8 Video Game Franchises That Reinvented Themselves

4. Yakuza/Like Dragon

Though the Yakuza franchise exploded in popularity with the western release of Yakuza 0 in 2017, RGG Studio sure didn't rest on their laurels, instead boldly re-envisioning the series with Yakuza: Like a Dragon just three years later.

Beyond this entry starting the franchise's general rebrand from Yakuza to Like a Dragon, it took a huge risk by swapping out iconic original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu for a new hero, Ichiban Kasuga.

And just as bravely, it tossed the series' long-standing beat 'em up style, instead functioning as a turn-based RPG - a revelation which many die-hard fans were intensely skeptical of pre-release.

But ultimately this all paid off perfectly - Ichiban quickly won fans over with his goofy charms, and the new RPG style ended up fitting the franchise like a glove, with Yakuza: Like a Dragon becoming the series' best-selling entry.

It was an undeniable risk, but one that ensured the franchise's broader appeal outside of brawler fans.