Franchises

Film-licensed video-game series based on the Back to the Future trilogy. Early film adaptations include LJN’s NES titles and Image Works home-computer/Sega games, Japan’s Super Back to the Future II, and Telltale’s episodic Back to the Future: The Game (2010–2011), later reissued as a 30th Anniversary Edition.

Dungeons & Dragons CRPG series set on the Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms. BioWare’s Infinity Engine Bhaalspawn Saga began with Baldur's Gate (1998) and Shadows of Amn (2000); Beamdog later shipped Enhanced Editions and Siege of Dragonspear, while Larian’s Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) revived the line. The franchise also includes the Snowblind Dark Alliance action-RPG spin-offs.

Rare platform series starring Banjo the bear and Kazooie the breegull, usually fighting the witch Gruntilda. Debuted on Nintendo 64 in 1998, continued on Game Boy Advance and Xbox 360, and remains largely dormant since Nuts & Bolts (2008), aside from crossover appearances.

Licensed Batman video games outside the Arkham and LEGO Batman catalog franchises—from Sunsoft and movie tie-ins through Ubisoft’s New Batman Adventures era, Telltale’s choice-driven seasons, and WB Montréal’s Gotham Knights.

Rocksteady-led Batman action-adventure series published by Warner Bros. Games (with Eidos co-publishing Asylum). Mainline titles include Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, WB Montréal’s prequel Arkham Origins, and Arkham Knight, plus Blackgate, VR, remaster/collection packs, and Arkhamverse follow-ups Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Arkham Shadow.

Military first-person shooter series developed mainly by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. Online multiplayer on large maps emphasizes teamwork and combined arms.

Urban fantasy action series created by Hideki Kamiya at PlatinumGames. Witch Bayonetta fights with dual pistols, heel guns, and magically transforming hair.

Ubisoft action-adventure series created by Michel Ancel, following photojournalist Jade as she investigates a conspiracy on the planet Hillys. The 2003 original was remastered as Beyond Good & Evil HD in 2011 and as the 20th Anniversary Edition in 2024.

First-person shooter series that began with the 2007 2K Boston and 2K Australia game. Player character Jack discovers the underwater city of Rapture, built by Andrew Ryan as an isolated utopia.

FromSoftware PlayStation 4 action RPG series directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, set in the gothic plague city of Yharnam where Hunters battle beasts and eldritch horrors.

Terminal Reality and Majesco’s dhampir action series starring Rayne—from the 2002 Infernal Engine originals through WayForward’s Betrayal, Ziggurat’s Terminal Cut/ReVamped remasters, and Fresh Bites.

Hudson Soft maze-action franchise created by Yuji Tanaka, Toshiyuki Sasagawa, and Shinichi Nakamoto, now owned by Konami. Games center on placing timed bombs in mazes—solo campaigns and last-player-standing multiplayer—from the 1983 original through Super Bomberman and modern Super Bomberman R titles.

Gearbox Software action role-playing looter-shooter series published by 2K. It is set in a space Western science fantasy world.

Revolution Software's point-and-click adventure series following American tourist George Stobbart and French journalist Nicole Collard through globe-trotting conspiracies, beginning with 1996's Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars.

Starbreeze adventure directed with Josef Fares and published by 505 Games. Two brothers share one controller on a wordless fantasy journey to cure their father—later remade by Avantgarden in 2024.

Gearbox Software World War II tactical shooter franchise, centered on squad-based fire-and-maneuver combat with the 101st Airborne from Normandy through Operation Market Garden.

Licensed games starring martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, from Datasoft's 1984 platformer through later beat 'em ups and Virgin's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story movie tie-in. Players typically fight and platform as Lee.

2009 Double Fine action-adventure with real-time strategy elements, published by Electronic Arts.

Video games based on Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series. Licensed beat ’em ups and action titles from Game Boy Color through Xbox and DS, centered on Buffy Summers and the Scooby Gang fighting vampires in Sunnydale.

People Can Fly and Epic’s 2011 skillshot first-person shooter (published by EA), remastered as Full Clip / Duke of Switch, plus Bulletstorm VR.