History Main / SequelNumberSnarl

* {{Mario}} himself is no stranger to this. His first game as a title character was ''VideoGame/MarioBros''. Its sequel was the widely-known ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros''. The following two games were numbered after where they were compared to ''Super Mario Bros.'' (not getting into the American vs. Japanese version of ''Super Mario Bros. 2''), but then things were reset ''again'' for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' (which did have the subtitle ''Super Mario Bros. 4'' in Japan). That got a sequel called ''[[VideoGame/YoshisIsland Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', which then became the ''Yoshi's Island'' spinoff. It appeared, after ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' was named after its system, that Nintendo finally gave up on numbering the Mario games... who then released ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''. Fans have long since given up trying to figure out what number any given Mario game would have had if they had numbered from ''Mario Bros''.

** Then you had ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy X-2}}'' (and later, ''VideoGame/{{FInal Fantasy XIII-2}}''), which muddied things further.

* The ''{{Rambo}}'' series goes ''First Blood'', ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', ''Rambo III'', and then ''[[MarketBasedTitle (John)]] Rambo''. The last film is the first one that is simply titled "Rambo."
* The ''StarTrek'' film series: confusion started with the seventh film was named ''StarTrekGenerations'' rather than ''StarTrek VII: Generations'' and had a different primary cast. As a result, by the time of the second cast change (The 2009 film entitled simply ''Film/StarTrek''), many fans had lost track of how many films there had been.
** Using the old naming system, it would logically have been ''StarTrek XI'').

* Similarly, the ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' franchise consists of three major installments, ''{{Homeworld}}'' (1999), ''{{Homeworld}}: Cataclysm'' (2000), and ''{{Homeworld}} 2'' (2003)

* The ''Gorky'' series. First there was ''Gorky 17'' (also known as ''{{Odium}}''), then ''Gorky Zero'', then ''Gorky 02''...
* The 2011 version of ''[[MortalKombat9 Mortal Kombat]]'' is officially considered to be the ninth game in the series by the developers (excluding updated versions like ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3''). The crossover game ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'' is the eighth game.
* The ''{{Legacy of Kain}}'' series started out with a game called ''Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain''. The sequel shifted the subtitle to the forefront and was named ''Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver''. This was followed by ''Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2'' and then by ''Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2'', the reasoning being that they were subseries, BO featuring Kain as protagonist and SR following Raziel. Did we mention that there's also a lot of time traveling involved for extra confusion? The developers finally did away with the "numbered subseries" idea when they released the fifth and probably final game as ''Legacy of Kain: Defiance''.

* ''ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' was designed and written to be the true sequel to ''ResidentEvil2'', but since it was originally released as a {{Dreamcast}}-exclusive at a the time ResidentEvil series was still tied to the {{PlayStation}}, it was treated as a side-game rather than as a numbered sequel. As result, the number "[=3=]" was instead given to what was originally titled ''[[ResidentEvil3 Resident Evil: Nemesis]]'', a [[GaidenGame side-game]] [[MissionPackSequel developed on the second game's engine]]. The next two games were a remake of the [[ResidentEvil1 first game]] and a prequel titled ''ResidentEvilZero'' (both originally released for the {{GameCube}}) and as a result, ''ResidentEvil4'' is actually the seventh game in the mainline series.

* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' is a FanNickname; the game is actually titled ''[[RecycledTitle Mortal Kombat]]'', but there's still a bit of this when you consider that there were actually ''seven'' ''MortalKombat'' games before ''9''. The eighth refers to ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]''.

* The ''{{Rambo}}'' series goes ''First Blood'', ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', ''Rambo III'', and then ''[[MarketBasedTitle (John)]] Rambo''.

* The ''{{Rambo}}'' series goes ''First Blood'', ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', ''Rambo III'', and then ''[[MarketBasedTitle (John)]] Rambo''. The producers apparently missed the fact that they never included a ''Rambo II'', and the movie that's technically titled ''Rambo I'' is the last film in the series.

* The arcade version of ''{{Contra}}'' was followed by a solo sequel titled ''Super Contra'' and both games were eventually remade for the NES (the latter being shortened to ''Super C''). The NES games were followed by an SNES sequel titled ''Contra III: The Alien Wars'' and all subsequent sequels were left unnumbered until the release of ''Contra 4'' for the NintendoDS, which was actually the eleventh (non-port) installment in the series and a straight sequel to ''Contra III''. To add further confusion, ''Contra III'' was the actually fourth game, since there was a GameBoy game titled ''Operation C'' released between ''Super C'' and ''Contra III''.

*

* ''ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' was designed and written to be the true sequel to ''ResidentEvil2'', but since it was originally released as a {{Dreamcast}}-exclusive at a the time ResidentEvil series was still tied to the {{PlayStation}}, it was treated as a side-game rather than as a numbered sequel. As result, the number "[=3=]" was instead given to what was originally titled ''[[ResidentEvil3 Resident Evil: Nemesis]]'', a [[GaidenGame side-game]] [[MissionPackSequel developed on the second game's engine]]. As a result, all of the Resident Evil sequels from ''ResidentEvil4'' and onward are off by one number.

* ''PowerRangers'' gained a bit of this when Disney decided to ReCut part of [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the first season]]. Officially, the ReCut is season 18, but fans are reluctant to name glorified reruns as a full season and consider the following span of ''new'' episodes, ''PowerRangersSamurai'', as the actual season 18. The impending adaptation of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' is affecting fan perception as well, as it's a MilestoneCelebration season (35 years of ''SuperSentai''), would be the 20th year of ''Sentai'' adapted for ''PowerRangers'', and would air the year of ''Rangers''' 20th anniversary... but would be Season 21 by current official numbering.

* ''ResidentEvil4'' is actually the sixth game in the mainline ResidentEvil series (seventh, if you count the 2002 remake of the [[ResidentEvil1 first game]]). ''ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', originally developed as a {{Dreamcast}}-exclusive, was designed and written to be the true sequel to ''ResidentEvil2''. Since the franchise was still tied to the {{PlayStation}} at the time, the number "3" was given to what was originally titled ''[[ResidentEvil3 Resident Evil: Nemesis]]'' instead, a [[GaidenGame side game]] set during the events of the second game. The next game in the series afterward was the prequel ''ResidentEvilZero'' and as a result, all of the Resident Evil sequels are off by two numbers.

* ''ResidentEvil4'' is actually the sixth game in the mainline ResidentEvil series (seventh, if you count the 2002 remake of the [[ResidentEvil1 first game]]). ''ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', originally developed as a {{Dreamcast}}-exclusive, was designed and written to be the true sequel to ''ResidentEvil2''. Since the franchise was still tied to the {{PlayStation}}, the number "3" was given to what was originally titled ''[[ResidentEvil3 Resident Evil: Nemesis]]'' instead, a [[GaidenGame side game]] set during the events of the second game. The next game in the series afterward was the prequel ''ResidentEvilZero'' and as a result, all of the Resident Evil sequels are off by two numbers.

* ''ResidentEvil4'' is actually the sixth game in the mainline ResidentEvil series (seventh, if you count the 2002 remake of the [[ResidentEvil1 first game]]). ''ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', originally developed as a {{Dreamcast}}-exclusive, was designed and written to be the true sequel to ''ResidentEvil2''. Since the franchise was still tied to the {{PlayStation}}, the number "3" was given to ''[[ResidentEvil3Nemesis Resident Evil: Nemesis]]'' instead, a [[GaidenGame side game]] set during the events of the second game. The next game in the series afterward was the prequel ''ResidentEvilZero'' and as a result, all of the Resident Evil sequels are off by two numbers.

* The ''StarTrek'' film series: confusion started with the seventh film was named ''StarTrekGenerations'' rather than ''StarTrek VII: Generations'' and had a different primary cast. As a result, by the time of the second cast change (The 2009 film entitled simply ''StarTrek''), many fans had lost track of how many films there had been.

* The various ''{{Dungeons and Dragons}}'' editions are titled ''Dungeons and Dragons'', ''The Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set'', ''Advanced Dungeons and Dragons'', ''Basic Dungeons and Dragons'', ''Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Second Edition'', ''Dungeons and Dragons, 3rd Edition'', ''Dungeons and Dragons, Revised Edition'', ''Dungeons and Dragons, 4th Edition'', and ''Dungeons and Dragons Essentials''. Which means that "4th Edition" is actually Version 8. Whether ''Essentials'' counts as Version 9 or is simply Version 8 renamed is the subject of some debate among the game's fans.

* ''Super VideoGame/{{Metroid}}'' and ''Metroid Fusion'' had the titles "Metroid 3" and "Metroid 4" in their opening titles. ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' came out the same time as ''Fusion'', and was intended to be just an aside between the original and ''Return of Samus''. But then the ''Prime'' series was a runaway success, and then ''MetroidOtherM'', an interquel between ''Super'' and ''Fusion'', came out in 2010. This may prompt Nintendo to drop the classic system of numbering if the 2D sequel to ''Fusion'' ever comes out.

* ''{{Starcraft}}'' was initially released on 31 March 1998. By 2009 the franchise included various novels, add - ons, etc., as well as a major ExpansionPack, ''Brood War''. When ''[[{{Starcraft}} Starcraft II]]'' came out in 2010, there was a noticable DoubleTake by some fans at the fact that it was "only" the first sequel.
* Similarly, the ''{{Homeworld}}'' franchise consists of three major installments, ''{{Homeworld}}'' (1999), ''{{Homeworld}}: Cataclysm'' (2000), and ''{{Homeworld}} 2'' (2003)
* ''CallOfDuty'' had it's fourth game named ''Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare''. Its sequel is named ''Modern Warfare 2''. Then there's ''Black Ops'', which is arguably a spin-off from ''Modern Warfare'', but isn't given the ''Modern Warfare'' tagline.

* While ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' is a FanNickname while the game is actually titled ''[[RecycledTitle Mortal Kombat]]'', there's still a bit of this when you consider that there were actually ''seven'' ''MortalKombat'' games before ''9''. The eighth refers to ''VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse''.
* The ''LegacyOfKain'' series started out with a game called ''Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain''. The sequel shifted the subtitle to the forefront and was named ''Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver''. This was followed by ''Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2'' and then by ''Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2'', the reasoning being that they were subseries, BO featuring Kain as protagonist and SR following Raziel. Did we mention that there's also a lot of time traveling involved for extra confusion? The developers finally did away with the "numbered subseries" idea when they released the fifth and probably final game as ''Legacy of Kain: Defiance''.
* The ''AceCombat'' series contains six numbered games (of which ''[[AirCombat 1]]'' and ''[[AceCombat2 2]]'' weren't originally part of the main continuity, and ''[[AceCombat3 3]]'' is set [[DistantFinale after]] ''[[AceCombat04 04]]'', ''[[AceCombat5 5]]'', and ''[[AceCombat6 6]]'') and five oddly-numbered ones: ''[[AceCombatAdvance Advance]]'' (prequel to ''3''), ''[[AceCombatZero Zero]]'' (prequel to the entire series and, more specifically, ''5''), ''[[AceCombatX X]]'' (released before ''6'' but set after it), ''[[AceCombatXi Xi]]'' ([[HeroOfAnotherStory interquel]] to ''X''), and ''[[AceCombatX2 X2]]'' (which was eventually stripped of the "number" because it had nothing to do with ''X'' except the [[PlayStationPortable platform]]). Thankfully, Namco StoppedNumberingSequels at ''AceCombatAssaultHorizon''.

* The ''BattlefieldSeries'' has this. ''Battlefield 2'' was actually the third installment, for instance (which makes some sense; ''Battlefield Vietnam'' wasn't as well-received as ''1942'') . ''Videogame/BattlefieldThree'', on the other hand, is at the very least the ''eleventh game'' in the series.

** Apparently, now Samurai is counted as the 18th season but Super Samurai is counted as the 19th season.

* Discussed in the AngryVideoGameNerd's video "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVzPCY2T-g Chronologically Confused about Movie and Video Game Sequels]]"

* ''Super {{Metroid}}'' and ''Metroid Fusion'' had the titles "Metroid 3" and "Metroid 4" in their opening titles. ''MetroidPrime'' came out the same time as ''Fusion'', and was intended to be just an aside between the original and ''Return of Samus''. But then the ''Prime'' series was a runaway success, and then ''MetroidOtherM'', an interquel between ''Super'' and ''Fusion'', came out in 2010. This may prompt Nintendo to drop the classic system of numbering if the 2D sequel to ''Fusion'' ever comes out.

* ''FinalFantasyIV'' was originally released in America as ''II'', and ''[[FinalFantasyVI VI]]'' as ''III'''. Synchronising the sequels as of ''VII'' confused Americans briefly, but the numbering has caught on.
** Then you had ''{{Final Fantasy X}}-2'', which muddied things further.
** And the Virtual Console releases of ''Final Fantasy'' "2" and "3". Note that ''Final Fantasy'' "2" came out ''after'' ''FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears''.

* ''PowerRangers'' gained a bit of this when Disney decided to ReCut part of [[MightyMorphinPowerRangers the first season]]. Officially, the ReCut is season 18, but fans are reluctant to name glorified reruns as a full season and consider the following span of ''new'' episodes, ''PowerRangersSamurai'', as the actual season 18. The impending adaptation of ''KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' is affecting fan perception as well, as it's a MilestoneCelebration season (35 years of ''SuperSentai''), would be the 20th year of ''Sentai'' adapted for ''PowerRangers'', and would air the year of ''Rangers''' 20th anniversary... but would be Season 21 by current official numbering.

** And the VC releases of Final Fantasy "2" and "3". Note that Final Fantasy "2" came out ''after'' ''FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears''.

* The ''{{Rambo}}'' series goes ''First Blood'', ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', ''Rambo III'', and then ''[[MarketBasedTitle (John)]] Rambo''. The producers apparently missed the fact that they never included a ''Rambo II''.

* The ''{{Ring}}'' series is somewhat baffling.

* ''CallOfDuty'' had it's fourth game named ''Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare''. It's sequel is named ''Modern Warfare 2''. Then there's ''Black Ops'', which is arguably a spin-off from ''Modern Warfare'', but isn't given the ''Modern Warfare'' tagline.

* The ''AceCombat'' series contains six numbered games (of which ''[[AirCombat 1]]'' and ''[[AceCombat2 2]]'' weren't originally part of the main continuity, and ''[[AceCombat3 3]]'' is set [[DistantFinale after]] ''[[AceCombat04 04]]'', ''[[AceCombat5 5]]'', and ''[[AceCombat6 6]]'') and five oddly-numbered ones: ''[[AceCombatAdvance Advance]]'' (prequel to ''3''), ''[[AceCombatZero Zero]]'' (prequel to the entire series and, more specifically, ''5''), ''[[AceCombatX X]]'' (released before ''6'' but set after it), ''[[AceCombatXi Xi]]'' ([[HeroOfAnotherStory interquel]] to ''X''), and ''[[AceCombatX2 X2]]'' (which was eventually stripped of the "number" because it had nothing to do with ''X'' except the [[PlayStationPortable platform]]). Thankfully, Namco StoppedNumberingSequels at ''AceCombatAssaultHorizon'', which is also a ContinuityReboot.