8 Video Game Franchises That Reclaimed Their Throne

Capcom created an entirely new genre in 1996 with the original Resident Evil, searing the term 'survival horror' into the minds of the entire industry. Its focus on resource management and near-death experiences made it an instant classic, spawning an entire media franchise of video games, comic books and films.

Then something happened, as the franchise began to hit a few bumps in the road. Those bumps turned into roadblocks, as the series stalled out and began to wilt on the vine. Resident Evil 5 was met with a mild reaction and 6 was considered a low point, although both games sold very well. The fanbase was restless and wanted a change, which put Capcom in a very interesting position for the seventh installment.

So they decided to hit a reset button of sorts, as Resident Evil 7 abandoned the third-person perspective for a first-person view and featured a story that acted as a major shake-up. Weaving in tiny bits of previous RE lore with brand-new characters, Resident Evil 7 felt like a proper soft reboot for a series that desperately needed one.

It expertly mixed both the classic tropes of puzzles and survival with an effective first-person view. It felt like a fantastic combination of old-school and new-school, as players explored the ins and outs of the terrifying Baker Farm. It was also the first game that used Capcom's remarkable RE Engine, which powered this beloved horror franchise back atop the survival horror kingdom.