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20 Failed Video Game Franchises That Never Lived Up to the Hype

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - April 12th 2025, 00:00 GMT+2

Cropped Blaster Master — Blaster Master (1988–2010)

*Blaster Master* is one of those games that had a killer concept – boy loses frog, boy finds tank, boy fights mutants. Classic. The original 1988 NES game had tight platforming, slick visuals, and a unique blend of side-scrolling and top-down action. It even got a revival with the *Blaster Master Zero* series starting in 2017, which was surprisingly solid! But while the remake earned praise from retro lovers, it still didn’t push the franchise into modern mainstream status. It’s more like a cult classic with a niche revival – respectable, but still not franchise royalty. | © Sunsoft

Cropped Bubsy — Bubsy the Bobcat (1993–1996)

Oh, Bubsy. He had attitude, he had quips, he had... the most grating voice acting this side of the '90s. *Bubsy the Bobcat* was clearly trying to ride Sonic's coattails, but instead of blazing trails, he tripped over them. The first game was okay at best, but that didn’t stop this bobcat from clawing his way into multiple sequels and a failed TV pilot. Fast-forward to recent years and yes – *Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back* (2017) tried to bring him back. But let’s just say, nostalgia didn’t save him. Bubsy keeps returning like a meme that won't die, but his franchise status? Still stuck in “LOL, remember that guy?” territory. | © Accolade / Tommo

Cropped Vector Man — Vectorman (1995–1996)

In the mid-90s, Sega wanted a cool new hero to show off the Genesis’ graphics. Enter *Vectorman*, a glowing green robot made entirely of orbs. Yes, orbs. The original game looked awesome and played well, but for all its polish, it just couldn’t punch through the competition. A sequel came and went, and while rumors of reboots have popped up now and then – especially during the early 2000s – nothing materialized. *Vectorman* remains a nostalgic gem that Sega dusts off every now and then for a compilation, but that's about it. He deserved more love – orb-based heroes are rare, okay? | © Sega

Cropped medievil — MediEvil (1998–2005)

*MediEvil* had charm, humor, and a skeleton knight with a jawless grin – what more could you ask for? Sir Daniel Fortesque stumbled onto the PlayStation scene in 1998, wielding swords, shields, and British wit in equal measure. Fans rejoiced when Sony gave it a shiny remake in 2019 for the PS4, bringing Dan’s undead adventures to a new audience. But even with modern polish, it didn’t spark a franchise renaissance. MediEvil remains a beloved oddball in the PlayStation vault – fondly remembered, slightly awkward, and eternally stuck in "Hey, remember this guy?" mode. | © Sony Interactive Entertainment

Cropped Turok — Turok (1997–2008)

Dinosaurs. Guns. Muscles. What could go wrong? Well, a lot, apparently. *Turok* started strong with the N64 classic *Turok: Dinosaur Hunter*, which was a big deal back in the day. It even got a slick remaster in 2015 (and *Turok 2* shortly after), reminding everyone how ridiculously foggy those jungles used to be. A full reboot in 2008 tried to modernize the concept with gritty realism, but it never caught on. Turok had the teeth, but the franchise kept missing the mark. These days, it’s more fossil than franchise – cool to unearth, but unlikely to evolve. | © Acclaim Entertainment / Propaganda Games / Nightdive Studios

Cropped Dino Crisis — Dino Crisis (1999–2003)

Ah, *Dino Crisis –* the franchise that asked, “What if *Resident Evil*, but with velociraptors?” And honestly, it worked… at least at first. The original 1999 title mixed survival horror with dinosaur chaos, and fans were totally here for it. But as the sequels veered into action-heavy, sci-fi territory (and space dinosaurs? Really?), the series lost its identity faster than you can say "T-Rex jump scare." Capcom has teased a revival for years, but still no remake in sight – despite constant fan begging. Until then, *Dino Crisis* remains fossilized in gaming history, waiting for its amber moment. | © Capcom

Cropped No One Lives Forever — No One Lives Forever (2000–2003)

Stylish, witty, and criminally underrated, *No One Lives Forever* gave us Cate Archer, a 1960s superspy with charm, gadgets, and one-liners sharper than her aim. The series brilliantly spoofed spy thrillers while delivering legit FPS gameplay. But despite critical praise and a cult following, this franchise went missing like a secret agent off the grid. Legal rights issues have kept it in licensing limbo, meaning remasters or sequels are basically impossible. It’s a franchise that deserved to live forever – but instead, it got quietly assassinated. | © Monolith Productions / Fox Interactive

Cropped Black White — Black & White (2001–2005)

*Black & White* was like being a god with a guilt complex. You raised villagers, threw fireballs, and trained a giant pet monster that could either hug people or punt them into the sea. The first game was ambitious, buggy, and absolutely bonkers in the best way. A sequel came, tried to refine the chaos, and then… nothing. Despite Peter Molyneux's usual grand promises, the franchise fizzled out after just two entries. Still, it was fun while it lasted – few games let you discipline a cow for peeing on someone’s house. Truly divine chaos. | © Lionhead Studios / EA / Microsoft Game Studios

Cropped Baten kaitos — Baten Kaitos (2003–2006)

*Baten Kaitos* had everything: sky islands, mystical cards, turn-based combat, and a soundtrack that slapped way harder than it needed to. It was a JRPG that dared to be different on the GameCube – and mostly pulled it off. The original game and its prequel had fans, sure, but not quite enough to turn it into the next *Final Fantasy*. A remastered collection landed in 2023 (bless it!), but it was a quiet comeback, and likely the last hurrah. Beautiful, weird, and almost too artistic for its own good, this series floated into obscurity on wings made of collectible cards. | © Monolith Soft / Bandai Namco

Sacred msn — Sacred (2004–2014)

*Sacred* tried to be the European answer to *Diablo –* and for a hot minute, it kinda worked! The sprawling maps, loot-hoarding madness, and quirky classes (robotic temple guardian, anyone?) made it a cult favorite. But as the sequels rolled in, things got messy. *Sacred 2* was massive but buggy, and *Sacred 3* decided to strip away everything fans liked and go full arcade brawler. Yikes. By the end, even diehards were like, “Wait... what happened here?” Sacred had potential, but in the end, it became a cautionary tale in franchise mismanagement. | © Ascaron / Deep Silver

Cropped advent rising — Advent Rising (2005)

*Advent Rising* was hyped as the next big sci-fi epic – a cinematic, space opera extravaganza backed by a story from *Ender’s Game* author Orson Scott Card. The plan? A trilogy, comic books, maybe even a movie. What we got? One janky game with frame rate issues, awkward controls, and more ambition than polish. It ended on a cliffhanger... and then just *poof*. No sequel, no closure, nothing. It’s the video game equivalent of announcing a five-course meal and serving only a soggy appetizer. Epic fail – literally. | © GlyphX Games / Majesco Entertainment

Prey msn — Prey (2006)

Before *Prey* was a critically acclaimed space-horror sim in 2017, it was a 2006 alien-abduction shooter featuring a Cherokee protagonist, living weapons, and gravity-defying walkways. It was weird, wild, and actually kind of awesome. A sequel was planned, teased, hyped... and then silently yeeted into development hell. What we got years later was a completely unrelated reboot with the same name, which just added to the confusion. So technically *Prey* became a franchise – but not *that* *Prey*. RIP original weird alien guns. | © Human Head Studios / 2K Games

Cropped Kane Lynch — Kane & Lynch (2007–2010)

If you’ve ever wondered what *Grand Theft Auto* would be like if it took itself way too seriously and had two angry, middle-aged men yelling at each other, then congrats – you’ve already played *Kane & Lynch*. The first game had promise, but was more infamous for review drama than gameplay (shoutout to the Gamespot controversy). The sequel, *Dog Days*, went for a gritty, handheld camera aesthetic and somehow made things worse. A movie was in the works starring Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx, but it never materialized – kind of like the franchise’s potential. | © IO Interactive / Eidos Interactive

Cropped Wild Arms — Wild Arms (1996–2007)

*Wild Arms* was the JRPG with a cowboy hat – a rare western-themed RPG with heartfelt stories, puzzles, and some of the best opening music ever to grace the PS1. It launched before *Final Fantasy VII* and even had a decent run with several sequels. But over time, *Wild Arms* lost visibility, charm, and eventually, players. The series just sort of wandered off into the desert, like an old gunslinger fading into legend. A spiritual successor (*Armed Fantasia*) is on the horizon, but as for *Wild Arms* itself? Cue the tumbleweed. | © Media.Vision / Sony Computer Entertainment

Cropped Too Human — Too Human (2008)

*Too Human* tried to blend Norse mythology with sci-fi cyborgs and loot grinding – a bold swing that landed somewhere between “unique” and “what am I even playing?” After nearly a decade in development limbo, it finally released in 2008... and immediately stumbled. Clunky combat, auto-platforming, and a plot that made *Final Fantasy* look straightforward tanked its chances. Legal battles with Epic Games didn’t help either, and the game was eventually *removed from sale*. Like, completely. In the end, *Too Human* was too ambitious, too glitchy, and – well – just too much. | © Silicon Knights / Microsoft Game Studios

Cropped de Blob — De Blob (2008–2011)

*De Blob* was the game equivalent of a paintball fight mixed with a rave and a hug. You rolled around as a squishy blob of color, restoring life and funk to a world overtaken by monochrome corporate baddies. It was charming, unique, and surprisingly satisfying. A sequel followed, but didn’t exactly splatter the charts. And despite HD re-releases years later, the series never gained enough traction to become a mainstay. De Blob just couldn't escape the indie-kid energy stage. He brought color to the world – but not quite enough to stay in it. | © Blue Tongue Entertainment / THQ

Cropped Mirrors Edge — Mirror's Edge (2008–2016)

*Mirror’s Edge* had everything: a sleek minimalist aesthetic, parkour-driven first-person gameplay, and a protagonist named Faith who could vault over rooftops like a boss. The original game built a cult following despite a few rough edges. Then came *Mirror’s Edge Catalyst* in 2016 – a reboot that looked great but somehow managed to be less engaging than its predecessor. It turns out you can run on walls all day, but without a strong narrative or compelling gameplay loop, you’re just doing laps. Faith deserved better. | © DICE / Electronic Arts

Cropped in FAMOUS — Infamous (2009–2014)

*Infamous* had electric powers, moral choices, and open-world chaos – a solid recipe for franchise greatness. Cole MacGrath zapped his way through two games, then handed the spotlight to a new protagonist in *Infamous: Second Son*. And then... nothing. Despite decent sales and loyal fans, the series quietly vanished like a superhero on early retirement. In a world where superhero games are thriving, *Infamous* is a shocking no-show (pun fully intended). Maybe it just ran out of juice. | © Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Cropped Rage — Rage (2011)

*Rage* was supposed to be id Software’s big post-*Doom* flex – an apocalyptic shooter with cutting-edge tech and vehicular combat. What we got was a game with great gunplay, awkward storytelling, and a world that looked amazing but felt kinda empty. Still, *Rage 2* happened in 2019, doubling down on neon chaos and adding open-world madness. It was louder, weirder... and somehow still didn’t stick. The franchise had rage, alright – but not much staying power. | © id Software / Bethesda Softworks

Cropped Ride to Hell — Ride to Hell (2013)

*Ride to Hell: Retribution* is less of a failed franchise and more of a cautionary tale whispered around campfires by traumatized gamers. Billed as a gritty biker action game, it became infamous for its horrific controls, broken animations, awkward “love scenes” (in quotes for a reason), and straight-up cursed dialogue. It was so bad that any chance of a franchise – or even a *do-over –* was obliterated on impact. It’s not just a flop, it’s a legendary disaster. We ride... straight to bargain bin hell. | © Eutechnyx / Deep Silver

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In the gaming world, not every franchise is built to last. Some start strong with big budgets, bold ideas, and sky-high expectations – only to fall flat after a game or two. Whether plagued by poor reviews, dwindling sales, or creative misfires, these video game franchises couldn’t keep the momentum going. In this list, we’re spotlighting the top failed video game franchises that launched with promise but quickly faded into obscurity. From forgotten sequels to hype that couldn’t deliver, here are the cautionary tales of gaming’s biggest franchise flops.

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In the gaming world, not every franchise is built to last. Some start strong with big budgets, bold ideas, and sky-high expectations – only to fall flat after a game or two. Whether plagued by poor reviews, dwindling sales, or creative misfires, these video game franchises couldn’t keep the momentum going. In this list, we’re spotlighting the top failed video game franchises that launched with promise but quickly faded into obscurity. From forgotten sequels to hype that couldn’t deliver, here are the cautionary tales of gaming’s biggest franchise flops.