Some video game series have had a lasting impact, shaping entire genres and influencing game design and setting the standard for what makes a great gaming experience. Games like Fallout take players through vast wastelands, while Call of Duty delivers intense combat. Strategy fans have spent countless hours building civilizations in Civilization, and RPG lovers have explored rich fantasy worlds in games like The Elder Scrolls. These series have defined their genres and inspired countless other games.
Everyone has their favorites, but some series stand out as must-plays. If you enjoy exploring, solving puzzles, or testing your skills in competition, these games offer something special. Here are 10 video game series' every gamer should experience at least once.
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10 Mario Kart
Race To Victory As Your Favorite Mario Character
The popular characters from the world of Mario. Thanks to its popularity, the series has spanned 16 games across consoles, arcades, and mobile devices.
Mario Kart 9 Needs To Break This Franchise Tradition
Mario Kart 9 should move away from including older tracks, focussing instead on being something entirely original compared to previous entries.
Each new game builds on the original, adding fresh tracks, characters, and gameplay features. Features like drifting, gliding, and underwater driving have kept the series fun and exciting. While Mario Kart has always been a two-player couch co-op game, it wasn't until Mario Kart DS that online multiplayer became a staple in the series.
The latest game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, came out for the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and has become the best-selling in the series. With ongoing updates and new content, including new tracks, Mario Kart remains a must-play for racing fans of all ages.
9 Street Fighter
Take To The Streets And Show Off Your Martial Art Skills
Early fighting games like Heavyweight Champ and Yie Ar Kung-Fu introduced players to competitive combat in the fighting genre, but none defined the genre like Street Fighter did. Street Fighter is now one of the more well-known fighting games. Released in 1987 on arcade systems, Street Fighter allowed players to fight in one-on-one martial arts battles. While the first game was simple, Street Fighter II in 1991 changed everything and helped shape modern fighting games with its distinct characters that sported unique moves, special attacks, and combos.
The series now has six main games, also with spinoffs and crossovers. Each game brought new characters, better graphics, and new fighting moves. Some fan-favorite characters include Ryu, Chun-Li, and Ken.
Street Fighter is one of Capcom's flagship series, selling 55 million units worldwide.
Street Fighter has stayed popular for years and has greatly impacted competitive gaming and esports. Street Fighter V, released in 2016, became a mainstay in tournaments, and the latest game, Street Fighter 6, was released in 2023 and has done the same (even offering up to a staggering $1 million to first-place winners). It offers new features but still keeps the classic Street Fighter feel.
8 Pokémon
Travel Across The Land To Catch, Train, And Battle Pokémon
Pokémon is one of the most popular video game series ever. It first came out on February 27, 1996, for the Game Boy in Japan. The original games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (the latter renamed Blue outside of Japan), allowed players to catch, train, and battle creatures called Pokémon. The games became an instant success, leading to a huge franchise that included TV shows, movies, and card games.
Pokémon has many spin-offs like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Snap, making it one of the longest-running and most varied game series. With its mix of adventure, strategy, and collecting, Pokémon continues to attract new and old fans alike.
Since then, the series has seen the release of over 100 games across different platforms like Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. The main games in the series involve a Pokémon Trainer traveling through various regions to catch Pokémon, battle other Trainers, and aim to become the Pokémon Champion. Each new generation of games introduces new Pokémon, areas, and features.
Pokémon has many spin-offs like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Snap, making it one of the longest-running and most varied game series. With its mix of adventure, strategy, and collecting, Pokémon continues to attract new and old fans alike. Now is as good a time as any to play it with the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
7 Final Fantasy
Enjoy Action Gameplay And Turn-Based Combat
Final Fantasy is a legendary video game series that has left a major mark on the gaming world. It first debuted in Japan on December 18, 1987, created by Square Enix. The series is known for its captivating stories, memorable characters, and engaging turn-based combat. Each game in the series features a distinct world, with unique settings, characters, and plots, although elements such as Chocobos, summons, and crystals are recurring themes.
There are 16 main Final Fantasy games, with Final Fantasy XVI launching in 2023 for the PlayStation 5. In addition to the main titles, there are numerous spin-offs, including Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, and Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition.
Final Fantasy characters also appear elsewhere, like in Kingdom Hearts.
Over the years, Final Fantasy has evolved. While the early games focused on turn-based combat, newer installments have moved toward more action-oriented gameplay. Despite these changes, the series remains known for its stunning visuals, expansive worlds, and emotional storylines. Final Fantasy is a must-play for anyone interested in role-playing games.
6 Animal Crossing
Cozy Up And Build Your Town, Camp, Or Island
Animal Crossing is a popular life simulation game series from Nintendo. The first game, Animal Crossing, was released in 2001 for the Nintendo 64 in Japan, and later came to the GameCube in other regions. The game allowed players to create their own virtual life, build homes, interact with animal villagers, and customize their surroundings.
The series became known for its relaxing, open-ended gameplay. It includes activities like fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting, and is set to a real-time clock. Players can enjoy the calm, day-to-day life of their virtual village or town, meeting new characters along the way.
Animal Crossing's Biggest Flaw Could Become Its Greatest Strength
Animal Crossing’s greatest flaw may annoy a lot of players, but it could be turned into its greatest asset if Nintendo pivoted to a different style.
Since the first game, there have been five main entries. There are also a few spin-offs, like Happy Home Designer and Pocket Camp. New Horizons, the latest in the series, became one of the best-selling games for the Nintendo Switch and won the hearts of players worldwide. The series is celebrated for its simple but engaging activities, where players can escape into a quiet and cozy world.
5 Resident Evil
Explore, Solve Puzzles, And Take On Zombies
Resident Evil is a legendary survival horror series created by Capcom, first released in 1996. It was originally launched for the PlayStation, and quickly became a major hit, setting the standard for horror games to come. The game combined elements of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving, all while building a terrifying atmosphere of tension and suspense.
Since its debut, the Resident Evil series has expanded to 12 main games, along with remakes and spin-offs. The franchise gained momentum with Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, solidifying its reputation, then shifted to more action-focused gameplay with Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, and Resident Evil 6. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard revitalized the series with a first-person perspective and a terrifying atmosphere, followed by Resident Evil Village, which continued its success.
4 Super Mario Bros.
Go On An Adventure To Save Princess Peach
Super Mario Bros. is one of the most famous and important video game series ever. For many, myself included, it was their first step into gaming. Created by Nintendo, the first game came out in 1985 on the NES. The game was a big hit and helped define platforming games.
The success of the original Super Mario Bros. led to many sequels and new ideas, including power-ups like the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower. These became key parts of the game. The series also introduced new challenges and fun mechanics with each new game.
Mario's name was originally supposed to be Jumpman. He appeared in the 1981 video game, Donkey Kong.
There are now over 200 Mario-themed games, with a handful from the main series. Notable releases include Super Mario Bros. 3, which added new power-ups and levels, and Super Mario 64, which changed platforming by introducing 3D gameplay. Super Mario Odyssey recently brought fresh ideas and creative new worlds to the Nintendo Switch. With over 900 million copies sold worldwide, Super Mario remains one of the most successful and beloved video game series of all time. It’s a true must-play for all.
3 Grand Theft Auto
Explore, Cause Chaos, And Hijack Cars
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most influential video game series, renowned for its open-world gameplay and provocative content. The first game was released in 1997 for MS-DOS and Windows. It was a top-down, 2D action game that allowed players to explore a city and cause chaos, a unique concept at the time.
The series gained huge popularity with Grand Theft Auto III. This game introduced a 3D open world, letting players explore Liberty City from a third-person view. Its success led to even bigger sequels in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
There are 16 main GTA games in total, with a 17th on the way. Grand Theft Auto V is one of the best-selling video games and includes GTA Online, a multiplayer mode that continues to be updated and has a large player base.
2 The Legend of Zelda
Travel Across Hyrule To Rescue Princess Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most iconic video game franchises, known for its adventure and puzzle-solving gameplay. It’s a personal favorite; I have played all of its mainline games, and most spinoffs.
The first game in the series was released on February 21, 1986, for NES. It introduced players to the land of Hyrule, where they take on the role of Link, a young hero tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and defeating the evil villain Ganon.
Over the years, The Legend of Zelda has become one of the most praised game series due to its innovative gameplay and engaging stories. The games often focus on exploration, combat, and puzzles. Notable titles include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which introduced a large open world and changed many traditional gameplay elements, including adding more environmental interactgion.
There are currently 21 main Zelda games, 17 spinoffs, and nine remakes and re-releases. Some of the notable entries are The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, each bringing unique gameplay mechanics and art styles to the series.
1 Assassin's Creed
Take On The Templars Playing As Fan-Favorite Characters
Assassin's Creed is an action-adventure game series that started in 2007. It introduced players to the world of assassins and templars, with a mix of stealth, action, and puzzle-solving. Set in historical locations and featuring historical characters, the games allowed players to explore cities while taking on various roles, including that of Altair, Enzo, and Kassandra.
Since then, the series has grown, with 14 main games and many spin-offs and expansions. Assassin's Creed has been released on various platforms, including PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
This Small Detail In Assassin's Creed Shadows Is Something Every Game Should Have
A small detail added to Assassin's Creed Shadows doesn't change the gameplay, but it does make it more realistic. Other games should learn from it.
In more recent games like Assassin's Creed: Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla, and, most recently, Shadows, the series has moved toward open-world RPG elements, adding more character customization and story choices. Assassin's Creed remains one of the most popular game franchises, with its mix of history, action, and exploration.
