There is no doubt that games like Call Of Duty, Assassin's Creed, and Grand Theft Auto are top-rated among gamers. But do they have enough sequels? It is said that there is strength in numbers, and there are a few games that showcase that. Many popular titles nowadays are starting and ending within one generation. Compared to that, there are game series that have transcended not just one generation, but almost all of them.
And while that does not mean they are the best games of all time, it shows the sheer passion of developers and publishers for a franchise. At the same time, it showcases the love of fans that have always supported these games.
10 The Legend Of Zelda (28+ Games)
The Legend Of Zelda series is one of the most decorated franchises by Nintendo. It is a Nintendo-Original title first released in 1986. This means it has been close to 34 years since the game was launched, making it one of the oldest titles on this list. Zelda series is known for its RPG elements and story.
The series has shown a lot of growth both in terms of gameplay and storytelling and is still considered one of the best around. It is a Nintendo flagship series and continues to shine with every new release.
9 Donkey Kong (30+ Games)
Here is another Nintendo flagship title on this list, and it is not the last one. Donkey Kong had revolutionized the way platformers were done when it first came out in 1981. It was much responsive compared to other games and garnered a cult following to date.
This fan-favoritism is the reason Donkey Kong series has seen numerous titles in its name, with the latest one being Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. The series has mostly received positive reviews and remains a big franchise for Nintendo almost 40 years down the line.
8 Resident Evil (30+ Games)
Capcom's Resident Evil has been a massive name in this current generation. That's mainly because of rebooting and continuing the franchise as well as remaking older parts of the series. There is no denying that the series has seen some significant ups and downs. But Capcom has never given up on this franchise.
They have continued to build and revamp major gameplay driven elements in the series just to satisfy new and returning fans, which is why it is kind of evidence that the series is on the list. Currently, two new games are in works titled Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 Remake.
7 Castlevania (35+ Games)
Honestly, Castlevania is one of those names that hasn't been heard much in the Playstation 4/Xbox One era. But even then, it is one of the franchises with most parts, spin-offs, and sequels. The game has more titles than Resident Evil, which is commendable, knowing that there hasn't been a Castlevania game since Lords Of Shadow 2.
It is a Konami game franchise and has a massive fan following. On top of that, the series has some great variety, and its games range from being a puzzle-platformer to hack and slash.
6 Dragon Quest (40+ Games)
Dragon Quest is another cult-classic video game series. It is a role-playing game franchise and was previously known as Dragon Warrior in some places. Even after years, this series is still a fan-favorite.
The latest part of the series was released in 2017, called Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. It received pretty good reviews from fans as well as critics, making it a good part of the series.
5 Pokémon (55+ Games)
The Pokémon series is probably a big reason a lot of people purchased the Nintendo Game Boy. When a game can sell a console, it is pretty evident that it is excellent. Pokémon is another Nintendo franchise that has been critically acclaimed by many RPG fans.
The first game was released around 1996, which means it is relatively new compared to the other two Nintendo games above. This is why the fact that it has almost double the games compared to them, is genuinely praiseworthy.
4 Final Fantasy (75+ Games)
The Final Fantasy franchise is another cult-classic built and bred on multiple consoles throughout the years. The first game in the series came out in 1987 to a decent reception.
But back in the days, technology was growing almost twice as fast. Due to that, the series is now very different from what it originally was. Despite that, fans have always supported the series and that has paid off. The number of titles in this series is more than double it's age.
3 Sonic (80 Games)
Sonic The Hedgehog is the mascot to Sega and the original platform game to compete with Nintendo's mascot. Sonic vs. Mario is equivalent to Master Chief vs. Kratos nowadays. It is much more gruesome than that.
Being the definitive franchise by Sega, Sonic has garnered a cult fan following throughout the years. The series is one of the best platformers around and has spawned various spin-offs, as well as a Sonic The Hedgehog Movie.
2 Mega Man (100 Games)
The Mega Man series is top-rated among gamers for its difficulty. This is the 2D equivalent of what Dark Souls stands for, punishing players. The series is carefully crafted and is one of the best platform games in the market.
Moreover, Mega Man games are on so many different platforms, including MS-DOS and Android. This series is the second largest in terms of overall releases. And although not all Mega Man entries are a must-play, the franchise still has few of the best Capcom games in the market.
1 Mario (115 Games)
More than a mascot for Nintendo, Mario is not even just a character. It is a household name. It is what every platformer wants to be, at least popularity-wise. Since everyone knows this character, it is fair to say that this has to be the most advertised and exclusive franchise to Nintendo.
And if that is not enough, Nintendo's passion for Mario can be seen in all the video games that are made around this character. It is a clear top winner in terms of overall games, but the best part is most of those games are pretty good as well.