A good prequel sets the stage for a story you are already familiar with and makes that tale all the more compelling and enjoyable. These are our picks for the top eight best game prequels. This list is ranked, and the best prequel will take first place.
8. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky tells the story of Scar, a mercenary who seeks the protagonist of the first game, Shadow of Chernobyl. While Clear Sky is a prequel, it’s preferable if you played Shadow of Chernobyl first and were familiar with the world and the lore. Graphically, this is one of the best-looking games at the time of release (2008) because of the game’s use of DirectX 10.1 and beautiful enhanced shaders and lighting. But this took the 8th spot for a few reasons.
Clear Sky’s gunplay is ridiculously bad and the game is infested with bugs and glitches. For this reason, many Stalkers consider this to be the worst game in the franchise. But thanks to talented modders, you can improve the game marginally.
Arsenal Overhaul + Sky Reclamation Project
The Arsenal Overhaul mod completely fixes every issue regarding gunplay and makes it feel like a modern game. Also, it comes with the brilliant Sky Reclamation Project which fixes a multitude of bugs and glitches. Install this mod and enjoy the game as it was meant to be played.
7. Batman: Arkham Origins
Many gamers agree that Arkham Origins is the weakest game in the Arkham games, but there is no denying that it’s still a stellar superhero game. You control an amateur Batman who is unaware of the existence of the Joker and the game features an excellent story. Granted, it is not as brilliant as the story of Arkham City, but it’s still great and has great boss fights. The gameplay is very similar to the other games, and that’s perhaps why it was underwhelming to many gamers. But don’t miss out on it.
6. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes/The Phantom Pain
Ground Zeroes takes place before the events of The Phantom Pain; it’s a prequel to the very first Metal Gear from 1987. As for The Phantom Pain, it takes place nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes and it’s arguably the best stealth game of this generation. The issue with MGS5 is its incomplete state. The ending is a cliffhanger and the game’s story is just… incomplete, frankly. But don’t be underwhelmed because Metal Gear Solid V is a must-play gem for stealth fans and MGS fans alike.
5. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is the first game in which the player uses an Animus from Abstergo, which is basically the modern Templar organization. In this gorgeous game, you play Captain Edward Kenway, a charismatic and smart pirate who’s very ambitious and skilled. You probably recognized his last name if you’ve played Assassin’s Creed III.
Indeed, Edward Kenway is the father of the first protagonist in AC3: Haytham Kenway. That makes him the grandfather of Connor Kenway. Edward is an immensely important character in the series, and Black Flag is one of Ubisoft’s finest. It’s the best pirate game ever created, and it holds up to this day.
4. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is such a great stealth role-playing game, and it’s loved by many. In this game, you play as Adam Jensen who explores the cyberpunk settings and stealthily takes his targets down. This game is the prequel to the very first Deus Ex game which was released in 2000. The story and the RPG elements of Human Revolution are its best qualities, and you’ll be missing out greatly if you skip this game. You can often find it on sale on sites like Humble Store.
3. Halo: Reach
The brilliant Halo Reach takes place before Halo: Combat Evolved. Some consider it to be the best game in the franchise since Halo 2. Instead of our beloved protagonist Master Chief, you play as Noble 6, who is an elite soldier and who is as skilled as the Chief himself. (That might be an exaggeration but the point is, he’s one badass dude).
As the name implies, the game takes place on the planet Reach and your battle to regain control of it from the Covenant. This game’s campaign was one of the best in the series in my opinion and it really shows you the horrors of war. The Master Chief Collection allows the player to play this before Combat Evolved and it’s honestly the best way to play the series. Halo Reach makes Combat Evolved much better, serving its purpose fully as a great prequel.
2. Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is the prequel to the original Yakuza game from 2005 and its remake Yakuza Kiwami. In this masterpiece, you play as both Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they make their way to becoming the legends they are in the franchise today. They are very young and relatively inexperienced and it sheds light on new sides to both these iconic characters.
Honestly, playing Yakuza 0 before Kiwami is the way to go and you’ll feel the impact of the story of Kiwami much more. Also, the setting of 1988’s Japan is absolutely gorgeous and many players’ favorite game is Yakuza 0. Some may even say that this is the best game in the franchise.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
You could say that I saved the best for last. It was a tough choice between Red Dead Redemption 2 and Yakuza 0, but I decided to include this as the number one pick. Surely, you have heard many things about this game and almost all of them might be praise.
This game takes place in 1899 when America (or rather, the whole world) is going through fast and chaotic changes. RDR2 is a tale of how the gang of the first game’s protagonist, John Marston, reacts to the aforementioned changes. And this is definitely one of the best stories ever told, not only in a game but in every medium of entertainment. The epilogue of RDR2 will make the players of the original game get teary-eyed and remember their experience with the beautiful RDR1.
