10 Gaming Franchises You Didn't Realise Are Still Around
Wait, Bomberman still exists?
Even though Guitar Hero, SOCOM, and Dungeon Keeper were once immensely popular, they haven't released a single new title in forever. Despite rumblings that Earthworm Jim and Time Splitters were making a return, these rumours amounted to nothing.
Such IPs toss out the occasional remaster or collection bundle but never anything new. These classics had such a fervent fanbase, it would be a dream come true to see them return.
However, there are certain video games that don't need to make a comeback since they technically never went away. They're not as popular as they once were and some entries on this list are on life-support, but they're not dead yet.
Although it's sad to see respected beat 'em ups, RPGs, and shooters clawing to reclaim their former glory, it's also profoundly admirable. The properties' best days may be behind it, but they still refuse to go down without a fight.
Several of these series have gone downhill, to the point where you wonder why the creators don't just call it quits. However, some sequels, prequels, and reboots turned out so well, these franchises are on the verge of a resurgence.
10. Contra
During the 1980s, Contra was the king of the run-and-gun genre. The bullet-hell saga might've been unreasonably difficult, but that didn't stop it from amassing a fortune.
Contra continued to do well in the 1990s, but Konami had to change up the formula to keep up with their competitors, especially as the industry transitioned to 3D.
Sadly, Contra's first few endeavours into the third dimension were disastrous, encouraging the series to revert to the classic approach. Though the later 2D games scratched that nostalgic itch, they offered nothing new.
Contra has fallen off the radar since but doesn't mean its gone. Since its debut, the bombastic side-scroller has consistently rolled out a new entry every few years.
Too bad the gun-toting adventure isn't what it used to be. Despite boasting four-player co-op, 2019's Rogue Corps was a low point, due to its bland mission structure and counter-intuitive controls. 2024's Contra: Operation Galuga was a step in the right direction, but was still lacking in that special something that defined its predecessors.
It's nice to hear Contra is still around, but the recent instalments are a pale imitation of what came before.