8 Video Game Franchises That Reinvented Themselves

6. God of War

The original God of War trilogy was widely lauded for its spectacular hack 'n' slash gameplay, its almost impossibly epic boss fights, and of course, introducing the world to the legendary Kratos.

But when the fourth mainline entry was released in 2018 - some eight years after God of War III - Sony Santa Monica strove to retool the beloved IP for a whole new generation of players.

And so, God of War 2018 ditched the breakneck pace of the previous games, opting for a more methodical yet no-less-action-heavy approach, the carnage unfolding from an over-the-shoulder viewpoint as opposed to the fixed camera angles of the O.G. trilogy.

Beyond that, the original Greek mythology setting was switched out for Norse, the game world was considerably more open, and the storytelling was decidedly more thoughtful, ditching the blunt loudness of the earlier titles for a deeper, richer, character-driven throughline.

Though some fans missed the unapologetic nastiness of the earlier games, God of War 2018 was nevertheless a successful reinvention which better aligned the series with modern mainstream appetites.