10 Great Video Games That Should've Started Franchises
Even though sequels to these games would be welcome, it never happened.
To survive in the turbulent gaming industry, studios can't just release successful games, but successful franchises.
Even though Pokemon, Call of Duty, and The Sims games can be hit and miss, their marketability and recognisability has allowed them to thrive for decades. And when consumers demand more of a specific IP, it's no surprise when it leads to an avalanche of sequels and spin-offs.
Now, that's not suggesting every video game has to be turned into a series. Although Grim Fandango and Shadow of the Colossus were incredible, there was no need for a follow-up, since these self-contained stories tied up every loose end.
But when a video game is well-received, highly creative, and has potential to grow, it's practically begging to be franchised. The ten entries on this list never went beyond one game, despite brimming with potential. Due to the unique premise, gripping story, or creative mechanics, it's scandalous - even criminal - how certain games never spawn a single sequel.
Rather than releasing a Star Wars title for the 4,000th time, it would be nice to see a lot more of these singular games.
10. Darkwatch
In High Moon Studio's first-person shooter, you play as a vampire gunslinger called Jericho Cross, who's tasked by the Darkwatch organisation to dispose of undead beasts.
Even though Darkwatch could've been a run-of-the-mill shooter, there were elements that elevated the supernatural cowboy title over its competition. It successfully juggled steampunk, horror, and spaghetti western styles into a cohesive story. The world-building is explored subtly, so it never feels forced or vague. There was also a lot to expand upon in later instalments, especially surrounding the institution Jericho works for.
Interestingly, the developers always intended Darkwatch to launch a series, with every follow-up set in a different period, like the Crusades and World War II. Head designer, Paul O' Connor, stated in an interview with DreadCentral that each entry would expand on the Darkwatch organisation, from "its origins in Roman times to its ultimate fate in Earth's future".
A tech demo of Darkwatch 2 was released at Games Developers Conference 2006, indicating the franchise was moving forward. And when a film adaptation was announced, Darkwatch's future seemed secure.
But after the company merged with Activision, all work on Darkwatch was put on hold to focus more on licensed games.