Chances are that your favorite gaming franchise gets its identity from a single, repeatable gameplay loop. Though this kind of consistency is always good to have when a series is thriving, sometimes departing from it can bring more success.
Variety is indeed the spice of life, and the entries on this list took a chance by changing what fundamentally made them great, making them even better.
8Super Mario 64
Originally a 2D side-scrolling platformer, theMariofranchise took its first leap into 3D withSuper Mario 64. Despite coming out in 1996, it is still commonly referenced asone of the best 3DMariogames ever made.
Super Mario 64is one of the defining games of the Nintendo 64, and it’s easy to see why. Though the controls and camera take some getting used to, once you get a feel for them, the 3D setting provides the same platforming precision and satisfaction of the 2D games. Every zone you visit is unique, and the amount of detail present makes exploration a natural inclination while playing.
Super Mario 64’s success paved the way for classics such asSuper Mario Sunshine,Super Mario Galaxy, and the more recentSuper Mario Odyssey. I won’t say the 3DMariogames are inherently better, but the fact that fans of the series have access to them, as well as more traditional 2D platformers, means there’s something for everyone to love.
7Fallout 3
Originally beginning as an isometric, turn-based RPG, theFalloutseries experienced a radical change with its third game.Fallout 3is a first/third-person shooter with heavy RPG elements, and it introduced the revolutionary V.A.T.S. system.
Fallout 3retains much from its predecessors, such as attribute and skill points, as well as dialogue options with NPCs, but it is quite different in other respects. For instance, combat occurs in real-time, with the player aiming, firing, reloading, and moving all on their own. The V.A.T.S. system is a sort of middle ground between real-time and how the series previously handled combat in that you can target an enemy’s body parts. As long as you have Action Points, the game will attempt to hit whatever you’re aiming at. NPC interactions are also simplified. Previous games let you type in what you wanted to say or ask about, butFallout 3has you select from a set of dialogue options.
Purists may not like the direction theFalloutseries has taken, but it has seen critical success since then, particularly withFallout: New Vegas. The developers seemingly wanted a more approachable game, while not alienating fans of the previous ones, and it was a brilliant move.
6Persona 3
Originating as a spinoff of theShin Megami Tenseiseries,Personagames functioned quite differently prior toPersona 3. The first two games had more traditional RPG elements, while the later ones shifted the gameplay loop to include sim and dungeon-crawler elements.
Make no mistake, thePersonagames are all RPGs, butPersona 3introduced what have become series staples, such as the calendar system and social links. The sim aspect provides players a finite amount of time each day to do something of their choosing, be it increasing stats, dungeon-crawling, or building a rapport with others. The latter is especially important, as social links not only add a dating element to the protagonist’s interactions with others, but they make teammates stronger in later games.
This is even more notable inPersona 5, as every social link provides some type of mechanical benefit, encouraging players to strengthen their bonds with everyone, whether they’re a persona user or not. These new mechanics are so ingrained with thePersonaname that removing them would undoubtedly be met with overwhelming backlash. If you’ve never tried a game in the series, the remake isone of the best RPGs you can play on Xbox Game Pass, and I highly recommend it.
5Resident Evil 4
Though still a survival horror game,Resident Evil 4significantly departs from previous entries because it emphasizes action combat and incorporates third-person shooter mechanics.
UntilResident Evil4, the series featured tank controls with fixed camera positions at every location, while gameplay focused on simply surviving while solving puzzles to progress.Resident Evil 4does retain elements such as puzzles, but they’re toned down, and combat is more of the game’s focus. The camera is also now over-the-shoulder and moves with the player, providing more immersion than before.
I should note this improvement in the series had negative repercussions, as I’m sure many would agree with me thatResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6taking a more action-filled, blockbuster movie approach wasn’t a step in the right direction. I’d say it was worth it though since we did eventually get the critically acclaimed (and personal favorite) remake ofResident Evil 2, which took heavy inspiration fromResident Evil 4.
4Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2took the world by storm when it dropped in 2024, and that could be because of how different it is from the first game. The now third-person shooter began as a top-down shooter, a seemingly small alteration, yet one that made all the difference.
The tone and general gameplay loop remain the same between the two games, but the shift to a third-person perspective helped the sequel appeal to a wider demographic. This genre change also led to the gameplay being much faster and more hectic. The first game definitely did a fine job of creating tension between you and your squad, but it pales in comparison to the sheer panic and excitementHelldivers 2instills when enemies begin overwhelming you.
3Pokémon Legends: Arceus
ThePokémonformula is one of the most consistent in gaming. Though subsequent entries have tweaked gameplay elements or added new mechanics, the core remained the same untilPokémon Legends: Arceus.
Pokémon Legends: Arceusretains turn-based battles, but changes the properties of quite a few Pokémon abilities, while adding Styles you can use to adapt to your current situation. Pokémon are also visible in the overworld, but unlike other entries that do this, like theLet’s Gogames, you can engage them in battle or try to catch them where they stand. On that note, Pokémon exhibit their own behavior, with some being timid and passive, while others are overtly aggressive. In fact, some wild Pokémon will go after you and can knock you out, if you’re not careful.
It’s not a stretch to sayPokémon Legends: Arceusis one of the most innovative games in the series. Fan feedback has also been exceptional, and it’s often praised as theperfect RPG to try for people who don’t like RPGs.
2Grand Theft Auto III
TheGrand Theft Autoseries always had the player controlling a criminal, butGrand Theft Auto IIIchanged the perspective from top-down to third-person.
Prior toGrand Theft Auto III, the camera still followed you around as you explored, but from a birds-eye view. The swap to what we know and love now gives us a more detailed look at the world around us and a more personal experience with the eccentric people we happen to meet.Grand Theft Auto IIIalso has a more robust, narrative-driven story, involving cutscenes and voice acting, which really bring Liberty City to life.
I’m not sure the series would have survived this long if things had stayed the way they were in the first three games. At the very least, I can confidently say the franchisewouldn’t be the gaming juggernaut it is today. It’s very telling when a newGrand Theft Autois about to come out that other publishers do their best to avoid a launch date for their own games that is even remotely close to it.
1World of Warcraft
World of Warcraftis by far the most radical departure from its roots on this list. I’d argue when someone mentionsWarcraftnow, they think of the MMO, as opposed to the real-time strategy games that kickstarted the series.
World of Warcraftdiffers from its predecessors gameplay-wise in almost every respect. Players create and control a single character in a class of their choosing as they explore, complete quests, and fight every assortment of creature you can imagine. Because it’s an MMO,World of Warcraftfocuses heavily on players interacting with one another. For example, most end-game content revolves around group PvP or raids orchestrated by up to dozens of other players to take down bosses and complete dungeons.
Saying this jump into the MMO space paid off is a gross understatement.World of Warcraftremained the undisputed champion of the genre for years, to the point where upcoming MMOs were only worth paying attention to if they had the possibility of being a “WoWkiller.” Considering the game is still massively successful more than 20 years later, no MMO can claim to have done it yet.
A popular phrase that applies to most aspects of life is that you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken. However, innovation is all about taking chances, and these franchises are all blossoming because they tried something different. You could say we needmore games that dare to be different.
