Summary
If there’s one common trend in gaming, it’s that if a game is well received, a follow-up can normally be expected. This process normally repeats until the game series loses traction and interest and is eventually left to the wayside. In some cases, though, these gaming series are so beloved that they turn into franchises that have the staying power to withstand the test of time and can remain relevant for years, if not decades.
Some of these franchises have stayed popular by ever-changing and adapting to the times, while others have remained much closer to their roots, keeping the majority of their core gameplay elements intact in an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ attitude. Having been around for so long, these franchises also offera large variety of different gamesfor gamers to enjoy.
Originally released in 1992 on arcade machines,Mortal Kombatwas received so favorably that it was ported over to the majority of home consoles the next year. The simplistic basic moves mixed with the more complex andbrutal fatality systemwere a fun combination, and they have remained in the series to this day.
The violent nature of the game and subsequent controversies surrounding it likely added to its popularity, and multiple sequels quickly followed the first, with the latest and 24th entry in the series beingMortal Kombat 1.
Being one of the most recognizable sports game franchises on the planet,FIFAstarted out on the 4th console generation withFIFA International Soccerin 1993 and has received yearly releases ever since.
Despite having some tough competition inPro Evolution Soccer, FIFAstands out as thebest soccer game serieson the market, with tight, responsive, and accessible controls that ensure some satisfying gameplay, appealing to old fans and new players. Players have a near endless choice of teams (both national and international) to choose from and multiple game modes and soccer pitches to play on.
In its 20-year history,Far Cryhas established itself as one of thebest open-world FPS gamesaround. Developed originally byCrytek,Far Cryplaces the player in a tropical archipelago, with countless hostile mercenaries and mutants to contend with. A lot of focus was placed on player freedom, providing large levels with multiple paths to choose from while tackling objectives.
This freedom is something that was only improved upon onceUbisofttook up the reins, with every entry sinceFar Cry 2being entirely open-world and taking place in new and exotic locations. Another noteworthy feature of this franchise is the memorable antagonists; Vaas Montenegro and Joseph Seed in particular make some lasting impressions.
Pokemonis a special franchise, as it’s one that transcended beyond gaming. The franchise is just as loved for its card game and animated TV series as it is for its games. Anyone who grew up in the 90s will remember how it was impossible to avoidPokemonin any of its forms, whether that be when watching TV or playing on the school playground.
Regarding the games, players have been catching, collecting, and battlingPokemonsince 1996 on the original Game Boy, with every subsequent Nintendo console featuring multiple releases of thismuch loved franchise.
WhenHalo: Combat Evolvedwas first released on the original Xbox in 2001, it completely changed the gaming landscape, and showed that players could experience a full FPS experience on console, with no drawbacks to the gameplay. The original trilogy offered some of the mostmemorable moments in gaming history, with its exciting storyline, great characters, and quotable one-liners (usually from theMaster Chief).
AlthoughHalois best known for its FPS games, the franchise has also dipped its toes in the RTS genre withHalo WarsandHalo Wars 2, both games being well-received by critics and players alike.
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has been churning out yearly releases since 2003. For the first few years, this series wassolely focused on WW2and gathered a fairly large audience as a result. What tookCall of Dutyto a whole new level was the release ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, which took the series to a modern setting. It also offered a multiplayer mode that set a new standard for FPS games.
The franchise has jumped between time periods and settings over the years, but something that has remained consistent is the tight shooting controls and a fun multiplayer experiences.
Usually based around geopolitical conflicts, theTom Clancy’sfranchise includes a wide range of games, spanning across multiple genres. Tactical, team-based gameplay is a common trend in the franchise, as seen inRainbow SixandGhost Recon, which both require a slower approach to engaging enemies, and using one’s squad intelligently is essential for survival (whether that be AI controlled NPCs or other players as seen inRainbow Six Siege).
Tom Clancy’sname is also attached to one of thebest stealth game seriesof all time:Splinter Cell, which innovated the genre with its stealth mechanics.
TheResident Evilseries has been a pillar of the survival horror genre since the ’90s. The dark atmosphere,focus on resource management, and intense boss battles constantly kept players on their toes and ensured they never felt safe. With the release ofResident Evil 4in 2005, the franchise changed the gameplay to a third-person perspective and moved towards a more action-orientated direction.
Though the series lost some of its horror elements for a brief time,Resident Evil 7: Biohazardonce again changed the formula (this time with a first-person perspective) and resulted in one of the scariest horror game experiences in recent memory.
One of the most influential and well-loved RPGs of all time,Final Fantasychanged the gaming landscape with its deep storylines, memorable characters, and rich world-building. The majority of the games are in an anthology format and have their own stand-alone, self-contained stories.
The series is no stranger to shocking and emotional moments, which adds to the lasting impressions each entry can leave on fans. Once primarily ‘limited’ toturn-based action, more recent games have moved to real-time combat. This is a change that polarized fans but no doubt made the action more cinematic for gamers.
Mariois the best-selling game franchise of all time. Mario first appeared as the character ‘Jumpman’ in the arcade gameDonkey Kong(1981). He quickly became a fan favorite and, within a few years, had become the mascot ofNintendo.
Best known for theSuper Marioseries of games, which was a pioneer in the side-scrolling platformer genre, everyone’s favorite Italian plumber has also appeared incountless other Nintendo games(200 plus at the time of writing), including theMario Kartseries, a fun, go-kart racer that has been causing family arguments since its first release in 1992.
