Top 10 Video Game Prequels

Here is a series that’s always leaving it’s fans begging for more lore. In Crisis Core, players control Zack Fair, a SOLDIER in the private army of Shinra. The game covers the events leading up to Final Fantasy VII and is well known for showing how Cloud receives his trademark Buster Sword and showcasing Sephiroth’s decent into madness. With a creative, fast passed turn system that feels like real time combat, this was a must own title for PSP owners and fans of the series alike.

Giving franchise mainstays a break, in Zero players control both Rebecca Chambers, new S.T.A.R.S recruit, and Billy Coen, a death-row convict, who must form an unlikely partnership during a zombie apocalypse. Taking place just before the events of Resident Evil, we tag along with Chambers and Coen as they look for the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team and discover more about the outbreak along the way. The unique zapping mechanic allows players to swap control between either character on the fly, something that was surprisingly dropped in later iterations of the series.

Blood is thicker than water as Trevor Belmont, an ancestor of the original hero Simon Belmont, takes up the whip and goes to work. Castlevania III starts centuries prior to the first game, as Trevor is summoned by the Church to stop Dracula from terrorizing Europe. Though on the surface game takes most of its style from the original Castlevania, there are several branching paths the player can take throughout the game, giving it a non linear progression. On top of this, there are multiple characters you can choose to play as along the way, making this a surprisingly deep experience for a game of its time.

Everyone knows that Kratos eventually kills pretty much all of the gods, but there was a time when he used to work for them, and that’s what you’re doing here in Chains of Olympus. And while the equally good Ghost of Sparta was noteworthy, Chains of Olympus just barely beats it out. A prequel to the original God of War, here Kratos must help Athena restore the Sun itself and prevent Morpeous and Persophone from destroying the Pillar of the world. Bringing the larger than life God of War gameplay into a handheld format without losing any of the epic scale was impressive enough – so the fleshed out backstory was all just gravy.

How could you have a Halo game without Master Chief? The answer is more Spartans! Set on the doomed human planet of Reach, the players take control of Noble Six, another Spartan super soldier much like the Chief himself. With no Flood and the return of Elites in place of the Brutes, Reach offered a darker and more somber experience than some of the previous entries in the series. You might know how it ends, but the journey is well worth your time none the less.

While Bioshock Infinite’s story is tough enough to follow as is, trying to find it’s links to the original Bioshock are enough to make your head spin. Thankfully, things are clearly up a tad in this two part DLC, giving you the chance to revisit Rapture in the new, updated graphics. But nostalgia is not the only reason to revisit, because by the time the credits roll the whole Bioshock timeline, both for Rapture and Columbia, makes a bit more sense.

After the disastrous sequel Invisible War, players were skeptical that anything credible could be done in the Deus Ex universe. Set 25 years before the original, Players control Adam Jensen, a security manager who is attacked and left for dead by terrorists. Lucky for him, the company he works for specializes in bio-aumentation, and he awakens as a twisted hybrid of man and machine. Tackling themes like the human reliance on technology and unchecked corporate power, Eidos Montreal was praised for their ability to recapture many of the key aspects from legendary classic – both in story and in gameplay.

Demon hunter Dante's background is one for the history books and this is where we learn about it. Serving as a prequel to the first two games of the series, this iteration primarily focuses on the relationship between Dante and his brother Virgil. Although a later version with toned down difficulty was released some time later, gluttons for punishment and fans of the genre were fully content with this rude awakening.

About time bounty hunter Samus Aran entered the new millennium. The first in the Metroid Prime series, which fills the events between Metroid 1 and 2, this was the first three-dimensional game for the franchise. Even though the perspective jumped into the first person, the overall feel and spirit of the beloved franchise was maintained throughout. Praised for its reliance on exploration over combat, Prime is still considered one of the best games ever made.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

"The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" (2011)

"Batman: Arkham Origins" (2013)

"Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories" (2005)

"Gears of War: Judgment" (2013)

"Borderlands: The Presequel!" (2014)

A prequel that gets its own sequels is a definite success. Serving as a prequel to the entire series, Snake Eater follows Naked Snake or whatever he wants to be called as he chokes out goons, uncovers conspiracy and deals with the wildlife deep in the jungles of the Soviet Union. Focusing on stealth and infiltration much like it’s predecessors, Snake Eater had just enough changes to make it fresh. Memorable boss fights, addictive game play, and a jaw dropping story, Snake eater is widely accepted as the highest point in a peerless series.

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite video game prequel? For more succinct top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.