Clones Aren't Killing Gaming - They're Saving It

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Videogame clones have been around for almost as long as videogames themselves - and ever since then, they've been accused of being cheap imitations and cashing in on the hard work of other people, but are we wrong about clones? Hidden within all the shameless copies and knockoffs, could there be some clones which actually improve the gaming medium, rather than take away from it?

Well, after one too many monster-infested dystopias where time is convoluted, backtracking is commonplace and no-one can agree on what a bonfire looks like, The Architect has discovered that our relationship with clones might be a little more complex than it appears. Whether they're refining existing experiences, catering to niche audiences or pushing beloved genres forward bit by bit - not only do clones do a lot of hard work behind the scenes, but many of our favorite titles may actually have started life as clones as well.

You Saw (brace yourself):


DOOM - 2016

Atomic Heart - 2023

Metroid Prime - 2002

Counter Strike Global Offensive

Wolfenstein: The New Order - 2012

Doom 1 - 1993

Maze War - 1974

Blood - 1997

Quake - 1996

Duke Nukem 3D - 1995

Super Noah's Ark 3D - 1994

Forbes Corperate Warrior - 1997

Black Mesa - 2020

MOON RPG Remix Adventure - 1997

24 Killers - 2023

The Binding of Isaac Rebirth - 2014

Hollow Knight - 2018

Hades - 2017

Final Fantasy 7 - 1997

Final Fantasy 7 Remake - 2020

Spellbreak - 2020

Marvel's Spider Man 2 - 2023

Shadow of Mordor: Shadow of War - 2017

Batman Arkham Knight - 2015

Angry Birds - 2012

Realm Royale - 2022

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - 1997

Galaxians - 1979

Resident Evil 4 Remake - 2023

Wario Land 4 - 2001

Wario Land:Shake It - 2008

Pizza Tower - 2023

Deep Rock Galactic - 2020

Back for Blood - 2021

Monster Train - 2020

Griftlands - 2021

Dark Souls - 2012

Nioh - 2017

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor - 2023

Lords of The Fallen - 2023

Remnant 2 - 2023

Lies of P - 2023

Bloodborne - 2015

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - 2019

Echo - 2017

Star Wars Battlefront 2 - 2017

Metal Gear Solid 4 - 2008

Nier Automata - 2017

Guacamelee - 2013

Calisto Protocol - 2022

Dead Space - 2008

Bioshock - 2007

Mario Kart 8 - 2014

Garfield Kart - 2013

Dead Cells - 2018

Wargroove - 2019

Advance Wars - 2001

Yooka Laylee - 2017

Banjo Kazooie - 1997

Genshin Impact - 2020

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 2017

Shovel Knight - 2014

Gravity Circuit - 2023

Megaman X - 1993

Megaman 3 - 1990

The Looker - 2022

Holocure - Save the Fans - 2022

Vampire Survivors - 2022

Stardew Valley - 2016

Soulstone Survivors - Early Access

Coral Island - 2023

Signalis - 2022

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - 2004

Bug Fables - 2019

Chasm - 2018

Sundered - 2017

Super Metroid - 1994

Sea of Stars - 2023

Chrono Trigger - 1995

Chants of Sennar - 2023

Heaven's Vault - 2019

ULTRAKILL - Early Access

Desktop Dungeons Rewind - 2023

Slipways - 2022

Master of Orion 2

Enchanted Portals - 2023

Cuphead - 2017

Humankind - 2021

Sid Meir's Civilization 6 - 2016

Starbound - 2016

Terraria - 2011

XCOM 2 - 2016

Lamplighter's League - 2023

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus - 2018

Mutant Year Zero - 2018

Halo - 2001

System Shock 2 - 1999

Demoncrawl

Let's Revolution - 2023

Hunt: Showdown - 2018

Battle Brothers - 2021

Cities Skylines - 2015

Cities Skylines 2 - 2023

Sim City - 2013

Save Room - 2022

Disco Elysium - 2020

Planescape Torment - 1999

Panic Porcupine - 2022

Freedom Planet 2 - 2022

Defunct - 2016

Spark the Electric Jester 3 - 2022

Sonic Adventure 2 - 2001

Megaman 11 - 2018

Mighty Number 9 - 2016

Multiversus - 2022

Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 - 2023

Super Smash Bros Ultimate - 2018

Super Smash Bros Melee - 2001

Left 4 Dead 2 - 2009

Tunic - 2022

Oceanhorn 2 - 2019

Elden Ring - 2022

DUSK - 2018

Myth: Gods of Asgard - 2023

Lords of the Fallen - 2014

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - 2023

Starfield - 2023

Hogwarts: Legacy - 2023

Far cry 6 - 2021

Dying Light 2 - 2022

Horizon: Zero Dawn - 2017

Redfall - 2023

Prey - 2017

Battlescape - 1980

Hovertank 3D - 1991

Kings Field

Demons Souls - 2019

Dark Souls 2 - 2014

Rogue - 1980

dnd - 1975

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 - 2022

Medal of Honor - 1999

World of Warcraft - 2004

Everquest - 1999

Slay The Spire - 2019

Dream Quest - 2014

Final Fantasy 14 - 2014

Before Your Eyes - 2021

Passpartout: The Starving Artist - 2017

Stray - 2022

Pseudoregalia - 2023