Every year, there are more and more amazing titles being released for us gamers to enjoy. But what about the games that stand the test of time and make the biggest headlines when a new sequel is released? There are certain video game franchises that can seemingly do no wrong and always receive masses of attention.
Gamers like you and us are very particular with the way we play. We take pride in knowing all the greatest and most popular titles, making sure we’ve got the top gaming chairs to sit in, and even ensuring the laptop screen is looking its cleanest if you’re on a PC. The one thing we do know the most about, however, is the five best video game franchises that we come back to again and again. These are our picks.
Halo
Easily the best Xbox-exclusive game of all time, Halo has delighted FPS fans since its very first release back in 2001. The adventures of Master Chief and his relationship with the AI, Cortana, is the pillar of the Halo story, but let’s be honest, it’s all about shooting aliens with high-tech weaponry.
For a protagonist who barely talks and never shows his face, the Master Chief is nevertheless very endearing and a hero we all cheer for when the going gets tough.
There have been a few blips along the way, sure, as no one likes battling The Flood, sometimes the boss battles on Legendary mode are just crushingly difficult, and it can be infuriating to always choose just between two weapons.
The latest title, Halo Infinite, moved away from the linear storyline and transitioned to more of an open-world quest. It appears that developers 343 Industries will continue to add more content over the coming years, as the main storyline was just a tad short.
Grand Theft Auto
Crime never looked so cool! Every Grand Theft Auto game, especially GTA V, has toed the line perfectly from serious missions to letting you run riot in the city with bazookas and (you guessed it) stealing cars.
Just like its sister game, Red Dead Redemption, also from Rockstar Games, GTA is a sandbox game that allows you to play the way you want. It’s been a painfully long time since GTA V was released in 2013, but reports suggest that the sixth title is in development and most likely appearing late 2023 or early 2024.
Considering the franchise’s humble beginnings, Grand Theft Auto has continued to set the bar for sandbox games to this day with regards to gameplay, story, graphics, and even voice acting. Once you’ve finished the main story, you can always spend hours completing the hundreds of side quests or just causing havoc in the city when it suits you.
Call of Duty
COD has done a remarkable job of constantly reinventing itself for new players and to keep old players interested. There are so many editions of COD, from World War II to black ops to futuristic fighting, there is always something new under the Call of Duty umbrella.
In recent years, multiplayer has even taken over the main story as the most popular part of the game. There are tournaments across the world that let COD players compete in multiplayer battles for huge cash prizes, which goes to show just how big this game has become.
As well, the hugely enjoyable Zombie mode has added a fresh spin on things. There’s no mission apart from surviving! You and three friends can play couch co-op or online against hoards of zombies, and even if you’re killed and have to start over again, it’s still a lot of fun and is never taken so seriously.
The Legend of Zelda
Let’s make it clear: The hero is called Link! The actual character you control isn’t Zelda, but no matter the title, TLOZ has amazed fans with the deep and emotional storylines, fun sword fights, and unique side quests that are actually not a chore at all.
From the 2D beginnings on the early Nintendo consoles, things progressed rapidly to the Nintendo 64 with The Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, both of which are regarded as two of the greatest video games of all time.
The Nintendo Switch’s Breath of the Wild has taken Zelda to greater heights, and even if the game itself is too time-consuming for some (there is A LOT to do), the graphics and gameplay are just stunning. While it’s true that Windwaker was a massive misstep (cartoonish graphics are a big minus), it’s fair to say that Nintendo always takes risks and never makes the same game twice.
Mario Kart
Find us someone who doesn’t like Mario Kart… we can wait. From pros or casual gamers, there’s nothing quite like a Mario Kart battle. Like Zelda, Mario Kart is always evolving and thinking up new ways to entertain us. The tracks might get more difficult and the graphics are flashy and bright, but at its heart, it’s a fun racing game that anyone can learn.
Most fans will think fondly back to the Super Nintendo version, with only eight characters and 16 tracks. Now? There are dozens of characters and tracks to choose from, almost to the point of being too many, but no Nintendo console is complete without a Mario Kart game.
