Top Ten Most Milked Video Game Franchises of All Time
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
These video game series have been squeezed for every last penny. For this list, we'll be looking at video game franchises whose properties have been exploited, expanded on, rehashed, and otherwise wrung dry due to how profitable they are. These games include Pokemon, Assasin's Creed and Call of Duty among others.
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Written by Garrett Alden
Top 10 Video Game Franchises that Have Been Milked to Death
These video game series have been squeezed for every last penny. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 video game franchises that have been milked to death.
For this list, we’ll be looking at video game franchises whose properties have been exploited, expanded on, rehashed, and otherwise wrung dry due to how profitable they are. We’re not saying that they aren’t good or worth playing, only that their creators may be a little overzealous in the name of moneymaking.
While its moment in the spotlight may not have lasted long, the “Guitar Hero” series put out a huge number of games in its heyday. The rhythm game franchise focused primarily on players pressing buttons on fake guitars to match well-known songs, accompanied by bright visuals. This gameplay changed very little between installments, with the most notable differences being which songs were offered. This allowed its creators to pump out a whopping 12 games in 5 years. Given its rapid decline and absence these days, “Guitar Hero” was definitely milked to death.
As the bestselling mobile game franchise of all time, “Angry Birds” features gameplay copied fro-…uh…reminiscent of games like “Crush the Castle,” but repackaged with colorful animals. The series’ runaway success led to follow-ups, spin-offs, and even a film adaptation. However, the sheer number of “Angry Birds” games has been somewhat excessive, as around 20 entries have been released in just 8 years! The series hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet, but at some point we imagine “Angry Birds” will miss enough targets that its golden eggs will lose some of their luster.
The Blue Bomber has seen his share of games over the years, and then some. Starting out as a platform shooter, “Mega Man” quickly grew to become an expansive franchise, with a large number of spin-off series within it – encompassing genres like action adventure games and RPGs. However, despite being made by Capcom, a company infamous for squeezing their franchises for all they’re worth (more on that later), “Mega Man” has largely faded into the background these past few years. But, most recently, the blue bomber is technically set to return with Mega man 11, as well as a compilation pack for the Mega Man X series. So, maybe this time Capcom will take it easy with him…right?
Catching them all becomes less and less likely every year. “Pokémon” is a gigantic multimedia franchise, comprised of animes, movies, card games, toys, theme parks, and naturally, a plethora of video games, all focused on the titular pocket monsters. Although the primary series of games features the classic catching and training formula, “Pokémon” has spin-offs involving everything from photography to pinball. Nintendo is well known for milking its franchises, but “Pokémon” is on another level entirely, at least when it comes to branding. Thanks to its addictive gameplay, colorful creatures, and millions of fans, it’s doubtful that this cash cow will be milked to death any time soon.
This sci-fi military action franchise helped put Microsoft on the gaming map. Much like other console-selling series, its parent company has been reluctant to let it go. “Halo” initially featured a trilogy of games telling the story of Master Chief and his fight to save the galaxy from the devastating Halo weapons, along with a few spin-offs and a prequel. After the trilogy and spin-offs, Bungie, the initial development studio, retired from making the series. Since then, 343 Industries has taken over, pushing the number of games released under the “Halo” banner to nearly one every year. While recent games play as well as they ever have, they ring somewhat hollow now.
Capcom strikes again! One of the company’s biggest hit franchises; “Resident Evil” is a survival horror action series with an emphasis on zombies. Since its debut in the mid-nineties, the franchise has spawned a new entry nearly annually, with some years seeing as many as three. Along with a host of spin-offs and remakes, “Resident Evil” has is also the most successful video game film adaption ever, grossing over $1.2 billion globally. This frightful franchise looks like it’s going to be around for years to come.
Would you look at that – another Capcom franchise. Are you sensing a trend here? This seminal fighting game series has become infamous for milking its fans for as much money as possible. Although “Street Fighter” has released a relatively small number of main games, the series achieves maximum profitability by rereleasing the same game with minor updates and changes. Most notably is its second installment, which received over half a dozen different variations. Add in the numerous spin-off and crossover games, along with other media, and you can see how Capcom has managed to get the most bang for their buck.
Even indie games can create oversaturation. The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise is a survival horror, point-and-click series that follows employees of a nightmarish children’s restaurant chain populated by murderous animatronic animals. Despite only being three years old, this series has already pumped out six entries, which offer little variation between them. This allowed the creator to release two per year, causing “FNaF” to set a world record for the highest number of game sequels released within a single year. Whether they’re playing it themselves or watching people overreact to jump scares online, it’s clear that people crave more nights than just five at Freddy’s.
A historical fiction-based action adventure series, “Assassin’s Creed” follows a brotherhood of assassins who carry out select killings throughout a variety of iconic locations and time periods worldwide. In the 10 years since its creation, the franchise has produced 10 main games along with a similar amount of spin-off titles, and even a film adaptation. Like our previous entry, “Assassin’s Creed” has managed such high output in part due to its core gameplay remaining almost identical across all of its games, with the primary differences being the plots and settings. While the games are fun, you sometimes get the feeling that if you’ve played one, you’ve played them all.
The first-person shooter genre has been defined in the last decade and a half in large part due to this military franchise. However, part of the reason it has been so influential is because there have been so dang many games! In the 14 years since its inception, “Call of Duty” has released around a dozen or so games in its principal series, with at least that many side games. All of these titles end up averaging out to around 2 to 3 per year. This, combined with the series’ cookie cutter gameplay, has left a lot of gamers feeling like the well has run dry.
Top 10 Video Game Franchises that Have Been Milked to Death
These video game series have been squeezed for every last penny. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 video game franchises that have been milked to death.
For this list, we’ll be looking at video game franchises whose properties have been exploited, expanded on, rehashed, and otherwise wrung dry due to how profitable they are. We’re not saying that they aren’t good or worth playing, only that their creators may be a little overzealous in the name of moneymaking.
#10: “Guitar Hero” (2005-15)
While its moment in the spotlight may not have lasted long, the “Guitar Hero” series put out a huge number of games in its heyday. The rhythm game franchise focused primarily on players pressing buttons on fake guitars to match well-known songs, accompanied by bright visuals. This gameplay changed very little between installments, with the most notable differences being which songs were offered. This allowed its creators to pump out a whopping 12 games in 5 years. Given its rapid decline and absence these days, “Guitar Hero” was definitely milked to death.
#9: “Angry Birds” (2009-)
As the bestselling mobile game franchise of all time, “Angry Birds” features gameplay copied fro-…uh…reminiscent of games like “Crush the Castle,” but repackaged with colorful animals. The series’ runaway success led to follow-ups, spin-offs, and even a film adaptation. However, the sheer number of “Angry Birds” games has been somewhat excessive, as around 20 entries have been released in just 8 years! The series hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet, but at some point we imagine “Angry Birds” will miss enough targets that its golden eggs will lose some of their luster.
#8: “Mega Man” (1987-)
The Blue Bomber has seen his share of games over the years, and then some. Starting out as a platform shooter, “Mega Man” quickly grew to become an expansive franchise, with a large number of spin-off series within it – encompassing genres like action adventure games and RPGs. However, despite being made by Capcom, a company infamous for squeezing their franchises for all they’re worth (more on that later), “Mega Man” has largely faded into the background these past few years. But, most recently, the blue bomber is technically set to return with Mega man 11, as well as a compilation pack for the Mega Man X series. So, maybe this time Capcom will take it easy with him…right?
#7: “Pokémon” (1996-)
Catching them all becomes less and less likely every year. “Pokémon” is a gigantic multimedia franchise, comprised of animes, movies, card games, toys, theme parks, and naturally, a plethora of video games, all focused on the titular pocket monsters. Although the primary series of games features the classic catching and training formula, “Pokémon” has spin-offs involving everything from photography to pinball. Nintendo is well known for milking its franchises, but “Pokémon” is on another level entirely, at least when it comes to branding. Thanks to its addictive gameplay, colorful creatures, and millions of fans, it’s doubtful that this cash cow will be milked to death any time soon.
#6: “Halo” (2001-)
This sci-fi military action franchise helped put Microsoft on the gaming map. Much like other console-selling series, its parent company has been reluctant to let it go. “Halo” initially featured a trilogy of games telling the story of Master Chief and his fight to save the galaxy from the devastating Halo weapons, along with a few spin-offs and a prequel. After the trilogy and spin-offs, Bungie, the initial development studio, retired from making the series. Since then, 343 Industries has taken over, pushing the number of games released under the “Halo” banner to nearly one every year. While recent games play as well as they ever have, they ring somewhat hollow now.
#5: “Resident Evil” (1996-)
Capcom strikes again! One of the company’s biggest hit franchises; “Resident Evil” is a survival horror action series with an emphasis on zombies. Since its debut in the mid-nineties, the franchise has spawned a new entry nearly annually, with some years seeing as many as three. Along with a host of spin-offs and remakes, “Resident Evil” has is also the most successful video game film adaption ever, grossing over $1.2 billion globally. This frightful franchise looks like it’s going to be around for years to come.
#4: “Street Fighter” (1987-)
Would you look at that – another Capcom franchise. Are you sensing a trend here? This seminal fighting game series has become infamous for milking its fans for as much money as possible. Although “Street Fighter” has released a relatively small number of main games, the series achieves maximum profitability by rereleasing the same game with minor updates and changes. Most notably is its second installment, which received over half a dozen different variations. Add in the numerous spin-off and crossover games, along with other media, and you can see how Capcom has managed to get the most bang for their buck.
#3: “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (2014-)
Even indie games can create oversaturation. The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise is a survival horror, point-and-click series that follows employees of a nightmarish children’s restaurant chain populated by murderous animatronic animals. Despite only being three years old, this series has already pumped out six entries, which offer little variation between them. This allowed the creator to release two per year, causing “FNaF” to set a world record for the highest number of game sequels released within a single year. Whether they’re playing it themselves or watching people overreact to jump scares online, it’s clear that people crave more nights than just five at Freddy’s.
#2: “Assassin’s Creed” (2007-)
A historical fiction-based action adventure series, “Assassin’s Creed” follows a brotherhood of assassins who carry out select killings throughout a variety of iconic locations and time periods worldwide. In the 10 years since its creation, the franchise has produced 10 main games along with a similar amount of spin-off titles, and even a film adaptation. Like our previous entry, “Assassin’s Creed” has managed such high output in part due to its core gameplay remaining almost identical across all of its games, with the primary differences being the plots and settings. While the games are fun, you sometimes get the feeling that if you’ve played one, you’ve played them all.
#1: “Call of Duty” (2003-)
The first-person shooter genre has been defined in the last decade and a half in large part due to this military franchise. However, part of the reason it has been so influential is because there have been so dang many games! In the 14 years since its inception, “Call of Duty” has released around a dozen or so games in its principal series, with at least that many side games. All of these titles end up averaging out to around 2 to 3 per year. This, combined with the series’ cookie cutter gameplay, has left a lot of gamers feeling like the well has run dry.
