10 Video Game Developers That Stupidly Ditched Popular Genres

7. Tenchu: Shadow Assault

The Change: Stealth action to grid-based puzzles.

There hasn't been a home console Tenchu since 2009.

Let that sink in.

To many younger gamers it won't even matter, but Tenchu used to be the go-to franchise for stealth action before Metal Gear Solid had its lunch.

A brilliantly stylish ninja game with horror sensibilities for bosses and level layouts, the 2000s were filled with sequels and spin-offs in abundance.

For the most part they were received well, or well enough amongst a rabid, dedicated fandom, so why the hell was the next "logical step" a weird, grid-based puzzle game?

Almost looking like Bomberman had traded explosives for shurikens, you were tasked with clearing rooms of guards using specific item sets or movements, the overall feeling being regimentation - the opposite of why we fell in love with Tenchu's verticality and grapple hook-encouraging gameplay in the first place.