10 Games Milked for All Their Worth

Sticking with what works is nothing new, especially in gaming. New stories, characters, and mechanics are increasingly rare. Long development times and ballooning budgets only compound the issue, as studios must take a larger gamble with every project. Why take that risk when going with a guaranteed success is safer?

That mindset prompts developers to exploit certain games to no end. They don’t just make sequels. Rather, when studios stumble on a hit, they refuse to move on before milking it dry. In such cases, a single game can spawn remakes, remasters, ports, expansions, spin-offs, and adaptations. Granted, revisiting a beloved tale is a comforting experience, as it lets audiences bask in those familiar feelings and remember why the work resonated with them in the first place. Then again, repeating this strategy can have the opposite effect. With enough exposure, even the most ardent fans may get sick of their old favorites. It’s ultimately up to those fans to decide their breaking point.

Related: Top 10 Most Surprisingly Addictive Video Games You’ll Want to Play Nonstop

10 The Last of Us

Zombie apocalypse tales were already plentiful before The Last of Us, but none matched this game’s runaway success. The title revolved around a broken man named Joel, whose daughter died in the initial outbreak. After several years as a mercenary, he got a job transporting an immune girl called Ellie across the U.S. Their shared struggles eventually brought them closer, letting them regain some sense of family in a ruined world. That father-daughter dynamic fueled the game for years to come.

The Last of Us transcended both its genre and its console. Though initially a PS3 exclusive, it quickly got a remastered edition for PS4. These releases coincided with comic prequels, tabletop games, live readings from the cast, and theme park rides. Over the years, other consoles got ports of the remastered version leading up to the eventual sequel, The Last of Us Part II. Even after this follow-up, the developers remade the original entry, releasing it yet again as The Last of Us Part I. This remake immediately preceded a TV adaptation on HBO. Clearly, fans will never see the last of The Last of Us.^[1]

9 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls was always popular with the role-playing crowd, but the fifth entry brought it to the mainstream. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim placed fans in a Nordic fantasy realm. Here, they functioned as the Dragonborn: a prophesied warrior who absorbed dragon souls and channeled their magic in explosive shouts. They could go anywhere and do anything, exploring the rich world and influencing pivotal events with their nuanced actions. That open-ended appeal was too addictive for its own good.

Skyrim kept its company afloat for over a decade. Just two years after its initial release came the Legendary Edition with all three DLC packs. The next console generation saw the remastered Special Edition, which additionally came to the Nintendo Switch. After these releases, there was a virtual reality edition, aptly titled Skyrim VR. Finally, the game’s 10-year popularity prompted the Anniversary Edition, packaging the previous DLCs with a wealth of new content from both players and developers. It’s easy to see how fans spent hundreds of hours in this mythical wonderland.^[2]

8 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

After a gradual path to the mainstream, this fantasy franchise saw a massive hit with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The threequel saw the monster-hunting Geralt on a search for his adopted daughter, Ciri, whose world-hopping powers made her a target for a sinister band of spectral marauders. Arguably more engaging, though, were the countless hours of exploring the realm, taking on quests, and enjoying every painstaking detail. That adventure attracted legions of genre fans.

The widespread reach caused developers to take note. The two huge expansions—practically full games themselves—led to later releases like the Complete Edition and the Game of the Year Edition. These versions came with all the extra tweaks, fixes, and content. The subsequent Netflix series only furthered that esteem. Though based on the books instead of the games, it prompted yet more players, which drove developers to add a few of its aspects to The Witcher 3. The studio then incorporated these fixings into a next-gen remaster for new systems. All this doesn’t even account for the title’s card game, Gwent, which got several spin-offs incorporating the books’ lore. The developers’ passion for this property knows bounds.^[3]

7 Final Fantasy VII

Each mainline Final Fantasy game was a fresh story in a new world, but one entry defied that tradition time and time again. Final Fantasy VII began with the evil Shinra corporation sapping the planet’s magical energy for its deranged goals. These schemes inadvertently brought disaster, ironically spurred on by the company’s greatest warrior/experiment, Sephiroth. The only hope lay with a ragtag group of heroes led by a former Shinra trooper named Cloud Strife. Only by solving the planet’s age-old mysteries and harnessing its energy could they save it from calamity. That rich mythology and intuitive gameplay shot FFVII to the series’ top tier.

It’s not surprising, then, that it’s received the most attention post-release. On top of porting the classic to other consoles, the developers expanded the world through various spin-offs, prequels, and sequels. They included tales like Advent Children, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus. In addition, the Kingdom Hearts series featured FFVII characters in recurring guest appearances. This continuing fanfare culminated in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, which recreated the original tale with updated graphics, voice acting, and a new combat system. The creators will soon become as greedy as Shinra.^[4]

6 Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

In the vast catalog of Dragon Ball tie-ins, Xenoverse 2 stuck around the longest. It lets players create a custom character and travel through the franchise’s history, affecting pivotal events by fighting alongside the heroes. Developing one’s character hinged on learning from these heroes (or villains). You then pitted those skills against other players in online matches. That continued fan support was what kept the game going.

Xenoverse 2 has steadily added features for a decade. Part of the demand stemmed from the expanding brand. Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Daima aired during the game’s lifecycle, thereby drumming up enthusiasm and providing a consistent source for new DLCs. On top of these additions, fans contributed their own creations through mods. All 40 years of Dragon Ball history gradually gathered into this single title.^[5]

5 Resident Evil

In contrast to its overblown successors, the first Resident Evil was a small-scale affair. The tale involved members of a special task force trying to escape a zombie-filled manor. That goal was a slow burn as they carefully navigated the hazardous place while solving puzzles, gathering resources, and avoiding monsters. Clunky controls aside, the patiently horrific atmosphere and meticulous mechanics made for an immersive survival experience, especially compared to what came after. That hindsight likely fueled the game’s many returns.

The developers sought to recapture Resident Evil’s magic without the frustration. Though originally limited to PlayStation, it soon came to PC and Sega Saturn, each boasting a handful of fresh features. However, the classic quickly returned to PS1 with the Director’s Cut: a slightly adjusted version with new outfits, animations, modes, and item locations. This package itself got a variation called the Dual Shock Ver., which updated the music and supported the recent DualShock controller. Following this were a GameCube remake and a Nintendo DS port. These releases sported yet more modifications in gameplay and aesthetics. Throw in the blockbuster movie series, and fans couldn’t forget this horror story if they tried.^[6]

4 Persona 3

The Persona series is no stranger to re-releases, but Persona 3 got the most attention in this area. Like its peers, the RPG revolved around Japanese schoolchildren. Going about their daily routines, they found their city under attack from shadowy monsters, which they fought using the series’ trademark turn-based combat. The gameplay loop was as dense as ever, but the developers stuffed it still further.

This title received a re-release for seemingly every new feature. Persona 3 FES extended the playtime and added a harder difficulty option; this version became available on subsequent consoles through retro ports. On the other hand, the PSP saw its own rendition with Persona 3 Portable . This title condensed the experience into a visual novel, adjusted the narrative, and revamped the mechanics with Persona 4 as a template. Finally, fans got a full-blown remake in Persona 3 Reload , with all the benefits of modern hardware and recent entries. The tale’s child stars should be seasoned adults by now.^[7]

3 Half-Life

Half-Life mirrored Resident Evil in both narrative and history. Players controlled a scientist as he raced to escape a research station infested with aliens. Although the foundation was a first-person shooter, the game heightened the tension through its maze-like structure and a lack of scripted sequences. The refusal to hold players’ hands resonated, and they certainly showed their gratitude over the years.

Half-Life was another classic nurtured by both developers and fans. The former followed the initial release with expansions like Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Decay. These packs retold the story with new characters and multiplayer functionality. Plus, they went into subsequent ports on PS2, OS X, Linux, and the Source engine. On the fan side of things, modders used Half-Life’s assets to craft separate titles like Counter-Strike and Day of Defeat. These efforts culminated in a complete remake called Black Mesa. Suffice it to say—Half-Life’s half-life was longer than anticipated.^[8]

2 Grand Theft Auto V

The Grand Theft Auto games popularized open-world chaos, with this pivotal entry taking it to the extreme. *Grand Theft Auto V* juggled three contrasting protagonists as they pulled off daring heists, often amid crooked government oversight and rival gangs. On top of the story’s insanity, players got a kick out of Los Santos, a massive sandbox with a plethora of pastimes. The resulting hype lasted long after its debut.

GTAV enjoyed endless exposure post-release. A year after it first hit PS3 and Xbox 360, the game got a remaster for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This version came with technical improvements and added gimmicks like first-person mode. Further tweaks came in the following generation with an Expanded & Enhanced version on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Meanwhile, developers continued the content with Grand Theft Auto Online, which used GTAV’s open world for a handful of multiplayer modes. Only after a decade did they leave that world behind. This money-making scheme put the biggest heists to shame.^[9]

1 Pokémon Red & Blue

The pocket monster series has seen an obscene number of entries, but they all stood on the first generation’s shoulders. The original pair of Pokémon games—Red and Blue Version—challenged players to assemble an elite team. Journeying across the land, they caught and trained Pokémon of various types. They then pitted these creatures against other trainers, earned eight badges by beating corresponding gym leaders, and bested the Pokémon League to take the region’s top spot. That simple yet irresistible formula drove multiple generations, but the developers didn’t forget their roots.

The initial Pokémon journey reappeared several times throughout the franchise. Shortly after its debut came Yellow Version: a re-release to resemble the popular anime series, complete with a Pikachu companion. The subsequent Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions also looked backward. Although these games mainly showcased a new setting, they also let players revisit the first generation’s Kanto region and relive the classic journey once again. As if that wasn’t enough, the developers later remade the titles twice: FireRed and LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance and Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! for the Switch. Gotta play ’em all!^[10]