The RPG landscape is dominated by long-running franchises, but something great occasionally comes and goes without ever getting a single sequel. While not every game needs a follow-up, more than a few one-offs have gas left in the tank. Then or now, picking up where these games left off could be the start of some great franchises.

Many titles that never turned into proper franchises still featured a follow-up or spin-off. Blue Dragon received a DS entry, for example, and Chrono Cross counts as a full-fledged Chrono Trigger follow-up, even if it’s not the Chrono Trigger 2 that some fans would have liked. For the purposes of this list, only RPGs that were truly one-and-done will be counted, but there’s still more than enough to consider.

10Resonance Of Fate Has Combat Like No Other

Complicated Battles Worth Revisiting

Resonance of Fate would likely have an uphill battle to a sequel, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t deserving of one. Like a lot of one-and-done RPGs, Resonance of Fate released on Xbox 360 and PS3, but it shouldn’t be confused with any other game of the era. A creative, complex battle system set it apart from competitors, and tightening the presentation of its steampunk story could lead to a strong successor.

Resonance of Fate received a remaster from its developer tri-Ace in 2018, but without the involvement of the original publisher, SEGA. Although a sequel might likewise struggle to attract publishing support, it would certainly be nice to have.

9Anachronox Has More Stories To Tell

All That Cut Content Should See The Light Of Day

An Anachronox franchise would be a very long shot now, but under different circumstances, it could have been a great one. Anachronox offered an interesting fusion of JRPG design sensibilities and Western PC games of the late 90s, theoretically appealing to fans of both Final Fantasy 7 and Deus Ex. It suffered even rougher delays than the long-gestating Deus Ex, however, and by the time of its release in 2001, the interest just wasn’t there.

Extreme cuts to Anachronox‘s content during production left an obvious blueprint for a sequel, but the subsequent closure of developer Ion Storm certainly didn’t help matters. Perhaps it’s been long enough to resurrect the Anachronox IP in a more welcoming climate, although I won’t be countin

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is Primed For More Success

All The Momentum Is In Place

As the freshest game on this list, it’s only natural that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hasn’t yet received a sequel, but it’s certainly deserving of one. Inviting frequent comparisons to JRPG juggernauts like Final Fantasy, Clair Obscur made its mark with a memorable story, fun battle mechanics, and a refreshing look at a French fantasy setting that stood out from other RPGs.

Although a direct sequel to Clair Obscurwould be possible, it’s also perfectly poised to set up an anthology franchise in the vein of Final Fantasy. Regardless of what direction developer Sandfall Interactive takes with its next game, there will be plenty of fans ready and waiting to play it.

7Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura Is A CRPG Classic

A Game That Deserves Its Own Baldur’s Gate 3

Iconic computer RPGs like Fallout and Baldur’s Gate left a long legacy of sequels, but Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura might be the best game of the scene that never managed to do the same. Developed by Troika Games, a studio founded by key Fallout designers, Arcanum took many of Fallout‘s strengths to a setting that mixed magic with the Industrial Revolution.

Despite generating more sales than Troika’s later cult classic, Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines, Arcanum hasn’t had the same questionable luck in getting a sequel in development. With the massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s a lot of attention on the CRPG market again, so it’s not too late to bring Arcanum back to the table.

Lost Odyssey’s Writing Is Still First-Class

Xbox Could Have Its Own RPG Flagship Franchise

Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Final Fantasy certainly wore out the Final in its title, but the same can’t be said for all of his other projects. One Sakaguchi game that deserves a revisit is Lost Odyssey, an Xbox 360 RPG that he wrote alongside novelist Kiyoshi Shigematsu.

Like Skies of Arcadia, Lost Odyssey is another oddball platform release, as the PS3 sold much better than the Xbox 360 in Japan and received far more JRPGs as a result. Nonetheless, the game sold well, and its emotionally complex story more than makes up for the limitations of gameplay that didn’t always innovate. A sequel could build on these narrative strengths while updating the gameplay, resulting in the possibility of another Sakaguchi classic.

The Last Story Is A Wii Standout

Xenoblade Shouldn’t Be The Only Franchise

Sakaguchi games without sequels are somewhat common, and another major title in the category is The Last Story. As one of three Wii RPGs that received a major localization push thanks to the fan campaign Operation Rainfall, The Last Story made its way to the West alongside Xenoblade Chronicles and Pandora’s Tower. While the game received strong reviews and sold well, it didn’t luck into Xenoblade‘s franchise-starting star power.

The Legend Of Dragoon Could Have Rivaled Final Fantasy

A Big Push That Never Continued

The Legend of Dragoon was Sony’s internal answer to Final Fantasy, and as such, it should have been primed to kickstart a long-running franchise of its own. Upon release, however, the comparisons to Final Fantasy were generally unfavorable, resulting in a solid reception that just couldn’t compare in terms of excitement.

Viewing it in its own right, however, The Legend of Dragoon was great at the essentials that could lay a franchise foundation. While the combat and progression can drag, a fascinating world begs for further exploration, and a new game wouldn’t have to suffer from miscellaneous problems like its rough translation and uneven voice acting. There’s a wonderful series in The Legend of Dragoon just waiting to happen, even if the one game we got didn’t do everything right.

Live A Live Has Endless Potential

More Anthologies, Please

If any game should be easy to create a great sequel to, it’s Live A Live. As an anthology featuring wildly different scenarios and inspirations, Live A Live spans everything from a prehistoric caveman adventure to a gunslinging Western. While the original game was never released in the West, a modern remake finally made its way to international markets.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension Is Sakaguchi At His Best

Final Fantasy’s Creator Has Set Up Another World Of Possibility

If any Sakaguchi one-off has a real shot at turning into a franchise, it’s Fantasian: Neo Dimension, his most recent effort. Debuting as an Apple Arcade exclusive, Fantasian finally reached a wider audience with a recent port to major console platforms and PC.

While Lost Odyssey and The Last Story attempted to move forward with the presentation of the times, Fantasian is deliberately old-school, delivering a charming handcrafted world that’s reminiscent of PS1 RPGs with pre-rendered backgrounds. It’s also one of his most well-received creations, and should Sakaguchi release another RPG in the near future, it’s entirely possible that it will pick up the Fantasian mantle.

Skies Of Arcadia Did Everything Right

A Great Game On All Levels

The PlayStation 2 was the number one destination for most early 2000s JRPGs, but Skies of Arcadia showed up on the more unexpected platforms. Debuting on the SEGA Dreamcast and reappearing on the GameCube with a new Legends subtitle, Skies of Arcadia never gained the market presence that its biggest competitors did.

Over time, however, Skies of Arcadia has earned and maintained a spot as a stone-cold cult classic. Its sky pirate concept is immediately fun, and with a strong story, likable characters, and fun combat to back it up, there’s no reason that a Skies of Arcadia RPG franchise should be out of the discussion.