Entertainment
10 Greatest Video Game Franchises of All Time
Never underestimate the power of loyalty when it comes to gamers, because they will die for a new video game in their favorite franchise. This medium has rapidly grown over the past couple of decades, with titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and God of War redefining what video games are. However, while new games are needed, the best-selling video games are usually part of a franchise.
There are countless video game franchises, and this list will rank the ten greatest of all time based on aspects such as a balance of quantity and quality, consistency, sales, popularity, innovation, influence, design, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. Red Dead Redemption may have two of the best games ever, but it is hard to compete against an established game series with dozens of entries.
10
‘Assassin’s Creed’
A lot of franchises on this list have undertaken massive identity shifts, but one of the biggest changes comes from Assassin’s Creed, which moved from stealth to open-world 3D action. Each game has players entering a machine that takes them into the past, controlling an assassin from history as they try to help save the world by taking down high-profile targets who threaten the peace.
Not every Assassin’s Creed game is a masterpiece, but the franchise is still a legendary one because of its revolutionary stealth mechanics and iconic look. Taking on a new setting in every game spices it up with new historical intrigue and political drama. The new Assassin’s Creed games focus on large worlds and mythological battles, which, while different, are still compelling.
9
‘Halo’
The most mainstream genre is arguably the FPS, which simulates real combat experience under gunfire, and Xbox capitalized on this by delivering the Halo franchise. Playing as the iconic Master Chief, gamers travel throughout the galaxy in an endless war against aliens, specifically the Covenant and the Flood, in different games.
Halo has some of the best video game sequels, highlighting an incredible stretch from the first one until the fourth. The first revolutionized the shooter genre while the second continued to pioneer the multiplayer experience, with the latter ones perfecting said formula. However, Halo does stumble with its fifth game, and while Halo Infinite was good, it is rather forgettable, diminishing a legendary legacy.
8
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
Some of the best video game franchises also have the most iconic characters in the medium, such as Sonic the Hedgehog. Some gamers like to take things slow and explore, others prefer to go fast, and that is exactly what this franchise offers. Players control the legendary blue hedgehog as they run around green hills and scientific facilities in order to stop the dastardly Robotnik/Doctor Eggman.
While the franchise is more known for its movies nowadays and nostalgic cartoons, it is still a video game franchise with some of the most memorable gaming experiences. Unfortunately, the Sonic the Hedgehog brand is lesser known for their video games, but historically, the franchise is rooted in gaming excellence, delivering a feeling of velocity and engagement unlike any other.
7
‘Call of Duty’
As mentioned, the FPS genre might be the most popular, and the greatest franchise it has to offer is Call of Duty. Every year or so, Activision releases a new Call of Duty game centred around authentic shooting gameplay. Sometimes set in the modern age, other times in a historical setting or in the far future, it is all about warfare during different times.
Call of Duty is often criticized for producing the same video game every year, and while they do sometimes have repetitive gameplay and similar styles, the franchise is still too popular to leave off this list. The old games are known for having some of the most defining video game experiences. Playing late-night COD with friends and its satisfying combat is a common yet unrivalled time that popularized the franchise.
6
‘Pokémon’
Even if some of the franchises on this list have disappointing games, they can make it on here if they are popular enough, and there is no franchise as big as Pokémon. This legendary RPG has players catching every Pokémon they can, defeating the eight gym leaders and whatever evil team threatens the region. Each game is set in a new region with different creatures and a fresh adventure.
Pokémon has lost a lot of credibility after making the move to 3D, especially recently on the Nintendo Switch with their buggy releases. However, no matter what happens, this franchise has already established itself as the most well-known gaming brand. Up until the 3DS era, every game was a riveting new experience. Pokémon is more than a gaming franchise; it is a pop culture identity that transcends video games, not to mention it is the largest media franchise in the world.
5
‘Final Fantasy’
Everyone loves a good fantasy game, and after the recent remake, Final Fantasy is once again back on top. This JRPG gaming franchise first started in 1987 and is an anthology series, with each new entry following a new cast with a different story. Starting out as a top-down 2D adventure, it has since delved into the 3D realm.
With around 16 entries in this video game franchise, Final Fantasy is an expansive series that has a die-hard fanbase. However, it is best known for the sixth and seventh games, which are timeless experiences that innovated through their storytelling, scale, and gameplay. Final Fantasy has some of the best villains in video game history, which helps create such a rich and compelling experience.
4
‘Resident Evil’
The horror genre is one of the most renowned in video game history because of the immersion and greater sense of fear, and Resident Evil understood this. Whether it be zombies or mutated creatures, each game has supernatural fiends causing mayhem wherever they go, with the player needing to stop them. Resident Evil defined the survival horror genre while constantly offering new styles.
Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, this franchise has never been more popular, with new remakes being announced, a ninth game being a game of the year candidate, and a movie coming out later in the year. Ranging from an immersive and haunting horror experience to an action-packed survival masterclass, Resident Evil constantly reinvents itself to innovate on the horror genre and push the franchise to new heights.
3
‘The Legend of Zelda’
When it comes to franchises, Nintendo has some of the most critically acclaimed and popular, such as Kirby and Metroid. However, the best reviewed is The Legend of Zelda, which commonly follows Link as he travels around the kingdom of Hyrule to save the princess Zelda from the evil clutches of Ganondorf as he tries to claim the Triforce for himself.
The Legend of Zelda franchise has always been critically acclaimed, but it has also reached a new level of popularity with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which brought it to an open world. From the intricately designed dungeons to the sense of adventure and exploration it evokes to the whimsical world full of lore and wonder, this franchise is ageless. The Legend of Zelda has no bad games, whether it be the charming 2D games, the dungeon-based classic 3D Zelda titles, or the new age open-air experiences.
2
‘Grand Theft Auto’
Rockstar is a prolific video game studio known for a couple of franchises, including Grand Theft Auto. Every game is set in a new world inspired by a real American city, from Los Angeles to New York City to Miami. Usually playing as criminals, gamers maneuver their way through the crime-filled city just trying to make a living, but this usually gets them involved with the police and other underworld enemies.
The Legend of Zelda is more recognizable as it never strays too far from its dedicated style, but Grand Theft Auto has better sales and general popularity. Not to mention, this franchise has some of the most critically acclaimed video games that are all revolutionary masterpieces, brimming with ambition and scale. Grand Theft Auto VI is bound to be the largest video game in history, further cementing this franchise as one of the best.
1
‘Mario’
Some franchises are iconic because of the games, others due to the main character, but for Mario, it is both. The red plumber never takes a day off, always needing to rescue Princess Peach from the dastardly Bowser. However, the Mario franchise is more than just a platformer; it expands to sports games, party titles, RPGs, and kart racing sensations.
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While this entry doesn’t include closely related franchises like Luigi’s Mansion, Yoshi, Peach, Wario, and Super Smash Bros., it does count the Mario Party, RPG games like Paper Mario, Mario sports games, and Mario Kart alongside the 2D and 3D platformers. Mario is a staple in the video game industry, with everyone knowing the iconic character. All the games sell well, especially the inventive platformers that are the best of the genre.
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