It's not easy for a video game series to stay afloat. To remain a continual force in the video game industry requires so many things to work in favor of the developer such as finances, sales, reception, demand, and so on. There are many video game series that never took off or were never given the opportunity to see their stories through because of one underwhelming, or in some cases disastrous, release.

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That's what makes major anniversaries like these so impressive. It wasn't always smooth sailing for these series, but they were able to persevere for one reason or another. In some cases, these series are viewed as revolutionary and contain some of the most influential video games ever created. It's time to wish a happy anniversary to these series, and offer hopes for many more anniversaries (and hopefully releases) to come!

10 Assassin’s Creed's Arrival 15 Years Ago Was Anything But Discreet

Altair and Ivar

The Assassin's Creed series debuted during the early days of the seventh generation of consoles in 2007 and was one of the first major multiplatform IPs introduced in that generation. The Assassin's Creed series takes a look back into different eras of history, using the Animus framing device to uncover secrets lost in history. Assassin's Creed has since grown to become one of the most profitable franchises in gaming with 24 releases across systems. The latest release in the Assassin's Creed series is Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which takes players to the age of the Vikings.

9 Uncharted Exploded Onto The Scene 15 Years Ago

Nathan Drake in the original Uncharted and Sam and Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4

Sir Francis Drake's motto "Sic Parvis Magna" ("Greatness from small beginnings") is a perfect representation of the Uncharted series. Developer Naughty Dog sought to bring the explosive summer blockbuster movie genre to the world of gaming when Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was released in 2007. The Uncharted series, centered around sarcastic fortune hunter Nathan Drake, quickly grew in both popularity and respect within the industry. Uncharted is currently one of the most critically acclaimed franchises in gaming, which each main release consistently receiving high marks.

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The latest release in the Uncharted series is Uncharted: The Lost Legacy in 2017, which handed the lead role to Chloe Fraizer. The Lost Legacy and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End were remastered in the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection for PlayStation 5 and PC. A live-action adaptation of the franchise released in February 2022.

8 Gran Turismo Firmly Defined The Racing Sim 25 Years Ago

The Castral vehicle in Gran Turismo 1 and 7

The Gran Turismo series saw the green light on the original PlayStation in 1997 and quickly set the course for what a racing simulation entails. Gran Turismo has consistently seen releases exclusively on PlayStation consoles and is currently the highest-selling PlayStation franchise. While the Forza series is the center of attention within the racing simulation genre these days, it may be only a matter of time before Gran Turismo reclaims its crown. The latest release in the Gran Turismo series is Gran Turismo Sport in 2017. The upcoming Gran Turismo 7 is set to release in March 2022.

7 After 25 Years, It's Clear Fallout Could Survive A Nuclear Apocalypse

Exploring the world of Fallout 1 and 76

1997's Fallout placed players in a vast and colorful isometric post-apocalyptic universe that was lauded for its writing and role-playing depth. However, after Fallout 2, Fallout went through a ten-year stretch of dormancy (with only two spinoffs released in that period). Bethesda Studios would revive the Fallout series as a first-person RPG, which proved to be a winning move as the Fallout series has since skyrocketed in popularity. The latest release in the Fallout series is the online-only Fallout 76 in 2018. Fallout 76 is still receiving updates and is set to bring players back to The Pitt in 2022.

6 Grand Theft Auto Has Been Causing Mayhem for 25 Years

Driving around in Grand Theft Auto 1 and V

When looking at the original Grand Theft Auto, it's hard to believe that the top-down driving action title would grow to become one of the most influential and profitable series in the history of gaming. That shift began with the release of Grand Theft Auto III, whose open-world sandbox would go on to inspire many games and series nearly to the point of exhaustion.

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The latest release in the Grand Theft Auto series is Grand Theft Auto V in 2013, which is set to receive a current generation remaster in March 2022. Rockstar Games has confirmed the next Grand Theft Auto entry is in development.

5 Mario Kart Has Been Settling And Creating Arguments For 30 Years

Toad and Donkey Kong race in Super Mario KArt and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Super Mario Kart set the tone for local multiplayer party games when it was released in 1992 for Super Nintendo. And it's that enjoyment that comes from playing with friends and family that has allowed the kart racing series to thrive for 30 years and become a staple in any Nintendo player's collection. Mario Kart has since opened the door for characters from other Nintendo franchises to join in on the fun. The latest release in the Mario Kart series is Mario Kart Tour for mobile devices in 2019. The latest console release for Mario Kart is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

4 30 Years Later, Mortal Kombat Is As Brutal As Ever

Goro and Raiden in Mortal Kombat 1 and Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 11

The original Mortal Kombat is often credited for inspiring the modern video game rating system and was frequently cited as the poster child for violent games before Grand Theft Auto took the mantle. Mortal Kombat continues to see consistent releases, even taking a detour to the 3D fighting genre. Recent Mortal Kombat releases have been the highest-selling fighting titles outside of Super Smash Bros. The latest release in the Mortal Kombat series is Mortal Kombat 11, which received two updated versions in Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath and Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate.

3 Metal Gear Kicked Off The Long, Complex, Saga Of Snakes 35 Years Ago

Solid Snake and Venom Snake sneaking

Similar to Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid made such a big impact that it's easy to forget it wasn't the original title in the series. The original Metal Gear, released in 1987, introduced players to both of Metal Gear's central characters, Solid Snake and Big Boss. The Metal Gear series would eventually become the pioneer for cinematic storytelling in gaming.

The latest release in the Metal Gear series is Metal Gear Survive in 2018, which is a non-canonical survival game. The latest canonical entry is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which serves as the final piece of the greater Metal Gear narrative.

2 After 35 Years, There Still Hasn't Been A Truly Final Final Fantasy

Exploring the world of Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy XV

The original Final Fantasy was created as a last-ditch effort to save a struggling Square (now Square-Enix). That bet greatly paid off as Final Fantasy has grown to become arguably the most iconic RPG series in gaming with its engaging narratives, immersive worlds, and loveable characters.

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Final Fantasy has continually maintained a constant stream of releases with its many sequels, spinoffs, and remakes in between their hotly anticipated mainline releases. The latest mainline release in the Final Fantasy series is Final Fantasy XV in 2016. Final Fantasy XVI has already been unveiled and is currently deep in development for PlayStation 5.

1 Street Fighter Began Shaping The Fighting Genre 35 Years Ago

Ryu fighting Birdie in Street Fighter I and Ryu in Street Fighter V

It's no secret that, by today's standards, the original Street Fighter is far from a good game. At the time of its release, Street Fighter was extremely profitable in the arcades, which led to the development of the immensely influential Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. SFII would then form the framework that most 2D fighting games were based on. Street Fighter's impact didn't end with SFII, as Street Fighter IV is credited with kicking off the fighting game renaissance that began in the late 2000s. The latest release in the Street Fighter series is Street Fighter V, which received two updated versions in Street Fighter V Arcade Edition and Street Fighter V Champion Edition. Capcom is planning on unveiling what's next for the Street Fighter series in 2022.

NEXT: 10 Video Games That Defined The 4th Generation Of Consoles