is what happens when Assassin’s Creed, Batman: Arkham, and Lord of the Rings form a power trio. Shadow of Mordor gave us brutal, fluid combat and a groundbreaking Nemesis system that made even the lowliest orc into your personal anime rival. Then Shadow of War came in like a louder, bigger sequel – with fortress sieges, loot, and… uh, loot boxes (they fixed that, don’t worry). It’s a delicious blend of Tolkien lore and action-RPG excess, and even though it messed with canon a bit, we forgive it because making an orc warlord your bestie never gets old. | © Monolith Productions

Cropped Kingdom Come — 10. Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) & Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2025)

When Kingdom Come: Deliverance first launched, it was like the medieval RPG we didn't know we needed – historically grounded, sans dragons, and brimming with the kind of realism that made you appreciate modern dentistry. You play as Henry, a humble blacksmith's son thrust into the chaos of 15th-century Bohemia, navigating a world where your choices truly matter, and combat required more finesse than just button-mashing. Fast forward to 2025, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II picks up right where its predecessor left off, continuing Henry's saga in an even more expansive and reactive world. With enhanced mechanics, a gripping narrative, and the same commitment to historical accuracy (yes, still no dragons), this sequel solidifies the duology's place in the annals of RPG greatness. | © Warhorse Studios

Cropped Gravity Rush — 9. Gravity Rush (2012) & Gravity Rush 2 (2017)

The Gravity Rush games are like playing a dream where the laws of physics called in sick. You control Kat, a gravity-shifting queen who can literally fall in any direction – and yes, it’s as gloriously disorienting as it sounds. The first game introduced us to her sky-surfing antics and a strange, floating world, while the sequel took everything and made it bigger, wilder, and much more colorful. With a lovable cast, comic book-style cutscenes, and a physics engine that lets you yeet yourself off a building with grace, these games are criminally underrated gems. Gravity’s overrated anyway. | © Japan Studio / Team Gravity

Cropped Alan Wake — 8. Alan Wake (2010) & Alan Wake II (2023)

If Twin Peaks and Stephen King had a baby during a blackout, it would be named Alan Wake. The first game gave us a flashlight-wielding writer battling shadowy horrors in Bright Falls – part survival horror, part poetic midlife crisis. Then Alan Wake II pulled a Control-level glow-up and leaned fully into survival horror with dual protagonists, cosmic horror, and even more meta weirdness. Remedy took 13 years between entries, and somehow made it feel worth the wait. It’s eerie, bold, and deeply committed to making you question what’s real – just like any good novel… or waking nightmare. | © Remedy Entertainment

Cropped The Last Of Us — 7. The Last of Us Part I (2013) & Part II (2020)

Ah yes, The Last of Us – the duology that broke our hearts, stomped on them, and then asked us how we felt about the nature of revenge. The first game was a near-perfect blend of post-apocalyptic storytelling and tense stealth-action, pairing Joel and Ellie in a journey that still defines modern narrative gaming. The second? It split the fandom harder than a broken Firefly pendant. But love it or rage-quit it, Part II dared to challenge players emotionally and structurally, and that deserves respect. This is peak prestige gaming – gut-wrenching, beautiful, and as subtle as a brick to the soul. | © Naughty Dog

Cropped God of War — 6. God of War (2018) & God of War: Ragnarök (2022)

Kratos went from yelling “BOY!” to breaking our emotional defenses, and honestly? Character development goals. The 2018 reboot of God of War reimagined the angry god-smasher as a grief-stricken dad navigating Norse mythology and fatherhood, one axe throw at a time. Ragnarök followed up with bigger gods, deeper themes, and way more tears than you'd expect from a game with a talking squirrel. The combat is crunchy, the storytelling is cinematic, and watching Kratos learn emotional intelligence is the real endgame. It’s mythological mayhem with a surprisingly soft center – like a peanut butter-filled Mjölnir. | © Santa Monica Studio

Cropped Kotor — 5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) & Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (2004)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… BioWare and Obsidian gave us a Star Wars duology that didn’t just live up to the movies – it kinda blew them out of the water. KOTOR let you shape your destiny as a Jedi (or Sith!) in a deep, branching narrative full of shocking twists and space drama. Then KOTOR II swooped in with even more nuance, moral ambiguity, and a villain who could win Philosophy Club in her sleep. Sure, the sequel was a little rushed, but with restored content, it stands tall as a bold, brainy continuation of a galaxy-sized saga. May the Force forever regret not giving us a third. | © BioWare / Obsidian Entertainment

Cropped Hotline Miami — 4. Hotline Miami (2012) & Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (2015)

Put on your animal mask, crank the synthwave, and get ready to question your sanity. Hotline Miami is a top-down neon fever dream drenched in blood, mystery, and the kind of violence that makes you reflexively ask, “Am I the bad guy?” The first game hits hard and fast with twitchy gameplay and surreal storytelling. Wrong Number follows up by doubling down on the chaos – multiple characters, an even more fractured narrative, and levels that feel like speed-puzzles from hell. Together, they’re a two-punch combo of retro carnage and postmodern commentary. Also: that soundtrack? Chef’s kiss. | © Dennaton Games

Cropped Super Mario Galaxy — 3. Super Mario Galaxy (2007) & Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)

Somehow, Nintendo looked at gravity and said, “Let’s make it fun.” Super Mario Galaxy launched Mario into outer space, turned planets into playgrounds, and gave us a cosmic ballet of pure platforming joy. Then Galaxy 2 said, “Okay, now let’s get weird,” stripping away the story fluff and doubling down on wild, inventive level design. It’s tighter, tougher, and even throws in Yoshi for good measure. These two games are pure happiness, bottled and launched into orbit. Honestly, if you didn’t smile the first time you spun-jumped across a starry void, your inner child needs a hug. | © Nintendo

Cropped Portal 2 — 2. Portal (2007) & Portal 2 (2011)

This is a triumph. No, really. Portal is the rare game that redefined a genre in under three hours. With just a portal gun, a passive-aggressive AI named GLaDOS, and some impeccably designed test chambers, it was puzzle perfection. Then Portal 2 said, “Cool story, bro – here’s a bigger, funnier, smarter version with Stephen Merchant as a nervous robot.” The result? A flawless blend of mind-bending puzzles, sharp writing, and unexpected emotional depth (yes, I cried over a potato). It’s not just a great duology – it’s the gold standard for how to do a sequel right. Cake may be a lie, but this pick isn’t. | © Valve

Cropped Red Dead Redemption — 1. Red Dead Redemption (2010) & Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Yeehaw has never been so existential. Red Dead Redemption gave us a gripping, somber tale of outlaw John Marston trying to outrun his past – and failing, spectacularly. It was poignant, brutal, and surprisingly heartfelt. Then RDR2 rode in as a prequel and somehow made it even sadder. Arthur Morgan’s slow-burn descent into tragedy is one of gaming’s finest character arcs, and the world? Good lord, that world is alive. These two games aren’t just westerns – they’re meditations on loyalty, loss, and the cost of change. Together, they form a sprawling, unforgettable epic about the death of the Wild West and the souls stuck in its dust. | © Rockstar Games

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In a gaming world dominated by sprawling trilogies and never-ending franchises, there’s something refreshingly focused about a great duology. These two-part game series deliver tightly woven narratives, refined gameplay, and memorable experiences without overstaying their welcome. Whether it’s an unforgettable storyline told across two acts, or innovative mechanics that evolved and perfected in the sequel, video game duologies prove that two can sometimes be better than three.

In this article, we’ve rounded up the 20 best video game duologies of all time – titles that left a lasting impact with just two installments. From cult classics to critically acclaimed masterpieces, these pairs stand as testaments to the power of concise, well-crafted storytelling in gaming.

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In a gaming world dominated by sprawling trilogies and never-ending franchises, there’s something refreshingly focused about a great duology. These two-part game series deliver tightly woven narratives, refined gameplay, and memorable experiences without overstaying their welcome. Whether it’s an unforgettable storyline told across two acts, or innovative mechanics that evolved and perfected in the sequel, video game duologies prove that two can sometimes be better than three.

In this article, we’ve rounded up the 20 best video game duologies of all time – titles that left a lasting impact with just two installments. From cult classics to critically acclaimed masterpieces, these pairs stand as testaments to the power of concise, well-crafted storytelling in gaming.