Enormous Gaming Franchises That Have not Had A New Entry In Over A Decade

Some gaming franchises simply appear to be unstoppable. The likes of Tremendous Mario, Resident Evil, Last Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, and Name of Responsibility will apparently endlessly launch new entries, and so they’ll in all probability promote like sizzling truffles every time as well. The actual fact is, although, this isn’t one thing to take as a right. A variety of beloved gaming collection have fallen by the wayside through the years, victims of studio closures and different calamities.

In a few of these cases, there’s nonetheless hope. There are gaming franchises that haven’t seen a brand new launch in a decade or extra, however which nonetheless stay on within the hearts and minds of followers and should (simply might) return sometime. Listed here are some examples of collection which were on lengthy hiatus, however might delight followers with an out-of-the-blue announcement at any time.

Banjo-Kazooie

Bear And Chook May Nonetheless Unite Once more

The quirky duo that’s Banjo and Kazooie hail from a really particular time in Nintendo’s historical past, a time when Uncommon was working on the peak of its powers and bringing the likes of GoldenEye 007 to the N64. The primary sport within the platforming collection launched in 1998, introducing a loveable forged, from the pair themselves to the dastardly Gruntilda. On the time, 3D platformers had been turning into an enormous deal, however the incomparable appeal and distinctive dual-character idea ensured that Banjo-Kazooie left an enduring impression. The duo remains to be beloved, because the reveal of their inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s gigantic roster made all too clear.

Even so, there hasn’t been a brand new collection entry since 2008’s Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, and that Xbox 360 title launched a vehicle-building focus and a brand new search for the characters that didn’t actually match with what got here earlier than. An elaborate and inventive new 3D platformer, powered by trendy techniques, may very well be a phenomenon for many who keep in mind these legends at their finest.

TimeSplitters

FPS Motion With A Splendidly Foolish Twist

A few of at present’s staunch Name of Responsibility and Battlefield followers gained’t even keep in mind the TimeSplitters collection, with the final sport (TimeSplitters: Future Excellent) arriving again in 2005. Like its predecessors, it was developed by Free Radical Design and revolved round time-traveling house marines and their allies making an attempt to thwart a race often called the TimeSplitters.

With Problem and Arcade League modes, the video games grew to become famend for providing solo gamers an terrible lot to do, whereas really shining in multiplayer, with unique modes like the hilarious Virus, a type of infinitely chaotic model of tag. Unofficial efforts to revive the collection proceed, however sadly, official ones have been stymied. What a blast it could be for a brand new technology to take pleasure in an even bigger, bolder tackle the collection.

Wario Land

Are The Platformer Days Behind Him Now?

Wario’s official online game introduction was his look because the antagonist of Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. Stealing Mario’s citadel for himself outlined him as a sneaky, grasping villain, and the Wario Land video games did nothing to vary that first impression. Wario loves gold and treasure, and can go to absurd lengths to accrue it. The Wario Land platformers have a extra visceral really feel, with a deal with tackles, physique slams, and Wario’s brute energy to unravel puzzles and break by obstacles.

There hasn’t been a brand new entry since Wario Land: Shake It! in 2008, an attractive 2D journey by the secret-filled Shake Dimension. A shocking new journey alongside the strains of Yoshi and the Mysterious E-book (although with a grimier undertone as befits Wario) could be simply the ticket for followers of the character.

BioShock

Would You Kindly … Launch One other Sport?

There’s nonetheless a lot extra to study Judas, the upcoming journey from Ken Levine and Ghost Story Video games. It’s touted as a non secular successor to Levine’s legendary BioShock collection, and the influences are clear to see. As intriguing because the title undoubtedly is, although, BioShock appears to have ended with the Burial at Sea DLC episodes for BioShock Infinite. There hasn’t been a brand new launch since episode 2 in 2014, and this seminal work deserves one other installment.

There have been whispers and guarantees of an upcoming BioShock 4 (Take-Two instructed IGN in August 2025 that the sport is certainly “going to come out”), however as with a possible new TimeSplitters entry, studio adjustments and expertise transferring on have put important spanners in these plans. Nonetheless, BioShock’s iconic underwater world, in addition to the horrors of the plasmids, Little Sisters, and Large Daddies, and its total darkish steampunk aesthetic, earned the collection a legion of followers. There’s nothing fairly like BioShock, rewards for being heartless and all, and the hope for a brand new entry has been percolating for years.

Dino Disaster

Resident Evil, However Toothier

Each style has its defining video games and collection. Within the survival horror house, there are few greater names to drop than Resident Evil. Because of its cachet, an enormous variety of remakes and remasters have saved the earliest releases within the collection contemporary. The Resident Evil 3 remake from 2020, as an illustration, introduced these dingy streets and the ever-lingering risk of Nemesis again to life for a brand new technology and for current followers. We typically overlook, although, that Capcom has one other survival horror legend in its archives: Dino Disaster.

This collection debuted in 1999, three years after the unique Resident Evil, and blended inspiration from that collection (the Secret Operation Raid Workforce (SORT) is greater than a bit of paying homage to the Particular Techniques and Rescue Squad (STARS)) with the fearsome, enigmatic, and infrequently completely terrifying nature of untamed dinosaurs. Because the collection went on, it leaned additional into its time journey idea and the intriguing scientific foundation for the toothy creatures that menace Regina and the crew. The far-flung future meets prehistory in these fascinating video games, and if Capcom were to finally do those stunning creatures justice in a brand-new mainline entry, it could be an enormous deal for followers.

Useless Area

The Necromorphs Might Rise Once more

The Dino Disaster collection hasn’t seen a brand new entry for the reason that third mainline launch in 2003, which can imply that lots of at present’s survival horror followers may by no means have skilled it. It’s in all probability a secure wager, although, that they’ll have not less than dabbled in Useless Area. The primary sport launched in 2008, introducing the plight of Isaac Clarke, an engineer from 5 centuries sooner or later. Exploring the doomed mining ship USG Ishimura, he and his ever-dwindling group of allies start to find out what occurred on the ship and the origins of the horrifying necromorphs. By 2013’s Useless Area 3, Isaac has fought them off throughout an unlimited house station known as the Sprawl and the planet of Tau Volantis.

With developer Visceral Video games now defunct, reviving Useless Area could be notably difficult. Even so, the collection’ creator has expressed an curiosity in exploring choices to just do that, and it could certainly be eagerly embraced if it had been to occur. The collection makes wonderful use of brutal violence, futuristic weapons, and a singular limb-lopping fight system, whereas telling a deep and psychologically impactful story. A 2023 remake of the unique has saved the collection alive in followers’ hearts, however a possible Useless Area 4 is what they actually need now.

Advance Wars

A Legendary Technique Collection That Deserves One other Outing

Within the West, the Advance Wars collection started in 2001. This was the 12 months of the Sport Boy Advance’s launch, and the sport shortly proved to be one of the vital partaking and deceptively deep within the system’s library. Flip-based technique video games aren’t the best to get into, however Clever Methods’ launch proves that a fun, accessible look and feel doesn’t have to mean a lack of timeless strategic challenge. The title and its successors did a superb job of slowly introducing extra complicated ideas like defensive bonuses from terrain and the significance of fog of conflict, layering in a variety of various models and ramping up the issue because it did so.

Between the Sport Boy Advance and Nintendo DS entries, followers had been launched to a spread of recent Commanding Officers, models, and normal mechanics. The final new launch, Advance Wars: Days of Spoil, launched a grittier, extra sensible really feel in 2008. As with Useless Area, the collection has seen a brand new launch since, within the form of 2023’s Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, however this Nintendo Swap remake bundle was hopefully only a tentative first step in the direction of a brand-new entry for the Swap 2.

Jak & Daxter

One other Outing For The Intrepid Duo

Although PlayStation has by no means fairly boasted a mascot to rival the likes of Mario or Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog, there are a variety of characters which have come to outline Sony’s techniques. The human and ottsel duo Jak and Daxter definitely qualify. This platforming collection started on the PlayStation 2 with 2001’s Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. The primary sport tells of Daxter’s unintentional transformation into mentioned creature and a fateful encounter with the sage, Gol, whom the pair had hoped would restore him to his prior state.

Because it turned out, Daxter would stay an ottsel all through the collection, the newest new installment of which was 2009’s Jak and Daxter: The Misplaced Frontier. These platformers appear to have been largely forgotten, as authentic builders Naughty Canine took the reins of giant properties like The Final of Us and Uncharted, however it could be incredible to see one other entry on a contemporary Sony system. There’s much more to tease out concerning the battle surrounding Darkish Eco. The Precursors, too, undoubtedly have extra secrets and techniques that may very well be explored.