15 Best New Video Game Franchises Of The Decade

15. (Honorable Mention) Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption is here as an honorable mention purely because it wasn't worth the headaches it would cause in the comments.

The Red Dead franchise technically started in 2004 with Red Dead Revolver, a Western shooter originally set to be released by Capcom, but which was sold on to Rockstar, who stitched the troubled project together and pushed it out to market.

The thing is, despite bearing the same name as the following games, it isn't anything like Rockstar's own in-house take on the genre. They delivered two of the best, most lifelike open-world experiences of all time, while Revolver was nothing more than a (admittedly charming) linear shooter that was closer to a parody of Western media.

It's a strange heritage that needs to be addressed, and considering Dark Souls couldn't make it onto the list because of Demon's Souls releasing in 2009, it would feel like cheating to give Red Dead a podium spot where it would belong.