Wikipedia
List of longest-running video game franchises
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 | Owner | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Invaders | Space Invaders June 1978 | Space Invaders: World Defense July 18, 2023 | Taito (Square Enix) | 45 years, 1 month |
| 2 | The Oregon Trail | The Oregon Trail May 1978[Note 1] | The Oregon Trail April 2, 2021 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | 42 years, 11 months |
| 3 | Mario | Donkey Kong July 9, 1981 | Princess Peach: Showtime! March 22, 2024 | Nintendo | 42 years, 8 months |
| 4 | Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong July 9, 1981 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong February 16, 2024 | Nintendo | 42 years, 7 months |
| 5 | Pac-Man | Pac-Man July 1980 | Pac-Man World Re-Pac August 25, 2022 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 42 years, 1 month |
| 6 | Wizardry | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord September 1981 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord September 15, 2023 | Drecom | 42 years |
| 7 | Bomberman | Bomber Man July 1983 | Super Bomberman R 2 September 13, 2023 | Konami | 40 years, 2 months |
| 8 | Nobunaga's Ambition | Nobunaga no Yabō March 1983 | Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening July 20, 2022 | Koei Tecmo | 39 years, 4 months |
| 9 | Galaxian | Galaxian October 1979 | Galaga Revenge January 8, 2019 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 39 years, 3 months |
| 10 | Dragon Slayer | Dragon Slayer September 10, 1984 | The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II September 29, 2022 | Nihon Falcom | 38 years |
| 11 | Wolfenstein | Castle Wolfenstein September 1981 | Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot and Wolfenstein: Youngblood July 25, 2019 | id Software | 37 years, 10 months |
| 12 | Microsoft Flight Simulator | Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 November 1982 | Microsoft Flight Simulator August 10, 2020 | Microsoft | 37 years, 9 months |
| 13 | Dragon Quest | Dragon Quest May 27, 1986 | Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince December 1, 2023 | Square Enix | 37 years, 6 months |
| 14 | The Legend of Zelda | The Legend of Zelda February 21, 1986 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom May 12, 2023 | Nintendo | 37 years, 2 months |
| 15 | BurgerTime | BurgerTime August 25, 1982 | BurgerTime Party! October 8, 2019 | Marvelous Entertainment | 37 years, 1 month |
| 16 | Contra | Contra February 21, 1987 | Contra: Operation Galuga March 12, 2024 | Konami | 37 years |
| 17 | Q*bert | Q*bert October 18, 1982 | Q*bert October 11, 2019 | Sony Pictures Entertainment | 36 years, 11 months |
| 18 | Bubble Bobble | Bubble Bobble August 1986 | Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! May 23, 2023 | Taito (Square Enix) | 36 years, 9 months |
| 19 | Kunio-kun | Renegade May 1986 | River City Girls 2 December 1, 2022 | Arc System Works | 36 years, 7 months |
| 20 | Arkanoid | Arkanoid April 26, 1986 | Arkanoid: Eternal Battle October 27, 2022 | Taito (Square Enix) | 36 years, 6 months |
| 21 | Metroid | Metroid August 6, 1986 | Metroid Prime Remastered February 8, 2023 | Nintendo | 36 years, 6 months |
| 22 | Megami Tensei | Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei September 11, 1987 | Persona 3 Reload February 2, 2024 | Atlus | 36 years, 4 months |
| 23 | Daisenryaku | Gendai Daisenryaku November, 1985 | Daisenryaku Supreme Strategic Battles February 3, 2022 | SystemSoft Alpha | 36 years, 3 months |
| 24 | Double Dragon | Double Dragon April 22, 1987 | Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons July 27, 2023 | Arc System Works | 36 years, 3 months |
| 25 | Ys | Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished June 21, 1987 | Ys X: Nordics September 28, 2023 | Nihon Falcom | 36 years, 3 months |
| 26 | Might and Magic | Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum 1986 | Might & Magic: Armies March 29, 2022 | Ubisoft | 36 years, 2 months |
| 27 | Street Fighter | Street Fighter August 12, 1987 | Street Fighter 6 June 2, 2023 | Capcom | 35 years, 9 months |
| 28 | Final Fantasy | Final Fantasy December 18, 1987 | Final Fantasy XVI June 22, 2023 | Square Enix | 35 years, 6 months |
| 29 | A-Train | A-Train December 1985 | A-Train All Aboard! Tourism March 12, 2021 | Artdink | 35 years, 3 months |
| 30 | Momotaro Dentetsu | Momotaro Dentetsu December 2, 1988 | Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! November 16, 2023 | Konami | 34 years, 11 months |
| 31 | Reader Rabbit | Reader Rabbit 1984 | Reader Rabbit: Jumpsmarter September 25, 2018 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | 34 years, 8 months |
| 32 | SaGa | The Final Fantasy Legend December 15, 1989 | SaGa: Emerald Beyond April 25, 2024 | Square Enix | 34 years, 4 months |
| 33 | Prince of Persia | Prince of Persia October 3, 1989 | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown January 18, 2024 | Ubisoft | 34 years, 3 months |
| 34 | Shadowgate | Shadowgate July 30, 1987 | Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok October 7, 2021 | Zojoi | 34 years, 1 month |
| 35 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms | Romance of the Three Kingdoms December 1985 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV January 16, 2020 | Koei Tecmo | 34 years, 1 month |
| 36 | Lode Runner | Lode Runner June 23, 1983 | Lode Runner Legacy July 13, 2017 | Tozai Games | 34 years |
| 37 | Ninja Jajamaru | Ninja JaJaMaru-kun November 15, 1985 | Ninja Jajamaru: The Great Yokai Battle December 12, 2019 | City Connection | 34 years |
| 38 | Carmen Sandiego | Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? April 23, 1985 | Carmen Sandiego: The Crown Jewels Caper March 14, 2019 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | 33 years, 10 months |
| 39 | Family Stadium | Pro Baseball: Family Stadium December 10, 1986 | Pro Baseball: Famista 2020 September 17, 2020 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 33 years, 9 months |
| 40 | Golden Tee | Golden Tee Golf 1989 | Golden Tee PGA Tour 2022 Home Edition October 24, 2022 | Incredible Technologies | 33 years, 9 months |
| 41 | Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing | Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! October 1987 | Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020 July 5, 2021 | Encore, Inc. | 33 years, 9 months |
| 42 | Phantasy Star | Phantasy Star December 20, 1987 | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis June 9, 2021 | Sega | 33 years, 5 months |
| 43 | 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 | Assemble Entertainment | 33 years, 3 months |
| 44 | Blaster Master | Blaster Master June 17, 1988 | Blaster Master Zero 3 July 29, 2021 | Sunsoft, Inti Creates | 33 years, 1 month |
| 45 | Castlevania | Castlevania September 26, 1986 | Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls September 20, 2019 | Konami | 32 years, 11 months |
| 46 | Richman | Richman November 28, 1989 | Richman 11 October 19, 2022 | Softstar | 32 years, 10 months |
| 47 | Tetris | Tetris January 29, 1988 | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 December 8, 2020 | The Tetris Company | 32 years, 10 months |
| 48 | Uncharted Waters | Uncharted Waters May 1990 | Uncharted Waters Origin March 7, 2023 | Koei Tecmo | 32 years, 10 months |
| 49 | Fire Emblem | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light April 20, 1990 | Fire Emblem Engage January 20, 2023 | Nintendo Intelligent Systems | 32 years, 9 months |
| 50 | 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 |
| 51 | Puyo Puyo | Puyo Puyo October 25, 1991 | Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop April 4, 2024 | Sega | 32 years, 5 months |
| 52 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog June 23, 1991 | Sonic Dream Team December 5, 2023 | Sega | 32 years, 5 months |
| 53 | Mega Man | Mega Man December 17, 1987 | Rockman X DiVE March 24, 2020 | Capcom | 32 years, 3 months |
| 54 | Alone in the Dark | Alone in the Dark 1992 | Alone in the Dark March 20, 2024 | Embracer Group | 32 years, 2 months |
| 55 | Ultima | Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness June 1981 | Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar August 7, 2013 | Electronic Arts | 32 years, 2 months |
| 56 | Blaster Learning System | Math Blaster! 1983 | Math Blaster Premium May 15, 2015 | JumpStart Games | 31 years, 10 months |
| 57 | Jake Hunter | Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken April 27, 1987 | Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Prism of Eyes August 9, 2018 | Arc System Works | 31 years, 3 months |
| 58 | Raiden | Raiden April 1990 | Raiden IV x Mikado Remix May 6, 2021 | MOSS | 31 years, 1 month |
| 59 | Mortal Kombat | Mortal Kombat October 8, 1992 | Mortal Kombat 1 September 19, 2023 | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 30 years, 11 months |
| 60 | Metal Max | Metal Max May 24, 1991 | Metal Dogs April 8, 2022 | Cygames | 30 years, 10 months |
| 61 | Kirby | Kirby's Dream Land April 27, 1992 | Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe February 24, 2023 | Nintendo HAL Laboratory | 30 years, 9 months |
| 62 | Mana | Final Fantasy Adventure June 28, 1991 | Echoes of Mana April 27, 2022 | Square Enix | 30 years, 9 months |
| 63 | Metal Gear | Metal Gear July 7, 1987 | Metal Gear Survive February 20, 2018 | Konami | 30 years, 7 months |
| 64 | Super Robot Wars | Super Robot Taisen April 20, 1991 | Super Robot Wars 30 October 28, 2021 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 30 years, 6 months |
| 65 | Fritz | Fritz November 1991 | Fritz 18 Neuronal March 30, 2022 | ChessBase | 30 years, 4 months |
| 66 | Mystery Dungeon | Torneko's Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon September 19, 1993 | Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island January 25, 2024 | Kadokawa Corporation (Spike Chunsoft) | 30 years, 4 months |
| 67 | Winning Post | Winning Post January 14, 1993 | Winning Post 10 March 30, 2023 | Koei Tecmo | 30 years, 2 months |
| 68 | Xanadu | Xanadu October 27, 1985 | Tokyo Xanadu September 30, 2015 | Nihon Falcom | 29 years, 11 months |
| 69 | Xuan-Yuan Sword | Xuan-Yuan Sword October 13, 1990 | Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 October 6, 2020 | Softstar | 29 years, 11 months |
| 70 | Tekken | Tekken September 21, 1994 | Tekken 8 January 26, 2024 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 29 years, 4 months |
| 71 | Dokapon | Kessen! Dokapon Oukoku IV: Densetsu no Yuusha Tachi December 10, 1993 | Dokapon Kingdom: Connect April 13, 2023 | Sting Entertainment | 29 years, 4 months |
| 72 | Spy Hunter | Spy Hunter June 11, 1983 | Spy Hunter October 9, 2012 | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 29 years, 3 months |
| 73 | Doom | Doom December 10, 1993 | Mighty Doom March 21, 2023 | id Software | 29 years, 3 months |
| 74 | Derby Stallion | Derby Stallion: Best Race December 21, 1991 | Derby Stallion December 3, 2020 | Kadokawa Corporation | 28 years, 11 months |
| 75 | Gauntlet | Gauntlet October 15, 1985 | Gauntlet September 23, 2014 | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 28 years, 11 months |
| 76 | Power Pros | Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū '94 March 11, 1994 | WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros February 8, 2023 | Konami | 28 years, 10 months |
| 77 | Wario | Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 January 21, 1994 | WarioWare: Move It! November 3, 2023 | Nintendo | 28 years, 9 months |
| 78 | Darius | Darius February 1987 | Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours November 30, 2015 | Taito (Square Enix) | 28 years, 9 months |
| 79 | Rance | Rance: Hikari Quest July 15, 1989 | Rance X: Decisive Battle February 23, 2018 | Alicesoft | 28 years, 7 months |
| 80 | Fire Pro Wrestling | Fire Pro Wrestling Combination Tag June 22, 1989 | Fire Pro Wrestling World December 18, 2017 | Kadokawa Corporation | 28 years, 5 months |
| 81 | Jagged Alliance | Jagged Alliance April 1995 | Jagged Alliance 3 July 14, 2023 | Embracer Group | 28 years, 3 months |
| 82 | Need for Speed | The Need for Speed August 31, 1994 | Need for Speed Unbound December 2, 2022 | Electronic Arts | 28 years, 3 months |
| 83 | TwinBee | TwinBee March 5, 1985 | Line GoGo! TwinBee May 20, 2013 | Konami | 28 years, 2 months |
| 84 | Warcraft | Warcraft: Orcs & Humans November 23, 1994 | World of Warcraft: Dragonflight November 28, 2022 | Activision Blizzard | 28 years |
| 85 | Lemmings | Lemmings February 14, 1991 | Lemmings December 20, 2018 | Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe | 27 years, 10 months |
| 86 | Picross | Mario's Picross March 14, 1995 | Picross X: Picbits vs Uzboross December 19, 2022 | Jupiter Corporation | 27 years, 9 months |
| 87 | Front Mission | Front Mission February 24, 1995 | Front Mission 1st: Remake November 30, 2022 | Square Enix | 27 years, 9 months |
| 88 | Hoyle | Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 1 1989 | Hoyle Official Casino Games October 14, 2016 | Encore, Inc. | 27 years, 9 months |
| 89 | Virtua Fighter | Virtua Fighter October, 1993 | Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown June 1, 2021 | Sega | 27 years, 8 months |
| 90 | Galactic Civilizations | Galactic Civilizations Fall 1994 | Galactic Civilizations IV April 26, 2022 | Stardock | 27 years, 7 months |
| 91 | EVE | EVE Burst Error 1995 | EVE ghost enemies June 29, 2022 | Red Flag Ship | 27 years, 5 months |
| 92 | 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 |
| 93 | Tokimeki Memorial | Tokimeki Memorial May 27, 1994 | Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 4th Heart October 28, 2021 | Konami | 27 years, 5 months |
| 94 | Civilization | Civilization September 1991 | Civilization VI: Gathering Storm February 14, 2019 | Take-Two Interactive | 27 years, 5 months |
| 95 | Shining | Shining in the Darkness March 28, 1991 | Shining Resonance Refrain July 10, 2018 | Sega | 27 years, 3 months |
| 96 | Yoshi | Yoshi December 14, 1991 | Yoshi's Crafted World March 29, 2019 | Nintendo | 27 years, 3 months |
| 97 | The Black Bass | The Black Bass August 1984 | Super Black Bass 3D October 6, 2011 | Starfish SD | 27 years, 2 months |
| 98 | Myst | Myst September 24, 1993 | Myst December 20, 2020 | Cyan Worlds | 27 years, 2 months |
| 99 | Resident Evil | Resident Evil March 22, 1996 | Resident Evil 4 March 24, 2023 | Capcom | 27 years |
| 100 | Star Soldier | Star Soldier June 13, 1986 | Star Soldier for GREE June 20, 2013 | Konami | 27 years |
| 101 | Story of Seasons | Harvest Moon August 9, 1996 | Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life June 27, 2023 | Marvelous Entertainment | 26 years, 10 months |
| 102 | Crash Bandicoot | Crash Bandicoot September 9, 1996 | Crash Team Rumble June 20, 2023 | Activision Blizzard | 26 years, 9 months |
| 103 | Pokémon | Pokémon Red and Green (Blue) February 27, 1996 | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet November 18, 2022 | Nintendo The Pokémon Company | 26 years, 8 months |
| 104 | Angelique | Angelique September 23, 1994 | Angelique Luminarise May 20, 2021 | Koei Tecmo | 26 years, 7 months |
| 105 | Babylonian Castle Saga | The Tower of Druaga June 1984 | The Labyrinth of Druaga January 13, 2011 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 26 years, 7 months |
| 106 | Itadaki Street | Itadaki Street: Watashi no Omise no Yottette March 21, 1991 | Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary October 19, 2017 | Square Enix Kadokawa Corporation | 26 years, 6 months |
| 107 | Star Ocean | Star Ocean July 19, 1996 | Star Ocean: The Divine Force October 27, 2022 | Square Enix | 26 years, 3 months |
| 108 | Sword and Fairy | The Legend of Sword and Fairy July 7, 1995 | Sword and Fairy 7 October 22, 2021 | Softstar | 26 years, 3 months |
| 109 | Tomb Raider | Tomb Raider October 25, 1996 | Tomb Raider Reloaded February 14, 2023 | Embracer Group | 26 years, 3 months |
| 110 | Wipeout | Wipeout September 29, 1995 | Wipeout Merge January 18, 2022 | Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe | 26 years, 3 months |
| 111 | eFootball | J.League Jikkyou Winning Eleven July 21, 1995 | eFootball 2022 September 30, 2021 | Konami | 26 years, 2 months |
| 112 | Armored Core | Armored Core July 10, 1997 | Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon August 25, 2023 | Kadokawa Corporation | 26 years, 1 month |
| 113 | The Elder Scrolls | The Elder Scrolls: Arena March 25, 1994 | The Elder Scrolls: Blades May 12, 2020 | Bethesda Softworks | 26 years, 1 month |
| 114 | Gradius | Gradius May 29, 1985 | Gradius the Slot July 2011 | Konami | 26 years, 1 month |
| 115 | Samurai Shodown | Samurai Shodown July 7, 1993 | Samurai Shodown June 25, 2019 | SNK | 25 years, 11 months |
| 116 | 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 |
| 117 | Atelier | Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg May 23, 1997 | Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key March 23, 2023 | Koei Tecmo | 25 years, 10 months |
| 118 | Beatmania | Beatmania December 10, 1997 | Beatmania IIDX 31: EPOLIS October 18, 2023 | Konami | 25 years, 10 months |
| 119 | Tales | Tales of Phantasia December 15, 1995 | Tales of Luminaria November 3, 2021 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | 25 years, 10 months |
| 120 | 5-Star General | Panzer General 1994 | Fantasy General II: Invasion September 5, 2019 | Slitherine Software | 25 years, 8 months |
| 121 | 194X | 1942 November 30, 1984 | 1942: First Strike July 1, 2010 | Capcom | 25 years, 7 months |
| 122 | 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 |
| 123 | Postal | Postal September 24, 1997 | POOSTALL Royale April 1, 2023 | Running with Scissors | 25 years, 6 months |
| 124 | Test Drive | Test Drive 1987 | Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends July 3, 2012 | Atari | 25 years, 6 months |
| 125 | Ganbare Goemon | Mr. Goemon May 1986 | Ganbare Goemon Pachisuro 2 September 2011 | Konami | 25 years, 4 months |
| 126 | Metal Slug | Metal Slug April 19, 1996 | Metal Slug: Commander August 19, 2021 | SNK | 25 years, 4 months |
| 127 | Warriors | Dynasty Warriors February 28, 1997 | Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes June 24, 2022 | Koei Tecmo | 25 years, 3 months |
| 128 | Emergency | Emergency: Fighters for Life June 5, 1998 | Emergency August 15, 2023 | Embracer Group | 25 years, 2 months |
| 129 | SimCity | SimCity October 3, 1989 | SimCity BuildIt December 15, 2014 | Electronic Arts | 25 years, 2 months |
| 130 | Worms | Worms November 17, 1995 | Worms Rumble December 1, 2020 | Team17 | 25 years |
Notes edit
- ^ 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.