5 Video Game Franchises That Need An Extended Break

by

Video game companies often rely heavily on established franchises. When a game is successful, it’s tempting to keep releasing sequels. However, series like Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero have suffered from too many releases. Releasing games so frequently also makes it hard to meaningfully improve and innovate. Because of this, some long-running series would benefit from a pause – either to let players appreciate them more, or to allow developers time to create a truly groundbreaking next installment.

Here are five series that could use an extended break.

5) Every Sports Series

As a big sports fan, I think just listing every yearly sports game would be kind of dull, honestly. Titles like NBA 2K, Madden, EA Sports FC, and The Show always feel a little rushed, like they could really benefit from an extra year of polish and some more creative game modes. So, instead of treating them as separate releases, it makes more sense to look at them as a group that could all use a little more development time.

Let’s be real, this is probably wishful thinking. The game companies are making a ton of money releasing new titles every year, so they’re not likely to slow down. But as a fan, I can’t help but daydream about what a team like Sony San Diego could achieve if they just had a little more time to polish things. Think about how amazing Storylines mode could be with another year of development! I know it’s unlikely, but that’s what’s fun about making these kinds of lists – we can let our imaginations run wild.

4) Like a Dragon

The Like a Dragon series (previously known as Yakuza) has consistently released new games every year since 2015, and often even more than one title per year. While I’m impressed by the studio’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality games, it’s becoming overwhelming trying to keep up as a player.

Each Like a Dragon game is a massive undertaking, easily taking dozens of hours to fully enjoy. And trust me, you want to experience everything – RGG Studio consistently delivers some of the most engaging and memorable side quests in gaming. So, I’m just hoping they take a year off to recharge. A little vacation for the developers would likely result in even more amazing side content in future games.

3) Resident Evil

As a huge fan of Resident Evil, I’m thrilled Capcom is still making new games. But since 2017, we’ve already seen six games – including both remakes and entirely new titles. While I don’t think Capcom is lacking ideas, we’re getting to the point where there aren’t many classic games left to remake.

Capcom likely has three more remakes planned: Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 1, and Code Veronica. While they could remake Resident Evil 5 and 6 in the future, it’s unclear if there’s much demand for those versions. Because of this, Capcom might be better off pacing themselves. Eventually, they’ll run out of existing games to remake and will need to create something entirely new – perhaps spin-off titles like Revelations, or something different altogether. Slowing down now would give them time to develop these new ideas and also make each new release feel more impactful.

2) Assassin’s Creed

Since 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has released 14 major games, which is a very fast pace. And it doesn’t look like Ubisoft is planning to slow down anytime soon. They’ve already announced two new games, Jade and Codename Hexe, and are planning more remakes, similar to what was done with Resident Evil.

Most Assassin’s Creed games are decent, but they have the potential to be truly exceptional. If Ubisoft took more time with development, they could create a game that revolutionizes the open-world stealth genre. Unfortunately, the latest installment features a huge map with repetitive and uninspired content. It’s a common sentiment that Assassin’s Creed needs a refresh, and we’ll keep emphasizing that until Ubisoft takes action.

1) Call of Duty

The latest Call of Duty game is consistently released every year, and it’s easy to see why. Since 2005, Activision has released a new installment annually, and with CoD frequently topping the sales charts, it makes financial sense to continue the series.

Let’s be honest, Black Ops 7 didn’t do well. Critics and players weren’t impressed, and it sold fewer copies in its first month than Black Ops 6. By mid-December, it was only the seventh best-selling game in the US for 2025 – even Battlefield 6, its biggest competitor, outperformed it. While this isn’t quite enough to make Activision pause the series for a year, they really should consider it.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/list/6-best-fps-single-player-campaigns-ranked/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-10 01:12