Best Game Series Ever Countdown

[Megaclyde]

Wind Waker's my fave Zelda too, although not saying much as the only others I played was a bit of Twilight Princess but didn't enjoy forced motion controls, and OoT not too long ago, but didn't seem that great without all the nostalgia everyone else seems to have.

 

[Smudge]

A big jump up to 63 points...
9th: The Walking Dead (5 lists)

Games in series to date: 2 (2012-2013)
Genre: Point and click, adventure, action
Platforms: 6 (PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation Vita, Playstation 4, Xbox One)
The Walking Dead Season 1, The Walking Dead Season 2

After the seeming death of the point and click genre, along came Telltale games with a new spin on it. Less puzzle focussed, but more action and decision based, the Walking Dead came along in 2012 and blew everyone who played it away. The mechanics are simple enough, explore and talk to other characters and solve the odd puzzle like the old point and click games. But the story is what makes the series what it is. Every decision you make has consequences, every person you meet has a part to play, and be prepared to get emotionally smashed to bits when you what those consequences can be! The first season, you control Lee, in the back of a police car on his way to jail when a zombie apocalypse breaks out. He meets a little girl, Clementine, who's parents are likely dead, and takes responsibility for her, as a story of survival and morality in the worst of circumstances unfolds over the five episodes. Without wanting to spoil anything for those who havent played it, the second season picks up where the first ended, and Telltale have announced a third season is coming soon. Anyone who hasnt played it needs to!

 

[Smudge]

Only appearing on 4 lists, but in the top 3 of eacg, a huge jump to 76 points is...
8th: Fallout (4 lists)

Games in series to date: 6 (1997-2010)
Genre: RPG
Platforms: 7 (PC, Playstation 2, Xbox, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation 4, Xbox One)
Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas

Said it a few times and its a very unpopular opinion around here I know...but I cant get Fallout. Ive tried and I just cant. So if anyone wants to come in here and sway me otherwise, feel free! The Fallout games take place in a post nuclear war ravanged world in the future. The games are generally set quite far apart from each other and can generally be played as stand alone rather than as part of the wider series. The announcement of Fallout 4 due this year has caused a meltdown of excitement for a lot of people!

 

[Smudge]

Breaking into the 80s, on 82 points...
7th: Pokemon (6 lists)

Games in series to date: 30 (1996-2014)
Genre: RPG
Platforms: 9 (Gameboy, Nintendo 64, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U)
Pokemon Red, Pokemon Green, Pokemon Blue, Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Gold, Pokemon Silver, Pokemon Stadium 2, Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire, Pokemon Colosseum, Pokemon FireRed, Pokemon LeafGreen, Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokemon Diamond, Pokemon Pearl, Pokemon Battle Revolution, Pokemon Platinum, Pkemon HeartGold, Pokemon SoulSilver, Pokemon Black, Pokemon White, Pokemon Black 2, Pokemon White 2, Pokemon X, Pokemon Y, Pokemon Omega Ruby, Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

The weird little Japanese game series that spawned one of the biggest franchises in the world! The game was basically a brainchild inspired by the creator's love of collecting insects as a kid, and the idea of the link cable. What was born was an adventure RPG about collecting Pokemon, which took on a life of its own if your mates played it and you could use a link cable to trade and...sigh...collect 'em all! Still going strong today nearly 20 years later not just in the main game series and countless other spin off games, but cartoon and films as well, Pokemon is, maybe surprisingly, Nintendo's second biggest franchise behind Mario.

 

[Oaf]

Pokemon really is fucking awesome. Great series that I was was obsessed with as a kid, and not just the video game. The TV show, the movies, the toys and of course, the cards (Fully completed the Base set, Jungle, Fossil and whatever the next one was, Dark/gym leader or whatever it was). It was just such a brilliant idea, both creatively and, perhaps more so, commercially. I'd actually say that it has to be the best idea ever thought up to suck money out of parents wallets. You often see other pretenders trying to copy it somewhat (the most obvious one being Digimon, which for the record, completely fucking sucks) but nobody has ever come close to taking over the world like Pokemon did.

But the thing is, while I've grown out of the cards and toys and what not of course, I have a whole new appreciation for the games now. And although I do feel that the formula of the series is starting to get a bit tired now, I'll still be there day fuckin' one to get the next game in the series.

 

[Smudge]

Next up on 86 points is...
6th: Metal Gear Solid (6 lists)

Games in series to date: 9 (1998-2014)
Genre: Action, stealth
Platforms: 9 (Playstation, Game Boy Colour, Playstation 2, Playstation Portable, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, )
Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Metal Gear 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Rising, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

The game series that popularised the stealth genre that pretty much every sandbox or mission structured game since has tried to shoehorn in! The series focuses mostly on the protagonist Solid Snake, a infiltrating special forces agent trying to find the superweapon Metal Gear. One of the biggest selling series ever made by Konami, the eagerly anticipated second part of MGSV, Phantom Pain is due for release in a few weeks as the series shows no sign of slowing down.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Next up on 86 points is...
6th: Metal Gear Solid (6 lists)

Games in series to date: 9 (1998-2014)
Genre: Action, stealth
Platforms: 9 (Playstation, Game Boy Colour, Playstation 2, Playstation Portable, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, )
Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Metal Gear 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Rising, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

The game series that popularised the stealth genre that pretty much every sandbox or mission structured game since has tried to shoehorn in! The series focuses mostly on the protagonist Solid Snake, a infiltrating special forces agent trying to find the superweapon Metal Gear. One of the biggest selling series ever made by Konami, the eagerly anticipated second part of MGSV, Phantom Pain is due for release in a few weeks as the series shows no sign of slowing down.

...Except for Hideo Kojima and Konami having a massive bust up making it look like this will be the final game in the series...

 

[Jockney]

They're still going to make more, with or without Kojima.

 

[Oaf]

Metal Gear Solid was probably at the top of my list, but that's probably no surprise.

It's weird... with most game series I get so hyped when a new game is due to come out. I watch all the videos and trailers and things, and build myself up for it. But for MGS, I don't seem to do any of that. I just sit there in quiet expectation that it's going to come along and be one of the best things I've ever played. And to be fair, the series hasn't let me down yet, each main game in the series seems to have its own fanbase saying it's the best (well, even if that fan base for number 4 is just me, and I'm not even sure about that ). The only surprise with MGS V will be if it's anything but one of the best games ever released. And from the few trailers and things I have seen, it looks well on course to not disappoint.

 

[Smudge]

Into the top 5 on 87 points is...
5th: Grand Theft Auto (7 lists)

Games in series to date: 11 (1997-2013)
Genre: Action, sandbox
Platforms: 13 (Playstation, Gameboy Colour, PC, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Gameboy Advance, Playstation Portable, Playstation 3, Nintendo DS, Playstation 3, Xbox One)
Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto 2, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto Advance, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Grand Theft Auto V

Probably the most controversial game franchise of all time, Grand Theft Auto has grown from small beginnings of a fun yet violent little top down open world game, to a vast graphic orgy of sex drugs and violence. Not that thats hurt it's popularity any! The games follow a different protagonist in each game across numerous fictional US cities, usually involving a betrayal that sparks a rise to power.

 

[Oaf]

GTA is the sort of series that was a real contender to win this thing. People will have grown up with it, plus it's still absolutely knocking the ball out of the park in recent times with GTA V turning out to be fantastic. When Rockstar North make a game, man do they make something special. People often shit on GTA IV for taking a bit of a different approach, but to me even that was an absolute hit.
They even basically went and used the same GTA formula in the old west with Red Dead Redemption, and while it's not actually a game in the series, if they'd have called it "Grand Theft Horse" or something it'd pass off as a GTA game set a good 100 years ago or so.

Can't wait to see where they're going to take it next time, especially considering that it'll be their first effort on this X1/PS4 generation. Though at the current rate we've probably got a fair old while before we hear any word of it.

 

[big mean bunny]

Red Dead Redemption is a better game than GTA V or GTA 4 for me, all are good, but I would have Red Dead top. I appreciate not everyone will feel that way (very few would agree I imagine), and I would much rather be a cowboy than any of the persona's in GTAV. Also I never got the point of GTA's online play but quite enjoyed pissing about on red dead multi.

 

[Smudge]

Breaking 90 points is...
4th: Mass Effect (6 lists)

Games in series to date: 3 (2007-2012)
Genre: Shooter, RPG, action
Platforms: 6 (Xbox 360, PC, Playstation 3, Wii U, Playstation 4, Xbox One)
Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3

The game series that any game with a continuing storyline aspires to be...if not for that terrible ending anyway! You are Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre in a futuristic space world, on the hunt to destroy a powerful race of sentient machines nobody truly believes even exist, before they destroy us. Number 1 on two lists, including my own, its decent as a standalone shooter, but its the storyline, the characters, and the ability to change what happens around you with your actions that makes it so damn good. Finding out I hadnt quite done things the right way throughout the trilogy and just accidentally wiped out an entire race? Oh yeah, that happened. EA announced there will be a new game released next year that takes place in another galaxy with a whole new cast of characters...personally I think they should leave it alone where it is.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Mass Effect may well have been my number 1 had they not royally fucked up with a cop-out ending. The rest of it was sublime.

 

[Smudge]

It really was wasnt it? The upgraded ending was moderately better, as your decisions still affected what would happen depending on which you chose. It was still an enormous cop out though. Massive shame, as until that point, EA got everything right that they got wrong with the Dragon Age sequels.

 

[Oaf]

The thing is, it was just that ending that fucked up Mass Effect 3. Prior to that last half an hour or so, I'd say it was probably even the best of the series, it tied up so many great little stories so well. It's just the main story they dropped a major bollock on.

 

[Rammy]

I'm loving The Walking Dead. Playing through season 1 at the minute, and will most certainly be buying season 2 once I'm done with it!

 

[Stevencc]

I only just started Mass Effect for the first time a couple of months ago (shameful I admit) and the opening hour or so really hasn't caught my imagination. I've tried playing it 4 or 5 times and I've turned it off each time after 15 minutes. I remember the same thing happened with Dishonoured though and that ended up being one of my favourite games so I'm sure I'll return to it at some point.

The same thing has happened with Bioshock actually, I'll have to return to that too.

 

[Pyeman]

The same thing has happened with Bioshock actually, I'll have to return to that too.

I had a very similar experience with Bioshock. Never enjoyed it as much as others seemed to.

 

[Smudge]

And given the last 2 comments, ironically pipping Mass Effect into 3rd by a single point, on 91 points is...
3rd: Bioshock (6 lists)

Games in series to date: 3 (2007-2013)
Genre: First person shooter, action, adventure
Platforms: 3 (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC)
Bioshock, Bioshock 2, Bioshock Infinite

The only series on our list so far I think that all releases were in the same 'generation.' A game that I think takes so much of its goodness from it's setting and atmosphere, which are done so well. The first 2 games take place in the underwater city of Rapture in the 1960s, an isolated utopia built to keep out all the bad things in the outside world. Only for the discovery of an element called Adam to lead to their eventual downfall, which you stumble into after a shipwreck. Infinite take the series to a city in the sky called Columbia. Its the general atmosphere that make this game a little more than your average first person shooter, as its full of mystery and surprises, with some added morality when you start encountering the Little Sisters. Ironically while Googling for a picture to use for this post, I came across a post on IGN which slammed Bioshock for being almost too story orientated. The storyline and the world within the game are what really sells it to its fans, but its the same thing it seems that turns others off. Ive only actually played the first one, so cant really give my own opinions on the series as a whole!

 

[Rammy]

I love the Bioshock games. Hope we see another one, although the fact the studio have been disbanded probably means we've seen the last of it.

 

[Oaf]

Bioshock is superb. The first one and Infinite were absolute fucking gems, and even though it's not on a par with those two, I thought that even Bioshock 2 was pretty decent.

 

[Smudge]

Beating Bioshock into 2nd only on number of lists, on 91 points is...
2nd: Resident Evil (7 lists)

Games in series to date: 20 (1996-2015)
Genre: Horror, survival, first person shooter
Platforms: 14 (Playstation, PC, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Playstation 2, Gameboy Colour, Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Playstation 4, Xbox One)
Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Resident Evil Survivor, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Resident Evil Gaiden, Resident Evil Survivor 2: Code Veronica, Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil Dead Aim, Resident Evil Outbreak, Resident Evil Outbreak File 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil Revelations 2

The ultimate in survival horror! The series has moved more towards FPS rather than horror and puzzles these days, but there are still few games that have captured the survival horror genre so well. The series is still going today, while HD remasters of the earlier games are bringing the games to a new generation still today. The series begins with two members of an elite task force sent in to deal with with the release of the T Virus by the Umbrella Corporation. They end up trapped in a mansion full of zomies and monsters and have to get out alive, while also finding the source of the outbreak.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

A damned good choice for no. 2 if I do say so myself.

 

[Relentless]

Pokemon really is fucking awesome. Great series that I was was obsessed with as a kid, and not just the video game. The TV show, the movies, the toys and of course, the cards (Fully completed the Base set, Jungle, Fossil and whatever the next one was, Dark/gym leader or whatever it was). It was just such a brilliant idea, both creatively and, perhaps more so, commercially. I'd actually say that it has to be the best idea ever thought up to suck money out of parents wallets. You often see other pretenders trying to copy it somewhat (the most obvious one being Digimon, which for the record, completely fucking sucks) but nobody has ever come close to taking over the world like Pokemon did.

But the thing is, while I've grown out of the cards and toys and what not of course, I have a whole new appreciation for the games now. And although I do feel that the formula of the series is starting to get a bit tired now, I'll still be there day fuckin' one to get the next game in the series.

Bit late for a reply but theres a possible contender for dethroning Pokemon now. Youkai watch. Its nearing pokemon levels of popularity in Japan and is coming west (The game anyway and in assuming the merchandise and show too) later this year.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Mass Effect and Bioshock were both high up on my list. Tbh I remember a lot of the actual gameplay for them could be a slog at times, but the story/characters/world/lore are really special. Mass Effect in particular did a great job of developing all these crew members you can assemble, shame they botched the ending but the Party DLC more than made up for it in my view.

 

[Smudge]

Is it the third one where at one point Joker says "Want to put you through to the Council so you can hang up on them for old times sake?"

 

[Oaf]

Bit late for a reply but theres a possible contender for dethroning Pokemon now. Youkai watch. Its nearing pokemon levels of popularity in Japan and is coming west (The game anyway and in assuming the merchandise and show too) later this year.

DAFUQ is this shit? I'm gonna have to check that out.

Also... one game series left... I don't remember, has MGS been out yet, or are we about to get the correct result here?

 

[Don Tonberry]

Nah it's obvious when you think about it for a sec.

 

[Relentless]

DAFUQ is this shit? I'm gonna have to check that out.

Also... one game series left... I don't remember, has MGS been out yet, or are we about to get the correct result here?

Its on the 3DS and is made by Level-5 (The devs of Ni No Kuni)