Summary
Sometimes, games contain stories that are self-contained,packing emotional weight and character arcsinto a single cartridge or download. In many other cases, however, there are series that are crafted over many entries, producing years of sequels that tell a single narrative story that grows as the players do.
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When considering such stories, it is important to disregard game series that have simplyexistedfor decades; whilstWolfenstein, for the sake of argument, is over twenty years old, there is little connecting its first entries to the Bethesda alternate-history games that were produced in the 2010s. Franchises that have existed for years and stayed dedicated to a continuous character or world deserve special recognition for the stories they have crafted.
More than 300 years may have passed before Revan escaped his imprisonment, but in the real world,Star Wars:Knights of The Old Republichas gone on continuously for more than 18 years, stretching from its humble beginning as an experimentalStar Warsgame to the tenth-anniversary expansion packLegacy of The Sith,for the MMORPGStar Wars: The Old Republic.
Whilst the status of theKoTORremake is still a mystery,The Old Republiccontinues to deliver content on a regular basis, ensuring that the franchise will continue well past its 18th year. The ever-expanding story of The Sith Emperor, and the aftermath of his downfall, will continue to draw inStar Warsfans for years to come.
Umbrella Corporation might be no more, but for more than twenty years, the repercussions of their biological experimentation have rocked the world of Capcom’s horror franchise. What was seemingly a reboot in the form ofResident Evil 7turned out to be a continuation of the series, and from there, it seems that Capcom will only continue to add to the already impressive roster of games.
The franchise has shifted to and fro betweenaction and survival horror, but the main characters, organizations, and organisms remain to butt heads as they fight for the fate of the world. With the end of Ethan Winters' story inResident Evil VIIIage,where Capcom goes next remains to be seen.
While most other games in the franchise are eclipsed by the mega-success ofWorld of Warcraft,Blizzard’s fantasy universe has utilized every entry to build and evolve the MMORPG into what it is today. Alongside such a continuous universe, there have been side entries such asHearthstonethat don’t build, but complement the main decades-long saga.
With the release ofDragonflight,World of Warcraftcemented itself as the longest-running MMORPG of all time, accumulating over two decades of story that stands alone as an excellent experience. With the preceding strategy games in tow, theWarcraftuniverse and its saga will continue to dominate fantasy gaming.
Over 4 eras and 29 real years,The Elder Scrollshas told the story of Tamriel, and the various powers, both mortal and supernatural, that seek to control it. SinceElder Scrolls Arena, Bethesda has tirelessly produced material that spans a gigantic shared universe, detailing Guilds, Kings, Daedric Lords, and everything in between to create one of the richest fantasy worlds around.
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Returning characters, whether they be as small as a summon or as big as a questline, give players tons of excitement and lead them to return to Tamriel and its nations time and time again. There might not be a central character as there would in other franchises, but that’s precisely the point - the protagonist ofThe Elder Scrollshas always been the player.
The story of Liu Kang and his attempt to prevent the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn from taking over Earthrealm has gradually ballooned in size, now encompassing multiple characters and arcs that unite the defenders of Earthrealm against the forces of evil. More than thirty years later, the struggles between the Realms and their representatives dueling in the Mortal Kombat arena live on in regularly-released fighting games over the years.
Two soft reboots later,Mortal Kombatis still a dominating force in the fighting game world, occupyinga unique place given itsviolence, intricate story, and dedication to continuing one connected saga. While the films and literature might take place in new, alternate variations of the Realms, the games continue to move linearly towards some future conclusion.
Metal Gearmay be on its way out given that Kojima is done with Konami, but his legacy consists of two intertwined tales of special forces, intrigue, and government conspiracy centered on the heroic soldier Solid Snake, and his father and mortal enemy, Big Boss.
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The franchise is so connectedthat the last of Kojima’s games,Metal Gear Solid V:The Phantom Pain,directly reveals a long-hidden fact about Big Boss relevant to the first game, 1987’sMetal Gear. With the disappointing spin-offMetal Gear Surviveaside,Metal Gearhas impressively managed to maintain a grounded and eventful story that never drags on but maintains its connection to the series narrative.
What was once an unconnected saga of the character Link and his quest to rescue Princess Zelda has recently been revealed as an interconnected timeline of events. The heroic soul of Link inhabits heroes of each age in times of peril, and for more than thirty years, gamers have been able to follow his footsteps.
It is one of the longest-running continuous stories that,while not asintertwinedasMetal Gear, still tells a coherent saga that transcends platforms to deliver some of the highest-quality games of all time.
