My Top 10 Favorite Gaming Franchises
My Personal Favorites
I decided to challenge myself and write a list of my personal favorite video game franchises. This wasn’t as easy as I initially thought it would be. Plenty of IP missed the mark, but who I love. Shoutouts to franchises like Gears of War, Bioshock, Ratchet & Clank, and others I love almost as much as the one that made the list. So, with that out of the way, let's look at my top ten favorite gaming franchises.
#10 - Uncharted
If there’s one franchise I deeply miss, it’s the Uncharted franchise. Every one of Nathan Drake’s adventures was a full-blown experience from which I couldn’t take my eyes away. From the moment I finally got around to playing the first game in 2011, I knew I had found something special. While I greatly respect the Tomb Raider series, Uncharted is the best treasure-tracking adventure I’ve played. It’s not just the concept and gameplay either, as the games gave me some of my favorite characters in gaming. The brilliant writing and character arcs are the true secret sauce to what makes Uncharted so special for me. I admit that while I loved the way Uncharted 4 ended with a perfect bow to everyone’s arcs, I knew it would be the last mainline game in the series for at least a very long time. Hopefully, one day, I can visit a new adventure in the series, and I hope to replay these soon.
#9 - God of War
So, back in High School, I took a Greek mythology class and fell in love with it. As someone who is a sucker for history and stories, I loved reading up on the Greek heroes and gods. After realizing how horrible the gods were in the stories (no Disneyfied Hercules here), I wanted to see their comeuppance. That’s where God of War came in. Kratos’ thirst for vengeance against the gods came to me shortly after High School, and I caught up just in time for the third’s release to hack away and destroy Olympus. Then came the recent games that semi-rebooted the series. The 2018 God of War is still, to this day, my all-time favorite PlayStation-exclusive game. When I booted up, I did not realize the legendary and emotional story it would tell. The gameplay changed to a slower, more story-driven aspect, but I didn’t mind. And it wasn’t just Kratos doing the character-building here; the side characters shined just as brightly. The entire arc of Kratos has been a delight to follow, and I hope the rumors of more adventures for the titular god are on their way.
#8 - Kirby
I’ve always loved Kirby because he’s a great example of appearances being deceiving. The character and art style of the Kirby series seem like a childlike plaything, but it’s a bit of a facade. Sure, the games are pretty simple and don’t have much challenge. The majority of Kirby games are targeted to new and younger gamers. However, Kirby’s childlike nature comes with enemies with some of the darkest and craziest lore. I’ve also argued for a long time that Kirby is quite possibly the strongest fictional video game character of all time. Add the music and pick-and-up play platforming, and Kirby games always seem good for my soul.
#7 - Halo
It’s true that Halo has passed its peak and has been fighting to find its footing in a genre now ruled by Call of Duty, but that hasn’t stopped my love for this franchise. Halo is the first FPS that I really fell in love with—Goldeneye notwithstanding. The original trilogy will always be the best representation of why I love this series. The trilogy is a sci-fi epic revolving around the Spartan known as John, who has a surprisingly well-done character arc as the story is told. The frenetic fight against alien armies and saving the world from the Flood and Halo rings are memories that will be imprinted in my mind. While the recent games have their issues, it doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my time with them. Even Halo 5: Guardians, the weakest entry in the series, still had some moments for me. It sounds like Microsoft is working to make its flagship franchise get some of its star power and quality back, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what that new future will look like. Let’s keep finishing the fight.
#6 - Final Fantasy
Believe it or not, this legendary franchise has just recently entered my franchise loop. I grew up with childhood friends who had PS1 and saw them play FF7-9. I liked what I saw and was aware of the iconic story of the seventh entry, but I didn’t get my hands on a game from start to finish until the polarizing Final Fantasy XIII. I didn’t hate the game, but I didn’t come away feeling like I had played a classic like those PS1 titles. It wouldn’t be until Final Fantasy XV that I finally started to understand the series. Since then, I’ve played the FF7 Remakes and Final Fantasy XVI. I’ve also dabbled with the older games and hope to play the entirety of FF6 someday. Now, the series is a must-play, and I get hyped when a new entry is announced. I loved Final Fantasy XVI, which gave me many of my favorite characters and moments of 2023. I now sit and wait for the seventeenth entry.
#5 - Fallout
I have a deeply imprinted memory of spending my 2008 holidays and early 2009 exploring the Capitol Wasteland in Fallout 3 and having trouble putting the game down. This was during a pivotal time of my life as I was branching off just playing Nintendo and Xbox exclusives and began trying different genres. There was also the Great Recession, and I couldn't find a job no matter how hard I tried, so the game sort of became a symbol for those times. However, it was the start of my love for this franchise.
I think I love this series so much because it combines two things I love: history and exploring. The urban exploration aspect doesn’t hurt either as someone who likes to watch those videos. But, as a huge history nerd, the world of Fallout is like my perfect ideal video game setting, and the retro-futurism combined with the classic mid-century songs on the radio are chef’s kiss. Unfortunately, Fallout 5 won’t be coming anytime soon, and all I have until then is the show and if I ever want to give Fallout 76 a try. Still, the next time I decide to jump into that world, I know I’m in for a good time.
#4 - Soulsborne
It's cheating, but basically, I’m including all of the From Software “soulslike” titles here. When I first heard about these games, I initially stayed away because the toxic parts of the fandom made them sound like torture porn. However, I liked what I saw on a Let’s Play of Bloodborne and took the risk of buying it to give it a chance. Well, I’m glad I did because that became one of my all-time favorite games. From there, I went to the Dark Souls series, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. These games are indeed challenging, but they are beatable. Actually, I wouldn’t even say I’m good at these games; I have to over-level and find the biggest weapons to have any chance against the toughest bosses. However, once I got my footing and learned to play these, I loved them. The secret sauce to these games is the sense of discovery, perfected in Elden Ring. Even the more linear entries had that.
Despite some frustration, the games have interesting settings and lore that keep me going. Although each entry is very similar, they are different enough to stand alone. Elden Ring took it to a whole other level and showed that the team could make a compelling open world and keep their “soulslike” play. I'm not sure when we’ll get a new title, but I’ll be there on day one when it happens.
#3 - Super Mario
Shocker, the Mickey Mouse of gaming, makes this list pretty high. Pretty much like a super majority of gamers, Mario will always hold a special place in my gaming heart. My first core video game memory is playing Super Mario Bros. on my older brother’s NES as my twin brother and I tried to make it to the castle and save the princess. Since then, I’ve had many incredible moments with the character and franchise. Super Mario World was the first Mario game I understood how to play, and the first time I paid attention to a video game soundtrack. Super Mario 64 is the game at the peak of my childhood. Super Mario Galaxy 2 helped me get back into Nintendo after never playing a game of theirs for a few years. Super Mario Odyssey blew my mind, and it’s my favorite game in the franchise.
But with Mario, it’s more than just his mainline platforming games. We also have Mario Kart, the industry's most pick-up-and-play game. The fighting game series Super Smash Bros. is still kicking ass and taking names today. Multiple spin-offs like Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Party, and all of the sports spinoffs are examples of the power of the plumber. Every time a Mario game comes out, I pay attention.
#2 - The Legend of Zelda
My first memory of this series was when I rented Ocarina of Time for my N64 from Blockbuster. I popped the game in, and the rest, as they say, would be history. Everyone has a game that was the start of their love for the industry and games; for me, that was Ocarina of Time. I mostly played Mario at that point, so a little younger me popping this in was like a revelation. The moment where I reached the grand open field of Hyrule was magic. I was in a medieval fantasy epic, taking down evil with Link. It was magic, and I wanted more of it.
I’ve played pretty much every release in the series after that moment. Some of my favorite standouts are A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. I get a special feeling when I play a new Zelda game, especially going in blind. The formula remains familiar but doesn't make it old for me. Link goes out to retrieve the legendary sword and finds Princess Zelda's whereabouts as Ganon's evil force looms over. The dungeons challenge you, and the music stays with you with some of the best gaming soundtracks. I can’t wait for Link’s next adventure.
#1 - Metroid
Anyone who knows me knows how predictable this one is. From the moment I played Metroid Prime, I fell head over heels for the Metroid series. The adventures of bounty hunter Samus and her rivalry with the Space Pirates is a series that always grabs my attention in all the best ways. Samus is a badass female and my third favorite fictional character behind Batman and Godzilla. The mood and atmosphere in these games add to the feeling of loneliness that Samus must experience as she traverses these alien planets and deals with the pirates and titular Metroids who want to kill her. The Metroidvania genre is also a big part of my love for this game, as the gameplay formula is one of my favorites.
Metroid Prime 4 comes out this year, and I will be there day one. I’m confident Retro Studios will deliver yet another incredible adventure for the bounty hunter. Samus’ search for the truth and taking on the Space Pirates is the most badass video game concept I can come up with and is easily my favorite. From the epic boss encounters to the lore scanning and more, this is the series that only produces some of the best games I’ve ever played.
Be Nice to All
Strong list. Happy to see uncharted on ppl's best franchise lists cause of how consistent and innovative it was from start to fininsh
All classic incredible games. Excellent choices.