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List of longest-running video game franchises

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of notable longest-running video game franchises. To qualify for this list, a video game franchise must have seen regular releases, with no more than 10 year-long gaps in-between, for at least 25 years, from a franchise's first release to its most recent. Only franchises that started out as a video game are listed; therefore, licensed video games and video games based upon other media are not listed. Ports, translations, downloadable content, re-releases, and compilations are not considered new entries. Remakes (i.e., games with significant differences in graphics or game play or some new features) and expansion sets which received retail releases are considered new entries in a series.

Titles

[edit]
Rank Franchise First release Latest release Original owner Current owner Length
1 Space Invaders Space Invaders
June 1978
Space Invaders: World Defense
July 18, 2023
Taito (Square Enix) 45 years, 1 month
2 Mario Donkey Kong
July 9, 1981
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
November 7, 2024
Nintendo 43 years, 3 months
3 The Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail
May 1978[Note 1]
The Oregon Trail
April 2, 2021
MECC Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 42 years, 11 months
4 Donkey Kong Donkey Kong
July 9, 1981
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
February 16, 2024
Nintendo 42 years, 7 months
5 Yars Yars' Revenge
May 1982
Yars Rising
September 10, 2024
Atari 42 years, 4 months
6 Pac-Man Pac-Man
July 1980
Pac-Man World Re-Pac
August 25, 2022
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 42 years, 1 month
7 Microsoft Flight Simulator Microsoft Flight Simulator
November 1982
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
November 19, 2024
Microsoft Xbox Game Studios (Microsoft) 42 years
8 Wizardry Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
September 1981
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
September 15, 2023
Sir-Tech Drecom 42 years
9 Bomberman Bomber Man
July 1983
Super Bomberman R 2
September 13, 2023
Hudson Soft Konami 40 years, 2 months
10 Nobunaga's Ambition Nobunaga no Yabō
March 1983
Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening
July 20, 2022
Koei Koei Tecmo 39 years, 4 months
11 Galaxian Galaxian
October 1979
Galaga Revenge
January 8, 2019
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 39 years, 3 months
12 Romance of the Three Kingdoms Romance of the Three Kingdoms
December 1985
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake
October 23, 2024
Koei Koei Tecmo 38 years, 10 months
13 The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda
February 21, 1986
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
September 26, 2024
Nintendo 38 years, 7 months
14 Kunio-kun Renegade
May 1986
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next
November 7, 2024
Technōs Japan Arc System Works 38 years, 6 months
15 Dragon Quest Dragon Quest
May 27, 1986
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
November 14, 2024
Enix Square Enix 38 years, 5 months
16 Shadowgate Shadowgate
July 30, 1987
Beyond Shadowgate
September 19, 2024
ICOM Simulations Zojoi 38 years, 3 months
17 Dragon Slayer Dragon Slayer
September 10, 1984
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II
September 29, 2022
Nihon Falcom 38 years
18 Castlevania Castlevania
September 26, 1986
Haunted Castle Revisited
August 27, 2024
Konami 37 years, 11 months
19 Wolfenstein Castle Wolfenstein
September 1981
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot and Wolfenstein: Youngblood
July 25, 2019
Muse Software Bethesda Softworks 37 years, 10 months
20 Test Drive Test Drive
1987
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
September 12, 2024
Accolade Nacon 37 years, 8 months
21 BurgerTime BurgerTime
August 25, 1982
BurgerTime Party!
October 8, 2019
Data East Marvelous Entertainment 37 years, 1 month
22 Contra Contra
February 21, 1987
Contra: Operation Galuga
March 12, 2024
Konami 37 years
23 Q*bert Q*bert
October 18, 1982
Q*bert
October 11, 2019
Gottlieb Sony Pictures 36 years, 11 months
24 Bubble Bobble Bubble Bobble
August 1986
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
May 23, 2023
Taito (Square Enix) 36 years, 9 months
25 Tetris Tetris
January 29, 1988
Tetris Forever
November 12, 2024
ELORG The Tetris Company 36 years, 9 months
26 Arkanoid Arkanoid
April 26, 1986
Arkanoid: Eternal Battle
October 27, 2022
Taito (Square Enix) 36 years, 6 months
27 Metroid Metroid
August 6, 1986
Metroid Prime Remastered
February 8, 2023
Nintendo 36 years, 6 months
28 Final Fantasy Final Fantasy
December 18, 1987
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
July 2, 2024
Square Square Enix 36 years, 6 months
29 Megami Tensei Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
September 11, 1987
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
June 14, 2024
Atlus 36 years, 4 months
30 Daisenryaku Gendai Daisenryaku
November, 1985
Daisenryaku Supreme Strategic Battles
February 3, 2022
SystemSoft SystemSoft Alpha 36 years, 3 months
31 Double Dragon Double Dragon
April 22, 1987
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
July 27, 2023
Technōs Japan Arc System Works 36 years, 3 months
32 Ys Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished
June 21, 1987
Ys X: Nordics
September 28, 2023
Nihon Falcom 36 years, 3 months
33 Might and Magic Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum
1986
Might & Magic: Armies
March 29, 2022
New World Computing Ubisoft 36 years, 2 months
34 Street Fighter Street Fighter
August 12, 1987
Street Fighter 6
June 2, 2023
Capcom 35 years, 9 months
35 A-Train A-Train
December 1985
A-Train All Aboard! Tourism
March 12, 2021
Artdink 35 years, 3 months
36 Momotaro Dentetsu Momotaro Dentetsu
December 2, 1988
Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru!
November 16, 2023
Hudson Soft Konami 34 years, 11 months
37 SaGa The Final Fantasy Legend
December 15, 1989
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
October 24, 2024
Square Square Enix 34 years, 10 months
38 Reader Rabbit Reader Rabbit
1984
Reader Rabbit: Jumpsmarter
September 25, 2018
The Learning Company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 34 years, 8 months
39 Prince of Persia Prince of Persia
October 3, 1989
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
January 18, 2024
Broderbund Ubisoft 34 years, 3 months
40 Lode Runner Lode Runner
June 23, 1983
Lode Runner Legacy
July 13, 2017
Broderbund Tozai Games 34 years
41 Ninja Jajamaru Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
November 15, 1985
Ninja Jajamaru: The Great Yokai Battle
December 12, 2019
Jaleco City Connection 34 years
42 Carmen Sandiego Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
April 23, 1985
Carmen Sandiego: The Crown Jewels Caper
March 14, 2019
Broderbund Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 33 years, 10 months
43 Family Stadium Pro Baseball: Family Stadium
December 10, 1986
Pro Baseball: Famista 2020
September 17, 2020
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 33 years, 9 months
44 Golden Tee Golden Tee Golf
1989
Golden Tee PGA Tour 2022 Home Edition
October 24, 2022
Incredible Technologies 33 years, 9 months
45 Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing!
October 1987
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020
July 5, 2021
The Software Toolworks Encore, Inc. 33 years, 9 months
46 Phantasy Star Phantasy Star
December 20, 1987
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
June 9, 2021
Sega 33 years, 5 months
47 Leisure Suit Larry Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
July 5, 1987
Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice
October 23, 2020
Sierra Entertainment Assemble Entertainment 33 years, 3 months
48 Mana Final Fantasy Adventure
June 28, 1991
Visions of Mana
August 29, 2024
Square Square Enix 33 years, 2 months
49 Blaster Master Blaster Master
June 17, 1988
Blaster Master Zero 3
July 29, 2021
Sunsoft 33 years, 1 month
50 Richman Richman
November 28, 1989
Richman 11
October 19, 2022
Softstar 32 years, 10 months
51 Uncharted Waters Uncharted Waters
May 1990
Uncharted Waters Origin
March 7, 2023
Koei Koei Tecmo 32 years, 10 months
52 Fire Emblem Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
April 20, 1990
Fire Emblem Engage
January 20, 2023
Nintendo 32 years, 9 months
53 The Legend of Heroes Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes
December 10, 1989
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II
September 29, 2022
Nihon Falcom 32 years, 9 months
54 Puyo Puyo Puyo Puyo
October 25, 1991
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop
April 4, 2024
Compile Sega 32 years, 5 months
55 Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog
June 23, 1991
Sonic Dream Team
December 5, 2023
Sega 32 years, 5 months
56 Mega Man Mega Man
December 17, 1987
Rockman X DiVE
March 24, 2020
Capcom 32 years, 3 months
57 Alone in the Dark Alone in the Dark
1992
Alone in the Dark
March 20, 2024
Infogrames Embracer Group 32 years, 2 months
58 Ultima Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
June 1981
Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar
August 7, 2013
Richard Garriot Electronic Arts 32 years, 2 months
59 Blaster Learning System Math Blaster!
1983
Math Blaster Premium
May 15, 2015
Davidson & Associates JumpStart Games 31 years, 10 months
60 Jake Hunter Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken
April 27, 1987
Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Prism of Eyes
August 9, 2018
Data East Arc System Works 31 years, 3 months
61 Raiden Raiden
April 1990
Raiden IV x Mikado Remix
May 6, 2021
Seibu Kaihatsu MOSS 31 years, 1 month
62 Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat
October 8, 1992
Mortal Kombat 1
September 19, 2023
Midway Games Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 30 years, 11 months
63 Metal Max Metal Max
May 24, 1991
Metal Dogs
April 8, 2022
Data East Cygames 30 years, 10 months
64 Xanadu Xanadu
October 27, 1985
Tokyo Xanadu eX+
September 8, 2016
Nihon Falcom 30 years, 10 months
65 Myst Myst
September 24, 1993
Riven
June 25, 2024
Cyan Worlds 30 years, 9 months
66 Kirby Kirby's Dream Land
April 27, 1992
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
February 24, 2023
Nintendo 30 years, 9 months
67 Metal Gear Metal Gear
July 7, 1987
Metal Gear Survive
February 20, 2018
Konami 30 years, 7 months
68 Super Robot Wars Super Robot Taisen
April 20, 1991
Super Robot Wars 30
October 28, 2021
Banpresto Bandai Namco Entertainment 30 years, 6 months
69 The Elder Scrolls The Elder Scrolls: Arena
March 25, 1994
The Elder Scrolls: Castles
September 10, 2024
Bethesda Softworks 30 years, 5 months
70 Fritz Fritz
November 1991
Fritz 18 Neuronal
March 30, 2022
ChessBase 30 years, 4 months
71 Mystery Dungeon Torneko's Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon
September 19, 1993
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
January 25, 2024
Chunsoft Spike Chunsoft 30 years, 4 months
72 Winning Post Winning Post
January 14, 1993
Winning Post 10
March 30, 2023
Koei Koei Tecmo 30 years, 2 months
73 Xuan-Yuan Sword Xuan-Yuan Sword
October 13, 1990
Xuan-Yuan Sword 7
October 6, 2020
Softstar 29 years, 11 months
74 Warcraft Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
November 23, 1994
World of Warcraft: The War Within
August 26, 2024
Blizzard Entertainment 29 years, 9 months
75 Picross Mario's Picross
March 14, 1995
PICROSS Records of The Shield Hero
October 3, 2024
Jupiter Corporation / Nintendo 29 years, 6 months
76 Tekken Tekken
September 21, 1994
Tekken 8
January 26, 2024
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 29 years, 4 months
77 Dokapon Kessen! Dokapon Oukoku IV: Densetsu no Yuusha Tachi
December 10, 1993
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect
April 13, 2023
Asmik Ace Sting Entertainment 29 years, 4 months
78 Spy Hunter Spy Hunter
June 11, 1983
Spy Hunter
October 9, 2012
Midway Games Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 29 years, 3 months
79 Doom Doom
December 10, 1993
Mighty Doom
March 21, 2023
id Software (Bethesda Softworks) 29 years, 3 months
80 Derby Stallion Derby Stallion: Best Race
December 21, 1991
Derby Stallion
December 3, 2020
ASCII Corporation Kadokawa Corporation 28 years, 11 months
81 Gauntlet Gauntlet
October 15, 1985
Gauntlet
September 23, 2014
Atari Games Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment 28 years, 11 months
82 Power Pros Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '94
March 11, 1994
WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros
February 8, 2023
Konami 28 years, 10 months
83 Wario Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
January 21, 1994
WarioWare: Move It!
November 3, 2023
Nintendo 28 years, 9 months
84 Darius Darius
February 1987
Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours
November 30, 2015
Taito (Square Enix) 28 years, 9 months
85 Pokémon Pokémon Red and Green (Blue)
February 27, 1996
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
October 30, 2024
Creatures / Game Freak / Nintendo The Pokémon Company 28 years, 8 months
86 Rance Rance: Hikari Quest
July 15, 1989
Rance X: Decisive Battle
February 23, 2018
Alicesoft 28 years, 7 months
87 Front Mission Front Mission
February 24, 1995
Front Mission 2: Remake
October 5, 2023
Square Square Enix 28 years, 7 months
88 Metal Slug Metal Slug
April 19, 1996
Metal Slug Tactics
November 5, 2024
SNK 28 years, 6 months
89 Fire Pro Wrestling Fire Pro Wrestling Combination Tag
June 22, 1989
Fire Pro Wrestling World
December 18, 2017
Human Entertainment Spike Chunsoft 28 years, 5 months
90 Jagged Alliance Jagged Alliance
April 1995
Jagged Alliance 3
July 14, 2023
Sir-Tech Embracer Group 28 years, 3 months
91 Need for Speed The Need for Speed
August 31, 1994
Need for Speed Unbound
December 2, 2022
Electronic Arts 28 years, 3 months
92 TwinBee TwinBee
March 5, 1985
Line GoGo! TwinBee
May 20, 2013
Konami 28 years, 2 months
93 Reel Fishing Reel Fishing
October 10, 1996
Reel Fishing: Days of Summer
October 31, 2024
Natsume Inc. 28 years
94 Lemmings Lemmings
February 14, 1991
Lemmings
December 20, 2018
Psygnosis Sony Interactive Entertainment 27 years, 10 months
95 Hoyle Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 1
1989
Hoyle Official Casino Games
October 14, 2016
Sierra Entertainment Encore, Inc. 27 years, 9 months
96 Virtua Fighter Virtua Fighter
October, 1993
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown
June 1, 2021
Sega 27 years, 8 months
97 Galactic Civilizations Galactic Civilizations
Fall 1994
Galactic Civilizations IV
April 26, 2022
Stardock 27 years, 7 months
98 EVE EVE Burst Error
1995
EVE ghost enemies
June 29, 2022
C's Ware Red Flag Ship 27 years, 5 months
99 The King of Fighters The King of Fighters '94
August 25, 1994
The King of Fighters XV
February 17, 2022
SNK 27 years, 5 months
100 Tokimeki Memorial Tokimeki Memorial
May 27, 1994
Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 4th Heart
October 28, 2021
Konami 27 years, 5 months
101 Civilization Civilization
September 1991
Civilization VI: Gathering Storm
February 14, 2019
Microprose Take-Two Interactive 27 years, 5 months
102 Shining Shining in the Darkness
March 28, 1991
Shining Resonance Refrain
July 10, 2018
Sega 27 years, 3 months
103 Star Ocean Star Ocean
July 19, 1996
Star Ocean The Second Story R
November 2, 2023
Enix Square Enix 27 years, 3 months
104 Yoshi Yoshi
December 14, 1991
Yoshi's Crafted World
March 29, 2019
Nintendo 27 years, 3 months
105 The Black Bass The Black Bass
August 1984
Super Black Bass 3D
October 6, 2011
Gamu Starfish SD 27 years, 2 months
106 Rayman Rayman
September 1, 1995
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
October 20, 2022
Ubisoft 27 years, 1 month
107 Xeno Xenogears
February 11, 1998
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
March 20, 2025
Monolith Soft 27 years, 1 month
108 Age of Empires Age of Empires
October 13, 1997
Age of Empires Mobile
October 17, 2024
Microsoft 27 years
109 Resident Evil Resident Evil
March 22, 1996
Resident Evil 4
March 24, 2023
Capcom 27 years
110 Star Soldier Star Soldier
June 13, 1986
Star Soldier for GREE
June 20, 2013
Hudson Soft Konami 27 years
111 Story of Seasons Harvest Moon
August 9, 1996
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
June 27, 2023
Pack-In-Video Marvelous Entertainment 26 years, 10 months
112 Crash Bandicoot Crash Bandicoot
September 9, 1996
Crash Team Rumble
June 20, 2023
Universal Interactive Activision Blizzard 26 years, 9 months
113 Angelique Angelique
September 23, 1994
Angelique Luminarise
May 20, 2021
Koei Koei Tecmo 26 years, 7 months
114 Babylonian Castle Saga The Tower of Druaga
June 1984
The Labyrinth of Druaga
January 13, 2011
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 26 years, 7 months
115 Itadaki Street Itadaki Street: Watashi no Omise no Yottette
March 21, 1991
Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary
October 19, 2017
ASCII Corporation Kadokawa Corporation / Square Enix 26 years, 6 months
116 Sword and Fairy The Legend of Sword and Fairy
July 7, 1995
Sword and Fairy 7
October 22, 2021
Softstar 26 years, 3 months
117 Tomb Raider Tomb Raider
October 25, 1996
Tomb Raider Reloaded
February 14, 2023
Eidos Interactive Embracer Group 26 years, 3 months
118 Wipeout Wipeout
September 29, 1995
Wipeout Merge
January 18, 2022
Psygnosis Sony Interactive Entertainment 26 years, 3 months
119 eFootball J.League Jikkyou Winning Eleven
July 21, 1995
eFootball 2022
September 30, 2021
Konami 26 years, 2 months
120 Armored Core Armored Core
July 10, 1997
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
August 25, 2023
FromSoftware 26 years, 1 month
121 Gradius Gradius
May 29, 1985
Gradius the Slot
July 2011
Konami 26 years, 1 month
122 Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown
July 7, 1993
Samurai Shodown
June 25, 2019
SNK 25 years, 11 months
123 Touhou Project Highly Responsive to Prayers
August 15, 1997
Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost
August 13, 2023
Team Shanghai Alice 25 years, 11 months
124 Atelier Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
May 23, 1997
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key
March 23, 2023
Gust Koei Tecmo 25 years, 10 months
125 Beatmania Beatmania
December 10, 1997
Beatmania IIDX 31: EPOLIS
October 18, 2023
Konami 25 years, 10 months
126 Tales Tales of Phantasia
December 15, 1995
Tales of Luminaria
November 3, 2021
Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment 25 years, 10 months
127 Mario Party Mario Party
December 18, 1998
Super Mario Party Jamboree
October 17, 2024
Nintendo 25 years, 9 months
128 5-Star General Panzer General
1994
Fantasy General II: Invasion
September 5, 2019
Strategic Simulations Slitherine Software 25 years, 8 months
129 194X 1942
November 30, 1984
1942: First Strike
July 1, 2010
Capcom 25 years, 7 months
130 Silent Hill Silent Hill
February 24, 1999
Silent Hill 2
October 8, 2024
Konami 25 years, 7 months
131 The House of the Dead The House of the Dead
September 13, 1996
The House of the Dead: Remake
April 7, 2022
Sega 25 years, 6 months
132 Postal Postal
September 24, 1997
POOSTALL Royale
April 1, 2023
Running with Scissors 25 years, 6 months
133 Ganbare Goemon Mr. Goemon
May 1986
Ganbare Goemon Pachisuro 2
September 2011
Konami 25 years, 4 months
134 Warriors Dynasty Warriors
February 28, 1997
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
June 24, 2022
Tecmo Koei Tecmo 25 years, 3 months
135 Emergency Emergency: Fighters for Life
June 5, 1998
Emergency
August 15, 2023
Sixteen Tons Entertainment Embracer Group 25 years, 2 months
136 SimCity SimCity
October 3, 1989
SimCity BuildIt
December 15, 2014
Maxis Electronic Arts 25 years, 2 months
137 Worms Worms
November 17, 1995
Worms Rumble
December 1, 2020
Team17 25 years

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The game was first made available within one US school in December 1971, which would amount to 49 years, 4 months, but its first public release was in May 1978.

See also

[edit]