Special Achievement

Most Improved Sequel

It's the job of practically any sequel to improve on its predecessor, but some sequels actually fail to live up to the standards of the original games, let alone enhance them in any way. Yet in 2009, we saw a number of follow-ups that enriched old mechanics while introducing fresh ones, making for new adventures that surpassed the old. While our nominees surpassed the games that came before them, only one of them soared high enough to be called this year's most improved sequel.

Editorial Nominees

Editors' Choice Winner

Click to reveal winner

29 Comments

  • TfcIan

    Posted Dec 26, 2009 3:49 pm GMT

    DiRT 2 definitely, the first was good only because there was no competition, the sequel has so much more, as well as DX11. Gameplay, graphics, multiplayer. Everything in the game is an improvement.

  • ShroudedEagle

    Posted Dec 26, 2009 6:45 am GMT

    ACII by a long shot. So much improvements of every single thing... I didn't even think a developer could care so much about making their sequels better.

  • Tomrock101

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 6:06 pm GMT

    This is tough. AC2. Uncharted 2. Sims 3 Cannot decide.

  • Vaithan

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 5:42 pm GMT

    Have to laugh at most of these Editor choices. Where was Uncharted 2? I'm glad these gamespot awards are only play and not real or people would start to think you've been brought out *wink wink*

  • contentxcontext

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 7:24 am GMT

    killzone 2 really isnt that much improved, but to each his own.

  • Nuggetol

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 6:22 am GMT

    I've noticed that not many racing games have been nominated and the only one (out of memory) which has is Forza 3 and that's only one award.

  • jayjay2341

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 5:44 am GMT

    Uncharted 2 is most definitely the best sequel of 2009 and it was a great improvement on the first.

  • STARS_Splinter

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 4:47 am GMT

    What about Red Faction Guerrilla? Forza 3? Dawn of War 2?

  • sambob530

    Posted Dec 22, 2009 10:12 am GMT

    The original Uncharted was awesome, so UC2 isn't as much of an improvement so KZ2. Remember the big pile of s*** that was the original?? Btw, that's 3 awards so far for KZ2. In your face MW2

  • David-Macphail

    Posted Dec 21, 2009 5:34 pm GMT

    Ratchet & Clank: Tools Of Destruction and Assassin's Creed were both amazingly epic games anyway so there's really not much the sequels could have done to be leaps and bounds ahead in terms of quality. Therefore Killzone 2 definetly deserved to win.

  • girdz

    Posted Dec 21, 2009 4:36 pm GMT

    I can agree with that, Killzone 1 was just a mediocre, janky, meh shooter. Killzone 2 is one of the best shooters on consoles. And AC1 was good anyway so I see why they didn't choose that

  • HavQ-san

    Posted Dec 21, 2009 4:27 pm GMT

    Whoa, Kz2 is getting a lot of awards. My vote goes to Ratchet, though. Oh, and stop fanboying ACII, please. It really wasn't as awesomely epic as you think it was.

  • KingWev

    Posted Dec 20, 2009 7:36 am GMT

    I can't believe AC II is being voted for so much, yes the second game is brilliant but the first game was already very good! Killzone 2 deserves this award because the first one hardly even warranted a sequel

  • linkyshinks

    Posted Dec 20, 2009 6:56 am GMT

    Wow, no love for the great sequel to Lost Winds.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Dec 19, 2009 12:50 pm GMT

    I thought DiRT2 was worse than the first one, so certainly not most improved

  • chocolate1325

    Posted Dec 19, 2009 7:58 am GMT

    Uncharted 2 it got every small problem with the first right and thats a hard thing to do plus it was more action packed.

  • efc91

    Posted Dec 19, 2009 1:07 am GMT

    killzone 2

  • mightywillg

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 8:22 pm GMT

    No Street Fighter 4?

  • smithster118

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 12:13 pm GMT

    Killzone 2 was a definite improvement, although still generic.

  • Racer850

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 11:05 am GMT

    Killxone 2 simply because the first game was mediocre, and the sequel is AAA and 91/100 on meta critic!

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Table of Contents

Winner Reveal Schedule

  • Dec 21
    Special Achievement
  • Dec 22
    Dubious Honors
  • Dec 23
    Genre Awards
  • Dec 24
    Platform Awards
  • Dec 25
    Game of the Year

Readers' Choice winners are announced Jan. 27, 2010