New research by Money.co.uk reveals the most consistently great and inconsistent video game franchises, with Final Fantasy, Sonic and Tomb Raider being revealed as the most inconsistent.
Let’s face it: every video game franchise has its ups and downs. No matter how good one instalment might be, the next one always runs the risk of tanking the series.
And no franchise is infallible: while all of the series on this list are 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? The ones that deliver a great play every single time? And how about those inconsistent series where gamers aren’t too sure how good (or bad) the next instalment 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 favourite video game franchises…
When we analyse 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 ratings gap, the more consistently great the series is. The higher the ratings gap, the more inconsistent the series is.
| Franchise | Highest Rated Game | Lowest Rated Game | Ratings Gap |
| Diablo | Diablo (94%) | Diablo III (88%) | 6% |
| Pokémon | Pokémon Gold & Silver (89%) | Pokémon Sword & Shield (80%) | 9% |
| Far Cry | Far Cry 3 (91%) | Far Cry 5 (82%) | 9% |
| Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (90%) | Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (80%) | 10% |
| Halo | Halo: Combat Evolved (97%) | Halo 5: Guardians (84%) | 13% |
| God of War | God of War (2005) (94%) | God of War: Ascension (80%) | 14% |
| Super Smash Bros. | Super Smash Bros. Brawl (93%) | Super Smash Bros. (79%) | 14% |
| Metal Gear | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (96%) | Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (80%) | 16% |
| Call of Duty | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (94%) | Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (77%) | 17% |
| Animal Crossing | Animal Crossing: New Horizons (90%) | Animal Crossing: City Folk (73%) | 17% |
| Mario Party | Mario Party (79%) | Mario Party 8 (62%) | 17% |
| Battlefield | Battlefield 2 (91%) | Battlefield Hardline (73%) | 18% |
| Super Mario | Super Mario Odyssey (97%) | Super Mario Run (78%) | 19% |
| Mario Kart | Super Mario Kart (94%) | Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (75%) | 19% |
| Gran Turismo | Gran Turismo (96%) | Gran Turismo Sport (75%) | 21% |
| Tekken | Tekken 3 (96%) | Tekken (75%) | 21% |
| Resident Evil | Resident Evil 4 (96%) | Resident Evil 6 (74%) | 22% |
| The Sims | The Sims (92%) | The Sims 4 (70%) | 22% |
| Monster Hunter | Monster Hunter: World (90%) | Monster Hunter (68%) | 22% |
| The Legend of Zelda | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (98%) | The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (72%) | 26% |
| Grand Theft Auto | Grand Theft Auto IV (98%) | Grand Theft Auto II (70%) | 28% |
| Tomb Raider | Rise of the Tomb Raider (88%) | Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (52%) | 36% |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (89%) | Sonic the Hedgehog [2006] (46%) | 43% |
| Final Fantasy | Final Fantasy IX (94%) | Final Fantasy XIV (49%) | 45% |
The lower the ratings gap, the more consistent the franchise. These are the ones that deliver an awesome game every single instalment.
The full research can be seen here: https://www.money.co.uk/broadband/franchise-flops
The most inconsistent video game franchises…
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 instalment.
The most consistently great video game franchises…
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 instalment.
The full research can be seen here: https://www.money.co.uk/broadband/franchise-flops
The highest rated video game franchises of all time…
When we deep dive into the ratings, the research can proudly reveal the highest rated video game franchises of all time to be:
| Rank | Franchise | Average Critic Score |
| 1 | Halo | 91% |
| 1 | Metal Gear | 91% |
| 1 | God of War | 91% |
| 4 | Grand Theft Auto | 90% |
| 4 | Super Smash Bros. | 90% |
| 4 | Diablo | 90% |
| 7 | The Legend of Zelda | 89% |
| 8 | Super Mario | 88% |
| 8 | Gran Turismo | 88% |
| 10 | Mario Kart | 87% |
| 10 | Resident Evil | 87% |
| 12 | Pokémon | 86% |
| 12 | Donkey Kong | 86% |
| 12 | Far Cry | 86% |
| 15 | Call of Duty | 85% |
| 15 | The Sims | 85% |
| 15 | Animal Crossing | 85% |
| 15 | Battlefield | 85% |
| 19 | Final Fantasy | 84% |
| 19 | Tekken | 84% |
You can see the full research here: https://www.money.co.uk/broadband/franchise-flops
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