10 Gaming Franchises You Didn't Realise Are Still Around

One of the main reasons many entries on this list petered out is because they couldn't remain relevant in a constantly changing industry. 

A perfect example of this notion is 1971's The Oregon Trail, a text-based strategy title centred around 19th-century pioneers travelling from Independence, Missouri to Oregon. Even though MECC's educational sim is a historic landmark in gaming, nobody expected the text-based strategy title to have a lasting franchise, especially after 50 years.

And yet, The Oregon Trail is still going. Although most entries are revised re-releases, there have been a few sequels and spin-offs, including The Amazon Trail and The African Trail. 

Also, certain remasters of the original have been drastically overhauled, especially the 2021 version. Gameloft's reimagining, which is available on all modern systems, added character traits, inventory management, branching storylines, side quests, and more complex decision-making. It also has a bunch of mini-games involving hunting and fishing, diversifying the gameplay.

Whether or not you've played The Oregon Trail, the most recent iteration is worth checking out, since it successfully updates the dated gameplay and throws in a ton of content while staying true to the original.