So how much do games evolve these days?
Sequels of games like Call of Duty, The Sims, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, may come out every year or between 2 to 5 years or more.

So what is today's standard in animations, gameplay, features and so on?
And was today's standard, last years standard?

Do they repeat the same formula too much? Should they? If they change it too much will it feel as a sequel of the previous game?
Do old hardware of mainstream gaming devices hold some games development back as it's easier\faster\cheaper to produce new game for established mainstream gaming devices, thus creating very little changes for the game than just the theme and features?
Have we reached the peak of our imagination to produce something that has never been done before in features or size?


I guess the answer is different for each sequels.
But you should not compare the sequels of a game with another's game sequels.

You just asked us to compare two different games.

Read again.
I said, "But you should NOT compare the sequels of a game with another's game sequels."

Meaning it is only fair to compare 'The Sims' games with 'The Sims 2' and 'The Sims 3', NOT Call of Duty or anything else.

I say its pretty fair to compare games of the same genre, such as Call of Duty and Battlefield. Or Sims and.... well, there isn't really another large simulation game. But you get the idea.

I don't think the standards today are overall that high. Most people are okay with buying the new Call of Duty or Madden game every year, even though its pretty much the same thing. And its going to keep happening because game studios are making loads of money off of that formula.