If a developer is lucky enough to create a fantastic game that blossoms intoa beloved gaming franchise, it won’t be long before they become acutely aware that this newfound success comes with much higher expectations with each new game.
10 PS Plus Fodder Games You Should Avoid
Fodder games can be surprisingly good, but they can also be duds like these games.
There is an expectation that each game should build on the last, either matching it for quality orblowing it completely out of the water.I know it goes without saying, but that’s much easier said than done.
However, some long-running franchises have somehow managed to churn out banger after banger, never dropping the ball once. So, we want to celebrate that by listing some iconic franchises with not a single bad game to their name.
We will consider spin-offs but not remakes, remasters, or mobile games. Plus, to avoid less prominent franchises appearing on this list, we will only include series that have produced at least three games—sorry, Valve.
Do What It Takes To Survive
This one will be very dependent on how you feelabout Eurojank games, but credit where it’s due. Among its janky contemporaries, it’s very hard to argue that anyone holds a candle tothe Metro series.
Based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s written works, Metro burst onto the scene with a brilliant single-player FPS campaign that succeeded due to its gritty setting and interesting story.
But with this solid foundation, the series has kicked on with a brilliant follow-up in the form of Last Light, a stunning semi-open-world outing that took shape in Metro Exodus. Eventhe more recent VR title, Awakening, offered a gripping prequel that provided immersion that only VR can.
We are intrigued to see what is next for the series, but based on past form, chances are the next game will be a massive success as well.
9Dark Souls
Dark Souls 3
Fextralife Wiki
Call it controversial if you want, but even if Dark Souls 2 wasn’t quite as monumentally successful as the original and third game, it’s not outlandish to say that the Dark Souls trilogy doesn’t have a bad game.
The original was a trailblazer, using the foundation laid by Demon’s Souls tocarve out an entire genreoff the back of its harsh but fair adventure.
Then came the second title, which was perhaps lacking in some areas due to Miyazaki’s decision to hand off the project. But nonetheless, Dark Souls 2 still boasts amazing bosses, locations, moments, and DLC.
Then comes the third and final game, which took FromSoft titles to new heights with some of the most awe-inspiring visuals imaginable, alongside more killer bosses, a perfected combat formula, and varied build options that would help shape later titles like Elden Ring.
All in all, it’s a series that has spawned its own genre of copycats, and you don’t do that by being anything less than damn near flawless.
Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture
In a similar vein to Dark Souls, we need to give the Bioshock series its flowers, as while no game in the series has ever come close to rivaling the original, that doesn’t mean that every other game in the series wasn’t a superb game worth playing.
Bioshock 2is the much-maligned of the three, but I’ve never quite understood why. This game is just as atmospheric as the original; it expands on the lore of Rapture in an interesting way, and it improves upon the rather limited gameplay and combat of the original.
Then comes the game that rounded off the trilogy, and while Ken Levine was disappointed with the outcome, the masses of fans certainly weren’t. As Infinite offered yet another sublime setting to rival Rapture, a mind-bending storyline, and gunplay that finally felt like the finished article.
Controversial as it may be, the fact of the matter is that Bioshock has never let the fans down and has always produced games worth playing. Perhaps nothing will ever match that first bathysphere trip down to Rapture, but that’s a pretty unfair measuring stick if you ask me.
7Uncharted
He Stole Our Hearts
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Almost all Naughty Dog games have had a moment of weakness that has ruined their perfect streak in the eyes of fans. Jak & Daxter tailed off after a few successful hits, and Crash Bandicoot was taken off their hands and promptly dragged through the dirt.
However, despite a rather atrocious live-action movie attempting to derail the series, Uncharted remains a series with no black marks against its name.
The PS3 era was one where Uncharted ruled the roost, offering incredible action-adventures with intense set-pieces, fun cover-shooter gunplay, and a riveting story, provided you can overlook the supernatural angle of the first game.
But, even as the game transitioned to the PS4, it managed to keep this momentum going with a terrific title that allowedNathan Drake to sign off in style.
It’s a modern PlayStation classic, and while it was a fitting end, we hope we haven’t seen the last of this series.
6God of War
No Gods, No Masters
God of War Ragnarok
Speaking of PlayStation classics, God of War is one of the most flawless intellectual properties that Sony has at their disposal, as Kratos only stars in blockbusters.
I’ll grant you that the hack-and-slash offerings of the PS2/PS3 era are a little bit dated today, but back in the 2000s, these gameswere the pinnacle of what was possible, offering visceral, satisfying button-mashing that we all couldn’t get enough of.
But, no one could have foreseen a return to the big-time for the god-slayer in a story-driven action RPG reboot series where Kratos plays the role of a father figure to young Atreus.
The modern entries surpass the iconic, older hack-and-slash titles thanks to the rich Norse mythology at their core, the incredible stories they weave, and the satisfying gameplay that keeps just enough of the old while introducing a wealth of new and exciting mechanics.
Kratos doesn’t accept failure or weakness, and, judging by each game’s review scores, he practices what he preaches.
The End Of The World As We Know It
While this one was in jeopardy for quite some time thanks to the abysmal state that Fallout 76 launched in, I’m happy to report that the wrongs have been righted and the streak continues for this post-apocalyptic series.
Whether you’re referring to thelovingly crafted CRPGs of the 1990s, the Bethesda brilliance of the modern era, or evenObsidian’s Mojave masterclass, there’s not a bad experience to be had when it comes to the Fallout series.
The older titles perhaps edge it when it comes to refined RPG systems and writing, but the modern titles offer more scale, scope, and action that will appeal to the modern gamer.
Plus, even the throwaway spin-offs like Fallout Shelter are devilishly addictive, offering quality, low-stress wasteland experiences.
It might be bleak subject matter, and the world may be on fire, but there’s nothing gloomy about the reception for each Fallout title, which makes us all the more hungry for the next.
Rip & Tear
DOOM Eternal
Many boomer shooters have tried to come for the champ in recent years, but none have gotten anywhere near the consistency, quality, longevity, or the pedigree of the DOOM series.
This series blazed the trail for all FPS games that would follow, offering a high-octane, nonstop action bloodbath that remains relevant even today as tech wizards find new and interesting inanimate objects to run the original DOOM on.
But, ever since the modern reboot in 2016, the series has picked up where it left off, providing modern gorefests that felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air in the era dominated by Call of Duty and Battlefield.
At the time of writing, we are days away from The Dark Ages, yet another entry in the series destined to be another fan favorite. So, when the time comes, grab a rocket launcher and get going.
3Xenoblade Chronicles
A Modern JRPG Titan
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Even if we extend the criteria of this entry and include retro titles like Xenogears and Xenosaga, the fact remains that there hasn’t been a weak moment in this series' run.
But, focusing on the modern trilogy and Xenoblade Chronicles X, that’s where the series cemented itself as a consistent performer in the JRPG sphere.
Whether it’s the mech systems of X, the narrative excellence of the original and the third title, or the sentient blades of the second, there was always something to love about each.
But, from one to the next, there has always been wonderful real-time combat, outstanding visuals and score, vast worlds to explore where exploration is rewarded, and most importantly, no sequels phone it in, as the series always takes big swings.
It’s a top-tier JRPG series for a reason, and it does the relics of old like Xenogears proud.
2Grand Theft Auto
The Sandbox Champ
Grand Theft Auto 5
If you’re looking for a series that offers longevity and consistency, then it’s very hard to look past the GTA series. It has gone on for decades now without ever producing a bad game—unless you account for the dreaded definitive edition, which we are willing to give a pass on.
While the older, top-down games are relics of a bygone era, they are still fun, well-made titles. But from then on, the series established its open-world sandbox blueprint and never looked back.
Every mainline title has offered a chaotic playground with memorable missions and oodles of content. Plus, even the DLC content and handheld spin-offs have been pretty good in their own right.
GTA VI also looks like it intends to keep this streak alive, and god knows when there will be a new game after that. So, don’t expect the GTA series to drop the ball anytime soon.
Basically Edgy Pokémon
Not many people will have played the more retro Persona titles, as it’s pretty difficult to get a copy or an emulation outside of Japan. But we assure you, those games were excellent and a precursor for what was to come.
Most fans will have jumped into the series as of Persona 3 at the earliest, and since then, the series has gone from strength to strength, offering stylish visuals, a seamless blend of dungeon crawling and life simulation, and gripping stories that pull no punches.
Heck, even the spin-offs like the various tactical games, dancing titles, and Musou games like Persona 5 Strikers have all offered decent, unique experiences.
It’s one of those series where you know what you’re getting is going to be nothing short of epic, and long may that trend continue.
10 Best Hidden Gem Games Of 2025 (So Far)
This year has been amazing so far, meaning some indie hits have slipped through the cracks.
