Fans’ long wait for sequels
This year, GTA 6 is finally coming out. If you think the 12-year wait since the fifth instalment is a long one, check out the following ordeals first.
The longest gap between a game and its sequel isn’t ten, 20, or even 30 years. Beyond The Ice Palace 2 holds the record with a whopping 37 years. But fans of other titles have also had to endure long waits.
37 years between Beyond The Ice Palace and Beyond The Ice Palace 2
Amiga and Commodore 64 were the home computers you could play Beyond The Ice Palace on in 1988. Almost 40 years later, the sequel to the fantasy action platformer has now been released on modern systems. According to the development team, it relies on modern gameplay paired with pixel graphics.
You play as the cursed king who escapes from the underground, wielding the chains that held him captive as weapons. In this dark fantasy kingdom, you explore hidden chambers and defeat colossal demons in a fight for revenge. The premise and gameplay could’ve come from any action platformer, but the game still looks stylish.
For comparison, here’s a video of the original:
35 years between Getsu Fuma Den and Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon
Action platformers seem almost predestined to have long-awaited sequels. Konami’s Getsu Fuma Den was released on the NES in 1987 and looks remarkably similar not only to Beyond the Ice Palace but also to Castlevania. This isn’t a surprise, as many assets were used in both games. The difference between the two Konami franchises is that Getsu Fuma Den focuses on Japanese mythology.
The sequel, Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon, was released in 2022. Unlike the Beyond The Ice Palace sequel, the roguelike hack-and-slash game relies on backgrounds drawn in the Japanese ukiyo-e style rather than pixel graphics.
28 years between Windjammers and Windjammers 2
Windjammers was released for the Neo Geo in 1994. Developed by Data East, the sports game’s gameplay is similar to Pong or air hockey. You compete against an opponent in an arena and have to throw a frisbee into the goal, which bounces off the walls.
Like Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon, Windjammers 2 was released in 2022. The developers at Dotemu collaborated with esports players from the first game to recreate the feel of the original as faithfully as possible. The result is an over-the-top frisbee game with new mechanics, but still in a comic-style format.
26 years between Streets of Rage 3 and Streets of Rage 4
The Sega Streets of Rage series started in the early 1990s. The third instalment was released in 1994. At that time, side-scrolling beat ’em ups were all the rage.
Streets of Rage 4 was released in 2020 and immediately nominated for Best Action Game at the Game Awards. It was praised for its design, which refers back to the classics while still offering something new.
26 years between Wasteland and Wasteland 2
Aficionados of the turn-based strategy title Wasteland had to wait just as long for a sequel as fans of the Streets of Rage sequel. The original was developed for the Apple II and released in 1988. You control survivors of a nuclear war as they fight all sorts of threats in the wasteland. Wasteland is considered the first post-apocalyptic computer role-playing game.
Fans had to endure a long nuclear winter until the sequel finally emerged thanks to crowdfunding via Kickstarter. The game was finally released in 2014 to a largely positive reception. The six-year wait for the third instalment was relatively short.
23 years between Baldur’s Gate 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate is probably the best-known franchise on this list. Perhaps less because of the first and second titles, but rather because of multiple Game of the Year-winning Baldur’s Gate 3. The first two instalments were developed by Bioware and released in 1998 and 2000 respectively.
License holder Wizards of the Coast then entrusted Larian Studios with the third part – a decision supported by fans and press alike when it was released in 2023, including my colleague Phil.
21 years between Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters and Kid Icarus: Uprising
Nintendo also likes to neglect its franchises. Most people will recognise protagonist Pit from the Super Smash Bros. series. Even the wait between the first and second instalment was long: Kid Icarus was released in 1986 and its sequel, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, didn’t come out until 1991. In terms of gameplay, the series is a mix of other popular Nintendo franchises such as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. Part 1 was released on the NES, Part 2 on the Gameboy.
In 2012, the time finally came, and Pit was able to duel enemies on the ground and in the air in Kid Icarus: Uprising – this time on the 3DS.
18 years between Shenmue 2 and Shenmue 3
As a longstanding Dreamcast fan, I still fondly remember the open world of Shenmue. It was unique back then. Never before had I been able to move around in a world so freely. The original was released in late 1999 on the last Sega console. The sequel was released in 2001.
Like Wastelands, crowdfunding made the third instalment possible. Shenmue 3 was released in 2019. However, it seems the saga of Ryō Hazuki isn’t over yet. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait another 18 years or more for the fourth instalment. Even if they do, I’ll still be playing it in my retirement home.
16 years between Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts was released in 2005 to critical acclaim. In this 3D run and jump game, you control young artist Raz and have all sorts of crazy adventures laced with quirky humour. Unfortunately, the game was a financial flop, making a sequel unlikely.
Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign and an acquisition by Microsoft, Psychonauts 2 was released in 2021. The wait was worth it: the game was very well received by fans and the industry press.
15 years between Duke Nukem 3D and Duke Nukem Forever
The Duke Nukem series began in the early 1990s, initially as a platformer. The successful game spawned a second instalment in the same genre. It wasn’t until 1996’s Duke Nukem 3D that the franchise moved into the first-person shooter category.
A sequel was announced the following year. However, Duke Nukem Forever went through development hell. It changed studios, was cancelled, and then got revived. For a long time, the game was even considered vapourware. It was finally released in 2011 to mixed reviews. With that, it looks like the franchise is dead.
14 years (and counting) between Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter and Breath of Fire 6
As a teenager, I loved the Breath of Fire series. I was particularly drawn to Breath of Fire III. I just loved the mix of cool pixel graphics, a great combat system, and lovable characters. The last title – Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter – was released in 2002 for the PS2. I’m deliberately calling it the last title because 2016’s Breath of Fire 6 was an online multiplayer game primarily aimed at mobiles. Despite the official number in the title, I don’t recognise the game as a sequel to the series I loved. I’m still waiting for a new title.
13 years between Alan Wake and Alan Wake 2
Alan’s aged 13 years since the events of Alan Wake. Fans had to wait just as long for the sequel to one of the best games of 2010. The action-adventure game – described by the developers as «psychological horror» – was groundbreaking for its time.
In many people’s eyes, the second instalment actually surpassed the first. My colleague Phil was also impressed. While a lack of funding or development hell is to blame for the long wait for most of the games on this list, in Alan Wake 2 it’s also a stylistic device, as the protagonist had to wait just as long as the fans.
12 years between Doom 3 and Doom
The original Doom from 1993 runs on virtually anything these days – even as a PDF. But it was a long road to the 2016 version of the eponymous title. Before that, Doomguy – renamed Doom Slayer in 2016 – last mowed down hordes of enemies in 2004.
Id Software did everything right with the 2016 reboot of Doom. The graphics, animations, and worldbuilding were better than ever before.
Fun fact: when GTA 6’s finally released this year, it’ll join Doom in the twelve-year wait category. If you’re still annoyed by Rockstar Games’ long delay, this list might put things into perspective – it could be worse.
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. I might have forgotten an important game. Which titles have you been waiting for? Let me know in the comments section. Thanks for letting me know in the comments!
Header image: Larian Studios
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Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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