# What is the best video game franchise?

> Dive into a world of gaming greatness, where beloved classics clash with bold new contenders, and niche gems compete against towering giants of the industry. Are you ready to make your mark and decide which franchise reigns supreme?

*By YouPickBest · Published December 12, 2025 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-video-game-franchise*

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## Current results (270 votes)

1. **Super Mario**
   Iconic platformer featuring Mario's adventures to save Princess Peach
2. **The Legend of Zelda**
   Action-adventure series centered around Link's quest to save Hyrule
3. **Pokémon**
   Franchise about capturing and battling creatures called Pokémon
4. **Grand Theft Auto**
   Open-world action series focused on crime and exploration
5. **Call of Duty**
   Popular first-person shooter series known for its multiplayer modes
6. **Assassin's Creed**
   Action-adventure series exploring historical events through assassins
7. **The Witcher**
   RPG series following Geralt of Rivia in a fantasy world
8. **Minecraft**
   Sandbox game allowing players to build and explore blocky worlds
9. **Fortnite**
   Battle royale game combining building mechanics and survival gameplay
10. **Final Fantasy**
   Long-running RPG series known for its epic stories and characters
11. **The Elder Scrolls**
   Open-world RPG series set in the fantasy realm of Tamriel
12. **Fallout**
   Post-apocalyptic RPG series focusing on survival and exploration
13. **Dark Souls**
   Challenging action RPG known for its deep lore and difficulty
14. **Bloodborne**
   Action RPG set in a gothic horror world with fast-paced combat
15. **Elden Ring**
   Action RPG combining open-world exploration with Souls-like mechanics
16. **God of War**
   Action-adventure series following Kratos in mythological settings
17. **The Last of Us**
   Narrative-driven game exploring survival in a post-apocalyptic world
18. **Uncharted**
   Action-adventure series featuring treasure hunter Nathan Drake
19. **Halo**
   Sci-fi shooter series centered around the conflict with the Covenant
20. **Gears of War**
   Third-person shooter series focused on combat against monstrous Locusts
21. **Forza**
   Racing game series known for realistic driving and car customization
22. **Gran Turismo**
   Realistic racing simulator emphasizing car performance and physics
23. **FIFA**
   Annual soccer video game series featuring real teams and players
24. **Madden NFL**
   Football simulation game series based on the NFL
25. **NBA 2K**
   Basketball simulation game series known for its realistic gameplay
26. **Metal Gear Solid**
   Stealth action series focusing on espionage and military themes
27. **Resident Evil**
   Survival horror series featuring zombie outbreaks and puzzles
28. **Silent Hill**
   Psychological horror series known for its unsettling atmosphere
29. **Battlefield**
   Multiplayer-focused shooter series emphasizing large-scale warfare
30. **Overwatch**
   Team-based shooter featuring diverse heroes with unique abilities
31. **League of Legends**
   Multiplayer online battle arena game with strategic gameplay
32. **Dota**
   Multiplayer online battle arena game known for its competitive scene
33. **Counter-Strike**
   Tactical shooter focusing on team-based gameplay and strategy
34. **Valorant**
   Tactical shooter combining character abilities with traditional gunplay
35. **StarCraft**
   Real-time strategy game set in a sci-fi universe with three factions
36. **Warcraft**
   Fantasy strategy series known for its rich lore and gameplay
37. **World of Warcraft**
   Massively multiplayer online RPG set in the Warcraft universe
38. **Diablo**
   Action RPG series focusing on dungeon crawling and loot collection
39. **Mass Effect**
   Sci-fi RPG series known for its branching narratives and characters
40. **Dragon Age**
   Fantasy RPG series focusing on character-driven storytelling
41. **BioShock**
   Narrative-driven shooter exploring themes of power and morality
42. **Half-Life**
   First-person shooter series known for its innovative gameplay
43. **Portal**
   Puzzle-platformer featuring a unique portal gun mechanic
44. **Team Fortress**
   Class-based multiplayer shooter with distinct character roles
45. **Left 4 Dead**
   Cooperative shooter focusing on surviving against zombie hordes
46. **Borderlands**
   Loot-driven shooter with a distinctive cel-shaded art style
47. **Civilization**
   Turn-based strategy game series about building and managing empires
48. **XCOM**
   Tactical strategy series focused on combating alien invasions
49. **Total War**
   Strategy series combining turn-based management with real-time battles
50. **Age of Empires**
   Historical real-time strategy series focusing on civilization building
51. **Street Fighter**
   Iconic fighting game series known for its diverse characters
52. **Mortal Kombat**
   Fighting game series famous for its brutal combat and fatalities
53. **Tekken**
   Long-running fighting game series featuring a diverse roster of fighters
54. **Super Smash Bros.**
   Crossover fighting game featuring characters from various franchises
55. **Sonic the Hedgehog**
   Platformer series featuring Sonic's speed and adventures
56. **Mega Man**
   Action platformer series known for its challenging gameplay
57. **Castlevania**
   Action-adventure series focusing on vampire hunting and exploration
58. **Metroid**
   Action-adventure series featuring exploration and platforming elements
59. **Donkey Kong**
   Classic platformer featuring Donkey Kong and various challenges
60. **Kirby**
   Platformer series starring Kirby, known for his ability to copy powers
61. **Animal Crossing**
   Life simulation game focused on building and managing a village
62. **Splatoon**
   Team-based shooter featuring colorful ink-based combat
63. **Red Dead Redemption**
   Open-world action-adventure set in the American Wild West
64. **Spider-Man**
   Action-adventure game featuring the iconic superhero's web-slinging

Tags: games, franchises