10 Crucial Video Games That Saved Dying Franchises

Released in 2014, Wolfenstein: The New Order was the seventh instalment in the Wolfenstein franchise, and the sequel to Wolfenstein (2009). Unlike its predecessor, the game was published by ZeniMax Media and developed by MachineGames, a newly founded studio comprised of employees from Starbreeze, the guys and gals behind The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and The Darkness.

In the game, players take control of William "B.J." Blazkowicz as he attempts to combat the Nazis in an alternate timeline in which Germany won the Second World War. Armed with an array of devastating weaponry, B.J. must fight his way through numerous environments, defeating hundreds of enemies, completing multiple objectives, and ultimately preventing his adversaries from taking over the world.

After multiple failed attempts to rejuvenate the franchise, The New Order was an immense success, both critically and commercially. It was one of the highest selling games of 2014, and spawned a standalone expansion pack the following year, entitled Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. In comparison, the two most recent attempts to revive the franchise enjoyed comparatively little success, especially Wolfenstein (2009), which was panned for its generic gameplay and lack of originality.