5 Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Main Games They Came From

Metroid Prime

Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Mainline Games

When people think of Samus Aran, their mind probably goes straight to the 2D sidescrollers that the main series started out as, games like Super Metroid or Zero Mission. But, the first-person spin-off that Retro Studios managed to get right is still relevant to this day, with a fourth entry coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.

The Metroid Prime series, especially the first one, managed to successfully take the isolated feeling of the sidescrollers and put it all into a 3D environment with a first-person view, putting players right into the shoes of the famous bounty hunter. Exploring the desolate planets in Metroid Prime was such a surreal experience that felt right at home on the GameCube. This spin-off truly captured the essence of the series and turned it on its head with losing almost nothing from the back-tracking side-scrollers.

Mega Man X

Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Mainline Games

The original Mega Man series was nothing short of challenging; timing your jumps, bullets, and saving up your health tanks was very important in order to defeat all eight robot masters without getting a game over. Controlling the original blue bomber was quite difficult at times, causing death from spikes to occur more than it should have. When the futuristic spin-off series, Mega Man X, came out during the SNES era, it revolutionized Mega Man and truly utilized the power that the Super Nintendo had to offer.

Mega Man X allowed you, the player, to dash on the ground, jump off of walls, and move more freely than ever, making the 2D side-scrolling gameplay as fun and fluid as ever. You can say that this spin-off series did quite well, as it eventually got seven more sequels after the initial release. While there hasn’t been a new Mega Man X game since 2004, a legacy collection was recently released that included all eight games in this sub-series.

Forza Horizon 3

Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Mainline Games

The Horizon series started off as a simple one-off for the Forza Motorsport franchise but ended up being a staple in the racing world, bringing open-world gameplay to the franchise for the first time. You can go off-rails and drive off the path given to you, letting you relax and drive around the beautiful landscapes that Australia has to offer. There’s also secrets to find, tons of cars to purchase, and a glorious map that will surely draw your attention.

While Motorsport is a fantastic sim-like racer, Horizon 3 feels like a more complete game with loads of things to do, while also looking extremely pretty and enjoyable to play. The lush sandbox that Playground Games managed to conjure up is a feat for the car racing series and revolutionized the Forza series.

Persona 3

Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Mainline Games

The SMT (Shin Megami Tensei) franchise has been around just as long as Square Enix’s Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series but has always sort of been this black sheep of the JRPG world, with its themes usually being a bit darker and more mature than others. The mainline SMT games were always really difficult with steep learning curves and no hand-holding, letting the player figure out what the heck they’re supposed to be doing without much help. With monsters, demons, sacrificial rituals, and nods to religion, SMT didn’t really garner worldwide attention until a certain spin-off came to light, Persona, specifically Persona 3.

The Persona series went a little bit lighter with its tones but still had those dark themes present. Persona 3 was the turning point for the series though, adding in the social elements and improved battle system that we’re used to seeing now in newer games like Persona 4 and 5. Persona 3 also added the calendar system, making the series a fully realized simulation game of sorts when you weren’t fighting monsters in dungeons. You could romance certain NPC’s, choose where to work, go to the gym, go on dates, and much much more. The Persona series wouldn’t be where it was today without this excellent entry back in 2007.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Spin-Offs That Were Better Than the Mainline Games

The release of Final Fantasy VII in the late ’90s was huge, so a tactical RPG like Final Fantasy Tactics to release soon after was quite the surprise, but this little spin-off managed to be one of the best tactical RPG’s of all time. It was Square’s first time jumping into something like this and leave it to them to succeed without any hitches at all.

Final Fantasy Tactics not only had a deep plot with a cast of interesting characters but the tactical gameplay was difficult but rewarding at the same time. You really had to plan ahead to surpass some stages and the payoff was great once you overcame the obstacles. It’s rare to see such excellent gameplay and narrative wrapped together in one sweet package, but Tactics did it, and while being somewhat of a cult classic, it will always be remembered as one of the best tactical role-playing games out there.