Popular Video Game Series I’ve Never Played

Though I am someone who has played hundreds of video games in my lifetime, I have rarely checked out a title that was trending.  I have been very selective on what I purchase and I typically only go for games that intrigue me in some way.

Lately, I have had many conversations with other avid gamers who are shocked to learn I’ve never played a certain game – or a certain franchise for that matter.  Below is my list of ten popular video game series I’ve never personally delved into.

1)  Legend of Zelda – Easily the longest-running series on this list, Legend of Zelda got its start alll the way back in the 1980s.  It is a franchise that should be right up my alley with its fantasy setting, intriguing storylines, and loads of monsters to fight.  But for whatever reason, I never delved into any one of the installments in the series.  Out of all the games that made the list, Legend of Zelda would definitely be my first choice for a franchise to check out.

2)  Halo – A sci-fi adventure series that focuses on an interstellar war between humans and aliens, Halo is a franchise that I could easily have gotten into.  Sadly, the closest I’ve gotten to playing the actual games is an animated fan-made series called Red vs. Blue made popular on YouTube.  Though Red vs. Blue has little connection to Halo’s storyline, the former series has made me curious to discover what the games are all about.

3) Assassin’s Creed – As far as video games go, Assassin’s Creed has one of the most unique premises.  The franchise generally centers around a modern-day protagonist who uses an advanced form of virtual reality to assume the identity of one of his ancestors in different periods of history.  Each of the games in the series allows you to step into the shoes of an assassin who accepts contracts to take out certain people, interacts with real-life historical figures, and must solve a mystery lost to the ravages of time.  I’ve played games that are somewhat similar to Assassin’s Creed, and it is a series that I can definitely see myself giving a try.

4)  Doom – A first-person shooter franchise that debuted in the 1990s, Doom is a series I give props to for an innovative concept.  The original game in the franchise essentially saw colonists on Mars inadvertently open a portal to hell.  It was left to an unnamed space marine – subsequently coined as Doomguy by fans – to combat the demonic creatures that overtook the colony.  The closest I’ve gotten to playing Doom was when I delved into a separate game called Spear of Destiny that utilized the same interface.  But maybe someday…

5)  Silent Hill – An eerie video game series with a heavy emphasis on psychological horror, Silent Hill is one of those games where the player must rely more on stealth or running away instead of combat.  I don’t know how eager I am to explore a nightmarish world populated by truly-original freakish monsters, but it is a franchise I may eventually give a shot.

6)  Street Fighter – A fighting game series that dates back to 1987, Street Fighter is perhaps the most surprising franchise that I never got into.  I’m no stranger to fighting games, and I’ve played my share of a similar series, Mortal Kombat.  I’ve also delved into many games or movies featuring characters from Street Fighter, such as Super Puzzle Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Wreck-It Ralph.  It may be time I stop skating along the edges and actually give the parent series a try.

7)  World of Warcraft – One of the most popular online multiplayer game series out there, World of Warcraft is a franchise that consistently keeps coming out with new content.  I’ve never been a big fan of online gameplay, though I have delved into it.  I’ve dabbled in Everquest, but could never get into it enough to keep at it long-term.  And I’ve had some bad experiences with a large group of gamers on a lesser known online multiplayer game called Batheo.  But that doesn’t mean I won’t change my mind and check out the fantasy setting of World of Warcraft.

8)  Pokemon – Pokemon is a video game series that I might not have gotten into because it was all the rage back when it first started.  It didn’t help that I used to work in a video rental store where I had kids asking for a Pokemon game or film on a daily basis.  I feel that hearing about something too much is a good way to make you detest that particular thing.  I’ve since had an ample amount of time to distance myself from the phenomenon, and I’ve started to look at the Pokemon games as something I might be interested in.

9)  Tomb Raider – An adventure series with a self-explanatory title, Tomb Raider chronicles the story of archaeologist Lara Croft as she explores ancient ruins in search of treasure.  I can’t say why I never gave any of the Tomb Raider games a chance, but I do feel it is a premise I could sink my teeth into.

10) Five Nights at Freddy’s – Five Nights at Freddy’s is a survival horror franchise that debuted in 2014, but already has six games to its name.  Of all the series that made the list, the popularity of Five Nights at Freddy’s puzzles me the most.  I don’t see much variation between any of the installments of the series – no matter which one you start with, you’re basically playing all the games in one sitting.  Five Nights at Freddy’s may be an overrated series where you’re trying to elude living killer human-sized animatronics, but it is also one that I may check out just to say I tried it.

For someone who loves video games, it is surprising that I’ve never played some of the most popular or acclaimed franchises out there.  Each of the series on this list has such a big fanbase that it may be time for me to see what the hype is all about.   And who knows – I might just find a new favorite or two.