Highlights

• Popular franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Pokémon and Final Fantasy have stood the test of time with numerous releases and adaptations.
• These game series have evolved over the years, balancing the core gameplay elements fans love while adapting to modern trends.
• The staying power of these franchises comes from their ability to offer a wide variety of games that appeal to both long-time fans and new players.

If there is one common trend in gaming, it is that if a game is well-received, a sequel can usually be expected. This process usually repeats itself until the game series loses traction and interest and eventually falls by the wayside. In some cases, however, these game series are so popular that they develop into franchises that have the staying power to stand the test of time and can remain relevant for years, if not decades.

Some of these franchises have remained popular through constant changes and adaptation to the times, while others have stayed much closer to their roots and retained the majority of their core gameplay elements, following the motto “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Because these franchises have been around for so long, they also offer a large selection of different games for gamers to enjoy.

10 Mortal Kombat

Number of games: 24

Originally released on arcade machines in 1992, Mortal Kombat was so well received that it was ported to most home consoles the following year. The simple basic moves combined with the more complex and brutal Fatality system was a fun combination and has remained part of the series to this day.

The violent nature of the game and the controversy that followed likely contributed to its popularity, and several sequels quickly followed the first, with the latest and 24th entry in the series Mortal Kombat 1.

9 FIFA

Number of games: 39

As one of the most popular sports game franchises on the planet, FIFA started on the 4th console generation with FIFA International Football in 1993 and has been published annually since then.

Despite the tough competition in Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA stands out as the best football game series on the market, with precise, responsive and easily accessible controls that ensure satisfying gameplay and appeal to old fans and new players. Players have a nearly endless choice of teams (both domestic and international) and can choose between multiple game modes and football pitches.

8 Far away

Number of games: 13

In its 20-year history Far away has established itself as one of the best open-world FPS games. Originally developed by Crytek, Far away places the player in a tropical archipelago where they have to deal with countless enemy mercenaries and mutants. Great emphasis has been placed on player freedom, so there are large levels with multiple paths to choose from while completing objectives.

This freedom was only improved once Ubisoft took the reins, with every entry since Far Cry 2 it is a completely open world and takes place in new and exotic locations. Another notable feature of this series is the unforgettable antagonists; Vaas Montenegro and Joseph Seed in particular leave a lasting impression.

7 Pokemon

Number of games: 122

Pokemon is a special franchise because it goes beyond gaming. The franchise is as popular for its card game and animated series as it is for its games. Anyone who grew up in the 90s will remember how it was impossible to Pokemon in any form, be it watching television or playing in the schoolyard.

In terms of games, players captured, collected and fought Pokemon since 1996 on the original Game Boy, with each subsequent Nintendo console featuring multiple releases of this popular franchise.

6 halo

Number of games: 12

When Halo: Combat Evolved was first released on the original Xbox in 2001 and completely changed the gaming landscape. It showed that gamers could have a full FPS experience on the console without sacrificing gameplay. The original trilogy offered some of the most memorable moments in gaming history, with its gripping storyline, great characters and quotable one-liners (usually from the Master Chef).

Although halo is best known for its FPS games, but the franchise has also dipped its toes into the RTS genre with Halo Wars And Halo Wars 2Both games were well received by critics and players alike.

5 Call of Duty

Number of games: 24

The Call of Duty The franchise has been releasing new releases annually since 2003. In the early years, this series focused exclusively on World War II and therefore attracted a fairly large audience. What took Call of Duty to a whole new level with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfarewhich gave the series a modern setting. It also featured a multiplayer mode that set a new standard for FPS games.

The franchise has jumped between different time periods and settings over the years, but the precise shooting controls and entertaining multiplayer experience have always remained the same.

4 Tom Clancy’s

Number of games: 45

Normally, the Tom Clancy’s The franchise includes a wide range of games spanning multiple genres. Tactical, team-based gameplay is a common trend in the franchise, as seen in Rainbow Six And Ghost Reconboth of which require a slower approach to fighting enemies, and intelligent use of your squad is vital to survival (whether they are AI-controlled NPCs or other players, as in Rainbow Six Siege).

Tom Clancy’s The name is also associated with one of the best stealth game series of all time: Splinter cellwhich revolutionized the genre with its stealth mechanics.

3 resident Evil

Number of games: 29

The resident Evil The series has been a pillar of the survival horror genre since the 90s. The grim atmosphere, focus on resource management and intense boss battles kept players constantly on their toes and ensured that they never felt safe. With the release of Resident Evil 4 In 2005, the franchise changed gameplay to a third-person perspective and moved in a more action-oriented direction.

Although the series lost some of its horror elements for a short time, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has changed the formula again (this time with a first-person perspective) and the result is one of the scariest horror gaming experiences in recent memory.

2 Final Fantasy

Number of games: 16

One of the most influential and popular RPGs of all time, Final Fantasy has changed the gaming landscape with its deep storylines, memorable characters, and rich world-building. Most games are in anthology format and have their own independent, self-contained stories.

Shocking and emotional moments are not uncommon in the series, adding to the lasting impression each installment can leave on fans. It used to be “limited” to mostly turn-based action, but more recent games have moved to real-time combat. This change polarized fans, but undoubtedly made the action more cinematic for players.

1 Mario

Number of games: 200+

Mario is the best-selling game franchise of all time. Mario first appeared as the character “Jumpman” in the arcade game Donkey Kong (1981). He quickly became a fan favorite and within a few years the mascot of Nintendo.

Known for the Super Mario series of games that pioneered the side-scrolling platformer genre, everyone’s favorite plumber from Italy has also appeared in countless other Nintendo games (over 200 at the time of writing), including the Mario Kart series, a fun go-kart racing game that has been causing family feuds since its first release in 1992.