Sonic The Hedgehog, And Other Popular Franchises That Went Through A Dark Period

It’s common for fans to hope that sequels to a successful video game will be even better than the original. While many game series have declined in quality over time, eventually becoming forgotten, some have managed to bounce back from near failure. These series regained their popularity, allowing them to continue for years to come.

Many fans describe a certain point in a franchise’s history as a ‘dark’ or ‘rough’ period – a time when a series seemed to lose its way because the creators tried too many new things. Fortunately, the popular franchises listed below all went through this challenging phase but ultimately recovered, thanks to developers refocusing on what fans really want from each new game.

Sonic The Hedgehog

The Transition To 3D Was A Little Rough For The Blue Blur

Mainline games: 15+

During the 1990s, *Sonic the Hedgehog* was incredibly popular. He offered a cool, edgy alternative to the more gentle Mario, and the early *Sonic* games delivered a fast-paced, thrilling platforming experience that felt completely new. This made the *Sonic* franchise a huge hit for over ten years. However, when other game series successfully moved into 3D graphics, Sega struggled to make the transition with *Sonic*.

The *Sonic Adventure* games remain beloved classics, but the franchise stumbled significantly with *Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)*. Despite promises of a revolutionary *Sonic* experience, *Sonic 06* was plagued by glitches, technical problems, and incomplete levels. This period saw Sega trying new things with games like *Sonic Boom* and *Lost World*, but it took time for Sonic to regain popularity. Thankfully, the huge success of *Sonic Frontiers* revitalized the character and put him back in a leading position in the gaming world.

Resident Evil

Too Much Action, Not Enough Horror

Mainline Games: 9

Given how incredibly popular the *Resident Evil* series is today, it’s hard to imagine it was once seen as a bit of a joke, but that perception didn’t develop quickly. After the first three games set the standard for modern survival horror, Capcom continued to push boundaries with *Resident Evil 4*, which remains one of their most celebrated games.

Players quickly noticed that the fourth main game in the series started to focus more on action, and this trend continued in *Resident Evil 5*. While *Resident Evil 5* was still popular, it became clear that Capcom was leaning too heavily into action elements. This became a bigger problem with *Resident Evil 6*, which many fans found disappointing. That’s why longtime fans were so happy when *Resident Evil 7* brought the series back to its survival horror origins. For a while, it seemed like the games had shifted into a completely different genre, losing what made them special.

Silent Hill

Silent Hill Experienced A Slow And Painful Decline, Before Springing Back To Action

Mainline Games: 4

The *Silent Hill* series is another well-known horror franchise that went through a rough patch, though for different reasons than some others. The first three *Silent Hill* games were incredibly successful at creating psychological horror in video game form, making it hard for any future game to compare. While *Silent Hill 4* introduced some interesting new ideas, it didn’t really feel like it significantly advanced the series.

Following those initial titles, several games were developed by Western studios, but they received a generally mixed response from both fans and critics. While titles like *Shattered Memories*, *Homecoming*, and *Downpour* offered interesting stories and frightening creatures, it wasn’t until the remake of *Silent Hill 2* that the series truly regained its reputation as a leader in psychological horror. Despite skepticism, Bloober Team successfully captured the essence of the original *Silent Hill 2* while updating it for a new generation of players, effectively revitalizing a long-dormant franchise.

Tomb Raider

It Took A Little While For Lara To Find Her Footing In The Modern Era

Mainline Games: 11

Lara Croft is often the first action-adventure hero people think of. However, despite her popularity within gaming, she hasn’t remained consistently relevant since her initial appearances. Core Design created incredibly engaging and difficult adventure games with the original three *Tomb Raider* titles, but by the time *Angel of Darkness* came out, it was clear the series was losing its freshness.

I’ve played a lot of Tomb Raider games, and while *Legend*, *Anniversary*, and *Underworld* were enjoyable and tried to recapture that classic feeling of exploring and solving puzzles, they just didn’t quite feel special on their own. But then *2013 Tomb Raider* came along and completely shook things up! It was way darker and more focused on survival, and honestly, it saved the series. I think it was exactly what Lara Croft needed to stay relevant, and ever since that game dropped, *Tomb Raider* has become massively popular again. It really brought the series back to life!

Dead Space

Before The Remake, Dead Space Was On Its Last Legs

Mainline Games: 3

The original *Dead Space* truly excels at creating a terrifying and immersive experience, making players feel like they’re living a nightmare. Although the sequel is more frantic and action-oriented, even saving the game couldn’t fully reassure players, as the Necromorph enemies remained a constant and deadly threat.

I remember when *Dead Space 3* tried to jump on the co-op trend – it was cool to team up and blow up aliens with a friend, especially with all the powerful weapons. But honestly, it just didn’t *feel* like *Dead Space* to a lot of us, and we started to worry if we’d ever see another game in the series. Thankfully, *Dead Space* did come back, and it came back strong! They didn’t just remaster the original, they completely rebuilt it from the ground up. This remake is so incredible and detailed that it’s now considered the absolute best way to play not just the first game, but the whole series!

Street Fighter

Street Fighter Fought Through The Adversity To Become A Top Contender Once Again

Mainline Games: 6

As a long-time *Street Fighter* player, I’ll never forget how rough the launch of *Street Fighter 5* was. *Street Fighter 4* was a really challenging but awesome game that helped bring fighting games back into our living rooms, but *Street Fighter 5* just didn’t live up to the hype. It had a weird selection of characters at first, and they completely left out Arcade Mode! Let’s just say fans were *not* pleased when it first came out.

Capcom spent seven years refining the game to make sure fans would love it. While *Street Fighter 5* did improve over time, especially with the addition of many popular characters, *Street Fighter 6* truly exceeded expectations. It’s much more accessible than previous titles, features a new single-player World Tour mode, and includes a lively online space for players to connect and battle. Unlike its predecessor, *Street Fighter 6* is a resounding success.

Devil May Cry

Just As Dante Was Getting Started, His Rise To Prominence Reached A Sudden Halt

Mainline Games: 5

Many game franchises maintain their quality for several installments, but *Devil May Cry* stumbled relatively quickly. The first game was unusual and quirky, yet surprisingly captivating. Players controlled Dante, a strong and sarcastic demon hunter equipped with a variety of powerful weapons and skills. While the fast-paced combat was central to the experience, the real star was Dante himself – effortlessly cool and charismatic, he made every scene memorable.

Fans were shocked when Capcom drastically changed Dante’s character for the sequel, turning him from a vibrant hero into a bland and uninteresting protagonist. The gameplay in *Devil May Cry 2* was also made much easier; players could often beat levels simply by using Dante’s pistols, Ebony and Ivory. Just when it seemed the series was failing, *Devil May Cry 3* arrived and became a critically acclaimed action masterpiece. Since then, the franchise has consistently delivered high-quality games, and with the success of the fifth installment in attracting new players, Dante and Nero’s demon-hunting story doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.

2025-09-29 05:35