These five video game franchises have no bad games, and they have managed to deliver consistent and fun experiences with every entry. As with every form of media, even these franchises and their games have their share of flaws, and some people may dislike them. Many gamers agree that every one of the entries is special in its own way, and there’s no reason to skip a single one of them.
God of War
Let’s get one of the most obvious ones out of the way, first. The first God of War game emerged in 2005, with a fantastic story about fall from grace and revenge. Its gameplay was tight, polished, and immensely satisfying, and it inspired many games to come. As Kratos, you tore through enemy forces and exacted revenge in almost all games before 2018’s God of War.
The reboot was rather different from the originals – from the appearance to the gameplay. Many fans predicted that there was a good chance for it to fail, but it didn’t. Instead, it revitalized the already great franchise and introduced Atreus, Kratos’s son. Focusing on the narrative heavily, the new God of War games are truly worthy. And as a whole, this franchise is absolutely masterful.
Yakuza
Now, there is a certain portion of the community that states Yakuza 3 is a bad game. But I disagree, as Yakuza 3’s story and character writing were top-notch, and it truly deserves a lot of love. Its only flaw was the frustrating combat. And others claim that Yakuza Kiwami is inferior in some ways. I say that it had some of the best combat in all the games.
No matter what people would say, there is no denying that every Yakuza game has a lot of fans, and this franchise has something to offer to everyone. The latest Yakuza: Like a Dragon ditched the Brawler combat formula and adapted RPG turn-based combat, and it was successful. Many spin-offs of the games exist and are upcoming, and every one of them is loved by fans. Truly, Yakuza is one of my favorites and one of the most idiosyncratic and fun franchises in gaming history.
Max Payne
Max Payne 1 and 2 were masterpieces of the third-person shooter genre, and their storytelling and narrative were unmatched. Even today, they manage to immerse the player in a beautiful tale about love, loss, and revenge. Certain veteran fans of the 1 and 2 claim that the third game’s plot was weak.
While I agree, Max Payne 3 offers the best and most satisfying third-person shooter combat in the franchise, and arguably, in general. I personally believe that Max Payne 3 had a satisfying conclusion to the character’s story, and all three of these games are exceptional.
Metro
Metro is a game series based on the post-apocalyptic Russian novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The first game is Metro: 2033, and it featured extensive gun customization, an eerie atmosphere, terrifying monsters, and a masterful story. This quality was seen in the sequels, Metro: Last Light and Metro: Exodus as well, and to be fair, I can’t point out a single downside to these diamonds of games.
Post-apocalyptic Russia is terror-inducing, but it’s also beautiful in its own way. The story is emotional, dark, and just masterful. This is an essential franchise for any FPS fan.
The Witcher
The first Witcher game may have been clunky and difficult to master, but it still offered a great story and excellent RPG mechanics. Many choices you made in each of the games would carry into the sequels, connecting them beautifully.
Two of the main points of attraction in this franchise are the lore and the story, among many others. The Witcher 3 perfected the franchise and delivered an experience that will never be forgotten. Players who had played all three games are the ones that had the best experience, and each game is wonderful, even with their flaws.
