Edit: Thanks so much for all your awesome recommendations and feedback. Based on sheer popularity it looks like my next 3 franchises will be Mass Effect (5 votes), Dead Space (3 votes) and Batman Arkham (3 votes). I love Lemmy!
So since picking up my steam deck last year I’ve been slowly but surely working through some old trilogies that I never got round to playing. I’m a very casual gamer who plays when opportunity strikes, so it’s taken me a year to play all 3 bioshock, mafia and tomb raider games. I played them in alternating order of release (bioshock 1, mafia 1, tomb raider, bioshock 2, mafia 2, tomb raider 2 etc) and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of watching each story unfold and graphics improve.
So as I approach the end of Mafia 3, I’m looking to repeat this exercise. The Assassin’s creed collection just went on sale on steam, so I’m thinking I may start there, so am looking for recommendations for another 2 franchises to compliment (or change up) my playing experience over the next year.
Dead Space. It’s like the brutal lovechild of Bioshock and Resident Evil. Cannot recommend the trilogy enough if you like the horror shooter genre. Especially Dead Space 1 and 2, truly ahead of its time.
I recommend playing the Original Trilogy first, then play the recently released Dead Space Remake if you’d like (OR be a real patient gamer and wait ten years before playing the Remake). The original trilogy should be pretty affordable everywhere but they are also all on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate if you have that.
Edit: I played the entire trilogy on my Steam Deck. Chef’s Kiss 👌
As others have said I would 100% recommended the Mass Effect trilogy.
I Also really enjoyed the crysis trilogy, it’s like playing through a Michael Bay alien movie. The 2nd and 3rd games especially.
I’d also recommend the Arkham and Witcher trilogies. For the Witcher trilogy I’d wait till the remake of the first game comes out if you plan on playing them in order, as the first game hasn’t aged particularly well.
crysis is a lot like the matrix of video games. the first one was groundbreaking and set technical standard all releases were compared to - for years! - then 2 and 3 were very meh and forgettable.
By the time the Witcher 1 remake comes out we will also have a Witcher 4, so it won’t be a trilogy anymore. That being said, I’m hoping both entries turn out to be good, especially the W1 remake. It’s a fantastic game that’s really hard to recommend for newcomers to the series.
Streets of Rage! Although 3 isn’t very good, but 4 more than makes up for it.
Incidentally, I’ve made <10 comments on this account and the majority have been recommending these games and/or their soundtracks, which should tell you all you need to know.
If you’re a fan of the Elder Scrolls franchise, there’s a trilogy made by an indie dev crew called SureAI (just game devs, nothing to do with AI, lol) that are built from the assets of the Elder Scrolls games.
Enderal is built from Skyrim, Nehrim from Oblivion, and… idr the Morrowind one.
These games are there own lore-universe, and have nothing at all to do with Elder Scrolls. Different characters, races, terrain, voice actors, music, etc.
Enderal is fucking incredible. The other two are decent.
Free on steam, provided you have the corresponding Bethesda game in your library for the SureAI ones to cannibalize.
Mass Effect is one of my favourite game franchises of all time (the trilogy - I never really got into Andromeda) and can definitely be played on a casual basis.
I don’t mean this in a rude way, but what are you?
As for your question, here are a few options (not all trilogies):
Mass Effect
Dragon Age
Stalker
Deus Ex
Amnesia
Dead Space (skip 3)
Dishonored
Far Cry 3-6
Metro
Saints Row
Wolfenstein
I suppose I get it if you’re really interested in watching technological progression in particular, but to me it’s like taking a bite of dessert and then of dinner and then of breakfast: even if you have very similar styles (3rd person mission oriented/linear shooter, for example) there’s still some degree of continuity between parts of a trilogy/franchise that’s greater than between franchises, not to mention world and characters and story and themes.
I’ve done deep dives into franchises by going straight up through the years (my favorite is Geneforge/Avernum/Avadon) but bouncing between them would really throw me off.
Yeah I get what you’re saying, but I figured that I didn’t want to get bored of the same (albeit improved) game mechanics by playing a franchise straight through. I really enjoyed switching between FPS and third person perspectives for example, and also that warm, familiar feeling of returning to a game story was increased by taking a complete break from the whole world for a few months or so (as I said I’m a very casual gamer!)
Why skip far cry 1&2? 1 is a little dated yes but iconic in itself. The setting of far cry 2 is one of the most unique in gaming history and it brought some very interesting mechanics into gaming which were revolutionary for that time.
There might be a lot of nostalgia speaking here though. I had so much fun with both games!
I still maintain the opinion that the original Far Cry is the best. Followed by 3 and 4. I couldn’t get into Far Cry 2 for some reason though some of the tech in it is rad.
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Late to the party, but Mass Effect, Dead Space, and the Arkham trilogy are all extremely solid choices haha.
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Yeah I love the story of the first games
Dark Souls 1-3 is a perfect casual experience
They’re my favourite relaxing games to unwind with after work
The EA skate trilogy
Dead Space. It’s like the brutal lovechild of Bioshock and Resident Evil. Cannot recommend the trilogy enough if you like the horror shooter genre. Especially Dead Space 1 and 2, truly ahead of its time.
I recommend playing the Original Trilogy first, then play the recently released Dead Space Remake if you’d like (OR be a real patient gamer and wait ten years before playing the Remake). The original trilogy should be pretty affordable everywhere but they are also all on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate if you have that.
Edit: I played the entire trilogy on my Steam Deck. Chef’s Kiss 👌
I was going to recommend you the Uncharted trilogy, but then I noticed you said on Steam Deck, then I proceed to be sad because I don’t have one lol.
Is emulating an option? That opens up more stuff!
As others have said I would 100% recommended the Mass Effect trilogy.
I Also really enjoyed the crysis trilogy, it’s like playing through a Michael Bay alien movie. The 2nd and 3rd games especially.
I’d also recommend the Arkham and Witcher trilogies. For the Witcher trilogy I’d wait till the remake of the first game comes out if you plan on playing them in order, as the first game hasn’t aged particularly well.
crysis is a lot like the matrix of video games. the first one was groundbreaking and set technical standard all releases were compared to - for years! - then 2 and 3 were very meh and forgettable.
I actually really liked Crysis 2, it felt like a polished Crysis and I enjoyed the city setting. The plot was quite basic but so was the first game.
I am sad there was no Zero-G moments though.
By the time the Witcher 1 remake comes out we will also have a Witcher 4, so it won’t be a trilogy anymore. That being said, I’m hoping both entries turn out to be good, especially the W1 remake. It’s a fantastic game that’s really hard to recommend for newcomers to the series.
Doom 1,2, 3!
Borderlands 1,2,3?
Streets of Rage! Although 3 isn’t very good, but 4 more than makes up for it.
Incidentally, I’ve made <10 comments on this account and the majority have been recommending these games and/or their soundtracks, which should tell you all you need to know.
Prince of Persia trilogy could work. It’s more linear than assassin’s creed so it could offer a change of pace.
Elder Scrolls: first complete Daggerfall, then Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.
“Complete” TES games? There are people who don’t get so distracted by side-quests that they never finish the main quest in those?
Wait. You mean there’s a main quest?
More than a trilogy, but I’ve been enjoying Yakuza quite a bit.
If you’re a fan of the Elder Scrolls franchise, there’s a trilogy made by an indie dev crew called SureAI (just game devs, nothing to do with AI, lol) that are built from the assets of the Elder Scrolls games.
Enderal is built from Skyrim, Nehrim from Oblivion, and… idr the Morrowind one.
These games are there own lore-universe, and have nothing at all to do with Elder Scrolls. Different characters, races, terrain, voice actors, music, etc.
Enderal is fucking incredible. The other two are decent.
Free on steam, provided you have the corresponding Bethesda game in your library for the SureAI ones to cannibalize.
Mass Effect is one of my favourite game franchises of all time (the trilogy - I never really got into Andromeda) and can definitely be played on a casual basis.
Playing through the Legendary Edition remasters on Xbox right now - I second this recommendation, they’re a lot of fun.
More efficient than an alt. I approve.
?
Sorry, I read your comment wrong. Thought you were both recommending the game and seconding your recommendation in the same reply.
Ha! No, genuine individual recommendation.
[Was tempted to reply here recommending Mass Effect again - not sure the joke would’ve landed thought :-)]
I second that recommendation!
I don’t mean this in a rude way, but what are you?
As for your question, here are a few options (not all trilogies): Mass Effect Dragon Age Stalker Deus Ex Amnesia Dead Space (skip 3) Dishonored Far Cry 3-6 Metro Saints Row Wolfenstein
Haha no offence taken, but why do you not agree with my play tactic? I find the gradual progression of both technology and storyline very satisfying!
You are very much right where you should be.
I suppose I get it if you’re really interested in watching technological progression in particular, but to me it’s like taking a bite of dessert and then of dinner and then of breakfast: even if you have very similar styles (3rd person mission oriented/linear shooter, for example) there’s still some degree of continuity between parts of a trilogy/franchise that’s greater than between franchises, not to mention world and characters and story and themes.
I’ve done deep dives into franchises by going straight up through the years (my favorite is Geneforge/Avernum/Avadon) but bouncing between them would really throw me off.
Yeah I get what you’re saying, but I figured that I didn’t want to get bored of the same (albeit improved) game mechanics by playing a franchise straight through. I really enjoyed switching between FPS and third person perspectives for example, and also that warm, familiar feeling of returning to a game story was increased by taking a complete break from the whole world for a few months or so (as I said I’m a very casual gamer!)
Surely it should be far cry 2, 3 and that weird one ive never played but people love. Everything past that is a reskin of 3
Why skip far cry 1&2? 1 is a little dated yes but iconic in itself. The setting of far cry 2 is one of the most unique in gaming history and it brought some very interesting mechanics into gaming which were revolutionary for that time.
There might be a lot of nostalgia speaking here though. I had so much fun with both games!
I still maintain the opinion that the original Far Cry is the best. Followed by 3 and 4. I couldn’t get into Far Cry 2 for some reason though some of the tech in it is rad.