Ranking the Most Influential Video Game Franchises of the 1900s

September 14, 2026 - 01:43

Some game franchises come and go and we don't even think to miss them, but the greatest franchises of the 20th Century are with us always. These are the series that built the foundation of modern gaming, and their influence can still be felt in almost everything released today.

At the top of any serious list sits Super Mario. Nintendo's flagship series turned a plumber into a global icon and redefined what a platformer could be. Close behind is The Legend of Zelda, which showed that exploration and storytelling could work together in ways few games had attempted before.

Then there is Final Fantasy, a role-playing series that pushed narrative ambition further with each new entry. Metal Gear brought cinematic stealth to the medium, while Sonic the Hedgehog gave Sega a mascot fast enough to challenge Nintendo's dominance.

Tetris deserves mention as well. It came from simple origins and became a worldwide obsession, proving that gameplay alone could carry a title. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat turned living rooms into arenas and sparked debates about violence in games that still echo today.

What ties these franchises together is staying power. They did not just sell well in their moment. They shaped genres, inspired developers, and kept players coming back for decades. That is why they remain with us, long after the consoles that introduced them have been retired.