There are few forms of entertainment and technology that have shown as much evolution as the video game industry. Each decade pushes video games forward in unbelievable ways and it’s allowed for a previously unprecedented level of immersion and creativity in these virtual experiences. Popular and established video game franchises have been around since the earliest console generation and they remain a strong way to bring in fans that have become familiar with the property.
A new entry in a celebrated franchise is usually cause for excitement, but there are plenty of opportunities where games fail to meet expectations and turn out to be disappointments. That being said, there are a few rare circumstances where certain video game franchises continue to turn out titles with an unblemished reputation.
10 The Legend Of Zelda Continually Reinvents Itself And Its Classic Hero
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises and sometimes the series even usurps Super Mario as a console’s biggest seller. It’s absolutely remarkable to look at the original Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System and then comprehend the scope of something like the Switch’s Breath of the Wild. The Legend of Zelda doesn’t play it safe and repeatedly moves outside of its comfort zone with each new game. Despite decades of games across both consoles and handhelds, every Zelda entry is a satisfying gaming experience (and the CD-i entries should be considered a bad dream).
9 Metal Gear Solid Is A Masterpiece Of Excess That’s Carefully Curated By Hideo Kojima
The video game industry is slowly becoming more aware of the medium’s big auteurs and Hideo Kojima is easily one of the most fascinating figures. All of Kojima’s productions are ambitious and alienating works of art, but his magnum opus is the sprawling Metal Gear Solid saga. The series mixes precise gameplay with absurdist characters and plot developments, but Kojima understands how to connect these disparate dots. Granted, some of the early entries in the original Metal Gear series are very much products of their time, but the revamped Metal Gear Solid series continually strives for excellence.
8 God Of War’s Epic Journey Gets Better With Each Installment
Kratos’ barbaric acts of heroism across the God of War series became defining moments for PlayStation gamers. Each game pits Kratos against more grandiose Gods and obstacles, yet the action experience never reaches diminishing returns. The main God of War series is exceptional, but the handheld installments for the PSP and PS Vita don’t sacrifice any quality and are some of the standout entries on the systems.
Reboots can sometimes be misguided, but the current-gen take on God of War is even more stunning than its predecessors and it looks like the franchise’s future is in very good shape.
7 Super Smash Bros. Is A Crossover Celebration With No End In Sight
The surprise success of Super Smash Bros. has helped the crossover fighter pivot to one of Nintendo’s most consistent series. Each new Super Smash Bros. game fits more into the busy series and the games are at a point where guest characters from non-Nintendo franchises are the new normal. Admittedly, the most recent entry in the series almost seems too unruly because of just how many characters it crams in. A new Super Smash Bros. might mark the time that the crossover fighter scales back a little, but regardless of their approach, it’s guaranteed to still be a fulfilling expansion.
6 The Witcher’s Fantasy World Makes For A Great Escape
CD Projekt Red is a developer that's had a very difficult year due to the unmitigated mess surrounding the release of Cyberpunk 2077. The future of Cyberpunk 2077 remains in question, but its controversial package has left fans hungry for them to return to their Witcher roots. The Witcher series creates such a rich and realistic world that gives the player almost limitless options for how they approach this fantasy world. Each new Witcher game presents a more robust experience and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt almost has too much content for audiences to explore.
5 Half-Life’s Few Entries Are Gaming Touchstones That Fans Want To See Continue
Some video game franchises get to live long lives and release titles practically on a yearly basis. There are other properties that fade into obscurity and become cult classics because of their pristine reputations across underappreciated franchises.
Valve's Half-Life is still a franchise that holds a revered reputation with its audience and there's still hope that the series isn't completely over. Half-Life 3 didn't come to pass, but the recent VR spin-off, Half-Life: Alyx, is still a satisfying return to the universe, even if it's a significant change of pace.
4 Metroid Prime Turns The Classic Nintendo Series Into A Sublime Shooter
Nintendo can often be set in their ways, but they deserve serious credit for any of the major risks that they’ve taken with their established franchises. Nintendo’s Metroid series showcases some of the best action-adventure games from their generation, but the decision to transform Metroid into a first-person shooter has made Samus Aran and her sci-fi world more exciting than ever. The Metroid Prime trilogy tells a deep story that really examines Samus’ character in a way that hasn’t been previously explored. Metroid Prime 4 is on the way, and hopefully, it pushes this excellent series to even greater heights.
3 The Portal Series Remains Simplistic Perfection
There are many factors that make a good video game, but sometimes all that’s necessary is a strong concept and a surreal sense of humor. Portal and its sequel are a great example where less is more and the games brilliantly create a challenging game through its infectious teleportation design. There’s such a voice and personality in Portal that has fans hungry for more and it’s also why frequent discussions over a film or TV adaptation arise. Portal creates the perfect package that there’s no need to tempt fate with more entries and what exists still gets tons of attention.
2 Yakuza’s Immersive World Keeps Giving Fans More
Sega's open-world Yakuza series started as a bit of a niche interest outside of Japan, but now after eight entries, it's become one of the most consistent products to come out of Sega through recent years. There is so much to experience in Yakuza's full world. The brushes with crime and danger are thrilling, but players can easily lose themselves in the slice of life aspects that Yakuza also offers. The Yakuza games are so good at what they do and have created such an intricate story that they've effectively made similar series, like Shenmue, utterly irrelevant.
1 Super Mario Has Earned Its Reputation As A Video Game Legend Through Constant Innovation
Few video game mascots are more popular than Nintendo’s Mario and he’s turned into a figure that the company frequently uses to give mundane entries a new burst of life. New Super Mario games are regular occurrences on Nintendo consoles and each new title utilizes new hardware to push platforming to its limit. Super Mario isn’t afraid to showcase radical new power-ups and concepts that dictate gameplay. It’d be very easy for Nintendo to coast with Super Mario, but the desire to innovate and amaze has helped each new mainline entry reinterpret Nintendo’s signature mascot in bold, new ways.