The Quarry and Other Video Game Spiritual Successors

gamerant.com:

There are times when video games, no matter how beloved, may not receive a sequel. While this is often the case, thankfully many games have had spiritual successors over the years. A spiritual successor retains the same core themes and stylistic features of an older title, while not being from the exact same series or franchise. The Quarry, due out next month, aims to be a spiritual successor to the PS4's spooky choose your own adventure game Until Dawn.

Gameplay footage and other promotional material hint at The Quarry incorporating many of the same elements that made Until Dawn such a fan favorite. While this is definitely an exciting treat for fans of Until Dawn, this is hardly the first instance of a video game spiritual successor. Many of the most iconic IP's in the industry were built upon the foundations of something which came before, and the following examples are some of the most notable.

The Quarry Director Talks About Story, Playthrough Length, and New Death Rewind Mechanic

First up is BioShock, releasing in 2007 to rave reviews and raking in numerous Game of the Year awards. The haunting atmosphere, thrilling combat and excellent writing were all immediately praised by gamers and critics alike. Much of the game's design, however, is owed to the System Shock series, which is functionally the same as BioShock, just in a strictly sci-fi setting instead. In fact, BioShock's direct Ken Levin even worked on System Shock, so he probably knew how to best rework these concepts into a new game.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is not shy about its Metroidvania inspirations. This 2D action adventure title bears a strong resemblance to the Castlevania franchise in nearly every aspect of its design, including the gameplay,