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The Most and Least Consistently Great Video Game Franchises

Let’s face it, every video game franchise has its ups and downs. No matter how good one installment might be, the next one always runs the risk of tanking the…

Video Games
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Let's face it, every video game franchise has its ups and downs. No matter how good one installment might be, the next one always runs the risk of tanking the series. Thanks to Money.co.uk we now can know the most and least consistently great video game franchises of all time.

And no franchise is infallible: while all of the series on this list is huge, blockbuster names with tons of brand recognition, they've each had their missteps. For all their stature, monetary backing, and professional vetting, even they have churned out some not-so-great games. But which video game franchises can be crowned the most consistently great?

You know what I am talking about, the video games that deliver a great play every single time and you can't put them down.  And how about those inconsistent series where gamers aren't too sure how good (or bad) the next installment might be? A new report by Money.co.uk has taken a deep dive into game ratings to reveal the most and least consistent video game franchises and the best and worst games in each.

The best & worst games in our favorite video game franchises… 

When we analyze the average ratings of each of the games in the most popular franchises, which come out as the best and worst in each, and which game franchises have divided gamers the most between games in the series? The lower the rating gap, the more consistently great the series is. The higher the rating gap, the more inconsistent the series is.

FranchiseHighest Rated GameLowest Rated GameRatings Gap
DiabloDiablo (94%)Diablo III (88%)6%
PokémonPokémon Gold & Silver (89%)Pokémon Sword & Shield (80%)9%
Far CryFar Cry 3 (91%)Far Cry 5 (82%)9%
Donkey KongDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (90%)Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (80%)10%
HaloHalo: Combat Evolved (97%)Halo 5: Guardians (84%)13%
God of WarGod of War (2005) (94%)God of War: Ascension (80%)14%
Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros. Brawl (93%)Super Smash Bros. (79%)14%
Metal GearMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (96%)Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (80%)16%
Call of DutyCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (94%)Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (77%)17%
Animal CrossingAnimal Crossing: New Horizons (90%)Animal Crossing: City Folk (73%)17%
Mario PartyMario Party (79%)Mario Party 8 (62%)17%
BattlefieldBattlefield 2 (91%)Battlefield Hardline (73%)18%
Super MarioSuper Mario Odyssey (97%)Super Mario Run (78%)19%
Mario KartSuper Mario Kart (94%)Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (75%)19%
Gran TurismoGran Turismo (96%)Gran Turismo Sport (75%)21%
TekkenTekken 3 (96%)Tekken (75%)21%
Resident EvilResident Evil 4 (96%)Resident Evil 6 (74%)22%
The SimsThe Sims (92%)The Sims 4 (70%)22%
Monster HunterMonster Hunter: World (90%)Monster Hunter (68%)22%
The Legend of ZeldaThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (98%)The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (72%)26%
Grand Theft AutoGrand Theft Auto IV (98%)Grand Theft Auto II (70%)28%
Tomb RaiderRise of the Tomb Raider (88%)Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (52%)36%
Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog 3 (89%)Sonic the Hedgehog [2006] (46%)43%
Final FantasyFinal Fantasy IX (94%)Final Fantasy XIV (49%)45%

The lower the rating gap, the more consistent the franchise. Pretty simple if you ask me. So, these are the ones that deliver an awesome game every single installment. Here are the video game franchises that are the most inconsistent when it comes to gamer enjoyment:

  • Final Fantasy
  • Sonic The Hedgehog
  • Tomb Raider
  • Grand Theft Auto
  • The Legend of Zelda

These are the game franchises that have seen the highest ratings gap between the highest and lowest-rated installments. Here are the video game franchises that consistently deliver:

  • Diablo
  • Pokémon
  • Far Cry
  • Donkey Kong
  • Halo

These are the game franchises that have seen the lowest ratings gap between the highest and lowest-rated installments. When we deep dive into the ratings, the research can proudly reveal the highest-rated video game franchises of all time to be:

RankFranchiseAverage Critic Score
1Halo91%
1Metal Gear91%
1God of War91%
4Grand Theft Auto90%
4Super Smash Bros.90%
4Diablo90%
7The Legend of Zelda89%
8Super Mario88%
8Gran Turismo88%
10Mario Kart87%
10Resident Evil87%
12Pokémon86%
12Donkey Kong86%
12Far Cry86%
15Call of Duty85%
15The Sims85%
15Animal Crossing85%
15Battlefield85%
19Final Fantasy84%
19Tekken84%
Alexis Zarycki is your average girl with the hopes of leaving an everlasting impact on the world. Follow her on Instagram @official_lexpaige