10 Video Game Franchises That Need To Die
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Franchises are a staple of the gaming world. Why make one game that everybody loves when you could make two? Why make two when you could make three? And so it goes.
But as time starts to move on and gaming changes, companies need to adapt their product so that it stays fresh. They need to justify to the gamer that their new game (with its hefty price tag) is going to bring them something the previous titles couldn't - be that new characters and storylines or a switch-up of gameplay mechanics.
By retreading old storylines, failing to update their gameplay or simply releasing broken games, franchises can often damage their selling power with instalments that attempt to cash in on their past successes. Some even double down on these issues by ignoring criticism of their games in favour of churning out sequels year after year.
Make no mistake, franchises exist for a reason - they often have a winning formula. Franchises don't start if there isn't a market for their games, but while some series continue to garner critical and commercial success, others are failing to bring in either...
10. Five Nights At Freddy's
While this franchise is certainly on thin ice, it's not dead yet.
The first Five Nights At Freddy's became common amongst the Let's Play community for it's refreshing take on survival horror. But after releasing five games in just over two years, the franchise simply wore out the player base.
The issue with Five Nights At Freddy's is that it can't really go anywhere. It relies on jump-scares and constantly ratcheting up the tension, but beyond these gameplay loops, never really changes. By the time the fourth game was released, all this repetitive gameplay had grown stale.
This showed in a sharp downturn in its critical reception, and the FNAF 4 received the lowest rating in the series.
Although there was an uptick in approval for the fifth release, FNAF 5 was becoming more of a chore than an enjoyable experience. The custom creations had been removed, along with difficulty options. This seriously harmed its replay value, and produced only mediocre reviews.
While creator Scott Cawthon has temporarily halted any further sequels due to personal reasons, the potential for another instalment isn't warming any hearts in the community right now.