5 Video Games That Saved Their Franchises From Dying

These five games were crucial for rescuing their franchises, or at least significantly helped turn them around when they were struggling.

These five games were crucial for rescuing their franchises, or at least significantly helped turn them around when they were struggling.

Mr. Karate, a mysterious fighter always wearing a red Tengu mask, became a popular character in fighting game history but has since taken a backseat. He first appeared as the final boss in the original Art of Fighting as Takuma Sakazaki. Later games replaced him with his son, Ryo, which is why Mr. Karate’s moves in City of the Wolves include references to the King of Fighters series. We at SNK had a chance to play as Mr. Karate early, and we think old-school fighting game fans will really enjoy him – especially how well he can handle fast-paced opponents who are currently very strong in the game.

As a critic, I’ve always seen a strong connection between Christopher Nolan’s Inception and the 2006 animated film Paprika. While Nolan himself hasn’t publicly acknowledged it, many of us noticed the clear inspiration. And if you’ve been meaning to check out Paprika to see it for yourself, you’ll need to act fast – it’s leaving Tubi and doesn’t currently have a new streaming home lined up.

Throughout the history of the Avengers, several heroes have proven themselves as valuable members, each finding their unique role before moving on. These characters truly earned their place among the team’s legends, and it’s time to bring seven of these fan favorites back into the fold, giving readers the heroes they’ve been missing.

I’m really looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a big reason why. The Fire Emblem series used to be quite small, but Fire Emblem: Awakening changed everything, making it a core Nintendo franchise. Fortune’s Weave could be the best Fire Emblem game yet. However, after the mixed reception to Fire Emblem Engage, Nintendo really needs this new installment to show that the series can still innovate and improve.

Kang recently shared the original, much grimmer concept for KPop Demon Hunters. Sony began developing the project in 2018, and the initial version was intended to be a mature, violent film. However, after six months of pre-production, Sony Pictures Animation President Kristine Belson saw the potential for a broader audience and suggested the film be reimagined as a family-friendly adventure – a change that ultimately shaped the final product.

Shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Six Feet Under were some of HBO’s earliest original series, and they were all huge successes. It’s interesting, then, to revisit those early shows and discover one you’ve never heard of – especially when it feels like something you could be watching on a streaming service today.

Filming for the next season of the live-action One Piece series began in November, shortly after its announcement in August 2025, and is currently underway. These new episodes, titled The Battle for Alabasta, aren’t scheduled to debut on Netflix until 2027. Despite the wait, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, recently visited the set and shared positive feedback about the upcoming season.

Many movies don’t fully utilize their beginnings, but these 10 films from the 21st century immediately stand out with incredible opening scenes. They quickly establish compelling themes, deliver exciting action, develop characters, or showcase unique visual approaches right from the start.

2027 will be a huge year for Star Wars fans, celebrating the franchise’s 50th anniversary! There’s a lot planned, including Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles, a re-release of the original A New Hope in theaters, and new content on Disney+, like Season 2 of Ahsoka. But the biggest event will be the release of Star Wars: Starfighter, a brand new movie coming out in May – almost 50 years after the very first Star Wars film. Lucasfilm is hoping this movie will revitalize the saga.