Since the dawn of video games, the industry has been filled with sequels, remakes, spin-offs, and spiritual successors. However, only a few video game franchises have managed to stun audiences with a completely different story with each new iteration. Many of these series switch up the storylines and characters with each new installment.
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Out of these six individual video games, they have above and beyond the best use of the anthology format than any other entry in their respective series. Whether it’s by making the most of every character or creating a fresh new experience with every entry, these games prove that if it ain’t broke, one might as well make something completely new anyway.
6UFO 50
From the same development team behindindie classics likeSpelunkyandTime Barons,UFO 50will comprise 50 different minigames varying between single-player and multiplayer. However, the game is yet to be released, although as of December 2022, development is still steadily progressing on the highly-anticipated minigame collection.
Nevertheless, knowing how polished the team behindUFO 50has been in the past, it’s no doubt that this anthology game will be well worth the wait for fans. The game seems to consist of plenty of simplistic games with adorable mascots, NES-era graphics, and some killer music to go along with it, so it’s a safe bet this game will be another classic.
5Stories Untold
Released in 2017 for PC,Stories Untoldis another traditional use of the anthology genre, mixingmany elements from 1980s adventure games. It consists of four episodes, with the first three seemingly involving completely separate stories requiring players to engage in a series of in-universe text-based adventure games and various puzzle sequences.
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However, the fourth episode, titled “The Last Session” ties all these three episodes together by revealing that players are controlling the same character every time. While it’s an interesting exploration of the anthology formula, its short length and lack of engaging gameplay, for the most part, make it easily forgettable.
4Live A Live
This example of an anthology game is a typical use of the formula,released in 1994 for the Super Famicom(the SNES in the West). It didn’t see a worldwide release until it was remade for the Nintendo Switch in 2022, later being ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The RPG consists of seven main characters who live in seven different time periods.
Like a true anthology,Live A Livecenters on different narratives that do not intersect until the game’s eighth and final chapter. Along the way, players enact turn-based battles in historical locations like imperial China, the American West, and the distant future. Although beloved by critics, its more experimental and anthological elements have turned off some RPG fans.
3Game & Wario
TheWarioWareseries is perhaps Nintendo’s most well-known anthology series. It often featuresthe same supporting cast surrounding Wario, who all have their own unique selection of microgames for players to conquer. However, the Wii U titleGame & Wariofeatures some of the franchise’s most unique and interesting minigames yet.
Unlike previous entries, each character is the star of their own minigame, which are more in-depth than otherWarioWaremicrogames. Among the highlights includeGamer, which is as thrilling as it is terrifying, andFruit, a multiplayer game where one player must secretly steal fruit while other players guess as to who the on-screen thief really is.
2Silent Hill 2
Unlike the previous entries in this list,Silent Hillis an anthology franchise, rather than containing separate storylines in the individual games themselves. The 2001 titleSilent Hill 2, which was originally released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, is favored amongSilent Hillfans. It takes inspiration from the films of David Lynch, himself an expert in the anthology formula.
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In its own unique story, players follow a widowed husband who travels to Silent Hill after his late wife sends him a message to meet her there. It’s widely considered to be one of the greatest video games ever made, witha remake in development as of 2022. Hopefully, that remake lives up to the expectations fans have for their favorite in the anthology series.
1Final Fantasy 7
Similarly toSilent Hill 2,Final Fantasy 7is one entry in a franchise of anthology stories. Also considered one of the greatest video games ever made,Final Fantasy 7stars the iconic character of Cloud Strife, whose band of mercenaries becomes involved in stopping an evil corporation from stealing the world’s energy, resulting in a truly heart-wrenching story.
Not only isFinal Fantasy 7a seminal title for the RPG genre, but its legacy lives on in many forms. Cloud and antagonist Sephiroth appear as playable characters inSuper Smash Bros., while a remake was released by Square Enix in 2020. Though it shares no ties with the rest of theFinal Fantasyseries, these characters will remain relevant for video game history.
