Over the years, many video game franchises have transcended their genres and attracted players of all kinds, delivering unforgettable experiences over the course of more than just one title. As a result, many series have been forgotten despite having worlds that are just as breathtaking as the most popular franchises.
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Some of these forgotten trilogy there are relics from another era that never saw the widespread appeal they deserved, and others were shelved due to a shift in focus away from the studio. Be that as it may, these trilogies still manage to deliver exceptional gameplay and compelling stories despite not receiving a large amount of recognition today.
Shadow hearts
A forgotten RPG masterpiece
The Shadow hearts The trilogy had a completely different beginning Koudelkaa horror-filled RPG combining turn-based combat with psychological storytelling. This concept then evolved into the first Shadow heartstransports the player to an alternative fantasy world full of darkness and mystery. This, along with unique gameplay mechanics such as the Judgment Ring system, attracted players and critical acclaim, leading to two sequels that expanded on the lore while maintaining the same haunting atmosphere.
Despite critical praise, the series faded into obscurity due to niche marketing and the decline of mid-budget JRPGs. Yet even today, the story, tone, and even gameplay have aged gracefully, allowing it to become one of the more emotionally compelling and unique RPG trilogies.
Drakengard
Overshadowed by Beauty of Nier
Before NieR gained the worldwide recognition it has today, Drakengard laid the groundwork for Yoko Taro's twisted narrative universe. This trilogy combined medieval warfare with aerial dragon combat and a deeply disturbing story that was equal parts brutal and brilliant, until the final installment, which took a more personal path than the first and second entries.
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A lot of players never realized how closely it ties together NieRas Drakengard 3 the endings directly spawned the franchise's post-apocalyptic world. Behind the rough edges of the series lie some of the most ambitious gaming texts with stories that question morality, sanity and humanity itself. While Drakengard may not be as well known as its successors, its influence on the RPG genre is immense.
Yomawari
Disturbing horrors hidden behind a 2D world
The Yomawari trilogy offers a stark contrast to mainstream horror games, where blood and monsters are replaced by loneliness and emotional fear. Each entry follows young protagonists as they explore eerily abandoned towns filled with ghosts that reflect grief and guilt, and the series' minimalist visuals combined with subtle ambient sound design evoke unease rather than shock.
While many have heard of the first game, the rest of the trilogy has been largely overlooked. Despite being a more niche horror experience, it still manages to portray children's fears perfectly. The Yomawari series is a reminder that real horror often comes not from monsters, but from the very absence of danger.
The Journeyman Project
The original time travel adventure
- Release date: January 6, 1993
- Developer: Presto Studios
- Platforms: PC, classic Mac
Long before futuristic gaming epics, The Journeyman Project defined what a story-driven sci-fi adventure could be. The games center around a time travel project that has been overseen by the Temporal Security Agency, and the player's task is to travel through time to prevent time rifts across a number of settings and eras.
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The series was incredibly technologically ambitious, mixing pre-rendered visuals with the point-and-click style that was common at the time, but nothing from the era could compete graphically. While it may have become more of a cult hit than a mainstream phenomenon today, the franchise still had a noticeable impact on how video game stories are told through exploration and observation rather than constant action.
Cursed
A gem in the indie horror world
- Release date: February 18, 2022
- Developer: Disaster Squad Productions
- Platforms: PC
The Cursed trilogy delivers a haunting, tradition-rich indie horror experience that has gone unnoticed outside of dedicated PC circles. Combining first-person exploration with some striking hand-drawn visuals, it tells several intertwining stories of guilt, madness, and redemption across multiple timelines, all set in beautifully bleak environments.
The trilogy excels in how it builds atmosphere and uses a subtle environmental narrative that keeps the player on edge from start to finish. Budget constraints and unconventional style meant it never got the recognition it deserved, but the series still shows how the horror genre can be pushed forward in the indie space without relying on cheap scares.
Persona
Revelation: Persona
- Released
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December 14, 1996
- ESRB
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Everyone // Mild animated violence, comical mischief
Persona has quickly become a household name in the modern gaming world, but many gamers will miss the foundation laid by the original trilogy. These games introduced the now-iconic blend of social simulation and psychological drama, exploring themes of identity and trauma while pioneering the series' traditional brand of turn-based combat that many RPG fans know and love.
The Western success of the series may have been limited, but there was quite a large audience in Japan Personas early days. Thanks to impressive world-building and developer ambition, the series has now grown into one of the most popular JRPGs out there, showing the importance of building an early legacy, even if it takes some time to see the big successes.
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