10 Gaming Franchises You Didn't Realise Are Still Around
6. Bomberman
Long before Fortnite or Smash Bros., Bomberman was the uncontested battle royale game. Released in 1983, the original was a maze title where the titular hero had to blast blocks with bombs to navigate around each arena.
The gameplay was fun, but it wasn't until the NES port added a multiplayer option when Bomberman showcased its true potential. Bomberman gained so much traction during the 1990s, Hudson Soft was releasing up to six instalments annually.
Although the bombastic franchise was a powerhouse, it never translated well into 3D, causing interest to fade during PSOne/N64 era. And when Bomberman: Act Zero was cited as one of the worst games ever made, the beloved bomber appeared to be gone for good.
Rather than vanishing completely, Bomberman took a seven-year hiatus before returning with Super Bomberman R, this time headlined by Konami and HexaDrive. Although this was the chance for Bomberman to make an explosive comeback, this bare-bones instalment didn't have the same spark as its predecessors..
Even though it would've been sensible for the creators to close up shop, inadequate follow-ups continue to be released, including Bombergirl, Super Bomberman R 2, and the paradoxically named Amazing Bomberman.