20 Dead Gaming Franchises That NEED To Come Back
14. Punch-Out!
Although Punch-Out!! could've been a button-mashing extravaganza, the boxing classic incorporated puzzle-solving and rhythm-based mechanics, giving it an edge over competitors.
Its successor, Super Punch-Out!! on the SNES, didn't have the same wow factor, but it was still a solid game in its own right. When it went into hiatus, fans wondered if they would ever see the whimsical bashfest again.
So, when the Wii was released, it was no surprise when another Punch-Out!! was launched, since the console's motion controls were perfectly suited for the gameplay. Since Nintendo has continued to rely on motion controls with the Switch, it would've made sense for Punch-Out!! to come back in a big way.
However, Punch-Out!! for the Wii is the last we've seen of Little Mac, King Hippo, and the other boxers. This is perplexing since Little Mac has featured as a playable character in the last three Super Smash Bros. titles. Several Nintendo properties saw a resurgence in popularity when they appeared in Super Smash Bros., like Kid Icarus and Fire Emblem, so it's surprising Punch Out!! didn't follow suit.
Maybe we'll see the iconic fighting franchise on the Switch 2 one day.