This is in contention for the biggest improvement for a sequel ever in my book, and if anything deserved the glow up it was Blasphemous. The first game drew me in with its extraordinarily detailed pixel art representing a world filled with some of the coolest boss designs I could imagine. The problem is that the actual game was pretty much the barest bones metroidvania I've ever played, it just had nothing interesting going on mechanically. I wanted a sequel with some meat on its bones to back up its face, and Blasphemous II is exactly that.

From the first couple hours discovering the altarpiece system, the new platforming options, and the 3 weapons with distinct abilities in and out of combat, I was floored by just how much it was improved in every regard. Plus, they nailed having a satisfying parry, which is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for in a melee action game, so I was hooked from there. Not only are the mechanics greatly improved, but the level design is as well. Every new option in your toolkit is used in traversal, and never in a way that feels perfunctory. Everything works together to put you into that platforming flow state that perfectly compliments the deliberate action of the combat.

Really just an all around great game that stands toe to toe with some of the best in its genre, and is making me want to try out more sequels to games that I didn't fuck with, but had cool ideas. I really just want more iterative sequels like this in general, that build on the foundation laid down in such a perfect way, to make you really appreciate the stuff that was already good even more.