Greatest Video Game Trilogies You Didn’t Know Existed

Many video game series have become incredibly popular, attracting players beyond their original target audience and creating lasting memories through multiple games. However, some fantastic series with equally compelling worlds have unfortunately faded into obscurity.

These trilogies, largely overlooked today, offer fantastic gameplay and engaging stories. Some were ahead of their time and never gained a large following, while others were simply abandoned by their studios. Regardless of why they faded into obscurity, they remain truly enjoyable experiences.

Shadow Hearts

A Forgotten RPG Masterpiece

The Shadow Hearts series began with Koudelka, a unique RPG that combined classic turn-based battles with a creepy, psychological story. This idea was then refined in the first Shadow Hearts game, which took players to a dark and mysterious alternate world. Its innovative gameplay, including the Judgement Ring, earned praise from both players and critics, leading to two sequels that built upon the story and kept the same unsettling mood.

Although critics loved it, the series was largely forgotten over time because it wasn’t widely marketed and fewer mid-level Japanese role-playing games were being made. However, the story, atmosphere, and gameplay still hold up remarkably well, making it a truly memorable and emotionally powerful RPG trilogy.

Drakengard

Overshadowed By The Beauty Of Nier

Before the game NieR became popular worldwide, Drakengard first established the unique and often disturbing world created by Yoko Taro. This series of three games mixed medieval battles with exciting dragon fights in the sky, and told a story that was both shockingly violent and remarkably clever. The final game in the trilogy shifted focus, becoming more character-driven than its predecessors.

Many players don’t realize how closely connected Drakengard is to NieR. The endings of Drakengard 3 actually created the post-apocalyptic world of NieR. Despite its somewhat rough presentation, the series features incredibly ambitious storytelling, exploring complex themes of morality, sanity, and what it means to be human. Though Drakengard isn’t as famous as the games that followed it, it has had a huge impact on the RPG genre.

Yomawari

Unsettling Horrors Hidden Behind A 2D World

Okay, so I’ve been playing the Yomawari games, and they’re seriously different from most horror titles. Forget jump scares and buckets of blood – these games are all about feeling totally alone and getting creeped out on a deeper level. You play as these young girls wandering around these abandoned towns, and the ghosts you meet aren’t just scary monsters, they feel…sad, like they represent someone’s regrets or pain. The graphics are simple, but combined with the quiet, atmospheric sound, it creates this really unsettling vibe that just gets under your skin. It’s not about being shocked, it’s about genuinely feeling uneasy.

While most people know the first Yomawari game, the other two haven’t gotten much attention. Though it’s a less mainstream horror series, it brilliantly captures the fears we all had as children. Yomawari reminds us that the scariest things aren’t always monsters—sometimes it’s the feeling that something could happen, or the quiet when danger should be present.

The Journeyman Project

The Original Time-Travel Adventure

Release Date: January 6, 1993
Developer: Presto Studios
Platforms: PC, Classic Mac

Before modern, elaborate video game stories, The Journeyman Project set the standard for immersive, story-focused science fiction adventures. These games involve time travel, overseen by the Temporal Security Agency, and players must journey through different periods and locations to fix dangerous tears in time.

This game series was remarkably advanced for its time, combining pre-rendered images with the popular point-and-click gameplay. Its graphics were unmatched by anything else available then. Though it’s now more of a fan favorite than a blockbuster, the series significantly influenced video game storytelling, emphasizing exploration and careful observation over non-stop action.

Cursed

A Gem In The Indie Horror World

Release Date: 18 Feb, 2022
Developer: Disaster Squad Productions
Platforms: PC

The Cursed trilogy is a hidden gem – a creepy and atmospheric indie horror series with a deep backstory. Though it didn’t reach a wide audience, it offers a unique experience with its first-person exploration and striking hand-drawn art style. The game weaves together several connected stories about regret, insanity, and finding forgiveness, all unfolding in hauntingly beautiful, desolate settings.

This three-part game series is incredibly effective at creating a creepy and unsettling atmosphere through its detailed environments and storytelling. While limited resources and a unique style prevented it from becoming widely known, it still demonstrates how indie developers can innovate the horror genre with genuinely frightening experiences, rather than relying on simple, startling moments.

Persona

Before The Widespread Breakout

I’ve been a huge fan of Persona for years, and while everyone’s talking about the newer games now, it’s easy to forget where it all started! The original trilogy really set the stage for everything that makes Persona special. They were the first to blend everyday life and social links with really deep, psychological stories – tackling tough themes like figuring out who you are and dealing with past trauma. Plus, they perfected that classic turn-based combat system that so many RPG players, like me, absolutely adore. It’s where the magic began!

While the series didn’t initially find much success in the West, it quickly gained a following in Japan when it first launched. Thanks to its rich world and the developers’ vision, Persona has grown into a highly popular Japanese role-playing game, proving that establishing a foundation early on can lead to long-term success, even if it takes a while to achieve widespread recognition.

2025-11-20 06:06