The best video game franchises have come to define gaming itself.
Franchises have become the lifeblood of an entertainment industry obsessed with name recognition and familiarity.
That can sometimes be a bad thing.
They are often guiding lights for how great a franchise can truly be.
That ensured the individual eligibility of several notable spin-off franchises.
Notable modern games that receive regular updates but no traditional sequels or expansions were considered on a case-by-case basis.
Finally, individual games featuring the same characters were not considered franchises in every instance.
So, theBatman: Arkhamgames are a franchise but every game featuring Batman was not considered an eligible candidate.
Lets dive in:
35.
Call of Duty
Its easy to conveniently forget aboutCall of Dutywhen considering this topic.
Yet, you really cant tell the story of gamingwithout talking aboutCall of Duty.
Matthew Byrd
34.
Bernard Boo
33.
They all contain huge open worlds and dozens of hours of side content.
And the more recent games have only gotten larger with the addition of more RPG mechanics.
Equally impressive is just how much variety is in these games.
Chris Freiberg
32.
Star Warsstorytelling has consistently returned to the Old Republic era because of what the original KOTOR games achieved.
George Chrysostomou
31.
Sonic the Hedgehog
The story of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise is the story of peaks and valleys.
Many, many valleys.
In many ways, Sonic has always represented an outsiders spirit.
If those games ever fail to meet a standard, its only because the bar is so high.
MB
30.
CF
29.
Sure, those modern installments offer more things to do and more ways to do them.
Yet, the pleasure ofThe Simsremains largely the same after all these years.
Its a game that gifts us with the ability to recognize and celebrate the many pleasures of life.
MB
28.
MB
27.
Sam Stone
26.
Some of your neighbors are a little weird, and Tom Nook is a lot to unpack.
But hey, hes interest-free, and Isabelle isnt calling about your extended warranty.
Margaret David
25.
Red Dead
Theres much to be said about the first installment to Rockstar GamesRed Deadfranchise, Red Dead Revolver.
Red Dead Redemptionbrought an open-world setup to the series and its follow-up made the most of that structure.
Its the nuanced story moments hidden in every corner that compliment that gameplay so well.
GC
24.
But RocksteadysBatman: Arkhamgames, well…they feel kinda perfect.
And it has to be noted that these are some of the best-looking games ever made.
Seriously,Arkham Knightlooks better than 99 percent of games today, and its nearly ten years old!
BB
23.
What has madeSmash Bros. so much more than a gimmick is the commitment to its mechanics.
This seemingly cute series has grown into one of the most respected fighting franchises among pro and semi-pro players.
Many challengers have come and gone, butSmash Bros.remains undefeated.
MB
22.
No face to the new system.
It also, much to Nintendos dismay, opened many players to the world of unofficial NES carts.
That Tengen version of the game was fire.
Gavin Jasper
21.
Quality storytelling is at the forefront of this franchise, with a lore that is both varied and imaginative.
GC
20.
And thentheresBaldurs Gate III.
BB
19.
Across each subsequent generation,Halohas remained a prominent presence for Microsofts gaming division.
SS
18.
Metal Gear
Its impossible to say Metal Gear without immediately thinking Hideo Kojima.
Did Kojima occasionally push past the limits of reason in pursuit of his vision?
Thats for you and theunbroken 70-minute cutscenes to decide.
What I know is thatMetal Gearis one of the purest and greatest expressions of auteur game design.
MB
17.
Many of them were variations ofStreet Fighter, as every sequel and spinoff received multiple upgrades and iterations.
Even now,Street Fighter VIis bringing in new fans and showing no signs of stopping any time soon.
GJ
16.
Doom
In 1993,Doomdid to gaming what Nirvana did to rock.
It was loud, violent, and exactly what gaming needed.
MB
15.
From such humility comes a franchise that can consume your free time for years.
Maybe more depending on how many times youre willing to buySkyrim.
I have five copies.
EachElder Scrollsgame offers open-world explorationlike no other, letting you play through fantastical worlds mostly how you like.
MD
14.
Mega Man
Mega Man really leans into the philosophy that if its not broken, dont fix it.
Its worked well for over 30 years now.
CF
13. you could do it all.
Just pack the RadAway.
MD
12.
SS
11.
Its cinematic story mode campaigns especially made an impact, inspiring other fighter franchises to follow suit.
GJ
10.
Thats a hint, guys.Metroid Prime 4when??
MD
9.
It should be no surprise thatMario Kartis this lists highest-ranked spinoff series.
OnceMario Kart 64improved upon the first games foundation, the sequels finetuned a winning engine.
Angering your friend with a well-timed lightning bolt just does not get old.
Its just a shame we havent seen a proper new entry in the series in a decade.
CF
7.
God of War
Count me among those who hold the earlyGod of Wargames in high regard.
Yes, they did some things worthy of criticism both then and in retrospect.
However, they were also airtight 3D action games highlighted by unbelievable setpiece moments that set powerful new standards.
Those early titles arguably sealed this series status as something great.
Rarely has a gaming franchise not just grown but truly matured in the ways thatGod of Warhas.
MB
6.
Pokemon
When people think of Nintendo,Pokemonis one of the first franchises that comes to mind.
As a concept,Pokemonis addictive and immersive.
Perhaps its because of the incredible roster of fan favorite Pokedex entries like Pikachu, Snorlax, or Eevee.
Regardless,Pokemonchanged the landscape of JRPGs and isnt slowing down any time soon.
GC
5.
Yet, theFinal Fantasyfranchise has rarely rested on its laurels.
They havent always gotten it right along the way.
MB
4.
Resident Evil
Resident Evilis an anomaly.
More importantly, theResident Evilfranchise has not only adapted to new eras but set the pace along the way.
MB
3.
Grand Theft Auto
Theres a reason the trailer forGrand Theft Auto VIbroke the internet.
BB
2.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zeldahas long been the gold standard of game design.
Its not that every other game is expected to copy exactly whatThe Legend of Zeldadoes.
MB
1.
If there was ever a franchise synonymous with video games overall, itsSuper Mario Bros.
