EA Has Forgotten and Neglected These 15 Game Franchises

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - December 2nd 2025, 12:00 GMT+1

Dead Space Director Retires — Dead Space

The original *Dead Space* was a triumph of atmosphere – narrow corridors, flickering lights, and that creeping dread as necromorphs lurched into view. Its last truly new story was *Dead Space 3* in 2013, before the series went dark for a decade. A remake of the first game dropped in 2023, rebuilt from scratch for modern consoles, and it proved you can still shake players to their core with horror and sharp design. Even so, the remake felt more like a nostalgia trip than a bold leap forward, and fans are still waiting for fresh chapters. It’s strange: a horror franchise built on fear and isolation, now left suspiciously quiet again. With the remake behind us, the question remains: Is Isaac Clarke’s nightmare over, or just waiting in stasis? | © EA

Medal of honor above and beyond cropped processed by imagy — Medal of Honor

In its heyday, *Medal of Honor* delivered gritty, grounded wartime storytelling long before military shooters became formulaic. The last major reboot came in 2010, shifting the setting from World War II to modern conflicts. That version tried hard, with flashy mechanics and a different tone, yet it never captured the spirit of the originals. Since then, the franchise has slipped off EA’s radar, even while countless other shooters rose and fell. There was a time when *Medal of Honor* meant tense missions, heavy choices and boot-on-the-ground realism. Now, it mostly survives in memories – as a reminder that not every shooter needs to be about flashy explosions to be powerful. | © EA

Crysis

At one point, *Crysis* felt like the future of shooters: nanosuits, destructible environments, and that “could-it-run-on-my-PC” challenge that became legend. The last full release – *Crysis 3* – hit in 2013, its ambitious ideas still impressive but clearly marking the end of an era. Since then, the name has resurfaced only in remasters or nostalgia collections, but no fresh sandbox or sci-fi campaign has followed. What made *Crysis* stand out was the flexibility – go in loud, go in stealth, use high-tech toys – and an open world that punished sloppy plays. Without a new entry in over a decade, that freedom now feels like a relic rather than a living legacy. | © EA

Sim City 2013 cropped processed by imagy — SimCity

The idea of designing sprawling urban jungles, zoning them, managing traffic, and watching tiny sims live and struggle made *SimCity* a pillar of strategy and creativity. After *SimCity 4*, fans waited over ten years for a proper new entry. In 2013, EA released a reboot simply titled *SimCity*. Ambitious on paper, it stumbled in reality: server issues, design compromises and unhappy players soured many hopes. Since then, no new *SimCity* has emerged, even though city-building remains evergreen for gamers hungry for creation and control. It’s ironic: A franchise built on building has barely managed to get out of limbo all these years. The skyline’s been empty for too long. | © EA

Syndicate 2012 cropped processed by imagy — Syndicate

Once, *Syndicate* was a ruthless, dystopian real-time tactics game where you controlled cybernetically enhanced agents and conquered cities for mega-corporations. Fans of strategy and dark sci-fi loved its ruthless edge. EA tried reviving it in 2012 as a first-person shooter – a bold shift that alienated many of the series’ original fans and failed to land as a true successor. That flop was the last time the *Syndicate* name saw new light, and since then the franchise has drifted into obscurity. It’s a shame, because the cynical, corporate-dystopia vibe it had could still resonate today, especially with how popular gritty sci-fi has become. Instead, it sits unplugged, a cautionary tale of how not to rework something beloved. | © EA

Alice Madness Returns — Alice

Stepping into *Alice*’s twisted Wonderland once felt like tumbling headfirst into a dark fairy tale with surreal landscapes, unsettling characters and a heroine swinging wildly between beauty and madness. The last major outing was *Alice: Madness Returns* (2011), a bold and bizarre reimagining that offered gorgeous visuals and haunting atmosphere, but didn’t quite sell enough to guarantee future chapters. Since then the world has stayed quiet, and Wonderland’s gates remain locked. Considering how unique the tone was – part gothic horror, part fairy-tale whimsy – it’s strange EA hasn’t revisited that strange, captivating place. Somewhere between Cheshire grins and clockwork hearts, there’s still room for more nightmares. | © EA

Overlord Fellowship of Evil cropped processed by imagy — Overlord

Imagine ruling over a horde of clumsy, loyal minions as an evil overlord; that was the core of *Overlord*, a franchise that let you lean into villainy with a grin and a cackle. Its last main release, *Overlord: Fellowship of Evil*, came out in 2015 and shifted toward a chaotic co-op action format which lacked much of the charm and cleverness of the early games. Before that we had the originals from Codemasters (later under EA’s broader ecosystem) – humor, tone, and world-building that balanced dark fantasy with cheeky comedy. Since 2015, the series has gone completely silent, leaving that throne room empty and the minions idle. It felt like a world that understood how much fun it could be to play the “bad guy,” and now it’s just another dusty crown in the closet. | © EA

Command Conquer 4 cropped processed by imagy — Command & Conquer

For years, *Command & Conquer* defined what real-time strategy could be – base-building, base-capture missions, epic alliances and betrayals, all under a pulsing soundtrack and a story of global upheaval. The most recent proper release was *Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight* in 2010, and even that attempted reboot alienated a large part of the fanbase. A later free-to-play project attempted a comeback but never gained traction, and now the franchise is more of a legacy name than an active series. When you think of what made C&C great – strategic choice, tense battles, resource crunches – it’s hard not to feel that the genre has lost some of its backbone. The fields of war have gone silent, and the alerts no longer buzz. | © EA

Cropped SPORE — Spore

There was once a time when *Spore* promised to let you play God: build creatures, evolve societies, build civilizations and ride them all the way to the stars. Its launch in 2008 was as much a dream as a game, full of whimsical possibilities and wild creativity. Over time, though, support faded and expansions slowed – the core game remained, but the follow-up content and sequels never came. It’s odd because the appetite for sandbox creativity, user-generated content and simulation games has only grown. The sculpted creatures, the accidental civilizations, and the chance to launch a random alien species into orbit – those remain in fans’ memories. Yet the universe never expanded beyond its initial spark. | © EA

Ultima IX Ascension cropped processed by imagy — Ultima

Back in the golden age of PC RPGs, *Ultima* built vast worlds filled with lore, moral choices, exploration and compelling freedom – a series that helped define what role-playing games could be. The last traditional entry, *Ultima IX: Ascension,* came out in 1999, and since then the franchise has largely faded from EA’s active roster. Subsequent attempts, spinoffs or online versions never managed to recapture the depth, breadth and heart of the original saga. Considering how much modern gamers still value open worlds and meaningful choices, it’s strange the Ultima name isn’t getting dusted off for a reboot or re-imagining. The kingdoms, the dungeons, the philosophical quests – for many, they still represent the foundation of what a true RPG felt like. | © EA

Burnout Paradise Remastered — Burnout

Once you slammed the throttle in *Burnout*, you weren’t just racing, you were asking for crashes. The series turned reckless driving and high-speed spectacle into its own art form, with crash cams, dramatic wrecks, and adrenaline-fueled chaos. The last major entry under EA was *Burnout Paradise* (2008), and though it received a remastered version years later, that update felt more like polishing an old trophy than revving up a new saga. There haven’t been any fresh Burnout-style experiments or follow-up titles since, and that’s odd in a gaming world still hungry for speed, destruction, and cathartic crash physics. The roads are clear again… but the thrill of smashing at 300 km/h seems parked. | © EA

Mercenaries 2 World in Flames cropped processed by imagy — Mercenaries

Driving helicopters into enemy compounds, blowing up fuel depots, and causing global chaos – *Mercenaries* let you be the kind of warlord you don’t often get to play. The first two games delivered open-world sandbox destruction with style and freedom. Since *Mercenaries 2: World in Flames* (2008), though, the franchise has gone completely silent. No spin-offs, no remasters, no hints of resurrection. For players who loved the anarchic liberty of blowing things up, the silence is deafening. It’s as if the war-torn sandbox was simply wiped clean and left alone, even while other open-world games keep pushing boundaries. | © EA

Army of two the 40th day cropped processed by imagy — Army of Two

The concept was simple: Grab a buddy, gear up with guns and heavy armor, and tackle missions that demanded teamwork and brutality. *Army of Two* arrived with charm, co-op focus, and a gritty edge. But after its last installment in the early 2010s, the series faded. No new campaigns, no revivals, nothing but memories of synchronized fire and shared cover. In an era where cooperative shooters and shared campaigns thrive, it’s strange that *Army of Two* hasn’t resurfaced. That partnership-driven chaos, that “watch my back, I’ve got your six” energy – it’s the kind of camaraderie modern gaming could still use. | © EA

Populous The Beginning — Populous

Back when godgames ruled and you could terraform mountains with a thought, *Populous* stood tall: build lands, guide worshippers, unleash disasters, and prove you’re the almighty force behind it all. Despite its influence, the series has been idle for decades. After the early ’90s classics, no proper new Populous has arrived under EA’s wing. Considering how much sim- and strategy-based fans love shaping worlds, it’s puzzling the franchise hasn’t been dusted off and reimagined for modern tastes. That divine power, the thrill of creation and destruction with a click is still a powerful fantasy, yet one that’s been locked away too long. | © EA

Dungeon keeper 2 cropped processed by imagy — Dungeon Keeper

There was something gleefully twisted about *Dungeon Keeper* – you didn’t play the hero, you built the dungeon, filled it with traps, monsters, and watched greedy adventurers regret ever setting foot inside. Those early titles delivered wicked humor, strategic depth, and pure, unashamed villainy. Since then, the series has mostly vanished – a failed mobile title aside, there’s been no new mainline game. In a time when strategy games and city-/base-builders are thriving again, it feels like someone left the dungeon master’s book on the shelf and walked away. The chambers are dark, the minions idle, and the laughter you used to hear echoing in the halls is gone. | © EA

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It’s wild how EA can release annual juggernauts like it’s nothing, yet entire franchises in its catalog have been sitting untouched for years – or worse, revived only to get half-hearted sequels, quick cash-grab spinoffs, or “remasters” that feel more like reheated leftovers. Some were once industry-defining, others were cult favorites with loyal followings, and a few were on the brink of greatness before EA quietly shoved them into the attic.

This list pulls together the series EA seems perfectly content to leave gathering digital cobwebs. Maybe they were ahead of their time, maybe they weren’t profitable enough, or maybe EA just lost interest and wandered off toward shinier projects. Whatever the reason, these 15 franchises deserve better than radio silence – or bare-minimum revivals – and it’s time to remember just how good they once were.