With the large amounts of video games releasing today, both from indie developers and AAA studios, not every game is destined to be a hit. Bad timing, underbaked mechanics, or unfulfilled promises can all result in a forgotten series.
Reboots have become more common recently, bringing older titles to modern audiences with some tweaks and innovations to hold its own. This is usually done for more big-budget titles like Call of Duty, but underrated franchises that never got a large following would benefit greatly from this. Ranging from cult classics to more modern titles, here are 10 underrated franchises that need a reboot.
10 Destroy All Humans
Sandbox titles focused on causing as much chaos as possible are seldom these days. The only games that fulfill that fantasy are Just Cause and Grand Theft Auto, although the latter is more focused on satire.
Meet Destroy All Humans, a game that revolves around controlling an alien and blowing everything to smithereens. Buildings, people, cows, nothing is safe from Crypto. There is a story in each game, but it takes a backseat compared to the ludicrous amounts of fun the game lets you have. You can fling humans to walls, blow up skyscrapers, and use your flying saucer to take out armies of soldiers. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, which helps with the fun factor. There is a remake for the original title that should release this year, so hopefully, that will generate enough interest to get this series back on people’s radars.
9 TimeSplitters
Many praise Goldeneye and Perfect Dark for their superb gunplay back on the N64 and older consoles. What many don’t know, though, is that many of those developers went on to create a spiritual successor to those titles called TimeSplitters.
TimeSplitters is a light-hearted FPS title that revolves around time travel and the results that can have on the past, present, and future. While the story frequently makes jokes and pokes fun at itself, the gunplay is incredibly tight and hearkens back to an older generation of shooters in a good way. Superb multiplayer kept players engaged for hundreds of hours after the campaign was over, and the in-depth map editor made every multiplayer game different from the last. With the recent trend of remaking older classics, there is no reason TimeSplitters shouldn’t get a reboot.
8 Banjo-Kazooie
Nintendo revolutionized the platforming genre with every entry in the Super Mario series, either adding innovative features or refining mechanics. Rare had their own platformer called Banjo-Kazooie that was equally as impressive to play.
Players took the role of Banjo with his bird friend Kazooie. Together, you venture out to stop the evil plans of Gruntilda, an evil witch who only wants to benefit herself. Jigsaw pieces and musical notes are needed to progress to new zones, encouraging exploration and interacting with the game’s charming characters. The latest entry in the series was a vehicle-building title rather than a platformer, resulting in many fans disliking the departure.
7 Dawn of War
Dawn of War has been a staple RTS title for Relic Entertainment, combining the epic spectacle of the Warhammer 40K universe with strategic gameplay.
A third title was created as recent as 2017, but that title pulled away from the massive battles of the first and the tactical gameplay of the second, resulting in no fans being satisfied. As far as most are concerned, the last true Dawn of War title was the second game, with its last expansion releasing in 2011. Few RTS titles could combine epic spectacle with casual RTS gameplay the way Relic did with Dawn of War.
6 Mirror’s Edge
EA DICE managed to take fast-paced platforming and apply it to a first-person perspective, something many thought was impossible. Few games can make running on walls as engaging as Mirror’s Edge.
The city the player runs through is mostly white, matching with the dizzying heights the player runs through. Red ramps and pipes guide the player on what is interactive. The actual fighting in this game is rather dull, but it is so infrequent it never harms the experience of running through skyscrapers like a pro. Its sequel, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst didn’t improve in the areas the original struggled with, resulting in mixed critical reviews.
5 Fable
Many remember the promises that Peter Molyneux gave for this game. You could plant an acorn in the ground and see it grow into a tree was one infamous example that was just missing from the game.
Despite the lacking features the developers promised, Fable managed to carve its own fanbase thanks to its unique sense of style and humor. Combat was engaging, letting players choose between a mage, fighter, or ranged playstyle. If this series got a second chance and had the ability to implement all of its promised features, it would be one of the most highly praised RPGs of this decade.
4 Gothic
Most gamers will know of The Witcher series after its fantastic third title, but few ever mention the more obscure German RPG series titled Gothic.
Gothic is unique because it treats the world like a realistic place with magic and large threats. Most NPCs look out for themselves and the combat in this game is brutality incarnate. There is a charm to this game, however, that sets it apart from the likes of Skyrim or The Witcher. When you grow more powerful in this game, it feels earned. It encourages you to think outside of the box to exploit NPCs and finish quests. It never received a large following, however, something a reboot could help fix.
3 Dead Space
Dead Space is arguably the real Resident Evil 5. It takes many queues from Resident Evil 4 while incorporating its own innovative ideas and setting.
Players work on a space ship that has gone dark. People are missing and something feels amiss. You quickly realize that terrifying monsters roam the empty halls of the Ishimura space ship. The player character is prey for this entire game. Enemies crawl out of vents in dim lighting while all you have are a few shots of your pistol and the character’s spine to diagnose your health. It was brilliant for the time and still holds up, but it is an IP EA has sadly put on ice.
2 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Most people know this game because of the financial disaster the development studio went through. Taking that aside, there is a genuinely good aRPG in here.
Compared to the likes of Oblivion, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning focused on making engaging combat with incredibly flexible character customization. This game did flexible classes before Skyrim did. The setting had great care put into it, but it is such a shame this series never took off or got a sequel.
1 Driver: San Francisco
It is hard to talk about Driver: San Franciso without mentioning how hard it is to obtain. This incredible driving game from Ubisoft can only be obtained through sketchy grey-market websites or through pirating a copy.
In fact, it is one of the most pirated games Ubisoft has ever created. Why? Because you can’t buy it legally anywhere. It’s missing on Steam, GOG, and even Ubisoft’s own UPlay store. It receives that attention for good reason, though. This game allowed players to control any vehicle on the road, allowing for some creative puzzles and narrative elements no other driving game has since attempted. It is also the only video game to attempt a second-person perspective for a level. This game was truly innovative and creative, which makes it even worse that you can’t legally purchase it anymore.
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