Top 10 Gaming Titles That Stood the Test of Time

With the variety of consoles available, the list of playable games is extensive and diverse. Advancements in processing and graphics capabilities means there’s ample opportunity for brand-new visuals, gameplay and mechanics. So, as you might imagine, there are loads of fantastic new games released every month! But what about those titles that keep popping back up time and time again? whether through remakes or fresh new instalments in well-known series, there are some game titles that always leave us wanting more. Games like final Fantasy and Resident Evil, games that have been around for years yet still manage to draw huge attention with their new releases, even today. Keep reading to see our top picks for the game series that just never seem to die!

Resident Evil

The horror game that just keeps on giving. First released in 1996, Capcom’s Resident Evil has seen many instalments with the latest being the huge hit Resident Evil Village back in May of 2021 and promising a new game in the form of a remake of the 2005 game Resident Evil 4, due to be released March 2023. This horror survival game series lets us jump into the shoes of one of the various iconic Res characters to test our skills and ultimately ‘survive’ against all manner of mutated monster.

 

 

Harry Potter

Since the release of the first Harry Potter book back in 1997, the wizarding world has been capturing the imaginations of people across the globe and has subsequently produced an impressive 11 films and a plethora of fantastic games across almost every gaming platform since 2001. Following the release of the original the Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone film, a game adaptation was hot on its heels. Subsequently, the games have followed each film release, later spawning the LEGO Harry Potter games. After getting very mixed reviews it’s safe to say that the Harry Potter game franchise has had its ups and downs but the all-new Hogwarts: Legacy has gone back to the drawing board with its massive open world experience and its taken fans of the wizarding world by storm.

 

Star Wars

As one of the biggest sci-fi franchises ever created, Star Wars has been the subject of so many incredible games, games like the original ‘Star Wars Battlefront 2’, ‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ and ‘Star Wars the Force Unleashed’. This Sci-Fi franchise never ceases to draw in new crowds and impress the existing fans, and this has never been more evident than right now with the upcoming ‘JEDI: Survivor’. Star Wars has even branched into VR, bringing fans dreams of wielding a lightsaber and being a master of the force alive.

 

 

Mario

When we think of video games, we think of Mario. Since his first appearance in the game ‘Donkey Kong’, back in 1981, this little Italian plumber has featured in around 200 games! Everything from the classic Super Mario Bros platformer to the much-loved Mario Kart, not only cementing his place as one the world’s greatest gaming characters but continuing to surprise even the most die-hard fans with incredible new games.

 

 

Pokémon

The Pokémon series has produced some of the most iconic gameplay that we all know and love. Starting back in 1996 with the original ‘Pocket Monsters’, Pokémon has since released nearly 40 games in its core series and a whole mountain of side games. To date around 440 million Pokémon video games have sold worldwide! The game itself is based around a fictional world that is filled with these weird and wonderful creatures called Pokémon, the game lets you explore the massive expanses of land, catch Pokémon and even battle other trainers.

 

 

Street Fighter

Debuting in 1987, Street Fighter was introduced to the world as a side scrolling fighting arcade game. Developed by the popular game manufacturer Capcom, Street Fighter has remained a fan favourite in its genre to this day. Keeping to its origins and maintaining the same basic recipe, this game has seen the rise, fall and return of many iconic characters cementing its place in gaming history.

 

 

 

Final Fantasy

1987 was a good year for gaming, not only did we get to play street fighter for the first time, but the legendary ‘Final Fantasy’ game was born. Final Fantasy is a Japanese science fantasy game that has, over the years, built up arguably one of the most loyal and hardy fan followings in the gaming community. So far there have been 15 core games with countless other smaller side games and spinoffs. This series has become synonymous with RPGs around the world and boasts breathtakingly unique visuals and gameplay.

 

 

Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit

One game to rule them all. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are arguably some of the world’s most well-known stories and, with the massive success of the blockbuster films, it’s no surprise that the games have also been a huge hit. The first Tolkien-inspired video game release was all the way back in 1982 and wore the name ‘The Hobbit’, a text-based computer game that followed the story of the book of the book, yes you guessed it, The Hobbit. A long list of other great games based around both the films and the books bring us up to today and the soon-to-be latest edition to the franchise ‘Lord of the Rings: Gollum’ which is due for release some time in 2023.

 

Tomb Raider

1996 saw the first video game adaptation of the action classic, Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider at its heart is an action-adventure game, that sends us off on mission as the titular character Lara Croft, to explore hostile environments, solve puzzles and fight enemies. Since its release, the game has evolved and grown with updates across the board yet still staying true to its forebearers with its play style and action, puzzle-heavy gameplay. The franchise has seen around 21 game releases, including originals and some remakes, and the latest being released back in 2019 in the form of the ‘Definitive Edition’ original title ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider’.

 

Elder Scrolls

Elder Scrolls was first released onto our screens back in 1994 by Bethesda Softworks. The debut for this soon to be pioneer in RPG’s was Elder Scrolls Arena, originally concepted to be a battle arena styled game but soon developed into a fully-fledged, procedurally generated RPG. Subsequent releases in the franchise have cemented Elder Scrolls’ place in the fantasy RPG hall of fame with titles: Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion and finally Skyrim. Elder Scroll also released Elder Scrolls Online, giving us the opportunity to explore even more of Tamriel, the continent in which the Elder Scrolls series is based. But that’s not all, rumours of Elder Scrolls 6 are everywhere, so keeps your eyes peeled for more updates on what is sure to be the next big blockbuster game.

 

So that concludes our journey through the biggest game series to have ever hit our screens. Do you agree with our top picks? Let us know if you would add any others to the list!