these games prove that you don't need a
triple-a budget to create a masterpiece
hey everyone I'm Ricky with WatchMojo
and today we're counting down our picks
for the top ten times smaller studios
put triple-a studios to shame the game
was rigged from the start for this list
we'll be going over the instances when
games created by smaller studios
outshine the triple-a titles that
inspired them let's get to number 10
number 10 a.m. to our Metroid Samus
Returns
the Metroid franchise has like its
gameplay been a somewhat stark series
with minimal releases compared to other
big Nintendo franchises this hasn't
stopped fans from wanting more though
and after metroid zero mission remade
the first metroid game fans took it upon
themselves to remake the second when
intended didn't at least for many years
[Music]
the aptly titled
am 2r or another metroid to remake
updates the classic Gameboy using zero
mission sprites as well as new areas and
enemies and a whole host of other
features Nintendo released their own
remake finally the next year after
taking down the span game but while its
new combat system was interesting many
people feel that am2 are made by a
single programmer Milton gross T
outperformed Samus Returns
number nine war for the overworld
dungeon keeper this room produces scores
of microbe piglets a delicacy that will
sustain the weak flesh of your minions
by filling their bellies with succulent
the dungeon keeper series is an RTS
franchise which flips the script on the
standard hero searches for loot
narrative by having the players play as
the monsters managing a dungeon in order
to kill set hero
unfortunately EA's treatment of the
series has been disappointing to say the
least
especially after the controversial
freemium mobile version enter bright
rock games whose title war for the
overworld was initially created to be a
fan-made sequel to the series but
eventually became a standalone release
with explicit references to Dungeon
Keeper removed despite the lack of
connection to the original franchise war
for the overworld certainly bears a
strong resemblance of the games that
inspired it and doesn't charge you an
arm and a leg
once minions arrested you can leave them
to their work or force them to train by
dropping them in a barracks number eight
divinity original sin Dragon Age
Inquisition Dragon Age Inquisition by
Bioware was released at critical and
financial success but it also received a
fair amount of criticism for the ways in
which combat and story diverted from
norms in Prior Dragon Age games some
franchise fans felt that Inquisition was
a downgrade on both fronts
meanwhile divinity original sin a
partially crowdfunded game released the
same year developed by Larian Studios
has been cited as bearing more of a
resemblance to Dragon Age than
Inquisition does it's arguably more
challenging boasts better combat and
more freedom in terms of how to play and
came packaged with a slick editor to
ultimately seal this shame Larian
Studios is now developing Baldur's Gate
3 a series whose first two titles were
developed by Bioware and was the
inspiration for Dragon Age to begin with
oh the irony got ourselves competition
already that's our [ __ ]
number 7 Sonic mania sonic games by
Sonic Team
[Music]
the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has
been dragged through the mud for years
in the court of public opinion
mainly because Sonic teams work for the
last few decades have ranged from decent
to legendarily bad I'm sorry but
can you take to a safe place then
longtime Sonic superfan Christian
whitehead and his studio head Canon
released sonic mania taking things back
to the basics with Genesis era 2d
gameplay while also bringing in new
levels and mechanics that made fans love
Sonic in the first place sure it was
published by Sega but aside from sonic
boom it was also the first major sonic
release not to be released by Sonic Team
sometimes the old guard isn't always the
best hands for classic franchises number
6 a hat in time banjo kazooie
3d collectathon platformers like banjo
kazooie dominated the late 90s and early
2000s but fell by the wayside
mostly because Microsoft didn't develop
any new 3d platformers once they bought
rare under the pretense that quote no
one wanted 3d platformers anymore
while ukulele by former rare alumni
Studios playtonic games was a great
attempt at a spiritual sequel we would
argue that ahead in time managed to do
better and on 1/6 of the budget
[Music]
developer gears for breakfast recaptured
the magic of 3d platformers of the era
with tons of collectables costumes and
abilities and an incredibly charming
atmosphere it's not as revolutionary as
some of the recent triple-a 3d
platformers but it's still a wonderful
throwback that certainly helped prove
Microsoft wrong
[Music]
number five
undertale earthbound / mother series
[Music]
earthbound also known as the mother
series in Japan has had a trouble
history outside of its native country
mostly due to Nintendo refusing to
market their quirky RPG series or import
two of its three games for many years
however undertale a kick-started indie
game which takes many cues from mother
particularly with its music and offbeat
characters has proven to be a global
phenomenon and it was all done by one
guy Toby Fox under Tales morality and
battle systems as well as its engaging
and replayable narrative have made it an
enduring hit and one of the greatest
indie game successes in recent memory
see what happens when you don't give us
mother 3 Nintendo
[Music]
number four cities skylines SimCity fans
of City Simulator series Sim City were
massively disappointed by EA Maxis is
2013 release which had a notoriously
disastrous launch due to overloaded
servers caused by the game forcing
players to play online the number of
downgrades compared to previous games
like the city size limit didn't help
much either but two years later finished
developer colossal order released cities
skylines which although an unrelated
franchise managed to feel more like the
modern SimCity game players had all been
waiting for
thanks to its massive city sizes and
support for user created content at the
time of its release it rightfully took
SimCity's old crown as the premier city
building game
number three the outer worlds Fallout
franchise the Fallout franchise is known
for its expansive action RPG worlds and
quirky aesthetics at least once pathetic
over however many feel that obsidian
entertainment managed to beat Bethesda
at their own game almost literally with
Fallout New Vegas and it looks like the
same holds true for their original title
the outer worlds
given that fallouts original creators
directed it set in a retro futuristic
space colony full of biting commentary
on capitalism the outer worlds ups the
ante from Fallout games with features
like multiple planets branching
narratives and more streamlined
character creation wonder if I love the
macro way of running number two
blood-stained games Castlevania
franchise
[Music]
Castlevania is one of gaming's most
beloved and long-running franchises it's
just too bad that publisher Konami seems
to be determined to ignore the series
and many of their other IPs since the
departure of producer Koji Igarashi
Konami has made a handful of new
Castlevania games and not particularly
well-received ones
thankfully Igarashi has returned with a
few games inspired by classic
Castlevania blood-stained curse of the
moon takes its cues from the NES era of
the series specifically Castlevania 3
Dracula's curse meanwhile blood-stained
ritual of the night is more in line with
Castlevania Symphony of the Night and
any game with flying pigs in it is a
winner in our book
[Music]
want more video game content check out
our gaming channel mojo plays and
discover games and ideas who never knew
existed with more lists breakdowns in
our latest series arcade roulette Justin
and John are in there's a lot of things
being ripped off in this game number one
stardew valley Harvest Moon story of
seasons franchise
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
uh I have put in so many hours into this
game it is absolutely phenomenal okay
for twenty years the biggest name in
farming and life simulator video games
was Harvest Moon or story of seasons
after the developer and publisher split
ties but as the series went on it
deviated further and further from its
original charm thankfully stardew valley
an indie game developed by a single
individual managed to resew what we
thought was a fallow field stardew
valley streamlines the farming process
gives the players more romance options
including same-sex love interests and
lets you dungeon crawl among a wide
variety of other activities all
delivered in a charming snez style the
game practically made the series that
inspired it obsolete stardew valley
coming in at number one i have spent
more time in that game than I care to
admit but all of these games are
definitely worth your time you will not
be disappointed alright everyone as
always thank you for stopping by please
let me know down in the comments which
of these games are your favorite and why
maybe check out this video over here and
I'll see you next time