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Start with the sequel’s official store page, identify its developer and publisher, then trace franchise or related-game links back to the first release. Confirm the result on the developer’s own site, verify that you are buying the base game rather than downloadable content or a soundtrack, and decide story order separately from release order. Because no specific series is named here, availability, price, region support, system requirements, and spoiler guidance must be checked on the current listing for that particular game.
The reliable way to identify the original
A sequel’s title is often the fastest clue, but it is not always enough. Indie series may use subtitles, different punctuation, anthology naming, remasters, or a side story that is marketed as a sequel even though it does not continue the same plot. Treat the sequel page as a starting point, not as final proof.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sea of Stars - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Stray - Nintendo Switch | $28.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Indie Game Works: Inside the revolution that's transforming how we play | $37.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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My Arcade Atari Pocket Player-Console preloaded with 100 Games, 2.8" Screen | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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One Last Breath - Nintendo Switch | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Open the sequel’s official store listing. Use the page maintained by the developer or publisher on the store where you found the sequel.
- Record the developer and publisher names. These names let you distinguish the intended series from games with similar titles and find the studio’s own catalog.
- Inspect franchise, related-game, and developer links. Steam allows creators to highlight related games and franchises on store pages. Those links can reveal an earlier entry, a bundle, or a spin-off.
- Confirm the relationship elsewhere. Check the developer’s official website or an official series page for wording such as “first game,” “original,” “previous title,” or a numbered chronology.
Do not rely solely on a marketplace recommendation carousel. Store algorithms can group games by genre, tags, or player behavior rather than by narrative continuity. A related-game tile is a useful lead; the developer’s own series information is the confirmation step.
Separate the four titles that are easy to confuse
Before searching, write down what you are looking for. “The original” can mean different products:
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| Term | What it usually means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Original game | The first released entry in the main series | Official series chronology and the developer’s description |
| Prequel | A later-made game set earlier in the fictional timeline | Whether the developer calls it a prequel rather than the first release |
| Remaster or remake | A new edition of an older game, sometimes with altered assets or mechanics | Which original content is included and which platforms are supported |
| Spin-off or side story | A related game that may share characters or a setting without continuing the main plot | Whether it is part of the main story and where the developer places it |
This distinction prevents a common mistake: finding a game with an earlier in-universe date and assuming it is the first game to play. Release chronology and fictional chronology can differ.
Search the exact title in the right places
Once you have a likely title, search it verbatim, including its subtitle and punctuation. A broad search for “the first game” can return fan theories, mobile ports, soundtracks, or similarly named projects.
The developer’s website
Look for a games portfolio, series page, press kit, support page, or announcement archive. An official page can establish the title’s relationship to the sequel and may list supported operating systems or a direct store link. If the site uses a different spelling from the store listing, record both versions and search both.
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Search the exact title and inspect the product type shown on the listing. Steam pages can connect a creator’s games and franchises, but the presence of a link does not by itself prove that the game is the narrative predecessor. Read the description, release information, and included-content section before purchasing.
itch.io
itch.io presents itself as a service for finding and sharing independent games online. It can be useful when a small studio sells a direct download, a prototype, or a version that is not listed on larger stores. Check whether the page is for the finished game, a demo, a development build, or a bundle, and read the platform notes supplied by the creator.
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GOG
GOG’s Preservation Program focuses on keeping original games available and playable on modern machines. That makes the store a worthwhile discovery route for older independent releases, but preservation coverage is not a guarantee that the particular game you want is listed. Verify the exact title, edition, operating system, and included extras on the individual product page.
Use more than one storefront as a discovery method, but do not treat storefront similarity or recommendation systems as evidence of story order. A cross-store relationship can tell you that two games resemble each other; only the developer’s series guidance can establish continuity.
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The most expensive discovery mistake is buying the right name in the wrong product category. Store catalogs commonly place the base application beside downloadable content, expansions, soundtracks, bundles, and sequels.
| Listing type | What you receive | Why it may not solve the original-game question |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | The playable application that constitutes the main release | This is normally the item you need, subject to platform and region checks |
| Downloadable content | Additional material that requires a separate base game or changes it | It may not run by itself |
| Expansion | A larger add-on, often requiring the original application | It can be mistaken for a new entry in the series |
| Soundtrack | Audio files rather than the game application | It is not playable software |
| Bundle | Several products sold together | The bundle may omit the specific entry you expected or include only an add-on |
| Sequel or deluxe edition | A later game or a package with extras | The title may look similar while not containing the original |
Steam documentation distinguishes downloadable content from the base application and uses a special app type for soundtracks. On any store, confirm all of the following before paying:
- The exact product title, including subtitle and edition label.
- Whether the page identifies a game application rather than DLC, an expansion, or a soundtrack.
- What content is included in a bundle or deluxe package.
- The platform or operating system supported by that specific build.
- The country or region in which the offer is available.
- Whether the listing is a demo, trial, early-access build, full release, or tool.
Release order is not automatically story order
Ask two separate questions: Which game was released first? and Which order does the developer recommend for the story? The answers often match, but a sequel can be designed as an entry point, an anthology chapter, or a standalone story.
The Steam listing for Finding Paradise states: “This is To the Moon’s standalone sequel, but can also be played first.” That sentence is an example of a developer or publisher explicitly allowing a non-chronological entry point; it is not a rule for every indie series.
When release order is the safer choice
- The sequel’s description assumes knowledge of characters, locations, or mechanics introduced in the earlier game.
- The developer labels the first game as required, recommended, or the beginning of a continuing narrative.
- The original is short, inexpensive, or mechanically important to understanding the sequel.
- Reviews or official notes warn that the sequel contains returning-character reveals or direct plot spoilers.
When starting with the sequel can be reasonable
- The official listing calls it standalone or says it can be played first.
- The games share a setting or theme but tell independent stories.
- The original is unavailable on your platform and the sequel is deliberately designed for new players.
- You have confirmed that the sequel does not require an owned copy of the earlier game.
If the developer gives no guidance, explain the uncertainty to yourself rather than inventing a definitive order. You can still choose release order for maximum context, or begin with the sequel if its accessibility matters more, while accepting that the sequel may reveal information about the earlier game.
How to establish the release date
Use the store’s release information for a first pass, then cross-check a disputed date against an official developer announcement or another official release record. Steamworks documentation notes that developers can customize the player-facing date display separately from the exact intended date held in release planning. A displayed date may therefore reflect a store presentation choice, a platform launch, or a regional release rather than the earliest public release everywhere.
Record the date’s scope: original PC launch, console launch, regional launch, early-access start, full-release date, or remaster date. Do not call a remaster “the original release” simply because it is the oldest version currently sold.
Check availability for your country and device
Availability is specific to the game, region, platform, edition, and date. A listing that appears in a search result may be delisted in your country, restricted to another operating system, or unavailable for purchase even though its store page remains visible.
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| Check | How to verify | What a mismatch means |
|---|---|---|
| Country or region | View the store while signed into the account and country where you will buy | The product may be hidden, unavailable, or priced differently elsewhere |
| Operating system | Read the current system-requirements panel for the exact edition | A Windows, macOS, Linux, console, or handheld build may not be interchangeable |
| Architecture and hardware | Check processor, graphics, memory, storage, and any stated compatibility notes | An older game may still need a compatibility layer or a particular runtime |
| Edition and version | Compare standard, deluxe, remastered, and legacy listings | Saves, mods, achievements, or included expansions may differ |
| Account and launcher requirements | Read the product page and installer instructions | A purchase may require a separate account, client, or activation step |
Do not generalize compatibility from the sequel. A sequel can use a newer engine, different controller support, or a different operating-system policy. Confirm the original game’s own requirements and recent compatibility notes.
Buying and installing without losing the trail
- Save the official title and developer name. Keep a note or bookmark of the confirmed series page so you can distinguish the game from similarly named products.
- Read the complete product summary. Confirm that it is the base game and note whether the page identifies a demo, early-access build, remake, or bundle.
- Check the platform and requirements. Compare them with the device on which you intend to play, including storage space and controller needs.
- Check the regional purchase status. Sign in before checkout when the storefront uses account-based availability.
- Review included content. Make sure a bundle really contains the original game and not only its soundtrack or add-on.
- Install from the store’s library or the developer’s official download page. Avoid unofficial mirrors that could provide altered, incomplete, or unsafe files.
- Launch the original once before starting the sequel. This confirms that the purchase, installation, and save location work on your device.
- Keep installers and receipts where permitted. They help you reinstall if the store client changes or a compatibility problem appears later.
If the original cannot be found
First determine whether it is genuinely unavailable or merely listed under another edition. Search the exact title without punctuation, then with the subtitle, and compare the developer name. Look for a remaster, a platform-specific port, or a bundle whose contents are explicitly itemized.
If every official route fails, do not substitute a fan upload or an unrelated game with a similar name. Check the developer’s announcements for delisting, licensing, or preservation information. GOG’s preservation work may help with some older releases, but it does not establish availability for an unnamed title. A game can also be available in one country and absent in another.
When the original is unavailable on your device, use the sequel’s official guidance to decide whether playing it first is acceptable. If the sequel is not described as standalone, waiting for an official port or using a supported platform is less likely to spoil the intended progression than guessing.
A decision framework for choosing your play order
| What you know | Best default | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The developer explicitly recommends the original first | Play the original, then the sequel | This follows the stated narrative path |
| The sequel is explicitly standalone and playable first | Choose either order | The official listing says prior knowledge is not required |
| The games share a world but have separate protagonists | Use release order for context, sequel first for accessibility | Your choice depends on whether history or immediate access matters more |
| Only a remaster is available | Play the remaster if its contents match the original | It may be the supported way to experience the first entry |
| Order guidance is absent | Prefer release order when spoilers concern you | It minimizes the risk of encountering later reveals early |
| The original is unavailable and the sequel’s status is unclear | Pause and verify before buying | Store similarity is not evidence of narrative continuity |
This table is a decision aid, not a claim about any unnamed series. The official wording on the specific game always overrides a general rule.
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Common mistakes and their fixes
Mistake: treating a numbered title as proof of required order
A number suggests chronology but does not establish whether the story is standalone. Read the sequel’s own description and the developer’s series guidance.
Mistake: buying the soundtrack by accident
Check the product type and installable application details. A soundtrack is audio, not the playable base game.
Mistake: trusting a bundle title without reading its contents
Open the included-products list and confirm that the original entry appears as a game application.
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Mistake: assuming a search result proves current availability
Open the listing while signed into your purchasing region and inspect the current purchase or download status.
Mistake: using the sequel’s requirements for the original
Read the original listing’s system-requirements panel. Different engines and ports can have substantially different needs.
Mistake: confusing fictional chronology with release chronology
Label each date as a release, remaster, port, or in-universe event, then follow the developer’s recommended story order.
A compact checklist
- Have you copied the sequel’s exact title, developer, and publisher?
- Did you inspect its franchise, related-game, and developer links?
- Did the developer’s own site confirm which title is the first entry?
- Did you search that exact title on the developer’s site, Steam, itch.io, and GOG where relevant?
- Is the listing the base game rather than DLC, an expansion, soundtrack, demo, or incomplete bundle?
- Does the offer exist in your country and on your intended platform?
- Did you read the original game’s own requirements instead of inferring them from the sequel?
- Did you distinguish release order from the developer’s recommended story order?
- If you plan to start with the sequel, is it explicitly described as standalone or playable first?
- Have you confirmed the edition and included content before checkout?
Following those checks turns a vague “What was the first game?” search into a verifiable path from sequel listing to legitimate copy and appropriate play order. Store pages and prices change, so recheck the specific listing when you are ready to buy.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
