When it comes to video games, 2023 is set to be a year of absolutely massive sequels headlined by the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. With big expectations to live up to, it remains to be seen if they can deliver on their promise.
However, there are some series that it wouldn't be smart to bet against, and The Legend of Zelda can be considered one of those. Some video game series like God of War and The Witcher are still yet to produce a bad entry despite their long life spans. These series have been quietly producing quality title after quality title and their consistency deserves to be recognized
Doom (1993-Present)
With a 30th anniversary this year, it seems almost a certainty that Doom must have had at least one bad main series entry to tarnish its record for producing incredible demon-busting action but that simply isn't the case. Some mediocre ports including Doom 64 hold it back from having a completely golden record, but every major entry has been a worthwhile addition.
Doom and Doom 2: Hell on Earth remain genre-defining classics whilst Doom 3 and Doom (2016) both came out of nowhere to surprise everyone by being immensely fun and technically excellent FPS games. Doom Eternal took up the baton in style in 2020, developing on the gameplay of its predecessor in style.
Persona (1996-Present)
Turn-based RPGs can be a tricky business as they're expected to evolve with each entry the same as any other game whilst utilizing a core gameplay mechanic that has hardly changed across the span of decades. Some series, like Final Fantasy, got rid of it entirely but Persona instead focused on turning up the style and telling great stories.
Ever since Revelations: Persona was first released as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, every main series Persona game has developed its compelling formula of mixing social simulation with dark supernatural action, with Persona 5 considered one of the greatest modern RPGs. Bad ports and a notorious localization are the closest the series has gotten to ending its good run.
God Of War (2005-Present)
Just like its iconic god-slayer protagonist Kratos, the God of War franchise is a force to be reckoned with. Though there are clear signs of age when replaying the original God of War trilogy now, their non-stop hack-and-slash action and unforgettable epic moments mean they still deserve their place as one of PlayStation's iconic series.
God of War: Ascension might be the closest the series has come to a dud, receiving merely favorable reviews as a result of its failure to expand on what made the earlier titles great. However, God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök have brought the series back to where it belongs, at the top of the gaming world.
Animal Crossing (2001-Present)
Although the fundamental premise of Animal Crossing has never changed since the series first began in the early 2000s and the games are still all about cute, gentle social simulation, that's worked out to its advantage. Even over two decades since the first game was originally released, there's still nothing quite like Animal Crossing.
Whether it's Wild World, New Leaf, or New Horizons, the subsequent games have offered a ton of reasons to get absorbed in their anthropomorphic animal-filled worlds and spend lots of time there. If there's one weak link to the series, it's Animal Crossing: City Folk and that's simply because it was too similar to its charming predecessors.
Super Smash Bros. (1999-Present)
A crossover series featuring iconic Nintendo characters seems like something that should have been nothing more than a passing novelty, so it's amazing to think that the series is nearing 25 years old and still represents one of the best fighting games out there. Arguably, the series got off to an unspectacular start but Super Smash Bros. Melee announced that the series was here to stay.
Arcade-like combat with a focus on multiplayer fun might not have endless potential for expansion but Super Smash Bros. stayed relevant by expanding its roster and polishing the gameplay to a ridiculous extent. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is just the latest title in the series to be met with universal acclaim. With no plans for a sequel, the series' untarnished record is set to remain that way.
Dark Souls (2011-2018)
Spanning less than a decade and having just three mainline entries means Dark Souls' consistent quality perhaps isn't as impressive as other, more expansive video game series, but it still deserves a ton of credit. FromSoftware discovered the formula for incredible action RPG games with Demon Souls and they put that knowledge to work when crafting Dark Souls.
The difficult but deep combat and sparse storytelling that distinguished the first Dark Souls won over countless fans and would go on to define the series. Dark Souls 2 managed to be better than its predecessor in every single way before Dark Souls 3 provided the perfect conclusion to the trilogy.
Donkey Kong Country (1994-2018)
Like Mario himself, the Donkey Kong franchise has produced far too many titles since the character first came into existence in the early 1980s for there not to be some questionable entries. Luckily, the Donkey Kong Country series within the franchise has provided a level of quality and consistency that's truly impressive.
Innovative and full of that classic Donkey Kong charm, the original Donkey Kong Country for SNES still holds up today and its sequels Diddy's Kong Quest and Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! are tons of fun as well. That could have been all if not for Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze appearing in the 2010s to extend the series' perfect run.
Metal Gear (1987-Present)
Pioneering stealth games as well as helping to establish games as narrative experiences to rival movies and television, Metal Gear has been a special series ever since it was first created by Hideo Kojima in the late 80s. The early games had their issues and haven't aged perfectly, but they're still impressive efforts.
Whether considered alone or as a part of the Metal Gear series as a whole, the Metal Gear Solid games have been even more consistently lauded by critics. Not all the spin-offs were hits, but every main series title had something to offer, with Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain continuing the trend. With Kojima departing, it remains to be seen if the series can continue its clean record.
The Witcher (2007-Present)
With only three main series titles, it would be possible to dismiss any other game series as a fluke for not yet having any poor entries, but it's obvious to anyone who knows The Witcher series that that's not the case. That's partly because the first The Witcher game was also the first game CD Projekt Red had ever developed themselves.
Whilst the first action RPG title was a modest success, The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings proved a massive upgrade in terms of ambition and execution. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt continued the upward trend, proving to be one of the best western RPGs of the decade. Even spin-offs such as a Gwent card game confirmed CD Projekt Red just has the golden touch when it comes to The Witcher.
The Legend Of Zelda (1986-Present)
Perhaps the longest-running series to never have produced a bad mainline game, The Legend of Zelda has an unmatched record. From the first title, which proved what grand immersive adventures the NES was capable of, to Breath of the Wild, which many consider the best Zelda game ever, the series has produced hit after hit.
Even though the style, tone, and even the number of dimensions have changed since the first game, Nintendo has found a way to create unforgettable adventures with thrilling combat and interesting dungeons. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is perhaps the one point of contention in the history of mainline Zelda games but, whilst it's a weak entry in the series with some major issues, it's not an inherently bad game.
Source:gamerant.com