6 Video Game Franchises Where Every Mainline Game Is A 10/10

It’s incredibly satisfying to dive into a video game series and play all the main titles one after another, especially when you feel like the creators can do no wrong. This can even make you appreciate weaker games more – I have surprisingly fond memories of Devil May Cry 2 because of this. But rarely, you find a series where every core game is truly exceptional – a genuine collection of masterpieces.

Creating video games is incredibly difficult, and many things can cause problems during the long development process. Because of this, truly flawless game series are rare, and the ones that are exceptional deserve recognition. At the very least, anyone interested in those types of games should give them a try.

A few notes and criteria:

We are only counting mainline games and not spin-offs, as that would eliminate pretty much every franchise. That said, we will mention a few great spin-offs.
To qualify, a franchise has to have three main games.
Ultimately, not everyone will agree on whether a game is a 10/10, and there is no purely objective answer. We are going to focus on series with games that are exclusively highly regarded, rather than subjective picks. For example, I think the One Piece Pirate Warriors games are all awesome, but I wouldn’t expect anybody else to agree.

Honorable Mentions: Franchises That Mostly Have 10/10 Games

Video Game Series That Have One Or More Entries That Fall A Bit Short

Grand Theft Auto: Most of the main entries are 10/10, but Rockstar has re-released a few versions that are far from perfect.
Max Payne: All three games are brilliant, but Rockstar’s entry is slightly polarizing.
Metal Gear Solid: I almost included MGS, but Guns of the Patriots and The Phantom Pain are not universally adored.
Red Dead: The Redemption games are arguably 10/10, but Red Dead Revolver is just decent.
God of War: Ascension qualifies as a main entry, and it is not great. The first God of War is also nowhere near as incredible as its sequels.
Infamous: I love all the Infamous games, but none of them are unquestionably 10/10. Well, maybe Infamous 2, although the story isn’t great. Still, does that really matter?
The Legend of Zelda: Zelda II is certainly not 10/10. Don’t get me wrong, it is still pretty great.
Uncharted: The first game was great for its time, but it has not aged extremely well. Uncharted 3 is also very polarizing.
The Witcher: The Witcher 2 and 3 are nearly perfect, but the first game could use a remake.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 seems to divide people.
Dark Souls: If the picks were solely based on my opinion, FromSoftware’s Soulsborne would be first on the list. However, I know people tend to love or hate Dark Souls 2.
Street Fighter: The numbered entries are mostly brilliant, but the first game is rough, and the fifth entry took a long time to become great.
Hitman: Honestly, I’d argue the World of Assassination Trilogy is perfect. The earlier games are mostly excellent, too, but a few entries are just good.
Dragon Quest: Probably the most consistent JRPG franchise of all time, and I could totally see the argument that all the main games are 10/10.
Batman Arkham: Arkham Knight is somewhat let down due to the Batmobile sections, and Arkham Origins is underappreciated but not perfect. Technically, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is also part of the series, so…yeah.

Half-Life

Valve’s Masterpiece Video Game Franchise That Is Nearly Flawless

Main Half-Life Games That Are All 10/10: Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 & 2, and Half-Life Alyx
Expansions & Multiplayer Only Half-Life Games That Are Arguably 10/10: Opposing Force, Blue Shift, Decay, Deathmatch, and Lost Coast

When it comes to video game franchises, Half-Life is unique in that all of its games – including expansions and spin-offs – are considered masterpieces. Even focusing only on the main games, Half-Life and Half-Life 2 are two of the most important and influential first-person shooters ever made. While Half-Life 2 is often praised as the better game, the original Half-Life was revolutionary for its time and remains an impressive achievement of the 1990s. Half-Life: Alyx is widely considered the best VR game ever created, and many believe it’s worth buying VR equipment just to experience it. The episodic content, though shorter than the main games, adds significantly to Half-Life 2 and shouldn’t be overlooked.

What’s most remarkable about this series is how enjoyable the games still are, even after so many years. The original two games are over twenty years old, but they remain incredibly fun to play. Their quality is clear even if you didn’t grow up with them, and they’re just as brilliant now as they were when they first came out.

Forza Horizon

Xbox’s Open-World Racing Game Franchise That Is Basically Perfect

All Forza Horizon Games That Are 10/10: Forza Horizon 1–5

Besides Half-Life, the Forza Horizon series consistently delivers exceptional games. While it focuses on fun, arcade-style racing rather than realistic simulation like other Forza titles, each Forza Horizon game stands out with its beautiful open worlds based on real locations around the globe.

Each Forza Horizon game adds something new, but your favorite will likely depend on which location you prefer – Australia, Colorado, or Mexico. They’re all fantastic and guarantee a fun experience! I personally love Forza Horizon 4 because it features Edinburgh, a city I used to live in, and it’s great to explore it in the game. However, all the games are equally well-made, incredibly engaging, and easy to learn.

To be fair, Forza Horizon 4 did have a bug that briefly made the game unplayable, which is a serious issue. Fortunately, the developers quickly resolved it within a few days.

3D Super Mario

Super Mario’s 3D Games Are Always Must-Play

Main 3D Super Mario Games That Are All 10/10: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Odyssey
Other 3D Super Mario Games That Are Close To 10/10: Super Mario 64 DS (Still great, but the controls are nowhere near as good as the original version) and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Great puzzle spin-off game, but not quite on the same level as the main entries)

Nintendo consistently excels with 3D Super Mario games. Super Mario 64 is arguably the most influential and enjoyable game from the 1990s, and it remains incredibly fun to play today. Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel are considered the best games on the Wii, and are strong contenders for the title of greatest 3D platformers ever made. Super Mario Odyssey builds upon the foundation of Super Mario 64, successfully refining the formula. And Super Mario 3D Land brilliantly showcases the 3DS’s capabilities while offering an adventure that rivals many home console games.

The only games that might be up for debate are Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 3D World, though the discussion really centers on whether they deserve a 9 or a 10 out of 10. Super Mario 3D World is likely the most straightforward and least risky 3D Super Mario game, and it doesn’t stay with you quite as vividly as most other main titles. Still, it’s a fantastic game and one of the best on the Wii U. Super Mario Sunshine, however, is the most adventurous of the bunch. Its unique F.L.U.D.D. movement system isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy it, you’ll find nothing else quite like Sunshine.

Games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are also great for replayability, but I chose 3D Super Mario because there’s a stronger incentive to revisit all the games in that series today.

Baldur’s Gate

Baldur’s Gate 3 Is Not The Only 10/10 Game

Main Baldur’s Gate Games That Are All 10/10: Baldur’s Gate 1–3
Baldur’s Gate Spin-Offs That Are Good But Probably Not 10/10: Dark Alliance Games

As a huge fan of the Baldur’s Gate series, it’s amazing to think it’s been around for forty years! Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 was a massive hit, and honestly, it’s so different from the original BioWare games that it feels like its own thing. It really proved to me that a game doesn’t need to be perfect to be a 10/10. It definitely had some bugs and tricky moments when it first came out, but the writing, the sheer scale of the game, the dialogue, the characters, and how much freedom you have to make choices… it all just blew me away. If you’re into turn-based RPGs, I’m pretty confident you’ll absolutely love this masterpiece.

While BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate games are showing their age, many still consider them the developer’s best role-playing games – and that’s saying something. These games had a huge impact on later titles like Dragon Age: Origins, and were incredibly innovative for their time. The first Baldur’s Gate can be a little clunky by today’s standards, making the experience somewhat inconsistent, though it was a perfect game upon its original release. Baldur’s Gate 2, however, is widely considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made and is a major reason why fans have been clamoring for a revival of the series.

Pikmin

A Unique Video Game Franchise That Offers Nothing But Homeruns

All Pikmin Games That Are 10/10: Pikmin 1–4
Pikmin Spin-off Games That Are Not 10/10: Hey! Pikmin and Pikmin Bloom

The Pikmin games are surprisingly wonderful. It’s incredibly difficult to explain what makes them so special to someone who hasn’t played them. However, once people start playing, they quickly become absorbed in the charming little world and find the controls surprisingly natural. The series is truly unique, and while games like Tinykin are enjoyable, they don’t quite capture the same magic as Pikmin – nothing else seems to hit the spot in the same way.

It’s amazing how successful the first Pikmin game was, especially considering how unique its gameplay was – some would even say it’s still the best! Thankfully, each of the three sequels has improved on the original, adding new features while keeping the fun, core gameplay intact.

The spin-offs are, admittedly, really not great, but the mainline Pikmin games qualify.

Persona

A JRPG Franchise Synonymous With Greatness

All Mainline Persona Games That Are 10/10: Persona 3–5, Including Remakes and Remasters like Persona 3 FES, Persona 3 Portable, Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal. Persona 1 and 2 also qualify, but they are products of their time.
All Persona Spin-Off Games That Are 10/10: Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
All Persona Spin-Offs That Are Fantastic But Probably Not 10/10: Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, Persona 4: Dancing All Night, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Persona 5 Strikers, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (and the sequel), and Persona 5: The Phantom X

These first two games in the series are often overlooked, especially compared to later installments. They have a unique style of gameplay and storytelling that’s quite different from what came after. However, they’re still excellent monster-collecting RPGs and classic PlayStation 1 titles. If you haven’t played them, they’re worth checking out – you might be surprised by how good they are.

The Persona series has seen incredible success, especially considering how many spin-off games it has. While most Persona titles are well-made, the main numbered games are consistently exceptional. Persona 3 really defined the series’ style and is often considered to have the strongest story. Persona 4 built on that success with even better graphics, and many fans would argue Persona 4 Golden is the best JRPG ever made. Then Persona 5 broadened the series’ popularity with amazing visuals, music, storytelling, and characters. And somehow, Persona 5 Royal managed to improve upon an already perfect game.

2025-11-23 02:37