Listing my top five favorite sequels would be the same as listing some of my favorite games of all time, so instead, I'll list some games that are far better than their original release.
Arc the Lad 2. Arc the Lad is a TRPG series, and like most TRPGs you can choose where you want to go next, but normally it's limited. The first Arc the Lad had where you could choose which continent you were going to and then each dungeon or location from there. There was limited movement similar to your standard JRPG in a couple of screens. The second in the series is a major overhaul from the first game and TRPGs in general.
Arc the Lad 2 has all of the same continents and others, but it's filled with towns, dungeons, etc. The continents themselves are world maps, and like your standard JRPG rather than your TRPG, towns and dungeons are fully explorable. Arc the Lad 2 has a hunters guild, multiple dungeons that aren't required to complete the game, a monster taming/monster class system, etc. Because of the games popularity and the monster taming system, they developed a sequel that used your Arc the Lad 2 data called Monster Tournament, or Arc Arena in the US, you had to purchase Arc the Lad Collection so you got it along with it, while Japan it was seperate. Arc Arena allows for you to load your save data and go through preset rounds against opponents which get tougher the further you get, getting special items and upgraded monsters which are usable in the main game, an endless battle mode, with the reward being more powered up treasures, and then a versus mode where you can load two(or even the same) save data to player one and player two, allowing you and a friend to pit your team against one another to see who has the better characters.
Lufia 2, Infamous 2, Final Fantasy Legend 2(SaGa 2,) Uncharted 2, Twisted Metal 2, Diablo 2, and Warcraft 2.







