With recent reveal of Ghost of Yotei, the anticipated sequel to Ghost Tsushima, fans are speculating about whether the game can live up to the expectations created by the original. But there are cases of video game sequels not only meeting those expectations, but exceeding them.

Production of a video game is hard and brutal. With strict deadlines and even stricter publishers, it takes years of work to produce a single game, let alone a sequel.

In the film industry, most of the love and dedication is put in the first film of a series, which then leads to some sequels slowly losing the vision or potential of the original.

This issue is also relevant in video games, with Devil May Cry 2, Borderlands 3 and even Dark Souls 2; some games just fall short of their predecessors.

However, the outliers are games that not only live up to their potential, but exceed it as well. Video game sequels that push the franchise further ahead are what ideal sequels should be, and this is a list of some of the best examples.

#5 Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 released 3 years after the original. With this sequel vastly improving on everything the first one had to offer. The game features more expansive stories with diverse dialogue routes players can take with the vast selection of characters, both old and new. With an increased emphasis on combat, the overall game succeeds in keeping players engaged throughout its roller-coaster of a campaign.

#4 NieR: Automata

Seven years after the release of NieR on the PlayStation 3, the infamous lead director Yoko Taro releases the sequel titled Nier: Automata. Just as NieR questions the morals of both the characters and the player, Automata emphasizes the philosophical visions of Yoko Taro as the lifelong question of “What is the meaning of life?”

The combat is also more engaging with more fast-paced movement and a variety of gameplay mechanics. This game is indeed a prime example of a sequel out shining it’s predecessor.

#3 Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 is considered by many gamers to be a hall-of-fame caliber game in video game history. It’s an installment that revolutionized the horror genre while becoming a staple title on the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation. The first Resident Evil was indeed a successful title, but the sequel adds so much more to the atmosphere.

The characters are given more depth and work with the storyline better. Also, the addition of playing from a different perspective heightens the replay ability. Resident Evil 2 improves so much that it makes the first Resident Evil almost seem like the blueprint rather than a final product–something any sequel should seek.

#2 Red Dead Redemption 2

Almost a decade after the release of Red Dead Redemption on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 released with remarkable ratings. Nominated for Game Of The Year alongside several other awards, RDR2 not only met expectations, but exceeded them. Emphasizing realistic interactions and a dynamic open world, the sequel to one of the best cowboy games was able to set a new standard of open world RPG’s.

#1 Street Fighter 2

Capcom knows how to do their sequels. And Street Fighter 2 is one that changed the course of video games entirely, and that is not an exaggeration. Released in 1991, the sequel to the arcade-cabinet phenomenon hit the streets like a storm and revolutionized the industry.

The characters, animations, and the gameplay capabilities truly outshined the other competitors at the time. Compared to the first installment, Street Fighter 2 utilizes its impressive processing abilities to give its full roster a complete move set (The first Street Fighter had ten characters without a full move set). And something that hasn’t been mentioned with other titles on this list–the soundtrack. The music for Street Fighter 2 is iconic, particularly some of the character themes. Street Fighter 2 is a sequel of all sequels, and its the game that inspired so many of the modern fighting games that we have today.

Tell us your thoughts! What’s a sequel you think deserves to be on this list? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation in Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.