Video games have been around for well over 40 years, and in that time, many individual titles have grown into beloved franchises spanning several decades, console generations, and stories. But not all narratives can stay alive forever, and in some cases, franchises simply come to an end for one reason or another.
6 Decent Games That Are Remembered As Franchise Killers
Can these franchises ever make a comeback, or did the following games kill off any potential of a return?
It could be due to lackluster sales, a direction shift within the company, or that the story has met its natural conclusion. Whatever the case, there are quite a few franchises out there that have run their course and are now simply memories of a time that will never be returned to.
8 Dark Souls
Truly The End Of An Era
Dark Souls 3
- Released
- March 24, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
There are very few video game franchises that can say that they invented an entire genre, but if it wasn't for the Souls series, the soulslike genre wouldn't even exist. The trilogy is easily one of the best in all of gaming, delivering worlds full of character and beauty, whilst ensuring a high level of difficulty at all times.
The third installment and the subsequent DLCs marked the end of a saga, and while the games never connected straightforwardly or cohesively, the references and fan service in the final game were enough for fans to accept the ending and move on to the next epic adventures that FromSoftware would come to create.
7 No More Heroes
Satirical Battles That Are Never Coming Back
No More Heroes 3
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Grasshopper Manufacture
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
After over a decade of eccentric action, sharp satire, and over-the-top boss battles, the No More Heroes franchise has reached its conclusion with No More Heroes III. Created by Goichi “Suda51” Suda, the series carved out a unique space in gaming through its irreverent humor and bloody spectacles that made it both funny and intense.
Best Game Franchises That Are NEVER Coming Back
For one reason or another, these video game franchises are likely never coming back.
Travis Touchdown’s journey from hapless otaku to legendary assassin delivered a blend of parody and heartfelt storytelling rarely seen in the medium. With Suda confirming this chapter as the definitive finale, No More Heroes closes not with exhaustion, but with the satisfaction of a saga that knew when to end.
6 inFAMOUS
Superpowers From A Different Generation
inFAMOUS Second Son
- Released
- March 21, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The inFAMOUS franchise once stood as one of PlayStation’s premier exclusives, delivering open-world superhero action with moral choices that shaped each narrative. From Cole MacGrath’s electrifying debut in 2009 to the stylish Seattle setting of inFAMOUS: Second Son, the series combined fluid traversal with bombastic combat, carving a distinct identity in the superhero genre.
However, with Sucker Punch now fully committed to its other franchises, the studio has confirmed there are no plans to revisit inFAMOUS. While its legacy of choice-driven action remains influential, the send-off still feels rather bittersweet, as there was still potential for more stories and more action in the universe.
5 Uncharted
All Good Stories Have To Come To An End
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- Released
- May 10, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Few franchises defined cinematic gaming like Naughty Dog’s Uncharted. Spanning several mainline titles, spin-offs, and even a movie, the series set a benchmark for blockbuster storytelling with globe-trotting adventures, dynamic set pieces, and the charm of the iconic treasure hunter Nathan Drake.
8 Reasons Why Pokemon Is The Biggest Franchise In Gaming
Pokemon is not only the biggest franchise in gaming; it's one of the biggest multimedia franchises on the planet, and these are just a few reasons why
From Drake’s Fortune to A Thief’s End, the saga blended Indiana Jones-style spectacle with tight gameplay, cementing itself as one of PlayStation’s crown jewels. Naughty Dog has since confirmed that Drake’s story is complete, with no new entries planned, and while spin-offs such as The Lost Legacy may keep the door ajar, the franchise has officially concluded its run.
4 The Evil Within
Haunting Players No Longer
The Evil Within 2
- Released
- October 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Helmed by legendary Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, The Evil Within delivered a return to uncompromising survival horror. Its two entries pushed players into grotesque dreamscapes where nightmarish enemies, resource scarcity, and psychological dread ruled every encounter.
The Evil Within 2 expanded the formula with semi-open environments and a more personal narrative, cementing the series as a modern cult classic in horror gaming. Yet, with some internal issues with the studio closures and the IP swapping owners, the series has no future plans, and unless something insane happens, The Evil Within is officially laid to rest.
3 Portal
Forever A Gaming Icon
Portal 2
- Released
- April 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Valve’s Portal redefined puzzle design with its ingenious portal gun mechanics, dark humor, and the unforgettable presence of GLaDOS. The original game’s concise brilliance and Portal 2’s expanded story, cooperative mode, and intricate puzzles elevated the series into gaming royalty, and the impact of the franchise is still being felt all these years later.
Despite its acclaim, Valve has made no moves toward a third installment. With the studio focused on other ventures, Portal has remained dormant for over a decade, and despite a few little easter eggs and references here and there, the only new content players can enjoy comes from the community that adores the games.
2 Baldur's Gate
Redefining The RPG Genre
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Baldur’s Gate helped define computer RPGs, blending deep role-playing systems with unforgettable storytelling rooted in Dungeons & Dragons. The original BioWare titles became genre cornerstones, shaping how narrative and player choice could intertwine, and decades later, Larian Studios revived the franchise with Baldur’s Gate 3, a monumental success praised for its scale, freedom, and emotional impact.
Yet Larian has confirmed that the journey ends here. The studio will not develop expansions or sequels, marking Baldur’s Gate 3 as both a triumphant revival and a final farewell, allowing the saga to conclude at its peak, cementing its legacy in RPG history.
1 Dead Space
The Master Of Sci-fi Horror
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dead Space brought sci-fi survival horror to the mainstream, with its claustrophobic ship environments, grotesque Necromorphs, and strategic dismemberment mechanics that made every kill feel unnerving. Across three main titles, the series managed to deliver some of the best horror experiences in the genre, with its influence being seen in numerous survival horror games that followed.
Although the 2023 remake of the original reintroduced the franchise to a new generation, the path forward has been closed once again. Whether due to lower sales figures than expected or a desire to move on to other projects, the franchise will be left behind as a hallmark horror entry, but one that will never return.
7 Reasons Why GTA Is The Most Important Franchise In Gaming
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise has become a cornerstone of the gaming industry over the years for these reasons.