History SpiritualSuccessor / VideoGames

* ''VideoGame/WolfQuest'' is this to ''VideoGame/{{Wolf}}.'' Both games are very similar, having the same subject matter and made with the same goal in mind: Educating people about wolves.

* The popular, but now dated, ''VideoGame/XCom'' series has a number of unrelated spiritual successors, including the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' series, ''Xenonauts'', the open-source ''VideoGame/UFOAlienInvasion'', and ''Rebelstar: Tactical Command'' for the GBA.

* ''VideoGame/PumpItUp Pro'' is, oddly enough, this to ''VideoGame/InTheGroove''. Since the rights to ''ITG'' were picked up by Creator/{{Konami}} (in other words, Konami nixed ''ITG''), the team behind ''ITG'', who had collaborated with ''PIU'' developer Andamiro for the ''In The Groove 2'' dedicated cabinet, decided to collaborate with Andamiro once again, this time working on a ''Pump It Up'' game geared towards the same sort of players who enjoy ''ITG'', featuring a lot of ''ITG'' elements such as the use of the ''VideoGame/StepMania'' engine, notes colored by beat (rather than each column having its own color like in mainline ''Pump'', although the option to use that coloring scheme exists), scoring based purely on accuracy rather than other factors like note streaks, and a good chunk of the soundtrack consisting of songs from artists who contributed to ''ITG'' such as Kyle Ward. In short, it's ''In The Groove'' [-WITH A ''PUMP IT UP'' PAD LAYOUT!-]

* The UK-based company Graftgold ported ''VideoGame/RainbowIslands'' to the [[UsefulNotes/CommodoreAmiga Amiga]] and other European-market home computers. They followed it up with a game called ''VideoGame/FireAndIce'', which had somewhat similar game mechanics (in particular, combat is done by shooting something that immobilizes an enemy and then touching it while immobilized, enemies left immobilized for too long will [[TurnsRed become stronger]], every level contains a certain amount of enemy-dropped items which the player is supposed to collect, and [[StalkedByTheBell taking too long to finish a level causes something to chase the player character]]), and its box cover had a quotation from a review that called it "the best platformer since ''Rainbow Islands''".

* ''Videogame/KeroBlaster'' by Creator/StudioPixel is this to his most famous game, ''VideoGame/CaveStory''. Both are RunAndGun type games using a strong {{Retraux}} aesthetic with a variety of unique upgradeable weapons, and a healthy dose of SurpriseCreepy. Also, a few of the music tracks in it are remixed from ''Cave Story''.

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsJudgment Super Robot Wars J]]'' for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance. Despite being in separate continuities, they both share many of the same series' (''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', and ''Anime/TekkamanBlade'' are the standouts), with units even using the same sprites and attacks. W also has many of the same features as J, such as Unit Switching with battleships, altering background music, and series favorites. A common [[EpilepticTrees fan theory]] is that the other race ''J's'' Fury mention they're avoiding is in fact ''W's'' Database, or at least will be once their storylines come up in the Original Generation series. Similarly, ''K'' has a similar engine and graphics, but series-wise it really only shares ''SEED'' This all culminates in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars High School'', which combines all three.

* ''Donkey Kong Jr'' was the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3'', differing in that ''Donkey Kong Jr'' made the protagonist the antagonist where ''Wario Land'' made the antagonist the protagonist. ''Wario Land'', a ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros'' SpinOff of a [[VideoGame/SuperMarioLand Super Mario Bros spinoff]], was in turn the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'', a ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' Spinoff of a [[VideoGame/MarioBros Donkey Kong spinoff]]. ''Donkey Kong Country'' was in turn the spiritual predecessor to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'', another spinoff that took a new mechanic from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' and ran with it. ''VideoGame/NewSuperLuigiU'' and ''VideoGame/CaptainToadTreasureTracker'' are in turn spiritual successors to the ''Wario'', ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Yoshi'' platform series.

* ''VideoGame/GlitchStrikers'' is this to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosCrossover'' in that the game is based on characters from vastly different games with their gameplay retained. The differences in this case are that ''Glitch Strikers'' is a WritingAroundTrademarks version for commercial release (as such, the characters are replaced with {{exp|y}}ies -- Mario himself, for example, is replaced by a German miner named Manni), the worlds in the game are based on each of the characters rather than solely emulating ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros.'', and there's an actual storyline that ties everything together.

** The ''Xeno'' games as a whole can be considered spiritual successors to the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, as ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' was originally proposed to be ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', but rejected as it was considered "too dark" (which says a lot considering what ''Final Fantasy VII'' [[NightmareFuel/FinalFantasyVII ended up being). Most of Creator/MonolithSoft's senior developers also got their start working on the pre-''VII'' ''Final Fantasy'' games, thus providing further links to the JRPG titan.

* ''10.000 Bullets'' can be a worthy successor to Creator/{{Capcom}}'s
''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}'', because [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' actually started life by Capcom as an arcade-style, stylized version of ''VideoGame/DeadToRights'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, and ''VideoGame/FreedomFighters'' influenced the gameplay of Rockstar's Revolver.

* Many UK video game magazines of the era argued that ''VideoGame/Bully'' is this to ''VideoGame/SkoolDaze''. (They weren't wrong.)

* ''10.000 Bullets'' can be a worthy successor to Creator/Capcom's

* ''10.000 Bullets'' can be a worthy successor to ''VideoGame/{{Gungrave}}''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Darkwatch}}'' is a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}'' because of Creator/{{Capcom}} publishing the game, mixed with horror elements and a first-person view akin to ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}''. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' tried to be a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'' once published by Capcom, but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, ending up that it became the first installment in [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s beloved ''Red Dead'' series that spawned the critically and commercially successful spiritual sequel ''Red Dead Redemption''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Darkwatch}}'' believed to be a spiritual successor to ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}'' because of Creator/{{Capcom}} publishing it, but actually being more-in-line with the game ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'', so ''VideoGame/TotalOverdose'' is actually as this to ''Gun.Smoke''. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' tried to be a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'' once published by Capcom, but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, ending up that it became the first installment in [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s beloved ''Red Dead'' series that spawned the critically and commercially successful spiritual sequel ''Red Dead Redemption''.

* ''Street Racing Syndicate'' is where Creator/{{Genki}}'s unreleased game based on ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' done right ("Winning's winning." - [[Creator/VinDiesel Dominic Toretto]]).
* ''VideoGame/SunsetOverdrive'' as this to ''VideoGame/{{Crackdown}}'', ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'', and to lesser note ''VideoGame/JetSetRadioFuture''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Darkwatch}}'', due to being published by Creator/{{Capcom}}, is a [[DarkerAndEdgier horror-themed]] spiritual successor to their arcade game classic ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}''. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' tried to be a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'' once published by Capcom, but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, ending up that it became the first installment in [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s beloved ''Red Dead'' series that spawned the critically and commercially successful spiritual sequel ''Red Dead Redemption''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Darkwatch}}'' , due to being published by Creator/{{Capcom}}, is a [[DarkerAndEdgier horror-themed]] spiritual successor to their arcade game classic ''VideoGame/{{Gunsmoke}}''. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' tried to be a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'' once published by Capcom, but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, ending up that it became the first installment in [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s beloved ''Red Dead'' series that spawned the critically and commercially successful spiritual sequel ''Red Dead Redemption''.

* ''10,000 Bullets'', like ''VideoGame/TotalOverdose'', is a spiritual successor to 1985 Creator/{{Capcom}} arcade game ''VideoGame/GunSmoke'', with gameplay in vein of ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'' and ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', but had ability to move freely akin to 3D BeatEmUp games. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' was meant to be as a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios and re-worked as an action-adventure shooter with semi-open world element.

* ''VideoGame/Darkwatch'' , due to being published by Creator/{{Capcom}}, is a [[DarkerAndEdgier horror-themed]] spiritual successor to their arcade game classic ''VideoGame/Gunsmoke''. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' tried to be a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'' once published by Capcom, but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios, ending up that it became the first installment in [[Creator/RockstarGames Rockstar]]'s beloved ''Red Dead'' series that spawned the critically and commercially successful spiritual sequel ''Red Dead Redemption''.

* ''10,000 Bullets'' is a spiritual successor to 1985 Creator/{{Capcom}} arcade game ''VideoGame/GunSmoke'', with gameplay in vein of ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'' and ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', but had ability to move freely akin to 3D BeatEmUp games. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' was meant to be as a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios and re-worked as an action-adventure shooter with semi-open world element.

* ''10,000 Bullets'' is a spiritual successor to 1985 Creator/{{Capcom}} arcade game ''VideoGame/GunSmoke'', with gameplay in vein of ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'' and ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', but had ability to movie freely akin to 3D BeatEmUp games. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' was meant to be as a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios and re-worked as an action-adventure shooter with semi-open world element.

* ''VideoGame/TenThousandBullets'' is a spiritual successor to 1985 Creator/{{Capcom}} arcade game ''VideoGame/GunSmoke'', with gameplay in vein of ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon'' and ''VideoGame/SinAndPunishment'', but had ability to movie freely akin to 3D BeatEmUp games. ''VideoGame/RedDeadRevolver'' was meant to be as a spiritual successor to ''Gun.Smoke'', but Creator/TakeTwoInteractive acquired Angel Studios and re-worked as an action-adventure shooter with semi-open world element.

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* ''VideoGame/CitizensOfEarth'' [[http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198067505253/recommended/258910/ has been described]] as a Spiritual Successor to ''VideoGame/EarthBound''.

* Although ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' shares the same villain, [[spoiler:the SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Giegue/Giygas (albeit in a [[EldritchAbomination vastly different form]])]] with its predecessor ''VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings'', it's more this than a direct sequel to it. The main plot revolves around stopping an AlienInvasion just like the first game, and it stars characters that are [[{{Expy}} close Expies]] of the party in the first game for the most part (to the point of the main protagonist of the game, [[TheAllAmericanBoy Ness, being near-identical to his predecessor Ninten]]). However, it takes place in an entirely different setting: {{Eagleland}}, as opposed to America of the first game.

* ''VideoGame/JimmyAndThePulsatingMass'' is clearly being inspired by ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', being a RPG with simple colorful graphics, quirky characters and a similar battle system (with similar psychedelic backgrounds too) which hides some serious and creepy themes behind the cheerful facade. Theme-wise, it also reminds of ''VideoGame/{{Rakuen}}'', in that you play as a young boy with cancer who travels to a fantasy world that is a distorted, colorful reflection of his own life and experiences.

** Mewtwo looks quite similar to Giygas from ''VideoGame/Mother1'', except with some purple and a few extra details added.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect''as this to ''VideoGame/BruteForce'', both RatedMForManly games featuring similar squad-based gameplay, similar UI elements (the red bar is health and the blue bar is energy), and a similar sci-fi setting.