Throughout video gaming’s lengthy history, there are some franchises which have released a game, and then another, and then another.
Whether through innovation, an engaging story or just a loyal fanbase, there are some game franchises which won’t die off and keep coming back year after year.
While some games ebb and flow in terms of quality, there’s no denying that some franchises have stood the test of time. So with that said, let’s take a look at some of the very best which are still going strong today.
When creating this list, I’ve used several sources to ensure only the mainline games are counted. In particular, the incredibly in-depth research done by Moby Games which I’ve cross-referenced with my own experiences of these franchises, as well as fan discussion around what is and isn’t mainline or canon.
10
Yakuza
Nine Mainline Entries
Trying to explain Yakuza to someone outside of gaming is a pretty tall order. What started as a grounded crime story featuring beat ‘em-up brawls in the street mixed with RPG elements, has slowly grown into something more, becoming Like A Dragon.
Still retaining its beat ‘em up elements, the Like A Dragon series has varied wildly in terms of genre and tone. The series has become known for its wacky characters and side quests, like a fully fleshed-out Pokémon parody, numerous dating simulations and a kart racing mini-game.
But through all of that, it’s managed to maintain a surprisingly heartfelt and solid core across its nine mainline releases, in no small part due to its beloved main protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, who is an absolute sweetheart.
Nine Mainline Entries
Launching in 1987 and spanning nine mainline entries, as well as kickstarting the legendary Hideo Kojima’s career, Metal Gear has become something of a juggernaut.
Metal Gear is particularly interesting to me because of what it represents and how it tells its story. One part philosophical anti-war commentary, one part cheesy Bond-style action, all wrapped up nicely in some of the best stealth-action games ever made.
Even if you’ve not played a Metal Gear game, you’ll have either heard about them or seen elements from them. Solid Snake, one of the protagonists, is so iconic he’s appeared in Super Smash Bros and even Fortnite.
8
Resident Evil
10 Mainline Entries
Beginning as a third-person horror survival, the first Resident Evil utilized fixed camera angels and an eerie zombie-invested mansion to really ramp up the fear and to create an atmosphere few have replicated, even to this day.
Across its ten mainline releases, Resident Evil has experimented with different genres and playstyles to varying success. Resident Evil 5 was the first to break away from its survival horror roots and was much more of an action shooter, which divided fans and critics at the time. Resident Evil 7 then once again mixed things up and went for a first-person approach, which the series seems to have settled on.
Returning to its horror roots and continuing the compelling story the series is known for, Resident Evil 7 and Village have solidified the series as the survival horror games. With a new standalone film in the works, it’s only a matter of time until the series once again reinvents itself.
7
Mega Man
11 Mainline Entries
Coming from an era when a game’s story was often just a small paragraph on the back of the box, or in a game guide, Mega Man is an iconic series with a passionately loyal fanbase.
With an impressive 11 mainline titles under its belt beginning in the late 1980s, the Mega Man franchise has exploded with numerous spin-offs, TV shows and official comics.
While not a mainline title, a personal favorite of mine when I was a kid was Mega Man Battle Network 3, a real-time strategy RPG on the Game Boy Advance. A relatively unknown title, but proof of how strong Mega Man is as a brand and a mascot.
6
Kingdom Hearts
11 Mainline Entries
Okay, full transparency, part of the reason I wanted to write this list specifically was so I could mark my DualShockers debut by talking about Kingdom Hearts, one of the first games I ever played and fell in love with.
Spanning 11 mainline entries, Kingdom Hearts is an unlikely combination of Final Fantasy RPG elements and the whimsy and nostalgia of the Disney universe. Across its history, Kingdom Hearts has dabbled with card games, pet simulators and even a rhythm game, all to tell one cohesive (but at times, too complicated) story.
It’s hard to pin down what exactly I love most about Kingdom Hearts. It’s at times frustrating and difficult, but filled with nostalgia and warmth. It’s a series I know I can always go back to and have an absolute blast.
5
Assassin’s Creed
14 Mainline Entries
Despite having 14 mainline releases to its name, Assassin’s Creed continues to offer some of the most in-depth and engrossing open worlds I’ve seen in any game. While each game works as a standalone title, they’re all loosely tied into the ongoing story of Animus and their evil shenanigans.
As a huge fan of the Assassin’s Creed series, Odyssey in particular, I always thought there were a lot more titles than there actually are. Assassin’s Creed has the feeling of one of those series which pump out yearly releases, but in actuality a lot of thought, creativity and time goes into creating worlds which are deep and feel worth exploring. One of the only things letting the series down, in my mind, is its overarching story which is routinely outshone by each game’s self-contained stories.
I’m much more interested in the adventures and trials of Kassandra and Valhalla’s Eivor than I am the eternal war with the Templars, or Animus or whoever the big bad happens to be at the time.
4
Sonic The Hedgehog
16 Mainline Entries
The blue blur himself, Sonic The Hedgehog was released in 1991 as Sega’s answer to Nintendo’s Super Mario, fuelling an already fierce rivalry between the two gaming juggernauts at the time. While this rivalry has fizzled out, Sonic remains an icon known worldwide.
On the face of it, the mainline Sonic games are just a series of 2D and 3D platformers which have varied in terms of quality. But, Sonic Team’s commitment to Sonic and his history is seriously impressive. Throughout the years, the Sonic games have varied wildly, from infamous flops like Sonic ’06, to beloved classics like Sonic Colours. Sonic Team aren’t afraid to experiment and learn from their past.
Sonic x Shadow Generations is not only one of the best games in the franchise, but doesn’t shy away from the series’ mixed past, giving us levels focusing on the likes of Sonic ’06 and Shadow The Hedgehog, providing us with a canonical timeline of Sonic’s journey, through his finest and not-so finest adventures.
3
The Legend of Zelda
20 Mainline Entries
There was absolutely no way I wasn’t going to include The Legend of Zelda on this list. With at least 20 mainline titles beginning way back in the 1980s, The Legend of Zelda is probably one of the most iconic game franchises ever made, only outdone by the likes of Pokemon or Super Mario.
Breath of the Wild was the first Zelda game I beat, and it had such a massive impact on me. I’ve since gone out and played a few of the other games in the series. It’s been fun seeing how things started in Skyward Sword and developed in games such as Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker.
The series has a fascinating internal timeline complete with alternate universes, branching narrative paths and time travel. Outside of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, almost every mainline Zelda game can be neatly slotted in somewhere along its timeline.
2
Call Of Duty
22 Mainline Entries
Call of Duty is kind of like Doctor Who or James Bond — everyone has their Call of Duty game. For me, it was the first Modern Warfare 2 and I spent probably too many nights running around with my friends in custom games and online lobbies (not to mention the dreaded 1v1 on Rust).
It’s not hard to see why Call of Duty has managed to survive an annual release for the past 22 years. The games are easy to pick up for a few hours and have mindless fun, while also having a fairly high skill cap, making it ripe for the competitive scene. With the popularity of the Battle Royale genre taking off, it only made sense Call of Duty would release Warzone, which brought the franchise to new heights of popularity.
1
Pokemon
27 Mainline Entries
Like many others born in the late 90s, some of my earliest memories of playing video games comes from the Pokemon franchise. Choosing my first starter (Squirtle, by the way), adventuring across new regions and raising my Pokemon pals along the way, it’s almost a rite of passage.
Part of what draws me to Pokemon even to this day is that, despite these weird and wonderful little creatures running around, it still very much feels like a real world. While no rigid timeline exists in the Pokémon world, you get the sense that time is moving, things are developing and people are learning more about the Pokemon which inhabit their world.
With 27 mainline entries spread across 9 generations of Pokémon, the franchise is showing no signs of slowing down, and honestly, I hope it never does.
