Video games have been around for over 50 years, and in that time, many individual games have blossomed into full-blown franchises spanning many different titles and console generations. One of the biggest challenges that comes with having a long-running series is attempting to make each title stand out and provide the same, if not more, quality than the previous one, but many developers struggle to maintain that level over the course of multiple releases.
Video Game Franchises That Are Officially Done
These video games had their time in the sun, but we won't be seeing follow-ups any time soon.
However, there are a few franchises out there that have managed to consistently release great games ever since their inception. RPGs with over a dozen full-length narratives, fantasy epics that send players into a world of chaos and action, and iconic series that have remained at the top of their respective genres, each defying all expectations and keeping fans coming back for more every time.A few notes and criteria:
A few notes and criteria:
- Games must have 7+ undeniably amazing games to qualify.
- Most of these franchises have released bad games, but the good far outweighs the bad.
- The franchises are loosely listed in order of the number of notable games, with the first having the least and the last having the most.
God Of War
Epic Battles Of Godlike Proportions
- Created: 2005
- Notable Entries: God Of War (2005), God of War 2, God of War 3, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta, God Of War (2018), God of War Ragnarök
The God of War franchise has seen a huge amount of growth over the past decade, but it doesn't matter which title players pick up, they are guaranteed a wild ride. The original game brought the ferocious Kratos to life in all his glory, yet with each new release, the world became more epic and Kratos' narrative grew far more personal than anyone expected.
10 Best Sequels in PlayStation Franchises, Ranked
A lot of Sony's long-running series have incredible sequels that helped elevate their franchises to the next level.
Where the early titles focused on intense hack-and-slash gameplay, the modern ones, like Ragnarök, place a bigger emphasis on character development and narrative cohesion, adding even more checkmarks to an already extensive library of smash hits. With the series being broken into different eras, it is hard to pick a favorite, but now that the most recent chapter is closed, only time will tell where the God of War himself ventures next.
Resident Evil
The King Of Survival Horror
- Created: 1996
- Notable Entries: Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 (+ Remake), Resident Evil CODE: Veronica, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Resident Evil 4 (+ Remake), Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 8
Resident Evil has remained at the top of the horror genre for many years, and a large part of that success comes from the number of high-quality games in the series. The early games started a wave of horror classics and helped pioneer the survival horror genre, with Resident Evil 4 being revered as one of the best games ever made. Since then, the terrifying experiences just keep on coming.
The franchise does have some questionable games in its catalog, and even a few of the main numbered entries are "interesting," to say the least. Yet even at its worst, the Resident Evil games are still able to capture the intensity and action that many players know and love, even if it sometimes moves away from its horror roots.
OK, Resident Evil has released quite a few bad projects, but the mainline series has been largely amazing (and influential). Except for Resident Evil 6, all the games are, at least, very good; heck, even RE6 can be fun if viewed as an action game.
Grand Theft Auto
Yet To Release A Bad Game (Not Counting Remasters)
- Created: 1997
- Notable Entries: GTA, GTA 2, GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA 4, GTA 5, GTA Online (and the handheld games like Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars are also top-notch).
Putting aside the divisive remaster trilogy, an argument could be made that Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto has released only brilliant games. Most of the time, the series is at the cutting edge, pushing what many thought was possible on consoles. GTA 3 basically wrote the blueprint for modern open-world games, which was then refined by Vice City and San Andreas. All three of those games hold up as PS2-era masterpieces, and GTA 4 and 5 are equally fantastic.
Then, there is GTA Online, Rockstar's moneymaker that has been going strong for over a decade. Yes, its existence is a double-edged sword, but you cannot deny its success. Also, while they are overshadowed by their 3D counterparts, GTA's top-down games were awesome for their time, and they are still fun time capsules.
Metroid
Giving Birth To A Brand New Genre
- Created: 1986
- Notable Entries: Metroid, Metroid II, Super Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Prime Hunters, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid Dread
Metroid is one of Nintendo’s biggest IPs, and has earned its place at the top through sublime atmosphere, perfect level design, and an iconic protagonist at the helm who continues to bring in new players. Across decades, its strongest entries, from Super Metroid to Metroid Prime and, more recently, Metroid Dread, continue to prove that a slow, deliberate loop of exploring, fighting, and progressing can remain compelling for many hours with the right world-building and enough character to keep players invested.
Above all else, the Metroid series has ushered in an entire gaming genre with the Metroidvania, opening the door for so many other games to enter the space and find success. Aside from its cultural impact, the franchise's list of great titles extends all the way back to the early days, showing that classic stories can remain relevant long after their initial release.
Pokemon
Pioneering The Creature Collecting World
- Created: 1996
- Notable Entries: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon Red and Blue, Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, Pokemon Black and White (+ B&W2), Pokemon Gold and Silver, Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon has been a household name since the late 90s, and ever since then, the franchise has only gotten bigger, better, and more popular. What makes the series unique is how games are almost always released in pairs or trios, like Red/Blue/Yellow, Black/White, X/Y, etc. Each generation comes with its own unique set of Pokemon to catch, but because the games are so high-quality, it is almost always worth the extra investment.
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?
There have been more Pokemon games released than can be counted on two hands, and each one brings something new to the beloved franchise, whether it's a more expansive world, new combat mechanics, or a whole range of new Pokemon to catch. While fans have been more critical of the recent releases, they are still great games and barely put a blemish on the franchise's impressive legacy.
Yes, Pokemon's recent entries have been polarizing, but the franchise produced excellence for a very long time. Even the more divisive mainline entries have a lot of positives.
The Legend Of Zelda
Epic Adventures Right From The Start
- Created: 1986
- Notable Entries: The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda is a franchise that holds many classic games, and it continues to see new releases with even more ambition today. Just the two most recent mainline entries, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, deserve a lifetime of praise, but the series' early days were just as impressive. Games like Majora's Mask and The Wind Waker demonstrated a caliber that nothing else at the time could aspire to.
This series led the way for open exploration and puzzle-based environments, showing that players could do more than just fight enemies to progress deeper into a game world. Today, with modern hardware and a bigger fan base than ever, even the spin-off games are just as impressive as any mainline entries, and it is basically guaranteed that Nintendo will be able to continue the trend going forward into the next main release.
Metal Gear
Redefining Narrative Experiences In Gaming
- Created: 1987
- Notable Entries: Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Acid, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (+ Delta), Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes/The Phantom Pain, Metal Gear Rising, Revengeance, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear is peak cinematic gaming, with Hideo Kojima himself revolutionizing how people view video games and how players interact with them. Ambition is the key descriptor, as every story from the early explorations of Snake to the later entries that jump around to different time periods all feel perfectly thought out and are executed in a way very few narrative-focused games have ever achieved.
These games are not only about the story. Many of the gameplay elements shine just as bright and allow players to feel in complete control of the action in front of them. Intricate stealth segments that test patience and timing, intense hand-to-hand combat, and long-distance gun battles; it really is a series that can do no wrong.
Final Fantasy
Multiple Generations Of Exceptional RPGs
- Created: 1987
- Notable Entries: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy 3, Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 7 (+ Remake & Rebirth), Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy 10 (+ 10-2), Final Fantasy 12, Final Fantasy 13, Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy is one of the longest-running game franchises around, but it has continued to be a mainstay in the RPG space nearly 40 years later. When asking fans what their favorite game is, each will bring up a different answer, with games like Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 14 being among the most popular. Rather than having a single golden age or standout release, Final Fantasy instead has so many individual games that are both exceptional series entries and special in their own right.
What makes the franchise so impressive is how each narrative is crafted with a huge amount of love and care. It doesn't matter if players are saving Mysidia or journeying across Midgar with Cloud; every story feels impactful and emotional, ensuring that players feel constantly connected to the world and, most importantly, the iconic characters within it.
Super Mario Bros.
The Titan That Never Fails To Amaze
- Created: 1985
- Notable Entries: Super Mario Bros. (+ SMB2 & SMB3), Super Mario 64, Super Mario Maker (+ SMM2), Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Galaxy (+ SMG2), Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario is easily the most recognizable game series on the planet, and it is very deserving of the attention and praise it still receives. Every new game released manages to capture that same charm and whimsy from the early days, and thanks to modern hardware, the lovable plumber looks better than ever, no matter if he is racing around Rainbow Road or exploring expansive new worlds, like in Super Mario Odyssey.
Despite the simplicity of the series' sidescrolling formula, players just keep coming back for more, as there are virtually endless level combinations and abilities that Mario is suited for. The domination continues, and it truly doesn't seem to matter if Mario is out saving the Mushroom Kingdom, playing golf with a group of pals, or fighting alongside the Rabbids; the fun will always be there.
7 Video Game Franchises That Would Make Excellent Tabletop RPGs
There are countless tabletop RPGs out there for fans to check out, but it would be nice if some were set in the worlds of these video game franchises.