Now that the video game industry has been around for years,there’s been enough time for multiple iconic franchises to emerge.
From series that began in the ’80s and continue to be relevant to more modern IPs that have established a name for themselves in the medium, there are many names I could mention when talking about the biggest video games.
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Time to go, pops.
However,many of these long-running worlds haven’t been able to garner the attention they deserve.Despite being quite outstanding, they lack a fan base proportional to their quality, which feels unfair to those of us who know the grandeur of their releases.
Therefore, in the interest of showing love to these series that I believe deserve a larger community, these arethe ten most underrated long-running game franchises.
Video game franchises that are at least 15 years old will be considered.
10Sniper: Ghost Warrior
Long Live Stealth
First installment
Sniper: Art of Victory (2008)
Latest installment
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (2021)
While I wouldn’t go so far as to say theSniper: Ghost Warriorseries is one of the best in the genre, especially knowing several of its installments are bordering on mediocre,I do admit it vividly reminds me why I love stealth.
For those of us who like to lurk in the shadows and take down entire armies undetected, we have few alternatives in modern video games, which is whythis IP fills a gap that gives it additional value.
There are many areas where it languishes, such as its plot or animations, but the enjoyment of becoming a meticulous sniper who has to calculate his shots, take care of his position, and make plans on the fly is incredible.
I understand it won’t be to everyone’s liking, including stealth fans, because it can be insubstantial, butSniper: Ghost Warriorfulfills a role within the genre that deserves to be more appreciated.
9Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon
Ubisoft at Its Best
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (2001)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint (2019)
I think it’s pretty clear I like the stealth genre, which is why I fully considerTom Clancy’s Ghost Reconto beUbisoft’s most underrated franchise, perhaps by far.
Regarding the design of multidimensional levels that require the use of tactics and special gadgets to navigate instead of brute force,I genuinely believe the French studio displays a unique side we don’t always get the chance to see.
The plots are still as bland and clichéd as one might expect, but in terms of gameplay, they’re creative works that every stealth fan I know, including colleagues, has truly loved from the beginning.
Although its last couple of installments haven’t generated as much devotion from me as its past iterations,Ghost Reconis still a benchmark for tactical infiltrationand will remain so regardless ofwhat happens to the IP in the future.
8Samurai Warriors
The Glory of the Musou Genre
Samurai Warriors (2004)
Samurai Warriors 5 (2021)
I’m fortunate enough to have had numerous friends and coworkers over the years, but not fortunate enough to meet people who truly appreciate the musou-type of games.
While I preferSamurai Warriorsas it was my introduction to the genre, this series,Warriors Orochi,andDynasty Warriorsoffer massive amounts of fun for fans of unbridled action.
The opportunity to literally destroy entire armies with hundreds of characters in a historical context as vast and interesting as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is an incredible premise, better executed even.
Decades have passed, and at this point, I’ve given up on the gaming community loving the genre dominated byKoei TecmoandOmega Force, butI will never stop defending them as the highly entertaining titles they are.
7Ninja Gaiden
Many Decades of Magnificent Adventures
Ninja Gaiden (1988)
Ninja Gaiden 4 (2025)
Ninja Gaidenis a franchise that has undergone multiple transformations over time, managing to remain relevant despite the constant advances in the video game industry.
However, mostlyamong younger players, it has been relegated to the background, which I find insulting given its relevance to the hack-and-slash genre.
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Due to its difficulty, combat, andbosses, it’s an experience that really marked me when I was young, especially thanks to its cinematic brutality, which dates back as far as its NES releases and even further since its evolution to 3D in 2004.
While I believe most regular players are familiar withNinja Gaiden, it seems like far fewer have actually dedicated time to playing it, which should be unacceptable given its masterful track record.
Since 2025 is packed with titles from the series, I’m confident more people will learn about it and give the classic titles a chance, becausethey are generational gems in every sense(except forNinja Gaiden 3, which shouldn’t even be named).
6Baldur’s Gate
A Role-Playing Gem Since Always
Baldur’s Gate (1998)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
It may be strange to seeBaldur’s Gateon this list, considering its latest installment won the GOTY Award at TGA and has been on everyone’s lips for a couple of years, butthe franchise as a whole hasn’t had the same impact.
I think all of us who’ve knownLarian Studiossince its work on theDivinityseries knew whatBaldur’s Gate 3could be like under its leadership, but unfortunately, the undeniable quality of its release hasn’t translated into more recognition for the original creations fromBioWareand Black Isle Studios.
Of course, there isn’t a single person who has played the firstBaldur’s Gategames and considers them to be anything but impressive, though the disparity in popularity of these traditional RPGs is too stark compared to other names in the genre.
Undervaluation doesn’t always manifest itself in the same way, and in this case, it comes from the players. Critics have always appreciatedBaldur’s Gate, butthe IP deserves more than just high numbers on Metacritic.
A Classic of Immense Influence
Onimusha: Warlords (2001)
Onimusha: Way of the Sword (2026)
Regarding video games focused on melee combat, I think most underestimate the importance of the magnificentOnimushaseries.
Genres like hack-and-slash and Souls-like find a common thread in the earlyOnimushainstallments, which werean indescribable delight at the turn of the century for those of us who owned a PlayStation 2.
Its way of combining supernatural elements with a historical setting is memorable, especially because it enhances the gameplay notably. Once you’re familiar with it,it feels like you’re starting to see it in basically every modern melee combat game.
For those familiar with the medium, it’s practically impossible to denyOnimusha’simportance. However, many don’t understand the significance ofCapcom’s work, but I always have faith that each new installment will make it known as the marvel it is.
4Alan Wake
The Resurrection of Psychological Thrillers
Alan Wake (2010)
Alan Wake 2 (2023)
It took me over ten years to giveAlan Wakea chance, so I deeply regret not having allowed my younger self to experience this game at launch.
I’ve never been a massive fan of titles more or less directly linked to horror, butAlan Wakechanged my perspective completely,turning it into one of the genres that most fascinates me.
Especially in an era of poor representation, where action-focused titles reigned supreme,Remedy’s work is sensational, giving a new benchmark to this type of work, even more so withits sequel.
Unfortunately, when you look at the sales of both installments, you realizeAlan Wakefalls far short of the appreciation that its wonderful narrative,setting,and characters deserve. Anything fromSam Lakedeserves support, and we still need to gain many more fans to reciprocate his adventures.
The King of Stealth
Thief: The Dark Project (1998)
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (2025)
It tookThiefa couple of seconds to surprise me more than most series I’ve ever played and a couple of installments to prove to me that it’spart of the most underrated franchises in history.
PlayingThief: The Dark ProjectandThief II: The Metal Ageare revelatory experiences that leave you perplexed after each new level, whose design and mechanics are so creative and ahead of their time that it’s genuinely impressive.
While the third and fourth installments didn’t quite live up to the level of the first adventures, they’re still superb stealth games thathave helped to shape many modern franchises, but the IP has never moved beyond the genre’s small niche.
Its shifting into virtual reality may be a boon to the franchise’s popularity, but even with mainstream appreciation, I thinkit would take years to truly positionThiefwhere it belongs:among the greats.
The Best Post-Apocalyptic Universe
Metro 2033 (2010)
Metro Awakening (2024)
Metromay easily be the best post-apocalyptic series in the history of video games, and that’s saying something considering franchises likeFallout,STALKER, andThe Last of Usalready exist.
While it may sound like over-hyping, the truth is that4A Games' creation offersone of the century’s most immersive and engaging experiences, performing a blend of story, setting, and gameplay that very few have achieved.
All of its main releases are worthy candidates for the best of each year, and the fact thatthey’ve rarely received large-scale awardsis a crystal-clear demonstration that we haven’t given them a reception commensurate with the experience they offer.
AlthoughMetro Exoduscontributed wonderfully to expanding the IP’s reach, very little is said about the series, consideringit’s a brilliant companion to Dmitry Glukhovsky’s books.
1Darksiders
One of the Greats of Hack and Slash
Darksiders (2010)
Darksiders Genesis (2019)
When it comes to the relationship between popularity and quality, I think no franchise offers such unequal values asDarksiders,one of the greats of the hack-and-slash genre.
Neither critically nor with players has the series been able to penetrate deeply into the video game industry, even though it’sthe most creative and profound adaptation of Christian mythology.
With its wonderful combination of gameplay genres, its unified story spanning multiple installments, tremendous apocalyptic settings, and amazing bosses, it has nothing to envy of other names likeGod of WarorDevil May Cry.
Of course,Darksiderslacks the influence of such large IPs, but what it lacks in impact, it makes up for with quality and numerous adventures that fully exploit the virtues of the gameplay styles to which it belongs.
While the final installment is yet to be released, which will fully seal a fascinating story that has been told for more than a decade, I still anticipateDarksiderswill be properly recognized. It will take time, but once the entire puzzle is complete, I’m confident it will be recognized as the iconic universe it is.
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