Franchises Past Their Prime
Some video game franchises explode onto the scene with groundbreaking gameplay, unforgettable stories, and a devoted fanbase. But not all of them can maintain that momentum. Over time, poor decisions or changing industry trends send once-great series into a devastating decline. Will they ever reclaim their former glory? Let's take a look at the most notable examples.
Halo Infinite | Campaign Gameplay Premiere – 8 Minute Demo by HALO
1. Sonic The Hedgehog
In 1991, Sonic The Hedgehog was the fastest, dominating platformers and making SEGA a legend. Then 3D happened; Sonic '06 crashed with glitches and weird storytelling. Even Sonic Forces lacked speed. Can Sonic regain his momentum, or is he doomed to keep tripping over his sneakers?
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) - "Final Trailer" - Paramount Pictures by Paramount Pictures
2. Resident Evil
Resident Evil redefined survival horror in 1996, revolutionizing gaming with its tense atmosphere and terrifying encounters. However, when Resident Evil 6 arrived, action had overtaken horror, turning fear into a mindless bullet-fest. As fans pushed for a return to true horror, Capcom was forced to rethink its approach.
3. Final Fantasy
Synonymous with RPG excellence, Final Fantasy faced turbulence as the XIII trilogy delivered linear corridors, and XIV's initial launch flopped. Meanwhile, XV's development woes led to a fractured experience. However, Final Fantasy XIV was completely rebuilt as A Real Reborn and is now one of the most successful MMORPGs of all time.
FINAL FANTASY XVI PC New Gameplay Demo 22 Minutes 4K by WildGamerSK
4. Medal Of Honor
Medal of Honor was a titan of the WWII shooter genre, thrilling players with cinematic battles. Then, the terrain of shooters began to change. Modern warfare took center stage, and the franchise was at a crossroads. EA's attempt to modernize fell flat, and the franchise vanished. Even VR couldn't save it.
Medal of Honor (2010) - PC Gameplay 4k 2160p / Win 10 by FirstPlays HD
5. Silent Hill
Can Silent Hill reclaim its throne, or will it remain trapped in the fog of its former glory? The series terrified players with its eerie atmosphere and disturbing narratives. Over time, however, its grip weakened. Silent Hill: Downpour and Book of Memories struggled to maintain the franchise's signature tension, replacing dread with uninspired design.
SILENT HILL 2 - Gameplay by Bloober Team
6. Diablo
Blizzard's legendary dungeon crawler set the standard for loot-driven action RPGs, though not without its stumbles. Diablo III launched with a disastrous auction house that turned loot into a marketplace grind rather than an adventure. Then came Diablo Immortal, where pay-to-win mechanics overshadowed the gameplay.
DIABLO 4 Gameplay Demo 14 Minutes 8K by WildGamerSK
7. Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer set the standard for the genre by delivering intense battles and deep tactical gameplay. But, Tiberian Twilight stripped away the very mechanics that defined it, leaving longtime fans frustrated and disillusioned. As if that weren't enough, mobile cash grabs further eroded the franchise's reputation.
Red Alert 3 | Command & Conquer Gameplay PC - Soviets Union by zoom3000
8. Fable
Promised innovation turned into overhyped letdowns. Fable's choices were never as deep as advertised, and by Fable III, streamlined mechanics angered RPG lovers, stripping away the depth that once defined the series. As excitement waned, the cancellation of multiple spin-offs buried the franchise even further.
Fable Official Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2024 by GameSpot
9. Mass Effect
From groundbreaking storytelling to galactic disappointment, Mass Effect soared to greatness before crashing under the weight of its ambitions. Mass Effect 3's ending enraged players, leaving a bitter taste after years of emotional investment. The damage deepened with Andromeda's troubled 2017 launch, plagued by unfinished animations and uninspired writing.
Mass Effect (2007) - PC Gameplay 4k 2160p / Win 10 by FirstPlays HD
10. Halo
Bungie's exit left Halo in uncertain hands and shifted the franchise into a new era filled with highs and lows. Halo 5: Guardians disappointed longtime fans with its underwhelming campaign and the controversial removal of split-screen co-op, a series staple. The struggles continued as Halo Infinite faced delays.
Halo Infinite | Campaign Gameplay Premiere – 8 Minute Demo by HALO
11. Assassin's Creed
How did Assassin's Creed go from historical masterpieces to endless open-world errands? Once a stealth-focused adventure through rich historical settings, the series gradually lost its way. Unity's buggy launch exposed Ubisoft's rush tactics, while Odyssey leaned so heavily into RPG mechanics that stealth became less mandatory.
Assassin's Creed - Full Game Walkthrough by Assassin's Creed Series
12. Need For Speed
This franchise has lost its way. The Run, Payback, and Rivals felt uninspired and forgettable, weighed down by shallow gameplay and intrusive microtransactions. It is hard to believe that Need for Speed was once the king of arcade racing, dominating the 2000s with high-speed thrills and unforgettable style.
Need for Speed Heat Gameplay (PC HD) [1080p60FPS] by Throneful
13. Star Fox
In the '90s, Star Fox was the representation of incredible, fast-paced space battles and the legendary "Do a barrel roll!" command. It was a thrilling ride through the Lylat System, and Fox McCloud was a certified Nintendo icon. But Fox McCloud lost his course, with the series clinging to outdated mechanics instead of evolving.
Star Fox Adventures Full Gameplay Walkthrough (Longplay) by XCageGame
14. Tomb Raider
Angel of Darkness nearly buried Lara Croft's legacy with its broken gameplay and messy story. Although reboots revitalized her, Shadow of the Tomb Raider stumbled and felt uninspired compared to its predecessors. Does Lara have another grand adventure left, or has her legend faded?
Tomb Raider - FULL GAME WALKTHROUGH - No Commentary by SourceSpy91
15. Dead Space
What began as a masterclass in sci-fi horror slowly spiraled into generic action. Dead Space 3 abandoned its roots, shifting focus to microtransactions and co-op rather than isolation and fear. The shift drained the tension that once set the series apart, which left it adrift in deep space.
DEAD SPACE Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [1080p HD 60FPS PC] - No Commentary by MKIceAndFire
16. SimCity
Buried in the rubble of its missteps, SimCity went from a city-building titan to a cautionary tale. The 2013 reboot's always-online requirement led to server meltdowns, whereas tiny city sizes and intrusive DRM crushed player creativity. What should have been a triumphant return instead destroyed the franchise's credibility.
SimCity | Ep. 01 | Best Cities, Worst Game, Ever | SimCity City Building Tycoon Gameplay by Raptor
17. Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo and Kazooie were a platforming royalty, only to be derailed by Nuts & Bolts, a game that replaced classic platforming with vehicle-building mechanics no one asked for. Fans begged for a true sequel, yet Rare and Microsoft remained indifferent. Yooka-Laylee tried to recapture the magic, but the void could not be filled.
Banjo Kazooie Gameplay by Green Man Gaming
18. Commandos
Stealth and split-second precision made Commandos a tactical legend, rewarding patience and clever planning. Then, in a plot twist that no one wanted, Commandos: Strike Force ditched the brainy approach for run-and-gun action. The series never fully recovered, stuck in limbo while other tactical stealth games carried the torch.
Commandos: Origins Demo 2024 Gameplay (Hard) by Salman Khan
19. Duke Nukem
You know when something takes so long to arrive that expectations skyrocket? That was Duke Nukem Forever, fourteen years in the making, only to land with a resounding thud. Once the ultimate action hero, Duke returned as an outdated relic, armed with stale jokes and clunky gameplay.
Duke Nukem Forever - Gameplay (PC) by Lasse Pulkkinen
20. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
In the early 2000s, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was untouchable, with slick mechanics and killer soundtracks. But by 2015, THPS 5 faceplanted hard. Broken physics and rushed development trashed its legacy, leaving fans wondering if the series had permanently wiped out.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 Gameplay! (Playstation 4 Xbox One 60fps HD) by TmarTn2
