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12 Dead Gaming Franchises That Deserve To Be Resurrected

12 Dead Gaming Franchises That Deserve To Be Resurrected
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12 Dead Gaming Franchises That Deserve To Be Resurrected

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Do you remember your prime years of gaming? Where you’d spend hours and hours with various franchises that don’t exist anymore?



Do you ever wonder where they went? As the gaming age progresses, we see more and more series get left by the wayside while having to stomach the 10th iteration of a title that most people are not clamoring for.


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It’s time to relive the classics.

With so many games getting remakes and remasters, it feels like no stone should be left unturned. In that case, why don’t we look at some game series that could use a revival?


12 Legend of Dragoon

An Underrated Gem

Dart, Lacvitz and Shana fight in Legend of Dragoon

Legend of Dragoon might not hold up incredibly well today, but the whole concept and story of this game is right up there with the greats of the JRPG genre.

The story has one of the great twists in the JRPG genre, and is fascinating throughout, but the real star of the show here was the combat.

The addition system was so unique, requiring you to time your button presses to execute various combos, and the Dragoon transformations and subsequent attacks were some of the best of its time, rivaling contemporaries like Final Fantasy.


The world itself in Legend of Dragoon is amazing, with a gritty, muted color palette that occasionally gives way to soaring vistas and wild, fantasy-laden lands that were a sight to see at the time.

In today’s gaming era, the combat system could easily become something akin to Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, and really, that’s all you would need to do.

The story is perfect as is, with plenty of twists and turns, ‘OMG’ moments, and boss fights that last the duration of a modern JRPG.

Legend of Dragoon recently popped up on the Playstation Network with a host of QOL improvements, making the game far more fun to play than its initial iteration.

It was a curious move, possibly testing the waters for a potential remaster or remake, but seeing as the JRPG is back in full swing, perhaps the most underrated JRPG of all time should get a chance to lead the charge with a full-on remake.


11 Ninja Gaiden

Ryu, Kratos Made the Jump, So Why Can’t You?

Ninja Gaiden's Ryu Hayabusa Leaps Before A Full Moon

Ninja Gaiden was a mega hit when it was released in its resurrected form in the mid 2000’s and it went on to release multiple sequels and successful re-releases. The final title of the franchise was Ninja Gaiden 3, and it bombed, as the style of the game had changed, and it just wasn’t connecting with audiences like it used to.

Ninja Gaiden, for the unfamiliar, puts you in the tight black jumpsuit of Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja who gets into all sorts of insane storylines while staining the ground with the blood of thousands of humans and monsters alike. Gameplay was lightning fast, requiring incredible reflexes and constant scanning of your surroundings to survive.


The games more than hold up today as absolute classics of the action game genre, and today, that style of game is essentially gone in the triple A realm. Remaking Ninja Gaiden as a slightly more realistic Ninja could be the move.

Much like God of War, you could make Ryu an older, more serious character in a world a little bit less insane than the one you navigate in Ninja Gaiden 1-3. Or, we could see a revival of the crazy fast action that defined the games of the mid 2000s. Either one works at this point, and we are clamoring for a return to the gaming bliss that was Ninja Gaiden.

10 Jade Empire

The Only Game of Its Kind

Bioware - Jade Empire Combat

After Bioware set the gaming world on fire with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, they took a leap with their next apparent franchise starter with Jade Empire.


An RPG set in China, you play as a martial arts student that has their land attacked, and from there, you’re thrown into an amazing story full of all the unique characters and story beats that classic Bioware was known for.

It was a hit and a really cool and different approach to the RPG genre. There were so many different styles to learn and master, and the combat was all real time, marking the first attempt Bioware made in that regard and the results were fantastic.

You had to time your attacks well, manage stamina, and keep track of your enemies to manage the often very tough fights the game had to offer.

Somehow, this success didn’t lead to a follow-up, and instead, Bioware took to the stars for the iconic Mass Effect franchise, and they can’t be faulted for that.

However, with all the ill will they’ve stirred up lately and seeing as they’re about to release Dragon Age: Veilguard, why not look backward once more to a game that deserves a sequel?


A modern-day Jade Empire would be mind-blowing. Imagine something akin to Ghost of Tsushima, but set in China, with martial arts replacing samurai, and you have your instant pitch for success.

9 Syphon Filter

Remember This Action Hero?

Syphon Filter combat

Syphon Filter was an interesting franchise in the late nineties and early 2000s. There was Solid Snake, Sam Fisher and in between the two sat Gabe Logan, the lesser of the trio but still very important in his own right. Syphon Filter was a little bit of stealth, a lot of action and a ton of espionage intrigue that was rooted in reality, more so than, say, Metal Gear Solid.


Gabe Logan was a very fun main character to follow throughout the six games that the franchise lasted. While it was never a world beater, it was a solid enough franchise from game to game, with some of the best games being the PSP titles like Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow standing out as the best of them.

This type of game doesn’t exist anymore, plain and simple. The action hero is dead and, unfortunately, Gabe Logan’s espionage antics died in the late 2000s alongside other icons of the genre.

There is tons of potential here, however, and the gameplay is ripe for an upgrade into the modern era of gaming. The protagonist is pre-built for success, but the set pieces, the crazy mission scenarios throughout the series and the excellent plot writing are something that could become a big hit today.

It was drowned out a bit by its bigger budget contemporaries back in its heyday, but now, those contemporaries are gone, and there is a hole in the stealth action genre. It could be a great time to bring back one of the more successful franchises when gaming first started to really boom into the mainstream.


8 Tenchu

The Original Shadows

tenchu- Stealth Assassins: Game's title

When the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice trailer was originally revealed, many thought it was going to be a resurrection of Tenchu. While that wasn’t the case, it’s still in FromSoftware’s control, and this classic stealth ninja game could definitely be an option for the next big title in their repertoire.

Staying in the vein of Splinter Cell, Tenchu is a stealth game of a different animal. It takes place in ancient Japan, features some of the most brutal kills in the gaming industry at the time, and is wickedly difficult as well.


There were many games in the series, but the best were definitely Tenchu: Stealth Assassins and Tenchu: Birth of the Stealth Assassins. These games had incredible stealth for the time, with serviceable katana-based combat to boot if you failed your stealthy ways.

There was also a custom level creator, giving you full control over creating your own missions, which is a feature that is sorely missing from many games these days.

A modern Tenchu would definitely feel like Sekiro, but minus the fantasy elements, and more of a focus on not being seen. Perhaps something more like Ghost of Tsushima, but on a smaller scale.

With FromSoftware’s mastery behind it, it would be an awesome thing to see.

7 Deus Ex

We Keep Asking For This

new deus ex game

Deus Ex is one of the most unique gaming franchises out there, and since 2015’s Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the series has been completely silent.


It’s strange because it was a fantastic game that expanded upon everything built up in the equally great Deus Ex: Human Revolution, but the problem is that it was rushed, and the end just didn’t feel remotely like an ending.

That’s okay because that’s what a sequel is for, right? Well, apparently not, as we’re approaching ten years without seeing a title come from this franchise, and it’s a complete shame as Adam Jensen is among gaming’s best protagonists and Deus Ex‘s gritty, near-future world is incredible to explore and delivers a flavor much different than, say, Cyberpunk 2077.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Adam Jensen hiding with gun and walking through a city

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The gameplay was a unique third/first-person hybrid mixed with cybernetic enhancements to pull off brutal finishing moves. The best part of the games was figuring out how to approach each scenario.


Cyberpunk 2077’s success shows that there is plenty of interest in a world like this. With a story still in motion and a clear conclusion left to tell, few games deserve either a full reboot or a more proper final entry than Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

6 Chrono Cross/Trigger

It’s Time

Chrono Cross: Kid joining hands with Serge

Released
August 15, 2000

Developer(s)
Square

ESRB
T For Teen due to Animated Violence, Mild Language

Square Enix is very busy with remaking Final Fantasy games these days, but it would be smart for them to look backward once again for a series that they left for dead when it was at its apex. Chrono Cross/Trigger are two of the most beloved games in Square Enix’s entire lexicon and are so unique compared to other JRPGs.

The time and world-shifting mechanic is brilliant, and it would be amazing to see it with modern graphics. The art style of those games was so interesting, and it made exploring the world so much fun.


The massive cast of characters introduced was also fun to get to know and experiment with in combat, and it’s easy to see how this would translate well to today’s style of JRPG.

Imagine a semi-real-time or full-on action RPG variant of Chrono games. It could work very well with Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth’s system, or maybe something like the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

The story itself can be mined for endless games, as it revolves around 1000’s of years of lore and intrigue and there is still plenty to be explained if a sequel was the route they wanted to go.

It’s a surprise this series was discarded, but it’s never too late. As Square Enix looks to the past for its games of the future, it shouldn’t ignore its most unique entry.

5 Max Payne

Unapologetically GrittyMax Payne Cutscene Screenshot

Max Payne was one of the star video game characters of the early 2000s and, after its second title, it went dormant until 2012, when it finally made its return in 2012.


It’s a truly iconic series, as it introduced bullet time gameplay inspired by The Matrix movies, which would effectively change gaming forever, much like the movie did with cinema.

The slow-motion diving and shooting were just so cool and unique, and the extremely dark and mature story that supported them created a very weird and unique game that deserved much more than just three games.

The second title did very well, but the franchise then went dormant for a while as Rockstar took the controls from Remedy for Max Payne 3.

Max Payne 3 was also an incredible game, but it clearly deviated from some of the more surreal elements that marked the tone of the first two games.

There is also the recent passing of James McCaffrey, who played Max Payne in all three games, which admittedly makes a sequel hard to fathom for many die-hard fans.


Still, this series is just too cool to leave behind, and while Rockstar is busy with GTA VI, they could give the rights back to Remedy, who is clearly clamoring for some Max Payne after essentially putting him into Alan Wake 2 in everything but name.

James McCaffrey voiced the FBI agent Alex Casey in that game, who had the face of Sam Lake, the creator of the game and the face of the original Max Payne.

The gameplay from Max Payne 3 holds up incredibly well today, and you could dive into the weirder aspects of the universe by mixing it into the other Remedy-verse games too, making for an interesting medley of a game.

Whether it’s a completely new game, a remake, or some sort of fusion, Max Payne was the coolest video game character of the early 2000s, and the gameplay and tone of those games could translate very well into a new shooter for the modern era.


4 Dishonored

Arkane Has An Ace in The Hole

Dishonored 2 Corvo and Emily

Dishonored has somehow been out of the gaming world since 2016 and in the time following that, Arkane has found its once prestigious reputation sink further and further down the totem pole.

With the disaster that was Redfall and the underwhelming Deathloop that came before it, all of that goodwill went out the window, sadly leading to the shutdown of Arkane Austin, the studio responsible for Dishonored 1 and 2.

Despite this, there have been multiple rumors that Dishonored 3 is real and possibly making a surprise release in the next few months. We’ll have to see that to believe it, but in the meantime, let’s discuss what makes it such a great series.


First, the level design in Dishonored is nearly unparalleled. The layers upon layers from ground to ceiling of these missions is just an amazing thing to behold and the freedom with which to explore makes it all the better.

The stealth gameplay mixed with fast-paced and brutal combat is as good as any game today, and seeing that unique art style upgraded into modern graphics would be a sight to see.

The closest thing we have to Dishonored 3 right now is a VR game, Vampire: The Masquerade- Justice, which comes close to nailing that feeling the original games managed to create.

3 Xenogears

Parts Incomplete

Xenogears and Star Ocean Second Story R gameplay

Xenogears is a game near and dear to my heart and was the cementing piece that got me into JRPGs in the first place. The soundtrack, the characters, the story, it was hypnotic in a way that hasn’t been seen in that way since.


The game was initially part 5 of a 6-episode series, and we were supposed to see the next and previous entries in it at some point, but the main developers left Square Enix to become Monolith Soft and proceeded to essentially remake the series with Xenosaga and then the Xenoblade series.

All of those games are great in their own right, but they aren’t Xenogears. They still have yet to recapture that mature tone, the realism of the characters (The anime tropes are getting old) and the shock and awe of the unfolding events.

There is also the factor of the Gears to consider. That type of mech combat has been vaguely mimicked since but never really nailed, with Xenoblade Chronicles X getting the closest.

It’s highly unlikely that Monolith Soft fully revives this series at this point, as Xenoblade is wildly successful in its own right, but it needs to find a way to. It’s one of the most singular RPGs of all time, and it never received the budget it deserved. We never saw the ending that was planned.


Monolith Soft has the talent and love for this series to make this happen, they just have to go back to their roots and see if they can snatch the rights away from Square Enix, who merely hold onto them as a grudge at this point.

2 Zone of the Enders

Konami, Do Us A Favor

Zone of the Enders HD collection: screenshot of gameplay, showing a flying Mecha

Zone of the Enders is a long dormant series, but seeing as Konami has essentially dropped off the face of the earth when it comes to console games, they might want to look at one of their best franchises.

While they are getting ready to release the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake, Zone of the Enderssits as an unfinished story that was brimming with potential.


This series had the soul of nineties anime drilled into its core, with inspiration like Evangelion and Akira showing its face many times throughout the two games, but it was the gameplay that stood out.

Never before had mechs moved like this, as the combat was lightning fast, resembling more Dragon Ball Z than Gundam, and the result was a gorgeous display of chaos that showed the capabilities of modern consoles at the time.

The story that took place was an engaging one too, from Leo’s initial piloting of the Jehuty mech to Dingo’s, it was like playing through a movie. While that’s commonplace these days, back then, there was nothing like it.

If Konami wants to revive its name in the console world and stop with its countless collections and remasters, Zone of the Enders is a perfect place to start and there is plenty of meat left on the bone that can supply material for a sequel, or even a full-on remake.


1 Infamous

A Forgotten Gem

Cole MacGrath overlooking the city (Infamous)

Infamous is another franchise that’s been left for dead and has so much more to give. Sucker Punch has achieved mega success with Ghost of Tsushima, but let’s not forget the game that put them on the open-world map with Infamous.

The first game starred Cole Mcgrath as a character who is unexpectedly given superpowers and forced to face off against a terrifying villain named Kessler.

The sequel upped the stakes by pitting you against an unstoppable, mountain-sized monster slowly marching towards your location. The third game was a reboot of sorts, with a new character, Delsin, and a new story.

Each game introduced something new and unique, and the good vs. bad decision-making throughout the game would alter the path of not only the story but also your powers themselves.


This led to legitimate consideration of who to kill, who to spare, and whether stats were more important to you than saving lives.

It was such a cool system with massive payoff moments, and that, along with the excellent gameplay, made for a unique superhero experience that was incredibly dark and mature while managing to feature everything else that genre is known for.

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This Day in Gaming History – Infamous

Welcome to the latest installment of This Day in Gaming History!On this day, 7 years ago, Sucker Punch released Infamous for Playstation 3.

Infamous: The Second Son was made to be a launch title, a system seller of sorts for the PS4, and while it was good, it didn’t hit spectacularly as it was expected to, and Sucker Punch moved on to greener pastures.

Today, the open-world superhero game is in high demand, with 2023’s Spider-Man 2 being a huge hit and more in the genre being made by the year. There is still nothing like Infamous though, and that doesn’t sit right.

This game has always been highly cinematic, a graphical marvel, and a unique look into what it might actually be like to become a superhero against your will.


That dark tone would go great with the tone of many triple A games today, and seeing where they went with Ghost of Tsushima, you can easily see how Infamous would do great in the landscape of gaming in this era.

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