One thing you don’t want to see, whether it’s in movies, video games, or television, is a steady decline in quality the longer a series goes on. This hurts all around and often stops the series dead in its tracks for a long time.
Luckily, there’s many series that are the direct opposite and keep getting better and better with each new instalment. Not only are the graphics and technology better, but the gameplay is expanded upon as well. This doesn’t mean the newest game is always the best in the franchise, but it is a clear improvement over the prior few entries.
10Yakuza
Transforming Into An RPG Was Definitely The Right Call
Even since theYakuzagames transferred to the Dragon Engine, its melee combat has been severely lessened from prior titles. It just didn’t feel as crisp and smooth, but luckily,Yakuza: Like a Dragonwas launched, essentially the Fast Five of the series. With a new protagonist and turn-based RPG gameplay, it felt like a shot in the arm the series absolutely needed.
Further titles continued with improving the Dragon Engine’s limited melee combat, butLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthwas thebest entry in nearly a decade. By improving and refining the RPG mechanics of the prior title and giving you so much room to explore, Infinite Wealth firmly pushes the series in the right direction.
9The Legend Of Zelda
Always Improving And Evolving
While callingThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomthebest entries in the serieswill cause a very heated debate, one thing most will agree on is that they were a vast improvement over the previous 3D Zelda,Skyward Sword.
The original Wii version had a lot to be desired, with the motion controls not going over well with most and the 3D Zelda formula just feeling tired at this point with no real changes. Breath of the Wild shook up the series in a phenomenal way with its level of freedom and influenced many games afterward. Tears of the Kingdom was even better with its building mechanics, allowing for an even greater level of freedom.
8WWE 2K
Still The Undisputed King Of Wrestling Games
One of the most critically panned games of 2019 wasWWE 2K20, and rightfully so. It was a trainwreck from top to bottom with a vast amount of game-breaking glitches, so much so that nobody cared about the few gameplay improvements like the reversal button change. Thankfully, WWE 2K22 stepped up big time and delivered a stellar wrestling game that’s debatably the best in the franchise since 2K14.
The gameplay and polish were so much better, along with the various modes and creation options. 2K23 heightened the franchise even further, becoming the highest-rated game since WWE ‘13 back in 2012. With WWE 2K24 continuing the path of quality, it’s clear that the series is in the best position it’s been in a very long time.
7Forza
A Series That’s Come A Long Way
It’s shocking to look back at where theForzaseries was ten-plus years ago and compare it to the present day. Back then, Forza was still getting its footing and clearly outclassed by the competition likeGran Turismo.
Today, Forza is the premier racing title out there, with each game getting better and better to the point where Forza Horizon 5 is considered one of the greatest racing games ever. That’s a big accomplishment, as racing titles have existed pretty much since the start of gaming.
6Alan Wake
A Huge Story Jump
Starting in 2010 with the original 360 title,Alan Wakehad a great story with influences from Stephen King to Twin Peaks, and it somewhat felt familiar but fresh at the same time. The two DLC packs and American Nightmare spin-off were excellent as well but then cameControl.
With combat refined from Quantum Break and incredibly creative environments, it was a must-play from that year.Alan Wake 2, however, is the best instalment yet. Thestory here is up there with horror greatslikeSilent Hill 2and bound to lead to multiple-hour video essays. The entire campaign is a blast from start to finish, and it will be hard for Remedy to top this one.
5Deus Ex
Cyberpunk At Its Best
This series will be a bit divisive as not everyone loved the newestDeus Exentry, Mankind Divided, back in 2016. It’s quite baffling, really, because Mankind Divided does several things better than Human Revolution and remains a stellar cyberpunk-themed title to this day.
The main hub world is far better than the previous ones in Human Revolution; the side quests were superior, as well as the available tools at your disposal. Even the hacking had more purpose, as it was often mandatory in certain instances instead of looking up a code for each one. Both Human Revolution and Mankind Divided surpassed Invisible War, and it’s a damn shame this series will likely never continue.
4Hitman
The Silent Assassin Has Never Been Better
Another former Square Enix property that’s delivered the goods in recent times isHitman. The series tumbled for a bit after the poor Absolution instalment, but bounced back with one of thegreatest stealth games of all time:Hitman World of Assassination. Originally three games launched in 2016, 2018, and 2021, they are now all combined into one for a complete package.
You get so much content here, with each level having tons of replay value, and the gameplay itself is the best the series has to offer. Sure, people might have nostalgia and a preference for the ragdoll fun of the classic titles, but objectively, Hitman World of Assassination is the best the series has ever been.
3Mortal Kombat
The Premier American Fighting Game
For the longest time,Mortal Kombatwas more style over substance in the fighting game genre. Sure, most MK fans and casuals loved the titles, but a majority of the hardcore fighting game community thought the older entries lacked depth, ultimately leading to a very small tournament presence.
When NetherRealm Studios entered the picture, that all changed. Not only did NetherRealm retain the series’ excellent single-player offerings, but it finally delivered a stellar fighting game leading to a big tournament scene. All four MK games by NetherRealm have been fantastic, with each improving various aspects of its predecessor.
2Tomb Raider
No Longer A Dusty Old Relic
In reality, most classic games don’t age as badly as people say they are, but there are a few, includingShenmueand the originalTomb Raidertitles that might prove the phrase right. Classic Tomb Raider is all about the platforming, frustrating platforming at that, with the action taking a noticeable backseat.Unchartedmoped the floor with Tomb Raider at release, with the third-person shooting being the primary gameplay element, as it should be, with better platforming controls to boot.
Thankfully, the Tomb Raider reboot took some notes, having a better balance between the two, and led to the best era of the series by far. The reboot titles have phenomenal gameplay this time around, with better combat and platforming. It even does some things better than Uncharted, like the collectibles.
1Grand Theft Auto
The Open-World Series That Can’t Be Beat
There’s a reason why Rockstar Games is one of the most well-regarded developers in the business, and it’s because of the sheerquality on display in its open-world titles. The evolution of theGrand Theft Autoseries is fascinating to see, and while everyone has their favorites, there’s no denying that each instalment improves upon the last.
Look at the jump fromGTA4toGTA5. The graphics, open-world, cop AI, and NPC interaction were all a big step up, as well as several quality-of-life improvements from the taxis to the side quest visibility on the map. Even the underwater areas are massively detailed, a first in the series. Along with the massive jump in GTA Online, it just begs the question of how GTA6 will push things even further.
