Five Unique Game Franchises You Should Try
By: Dylan Chia
Tags: Features, Gaming, Culture, Digital Life, Videogames

Five Unique Game Franchises You Should Try

Gaming has always followed a certain format. Whether it’s racing games like Need For Speed and Asphalt or first-person shooting (FPS) games like Modern Warfare or Call of Duty, there’s always been a formula behind those concepts that ensure their popularity.

However, there are also games that have branched out beyond those concepts and managed to create entirely new franchises based on their unique gameplay. Here are my top five most unique gaming franchises, ranked based on their uniqueness and popularity.

Football Manager

Photo from FMScout

Many casual fans would be able to instantly name well-known football games such as FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), and following that, Football Manager usually comes up, despite their vastly different mechanics.

The former games are more focused on controlling individual player movements to score or prevent goals, with the gamer only being able to determine limited tactics such as team mentality (from all-out attacking to all-out defending) and general player positioning. Basically, the gamer behaves as if they are the football players themselves.

However, Football Manager is the complete opposite of that, as the gamer now takes on the role of the manager instead (which is self-explanatory from the title). There are more advanced options when it comes to attacking and defending play, with more technical terms being used to simulate being in the manager’s seat. You are also only allowed to stay active in each save file for 30 in-game years (before you “retire”), thus adding more realism to the game.

This adds a fresh take for sports fans who want to try something different and is also more relaxing because of the competitiveness level (there aren’t any tournaments for this so you don't have to worry about your skill level; it’s one of the few games nowadays that you can play casually without being criticised for playing badly). It’s also playable offline so you can enjoy it even without an Internet connection.

The Sims

Photo from WallpaperAccess.

Following that is The Sims, another fantasy game that injects a level of realism into their gameplay. The gamer controls a character (or a Sim) and performs tasks similar to what a person would go through in real life.

You typically start out as a young adult in a new home, where you have to care for your Sim by ensuring their needs (such as food, toiletry, social etc) are met. After that, you proceed to make new friends, start a job, and basically progress in the virtual world as you normally would in reality. The only difference is that there aren’t any consequences if you don't meet any of the above-mentioned needs.

Over the years, there have been several different spinoffs and sequels based on different themes, ranging from different time periods to locations. However, at its core, it’s still the ultimate role-playing game (RPG) to determine what you would have done in each of those different situations.

The Sims has grown in popularity over the years, and it’s easy to understand why. Having the freedom to do what you want without fear of consequences is always appealing, but the game also gives players the opportunity to do things they usually can’t do in reality, and these extra options further add to their appeal. After all, it’s always fun to be able to work your way up into a real estate tycoon, even if it’s only in the virtual world.

Batman: Arkham series

Photo from WallpaperFlare.

Next is the Batman Arkham series. The games are sort of an evolution to The Sims, as you’re no longer just a random young adult anymore. In these games, you take on the role of the caped crusader, fighting to save Gotham City from a variety of threats originating from his rogues' gallery. This ranges from restoring order after the Joker staged a jailbreak in the original Batman: Arkham Asylum, to stopping the Arkham Knight from destroying Gotham in the latest instalment, Batman: Arkham Knight.

The series can be seen as revolutionary, as prior to its introduction, the superhero genre consisted mostly of simple 2D games or poor adaptations of their big-screen counterparts. However, what sets the Batman: Arkham series apart from those other games in the genre is its gameplay mechanics.

The Batman: Arkham games feature an open world ripe for exploring, allowing fans to explore Gotham in its entirety for the first time. The games aren’t just about combat sequences and powering your way through villains like many of their predecessors. There are decisions to make, hidden areas to explore, gadgets to use, and even a Batmobile to drive.

These additional features are enough to make the game memorable for any fan of the genre. You’re now finally able to get a more immersive experience of being a superhero by playing as if you were Batman himself. Since then, similar games have sprung up, most notably being the Spiderman series.

Pokémon

Photo from WallpaperCave.

The uniqueness of the Pokémon franchise is that while it’s also an RPG like the other entries, the gameplay mechanics and fantasy level far exceeds its predecessors.

When you begin a new save file, you are transported into the world of Pokémon, where you go on a journey to become the “Champion”. Along the way, you’ll make new rivals, challenge strong trainers (like gym leaders), and even take down criminal organisations.

Pokémon is most likely the most well-known franchise in this list, as according to CBR, it has generated the most revenue out of every media franchise worldwide. It is even the third highest-selling video game series in the world (behind Tetris and Mario), further displaying the success the franchise enjoys.

The franchise is also vastly different from the other entries due to the concepts involved. Collecting creatures and using them to challenge others under unique battle mechanics is an idea exclusive to Pokémon (although to be fair there are some knockoff games, but those don’t even come close to the popularity of the original), and is possibly the reason for its success. It is unlikely we’ll ever see a concept as unique as this for some time to come.

Minecraft

Photo by Stampf from Pixabay.

Finally, we have Minecraft. The game breaks most conventional rules of gaming, yet still manages to be perhaps the most popular game in the world. It lacks a story mode (you’re only allowed to choose between “creative” or “survival” mode), has a deliberately “retro” 8-bit graphical style, and no clear objectives (excluding the “survival” mode where there is a distinct but still general objective).

However, what makes Minecraftappealing is probably the fact that it has the most potential out of any other game. You can build whatever you want, in whatever way you want to build it, without worrying about space or time constraints. It is also unlikely to fall into the same style of gameplay genre as any others, further elaborating on its uniqueness.

You are also able to use the game as a creative outlet and build any structure you can conceive in your mind. It is one of the best games to play to de-stress as there’s no pressure to accomplish anything or missions to complete. It’s just you, your creativity, and an infinite number of possibilities.

Image by Marwane Baaout on Dribbble.

Overall, these are just a handful of some unique gaming concepts. However, there are definitely more hidden gems out there, just waiting to entice you with their unique gameplay. All you have to do is play on and explore.