There are a lot of very popular gaming series out there, so it’s highly unlikely that you’ve experienced all of them. Therefore, there are bound to be plenty of series still on your ‘to play’ list. When checking them out, you will naturally be drawn to the first instalment. Yet, that isn’t always the best way to experience a series for the first time.
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Occasionally, you’re better off starting on the second or even third game in the series. The reason for this varies, but it’s typically down to the narrative structure or the low quality of the original game. After all, video game series do have a habit of improving after the first, which is why there are so many great video game sequels. When it comes to the following series, you should start with those sequels.
8 Assassin’s Creed
Start With Assassin’s Creed 2
The original Assassin’s Creed game introduces you to the Assassins and their enemies. Additionally, it explains what the Animus machine is and how it enables the protagonist to relive memories of his ancestors. While this is all important information, you can still learn all of that in Assassin’s Creed 2.
What AC2 also provides is a much more enjoyable gameplay experience. The first game is very repetitive, and several quests feel tedious. It can really discourage you from playing the sequels, which are exceptional. So, you should start with AC2, and perhaps return to the first game once you’ve fallen in love with the series.
7 Red Dead Redemption
Start With Red Dead Redemption 2
Most gamers know that you don’t need to experience Red Dead Revolver to appreciate the Red Dead series. Yet, you should also skip the original Red Dead Redemption game. This has nothing to do with the quality of the first game, though. In fact, you should definitely still play it. However, you should start with the prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2. Not every video game prequel should be played first, but in this case, it suits the story better.
This is because much of the first game is about hunting down John Marston’s old friends. While Marston holds a complicated relationship with them, they will just seem like standard villains to you. That is, unless you play RDR2 first, as this game lets you get to know these future antagonists on a deeper level. It makes hunting them far more impactful.
Start With Metal Gear Solid
The original Metal Gear games are very old. As such, there are a lot of things about them that don’t hold up to today’s standards. The gameplay mechanics are limiting, there are no cutscenes, and the environments aren’t very exciting. Thankfully, though, if you want a true Metal Gear experience, you don’t need to start with them.
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Instead, you should begin with Metal Gear Solid, which is the entry that really made the series and is far more famous than those that came before. Now, the original MGS is pretty old, too, but apart from a few issues, it holds up really well with its enjoyable stealth and fantastic story.
5 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
Start With Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
There have been a lot of Dragon Ball video games. Among the most popular are the Budokai Tenkaichi titles. These are exciting 3D arena fighters that boast great presentation and large rosters. If you want to truly appreciate the series, though, you should probably skip the first game.
The first Budokai Tenkaichi isn’t horrible, but it lacks the fluidity and depth of later entries. Therefore, you should begin with Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and you don’t ever have to play the first game if you don’t want to.
4 The Witcher
Start With The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings
The original Witcher game has a good story, but it’s very dated in other areas. Combat is fairly uninspiring, and it doesn’t generally feel enjoyable to play. So, it’s best to skip that original game and start with The Witcher 2.
This is a much more polished title, and even without playing the original, it’s easy to figure out what is going on in the story and world. Some may argue that you can also skip the second game and go straight to The Witcher 3, which is considered the best in the series. However, Witcher 2 is a great game in its own right and deserves your attention.
3 Far Cry
Start With Far Cry 3
The Far Cry series didn’t gain a lot of popularity until Far Cry 3. There is a reason for that. While the first two games aren’t bad first-person shooters, they aren’t spectacular, either. They’re simply solid games, which are hard to recommend today, as they haven’t aged perfectly.
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Far Cry 3 has aged much better. Plus, it’s the first game in the series to feature a dynamic and charismatic villain, which has since become a staple of Far Cry. In Far Cry 3, that villain is Vaas, and the scenes with him are more likely to make you a fan of the series than anything the first two games do.
2 Borderlands
Start With Borderlands 2
The original Borderlands game isn’t terrible, but it isn’t the best representation of the series as a whole. This is because Borderlands isn’t a series known just for its nice gunplay and cool weapons. The series is known for having a lot of personality and generally being hilarious.
That is better showcased in the second entry of the series, which features characters such as Handsome Jack, who bring much more hilarity to the experience. The first game feels drab by comparison. Plus, you don’t need to have played the narrative of the first game to understand the second.
1 Grand Theft Auto
Start With Grand Theft Auto 3
The first two Grand Theft Auto games were decent top-down action-adventure titles. However, Grand Theft Auto 3 was one of the most influential video games ever, and made GTA a very popular series.
The rest of the series has built upon the formula that GTA 3 defined, to the point where the first two entries no longer even feel like GTA games. Therefore, if you want to experience Grand Theft Auto truly, you must start with the third game. It isn’t like you’re going to miss much in terms of story, as they’re all self-contained narratives anyway.
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