There used to be much skepticism around video games and their ability to legitimately compete against television and film as the dominant source of entertainment, but if anything, there’s been the greatest amount of growth in the video game industry. Video games have progressed into legitimate forms of art, and some modern titles don’t even resemble the earliest iterations of gaming back in the retro generation.
The video game industry is full of change, which is why it’s encouraging to see certain franchises stick around and become constants for audiences. It’s safe to say that the latest entry in a video game franchise will be exceptionally different from where the series began, and it’s impressive to see what franchises have been able to remain relevant.
10 Megami Tensei Has Turned Into Atlus’ Crown Jewel And Persevered For Over 34 Years
Atlus' Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei RPG series has been around since 1987 as a groundbreaking title for both the Nintendo Entertainment System as well as the PC. Megami Tensei has taken time to expand its scope, and the most recent main title in the franchise, Shin Megami Tensei V, is set to hit stores in November 2021. This makes Megami Tensei 34 years and 2 months old, but it’s also spawned off the incredibly successful Persona series, which is likely to continue on for even longer.
9 The Legend Of Zelda Has Become A Nintendo Staple For Nearly 35 Years
Nintendo’s signature mascot maybe Mario, but The Legend of Zelda series has slowly been able to give Mario and his platforming antics a run for their money. Occasionally, Nintendo even uses Zelda as its anchor for a new console. The Legend of Zelda debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986 and is still going strong, both its main series as well as the many spin-offs that have found their own success. Zelda has evolved in some major ways across these 34 years and 8 months, but the core of the series remains the same.
8 For Almost 35 Years, Bubble Bobble Has Been The Premiere Puzzler
Puzzle series are some of the oldest franchises due to how the genre can succeed with very rudimentary gameplay and even graphics. Bubble Bobble doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the original game from August of 1986 introduces a simple and addictive structure to its match-based gameplay.
New installments of Bubble Bobble remain regular releases, but the series has also headed into more surprising territory, like with May 2021’s Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey, which pushes the classic puzzler into virtual reality after 34 years and 9 months of existence.
7 Wonder Boy Continues On New Adventures Nearly 35 Years Since He Started
Sega is the home for some foundational video game franchises, with Sonic the Hedgehog being the most prominent. But it's not the oldest series to grace their consoles. Wonder Boy, also known as Monster World, first hit arcades in April 1986 but was quickly a fixture on the early Sega Master System. Wonder Boy’s appearances have since been sporadic, but a recent resurgence of classic platformers has helped give Wonder Boy a home with modern audiences. Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World came out in March 2021, which makes the franchise just shy of 35 years old.
6 Bomberman’s Explosive Puzzle Shtick Has Lasted For More Than 35 Years
Hudson Soft’s Bomberman series has been a multi-platform delight for many decades and a franchise that helped introduce a lot of gamers to the puzzle-action hybrid genre. The first Bomberman outing is July 1983’s Bakudan Otoko Bomber Man, but the series progressively gained an audience outside of Japan and has transformed in some unexpected ways, like racing spin-offs. The latest entry in the series is the subversive Bombergirl from 2018, which makes the franchise just over 35 years old. There’s such versatility and multiplayer potential with Bomberman that it’s likely not going to be the final entry in the franchise.
5 Metroid Is Nintendo’s Sci-Fi Savior For Over 35 Years
Nintendo has done an excellent job of giving some of its earliest properties the time to find their footing and slowly evolve across their multiple consoles. There have definitely been time periods where it feels like Nintendo has forgotten about the Metroid series, but it never fully disappeared and it’s due to receive a lot of love.
The original was released in August 1986, and most recently, Metroid Dread has been announced for October 2021 with Metroid Prime 4 still on the way. This means that Metroid will at least be running for over 35 years and 2 months.
4 Microsoft Flight Simulator Evolves With The Times And Set The Standard For Almost 38 Years
Admittedly, Microsoft Flight Simulator might not be the most exhilarating video game franchise, and it certainly contains the least character and story development out of any of these series. However, it’s been around for more than 37 years and 9 months. The flight sim genre has grown in significant ways and the difference between Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 from November 1982 and 2020’s Microsoft Flight Simulator is night and day. The original game adequately introduces simulation concepts whereas the latest entry in the franchise basically has the entire world realistically mapped out to explore.
3 For Nearly 38 Years, Wolfenstein Has Consistently Led The Way For Shooters
Video games like the original Castle Wolfenstein from September 1981 helped put the first-person shooter genre on the map in a way that cannot be underestimated. Shooters have drastically evolved into hectic experiences that can be largely judged on multiplayer online connectivity and have even become a professional area to compete. None of this would be possible without the template that Castle Wolfenstein helped establish. Wolfenstein: Youngblood, the latest entry in the series, was released in July 2019, which makes the shooter franchise just shy of 38 years old.
2 Nintendo’s Mario Has Helped Define The Company For Over Four Decades
It’s safe to say that Nintendo will never stop putting out video games in the Super Mario series, and each new mainline entry in the series showcases wildly inventive gameplay for the platforming genre. Curiously, Mario made his debut in July 1981’s Donkey Kong, but it’s not long until he was the head of his own series as well as countless spin-off series for Nintendo. Super Mario Odyssey is the latest Super Mario release, but there’s no end in sight, and 2021 is already packed with Mario Party Superstars and more to celebrate over 40 years with their signature franchise.
1 Pac-Man’s Simplicity Has Kept Gamers Engaged For Nearly 41 Years
Video games have come a tremendous way since the 1980s, but there’s a level of comfort and nostalgia that’s still associated with some of those retro releases like Pac-Man from July 1980. Pac-Man has consistently experimented around, whether it’s with Ms. Pac Man, some questionable 3D adventure games, or even a guest-fighter role in the Super Smash Bros. series. 2021’s Pac-Man 99 returns to the basics and still delivers big results. It’s been almost 41 years, but Pac-Man is still a juggernaut of the gaming industry.