Top 10 Video Game Franchises That Changed Genres

video games aren’t ever transforming an

video games aren’t ever transforming an evolving landscape and the franchises

evolving landscape and the franchises

evolving landscape and the franchises adapted right alongside their industry

adapted right alongside their industry

adapted right alongside their industry welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten franchises and video games that

franchises and video games that

franchises and video games that successfully changed genres before we

successfully changed genres before we

successfully changed genres before we begin we publish new videos every day so

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be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at the best examples of video games that

the best examples of video games that

the best examples of video games that succeeded in making significant changes

succeeded in making significant changes

succeeded in making significant changes in their formula games that essentially

in their formula games that essentially

in their formula games that essentially became whole new experiences whether it

became whole new experiences whether it

became whole new experiences whether it was a perspective shift that completely

was a perspective shift that completely

was a perspective shift that completely changed how the game was played or jump

changed how the game was played or jump

changed how the game was played or jump to a completely different genre these

to a completely different genre these

to a completely different genre these are the franchises that managed to excel

are the franchises that managed to excel

are the franchises that managed to excel in unfamiliar territory however we will

in unfamiliar territory however we will

in unfamiliar territory however we will be ruling out games like breadth of the

be ruling out games like breadth of the

be ruling out games like breadth of the wilds that did bend their genre but

wilds that did bend their genre but

wilds that did bend their genre but didn’t quite change completely number 10

didn’t quite change completely number 10

didn’t quite change completely number 10 Baldur’s Gate series traditional RPGs to

Baldur’s Gate series traditional RPGs to

Baldur’s Gate series traditional RPGs to hack and flash halt who goes there

hack and flash halt who goes there

hack and flash halt who goes there still considered to be one of the

still considered to be one of the

still considered to be one of the pillars of modern role-playing games the

pillars of modern role-playing games the

pillars of modern role-playing games the bounders gate series is based on the

bounders gate series is based on the

bounders gate series is based on the Dungeons & Dragons universe with

Dungeons & Dragons universe with

Dungeons & Dragons universe with mechanics that directly translate into

mechanics that directly translate into

mechanics that directly translate into pen-and-paper rules into a video game

pen-and-paper rules into a video game

pen-and-paper rules into a video game while there have been dozens of D&D

while there have been dozens of D&D

while there have been dozens of D&D based games throughout the decades

based games throughout the decades

based games throughout the decades recognition baldur’s gate received

recognition baldur’s gate received

recognition baldur’s gate received earned in a console spin up at founders

earned in a console spin up at founders

earned in a console spin up at founders gate Dark Alliance what do you want I

gate Dark Alliance what do you want I

gate Dark Alliance what do you want I got no qualms despair going from

got no qualms despair going from

got no qualms despair going from hardcore RPG to a more console friendly

hardcore RPG to a more console friendly

hardcore RPG to a more console friendly hack and slash RPG was a risky move but

hack and slash RPG was a risky move but

hack and slash RPG was a risky move but it paid off as Dark Alliance was a much

it paid off as Dark Alliance was a much

it paid off as Dark Alliance was a much more deep and complex than any of its

more deep and complex than any of its

more deep and complex than any of its other RPG competitors on the console

other RPG competitors on the console

other RPG competitors on the console maintaining the spirit of the franchise

maintaining the spirit of the franchise

maintaining the spirit of the franchise welcome friend so you cut them in nasty

welcome friend so you cut them in nasty

welcome friend so you cut them in nasty bump on the head you’ve got their number

bump on the head you’ve got their number

bump on the head you’ve got their number 9 Resident Evil series survival horror

9 Resident Evil series survival horror

9 Resident Evil series survival horror to action and back to survival horror

as important to the fear factor as the

as important to the fear factor as the atmosphere itself the series of gameplay

atmosphere itself the series of gameplay

atmosphere itself the series of gameplay in the original few games relied on a

in the original few games relied on a

in the original few games relied on a slow pace with a small amount of tough

slow pace with a small amount of tough

slow pace with a small amount of tough enemies and limited ammo with just a few

enemies and limited ammo with just a few

enemies and limited ammo with just a few seemingly superficial tweaks to the

seemingly superficial tweaks to the

seemingly superficial tweaks to the formula namely camera angle and controls

formula namely camera angle and controls

formula namely camera angle and controls Resident Evil 4 transformed into an

Resident Evil 4 transformed into an

Resident Evil 4 transformed into an entirely new Resident Evil game and for

entirely new Resident Evil game and for

entirely new Resident Evil game and for better or for worse brought the games

better or for worse brought the games

better or for worse brought the games from horror to action Wow re 4 is

from horror to action Wow re 4 is

from horror to action Wow re 4 is indisputably a fantastic game later

indisputably a fantastic game later

indisputably a fantastic game later games in the series most notoriously

games in the series most notoriously

games in the series most notoriously Resident Evil 6 and umbrella core a

Resident Evil 6 and umbrella core a

Resident Evil 6 and umbrella core a flat-out ban still the franchise has

flat-out ban still the franchise has

flat-out ban still the franchise has been able to remember where it came from

been able to remember where it came from

been able to remember where it came from and Resident Evil 7 return to the series

and Resident Evil 7 return to the series

and Resident Evil 7 return to the series to it through number 8 police quest

to it through number 8 police quest

to it through number 8 police quest series aka SWAT series adventure game 2

series aka SWAT series adventure game 2

series aka SWAT series adventure game 2 tactical shooter Beck has been

tactical shooter Beck has been

tactical shooter Beck has been neutralized the police quest series

neutralized the police quest series

neutralized the police quest series began in the 1980s with the

began in the 1980s with the

began in the 1980s with the point-and-click adventure game police

point-and-click adventure game police

point-and-click adventure game police quest in pursuit of the death angel

quest in pursuit of the death angel

quest in pursuit of the death angel during the early to mid 90s key venture

during the early to mid 90s key venture

during the early to mid 90s key venture games were one of the first casualties

games were one of the first casualties

games were one of the first casualties of technology as publishers began to

of technology as publishers began to

of technology as publishers began to push more realistic graphics jumping on

push more realistic graphics jumping on

push more realistic graphics jumping on the bandwagon police quest open season

the bandwagon police quest open season

the bandwagon police quest open season and police quest SWAT teams the series

and police quest SWAT teams the series

and police quest SWAT teams the series into a full motion video games

into a full motion video games

into a full motion video games [Music]

thankfully the subtitle SWAT inspired

thankfully the subtitle SWAT inspired publisher Ciara

publisher Ciara

publisher Ciara to spin-off the franchise into Rainbow

to spin-off the franchise into Rainbow

to spin-off the franchise into Rainbow six style tactical first-person shooters

six style tactical first-person shooters

six style tactical first-person shooters with the first team in the new series

with the first team in the new series

with the first team in the new series SWAT 3 close quarters battle while never

SWAT 3 close quarters battle while never

SWAT 3 close quarters battle while never hitting the popularity of Tom Clancy’s

hitting the popularity of Tom Clancy’s

hitting the popularity of Tom Clancy’s branded competitor the SWAT games were

branded competitor the SWAT games were

branded competitor the SWAT games were nonetheless standout shooters in their

nonetheless standout shooters in their

nonetheless standout shooters in their own right go go go red go blue number

own right go go go red go blue number

own right go go go red go blue number seven dynasty Warriors series fighting

seven dynasty Warriors series fighting

seven dynasty Warriors series fighting game to hack a flash at first it sounds

game to hack a flash at first it sounds

game to hack a flash at first it sounds surprising the dynasty warriors began in

surprising the dynasty warriors began in

surprising the dynasty warriors began in the fighting game series but when you

the fighting game series but when you

the fighting game series but when you stop to think about it going from

stop to think about it going from

stop to think about it going from fighting game to hack and slash isn’t

fighting game to hack and slash isn’t

fighting game to hack and slash isn’t that much of a leap now of course when

that much of a leap now of course when

that much of a leap now of course when gamers think of dynasty warriors they

gamers think of dynasty warriors they

gamers think of dynasty warriors they think of it as a franchise that keeps

think of it as a franchise that keeps

think of it as a franchise that keeps raising the bar when it comes to fast

raising the bar when it comes to fast

raising the bar when it comes to fast paced action adventures

paced action adventures

paced action adventures [Applause]

and that are almost as dozen

and that are almost as dozen hack-and-slash games within this series

hack-and-slash games within this series

hack-and-slash games within this series but go back to the playstation 1 and

but go back to the playstation 1 and

but go back to the playstation 1 and hidden among the myriad of 3d fighting

hidden among the myriad of 3d fighting

hidden among the myriad of 3d fighting games you’ll find the original dynasty

games you’ll find the original dynasty

games you’ll find the original dynasty Warriors and looking at it now it’s no

Warriors and looking at it now it’s no

Warriors and looking at it now it’s no surprise that nobody really remembers

surprise that nobody really remembers

surprise that nobody really remembers the fighting game number 6 Metroid

the fighting game number 6 Metroid

the fighting game number 6 Metroid series side-scrolling adventure the

series side-scrolling adventure the

series side-scrolling adventure the first-person shooter Nintendo’s 2d

first-person shooter Nintendo’s 2d

first-person shooter Nintendo’s 2d Metroid games were revolutionary

Metroid games were revolutionary

Metroid games were revolutionary brilliant all that good stuff in a time

brilliant all that good stuff in a time

brilliant all that good stuff in a time when so many games were running gun till

when so many games were running gun till

when so many games were running gun till the end Metroid showed that 2d

the end Metroid showed that 2d

the end Metroid showed that 2d side-scroller could be dynamic and

side-scroller could be dynamic and

side-scroller could be dynamic and nonlinear when Nintendo brought the

nonlinear when Nintendo brought the

nonlinear when Nintendo brought the franchise into 3d they opted to also

franchise into 3d they opted to also

franchise into 3d they opted to also make the game a first-person shooter but

make the game a first-person shooter but

make the game a first-person shooter but when Metroid Prime was released for the

when Metroid Prime was released for the

when Metroid Prime was released for the Gamecube

Gamecube

Gamecube in 2002 critical success and fan

in 2002 critical success and fan

in 2002 critical success and fan reception was through the roof as the

reception was through the roof as the

reception was through the roof as the change in genre and perspective while

change in genre and perspective while

change in genre and perspective while maintaining the Metroid’s formula left

maintaining the Metroid’s formula left

maintaining the Metroid’s formula left fans with one of the best first-person

fans with one of the best first-person

fans with one of the best first-person shooter games ever released on a home

shooter games ever released on a home

shooter games ever released on a home console

number five Castlevania series

number five Castlevania series side-scrolling adventure to Metroidvania

side-scrolling adventure to Metroidvania

side-scrolling adventure to Metroidvania genre change that basically created a

genre change that basically created a

genre change that basically created a new genre Castlevania took all the

new genre Castlevania took all the

new genre Castlevania took all the defining aspects from the Metroid

defining aspects from the Metroid

defining aspects from the Metroid franchise namely the nonlinear adventure

franchise namely the nonlinear adventure

franchise namely the nonlinear adventure exploration and character progression

exploration and character progression

exploration and character progression and expanded on them in new and exciting

and expanded on them in new and exciting

and expanded on them in new and exciting ways with 1997 Castlevania Symphony of

ways with 1997 Castlevania Symphony of

ways with 1997 Castlevania Symphony of the Night the character progression

the Night the character progression

the Night the character progression turned into a full-on RPG system with

turned into a full-on RPG system with

turned into a full-on RPG system with equipment and stats and be nonlinear

equipment and stats and be nonlinear

equipment and stats and be nonlinear dungeon became more open in detailed

dungeon became more open in detailed

dungeon became more open in detailed stealing mean Metroid style sub-genre

stealing mean Metroid style sub-genre

stealing mean Metroid style sub-genre away from its namesake symphony of the

away from its namesake symphony of the

away from its namesake symphony of the night became the patient Bureau for

night became the patient Bureau for

night became the patient Bureau for dozens of similar titles often imitated

dozens of similar titles often imitated

dozens of similar titles often imitated but never duplicated the only games in

but never duplicated the only games in

but never duplicated the only games in the Metroid babyish on that could ever

the Metroid babyish on that could ever

the Metroid babyish on that could ever live up to Symphony of the Night to

live up to Symphony of the Night to

live up to Symphony of the Night to claim for the subsequent calculator

claim for the subsequent calculator

claim for the subsequent calculator games number four sim series city

games number four sim series city

games number four sim series city simulator to life simulator

listen franchises hop jar is quite a lot

listen franchises hop jar is quite a lot since its first release with Sim City in

since its first release with Sim City in

since its first release with Sim City in 1989 while many of the games like sim

1989 while many of the games like sim

1989 while many of the games like sim far more similar but different spin-off

far more similar but different spin-off

far more similar but different spin-off games like simcopter were entirely

games like simcopter were entirely

games like simcopter were entirely different game the most successful of

different game the most successful of

different game the most successful of course being 2002 Sims a game that

course being 2002 Sims a game that

course being 2002 Sims a game that brought the franchise down to seemingly

brought the franchise down to seemingly

brought the franchise down to seemingly humble focus by simulating real-life

humble focus by simulating real-life

humble focus by simulating real-life humble is probably the wrong word

humble is probably the wrong word

humble is probably the wrong word however as the game not only made

however as the game not only made

however as the game not only made players feel like God going with the

players feel like God going with the

players feel like God going with the lives of individual Sims but this

lives of individual Sims but this

lives of individual Sims but this spinoff series would go on to become a

spinoff series would go on to become a

spinoff series would go on to become a huge success with the games selling over

huge success with the games selling over

huge success with the games selling over a hundred million copies as of 2016

number three Fallout series isometric

number three Fallout series isometric RPG the first-person RPG

like many beloved franchises that make

like many beloved franchises that make the jump from 2d to 3d all our fans were

the jump from 2d to 3d all our fans were

the jump from 2d to 3d all our fans were very nervous when Bethesda bought the

very nervous when Bethesda bought the

very nervous when Bethesda bought the rights to this series changing the

rights to this series changing the

rights to this series changing the perspective first person in the process

perspective first person in the process

perspective first person in the process modeling their new game on their elder

modeling their new game on their elder

modeling their new game on their elder school’s formula Fallout 3 revived the

school’s formula Fallout 3 revived the

school’s formula Fallout 3 revived the franchise by completely overhauling

franchise by completely overhauling

franchise by completely overhauling every aspect that made the first two

every aspect that made the first two

every aspect that made the first two games great while retaining much of the

games great while retaining much of the

games great while retaining much of the atmosphere world depth and quirkiness

atmosphere world depth and quirkiness

atmosphere world depth and quirkiness that made fallout so weak as much in

that made fallout so weak as much in

that made fallout so weak as much in omage to the franchise as it was a

omage to the franchise as it was a

omage to the franchise as it was a sequel but that staff fully understood

sequel but that staff fully understood

sequel but that staff fully understood why fallout 1 & 2 were so memorable and

why fallout 1 & 2 were so memorable and

why fallout 1 & 2 were so memorable and made one of the best RPGs of all time in

made one of the best RPGs of all time in

made one of the best RPGs of all time in fallout 3 what it sounds like fun

fallout 3 what it sounds like fun

fallout 3 what it sounds like fun doesn’t it which do you want to do first

doesn’t it which do you want to do first

doesn’t it which do you want to do first number 2 Mario Brothers series arcade

number 2 Mario Brothers series arcade

number 2 Mario Brothers series arcade platformer – 2d side-scroller

platformer – 2d side-scroller

platformer – 2d side-scroller and then everything else

while Mario himself made his first

while Mario himself made his first appearance in 1981 arcade classic Donkey

appearance in 1981 arcade classic Donkey

appearance in 1981 arcade classic Donkey Kong as mr. video or jump man the

Kong as mr. video or jump man the

Kong as mr. video or jump man the mascots franchise officially began in

mascots franchise officially began in

mascots franchise officially began in 1983 with the first Mario Brothers video

1983 with the first Mario Brothers video

1983 with the first Mario Brothers video game a single screen co-op platformer

game a single screen co-op platformer

game a single screen co-op platformer mario and his bro luigi stomped out

mario and his bro luigi stomped out

mario and his bro luigi stomped out waves of monsters in the sewers of New

waves of monsters in the sewers of New

waves of monsters in the sewers of New York City shortly afterwards the

York City shortly afterwards the

York City shortly afterwards the plumbers made the jump to Nintendo’s

plumbers made the jump to Nintendo’s

plumbers made the jump to Nintendo’s home console and the rest is history

home console and the rest is history

home console and the rest is history now we have Mario games in every genre

now we have Mario games in every genre

now we have Mario games in every genre Under the Sun from sports titles from

Under the Sun from sports titles from

Under the Sun from sports titles from racing games to puzzle games and even

racing games to puzzle games and even

racing games to puzzle games and even RPGs while not everything that Mario

RPGs while not everything that Mario

RPGs while not everything that Mario touches gets a gold star there’s really

touches gets a gold star there’s really

touches gets a gold star there’s really no stopping this iconic video game hero

no stopping this iconic video game hero

no stopping this iconic video game hero [Music]

number one Warcraft series realtime

number one Warcraft series realtime strategy two MMORPG the original

strategy two MMORPG the original

strategy two MMORPG the original Warcraft and four importantly the

Warcraft and four importantly the

Warcraft and four importantly the follow-up Warcraft two tides of darkness

follow-up Warcraft two tides of darkness

follow-up Warcraft two tides of darkness didn’t discover the real time strategy

didn’t discover the real time strategy

didn’t discover the real time strategy genre but they did really help define it

genre but they did really help define it

genre but they did really help define it so when Blizzard announced World of

so when Blizzard announced World of

so when Blizzard announced World of Warcraft an MMORPG

Warcraft an MMORPG

Warcraft an MMORPG in the Warcraft universe there was

in the Warcraft universe there was

in the Warcraft universe there was little doubt that it would at least be

little doubt that it would at least be

little doubt that it would at least be able to compete with the reigning MMO

able to compete with the reigning MMO

able to compete with the reigning MMO King EverQuest of course when World of

King EverQuest of course when World of

King EverQuest of course when World of Warcraft was released in 2004 and not

Warcraft was released in 2004 and not

Warcraft was released in 2004 and not only loud gamers brought the planet but

only loud gamers brought the planet but

only loud gamers brought the planet but some mention itself as the new MMO God

some mention itself as the new MMO God

some mention itself as the new MMO God rolling everything else out of all water

rolling everything else out of all water

rolling everything else out of all water within a year now over 12 years later

within a year now over 12 years later

within a year now over 12 years later while still stands as the MMO and while

while still stands as the MMO and while

while still stands as the MMO and while it has lost a little bit of steam the

it has lost a little bit of steam the

it has lost a little bit of steam the endless war between the Alliance and the

endless war between the Alliance and the

endless war between the Alliance and the Horde is still co and strong

Horde is still co and strong

Horde is still co and strong and travels do you agree with our picks

and travels do you agree with our picks

and travels do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from

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