Video games are well known for having long lifetimes. Whether it is through remakes, remasters, sequels, reboots, etc., some game stories do not know when to end or take a break. In some cases, this isn’t so bad because we are given a long enough time between entries to want to come back. That is not the case with the following titles, which continually release, and at this point, we need a break.
Assassins Creed
Assassins Creed is one of the most notorious game series that had fans worn out. While the games may be going to a permanent every other year release schedule, for much too long, they released EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. This led to an increase in bugs and glitches and a decrease in overall player engagement. Games like Origins, Odyssey, and the upcoming Valhalla entry have breathed new life into the series, but Ubisoft should be careful not too overdue it again and burn out their fans.
Pokémon
Pokémon is the highest-earning intellectual property ever, so it makes sense that the Pokémon Company would continuously release new games for the series. In the last few years alone, we have seen games ranging from the traditional series to a newly announced MOBA and even games that focus on your sleeping and teeth brushing. With Sword and Shield releasing and getting expansions, Pokémon Snap coming back, Pokémon Go still running strong and Let’s Go being a new way for them to remake older games, how long before we are completely tired of Pokémon?
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is unquestionably one of the most popular game series in the world still. Every single year in the past decade that a new Rockstar game isn’t released, Call of Duty was the highest selling game. While Modern Warfare changed the first-person shooter genre forever, some are rightfully burned out on the series after playing very similar games year after year, even when the developers try new things. With Activision earning millions of dollars every year on the games, do not expect it to take any time off.
Sports games
Every year there are new releases focused on professional sports. This includes baseball, basketball, football, hockey, wrestling, and it looks like golf is trying to get back into the swing of things. The problem is, most of these games are developed by the same team every single year, and the most significant changes end up being roster updates more often than not. Of course, they sell well, but we would like to see a sports franchise take on a game as a service approach where you get the roster update each year until the developer is ready to put out a game that significantly improves on what came before.
2D Mario games
When the Nintendo 64 released, 2D Mario games went on hiatus primarily until the New Super Mario Bros series released on the Nintendo DS and Wii. This started a string of continual games in the series, and frankly, we are ready for something new from Mario now. With Super Mario Maker 2 essentially letting you make your own 2D Mario game now, we hope the Italian plumber starts getting more 3D titles on the Nintendo Switch.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda has released Skyrim so many times since its initial launch in 2011 that the game is a meme now. PC, PS3, PS4, virtual reality, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and even Alexa smart assistants have access to the game. It is one of the most recognized games of the last decade and is very deserving, but let’s say we are ready for the sixth game in the series to release before we get another version on next-gen consoles.
Burnout Paradise
Burnout is a series well-beloved from the early 2000s as an arcade racer built on making your opponents crash. For some reason, though, EA has a fascination with releasing the last entry again and again. Burnout Paradise is a fine game, but it does not reach the same magic that games like Burnout 3: Takedown and Burnout Revenge had. While the fans beg and plead for a remake or remaster of one of those games, EA releases Paradise again for full price on the Nintendo Switch, even though you can get it for as low as $10 when on sale on other platforms. Either bring back the games we love or put out a new game altogether. Just stop giving us Paradise.
