List of longest-running video game franchises

This is a list of notable longest-running video game franchises. To qualify for this list, a video game franchise must have seen regular releases for at least twenty-five years, from a franchise's first release to its most recent. Only franchises that started out as a video game are listed; therefore, video games based upon other media are not listed. Ports, translations, downloadable content, re-releases, and compilations are not considered new entries. Remakes (i.e., games with significant differences in graphics or game play) and expansion sets which received retail releases are considered new entries in a series.

Titles

Franchise	First release	Latest release	Publisher	Length
The Oregon Trail	The Oregon Trail December 3, 1971	Handheld Oregon Trail March 2, 2018	MECC	46 years, 2 months
Pac-Man	Pac-Man July 1980	Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle November 17, 2020	Bandai Namco Entertainment	40 years, 3 months
Mario	Donkey Kong July 9, 1981	Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit October 16, 2020	Nintendo	39 years, 3 months
Galaxian	Galaxian October 1979	Galaga Revenge January 8, 2019	Bandai Namco Entertainment	39 years, 3 months
Space Invaders	Space Invaders June 1978	Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders May 17, 2017	Taito (Square Enix)	38 years, 11 months
Frogger	Frogger June 5, 1981	Frogger In Toy Town September 20, 2019	Konami	38 years, 3 months
Wolfenstein	Castle Wolfenstein September 1981	Wolfenstein: Youngblood July 25, 2019	id Software	37 years, 11 months
Microsoft Flight Simulator	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 November 1982	Microsoft Flight Simulator August 18, 2020	Microsoft	37 years, 9 months
Donkey Kong	Donkey Kong July 9, 1981	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze February 14, 2014	Nintendo	36 years, 9 months
Elite	Elite September 20, 1984	Elite Dangerous December 16, 2014	Frontier Developments	36 years, 6 months
Dragon Slayer	Dragon Slayer September 10, 1984	The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki August 27, 2020	Nihon Falcom	35 years, 11 months
Bomberman	Bakudan Otoko Bomber Man July 1983	Bombergirl August 30, 2018	Konami	35 years, 1 month
Nobunaga's Ambition	Nobunaga no Yabō March 1983	Nobunaga no Yabō: Taishi November 30, 2017	Koei Tecmo	34 years, 8 months
The Legend of Zelda	The Legend of Zelda February 21, 1986	Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity November 20, 2020	Nintendo	34 years, 8 months
Ultima	Akalabeth: World of Doom 1979	Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar August 7, 2013	Origin Systems	34 years, 1 month
Carmen Sandiego	Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? 1985	Carmen Sandiego: The Crown Jewels Caper March 14, 2019	The Learning Company	33 years, 8 months
The Bard's Tale	Tales of the Unknown, Volume I: The Bard's Tale 1985	The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep September 18, 2018	inXile Entertainment	33 years, 8 months
King's Quest	King's Quest I July 1983	King's Quest: Epilogue December 20, 2016	Sierra Entertainment	33 years, 5 months
Kunio-kun	Renegade May 1986	Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san! A River City Ransom Story November 6, 2019	Arc System Works	33 years, 6 months
Leisure Suit Larry	Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards July 5, 1987	Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice October 23, 2020	Codemasters	33 years, 3 months
Dragon Quest	Dragon Quest May 27, 1986	Dragon Quest Walk September 12, 2019	Square Enix	33 years, 3 months
Wizardry	Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord September 1981	Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry December 22, 2014	Gamepot	33 years, 3 months
Wonder Boy	Wonder Boy April 1986	Wonder Boy Returns Remix May 23, 2019	Sega	33 years, 1 month
Castlevania	Castlevania September 26, 1986	Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls September 20, 2019	Konami	32 years, 11 months
Tetris	Tetris June 6, 1984	Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 December 8, 2020	The Tetris Company	32 years, 10 months
Contra	Contra February 21, 1987	Contra: Rouge Corps September 24, 2019	Konami	32 years, 7 months
Street Fighter	Street Fighter August 30, 1987	Street Fighter V: Champion Edition February 15, 2020	Capcom	32 years, 5 months
Wasteland	Wasteland January 2, 1988	Wasteland 3 May 19, 2020	Deep Silver	32 years, 4 months
Final Fantasy	Final Fantasy December 18, 1987	Final Fantasy VII Remake April 10, 2020	Square Enix	32 years, 3 months
Ys	Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished June 21, 1987	Ys IX: Monstrum Nox September 16, 2019	Nihon Falcom	32 years, 2 months
Blaster Learning System	Math Blaster! 1983	Math Blaster Premium May 15, 2015	Knowledge Adventure	31 years, 10 months
Family Stadium	Pro Baseball: Family Stadium December 10, 1986	Pro Baseball: Famista Evolution August 2, 2018	Bandai Namco Entertainment	31 years, 7 months
R-Type	R-Type July 1, 1987	R-Type Dimensions EX December 19, 2018	Irem	31 years, 5 months
Ghosts 'n Goblins	Ghosts 'n Goblins September 19, 1985	Ghosts'n Goblins MOBILE March 28, 2017	Capcom	31 years, 5 months
Golden Tee	Golden Tee 1989	Golden Tee Mobile October 28, 2019	Incredible Technology	32 years
Jake Hunter	Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Shinjuku Chūō Kōen Satsujin Jiken April 27, 1987	Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Prism of Eyes August 9, 2018	Arc System Works	31 years, 3 months
Metroid	Metroid August 6, 1986	Metroid: Samus Returns September 15, 2017	Nintendo	31 years, 1 month
Phantasy Star	Phantasy Star December 20, 1987	Idola: Phantasy Star Saga November 27, 2018	Sega	30 years, 11 months
Arkanoid	Arkanoid July 1986	Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders May 17, 2017	Taito (Square Enix)	30 years, 10 months
Mega Man	Mega Man December 17, 1987	Mega Man 11 October 2, 2018	Capcom	30 years, 9 months
Rally-X	Rally-X November 1980	Rally-X Rumble August 17, 2011	Bandai Namco Entertainment	30 years, 9 months
The Legend of Heroes	Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes December 10, 1989	The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki August 27, 2020	Nihon Falcom	30 years, 8 months
R.B.I. Baseball	R.B.I. Baseball 1988	R.B.I. Baseball 19 March 5, 2019	MLB Advanced Media	30 years, 8 months
Metal Gear	Metal Gear July 7, 1987	Metal Gear Survive February 20, 2018	Konami	30 years, 7 months
Romance of the Three Kingdoms	Romance of the Three Kingdoms December 1985	Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII January 28, 2016	Koei Tecmo	30 years, 1 month
Xuan-Yuan Sword	Xuan-Yuan Sword October 13, 1990	Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 October 6, 2020	Softstar	30 years
Reader Rabbit	Reader Rabbit 1983	Reader Rabbit Kart Racing July 3, 2013	The Learning Company	30 years
SaGa	The Final Fantasy Legend December 15, 1989	Romancing SaGa 3 November 11, 2019	Square Enix	29 years, 10 months
Dizzy	Dizzy – The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure June 1987	Mystery World Dizzy April 2017	Codemasters	29 years, 10 months
Fire Emblem	Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light April 20, 1990	Fire Emblem: Three Houses July 26, 2019	Nintendo	29 years, 3 months
Puyo Puyo	Puyo Puyo October 25, 1991	Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 December 8, 2020	Sega	29 years, 1 month
Dr. Mario	Dr. Mario July 27, 1990	Dr. Mario World July 9, 2019	Nintendo	28 years, 11 months
Bubble Bobble	Bubble Bobble August 1986	Bubble Bobble for Kakao June 15, 2015	Taito (Square Enix)	28 years, 10 months
Darius	Darius February 1987	Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours November 30, 2015	Taito	28 years, 9 months
Mana	Final Fantasy Adventure June 28, 1991	Trials of Mana April 24, 2020	Square Enix	28 years, 9 months
Streets of Rage	Streets of Rage August 2, 1991	Streets of Rage 4 April 30, 2020	Sega	28 years, 8 months
Might and Magic	Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum 1986	Might & Magic Heroes VII September 29, 2015	Ubisoft	28 years, 8 months
Rance	Rance: Hikari Quest July 15, 1989	Rance X: Decisive Battle February 23, 2018	Alicesoft	28 years, 7 months
Megami Tensei	Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei September 11, 1987	Persona 5 Strikers February 20, 2020	Atlus	32 years, 5 months
Zork	Zork I November, 1980	Legends of Zork April 1, 2009	Activision	28 years, 5 months
Mappy	Mappy March 25, 1983	Mappy World September 2011	Bandai Namco Entertainment	28 years, 5 months
Kirby	Kirby's Dream Land April 27, 1992	Kirby Fighters 2 September 23, 2020	Nintendo	28 years, 4 months
Sonic the Hedgehog	Sonic the Hedgehog June 23, 1991	Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 November 1, 2019	Sega	28 years, 4 months
Super Robot Wars	Super Robot Taisen April 20, 1991	Super Robot Wars DD August 21, 2019	Bandai Namco Entertainment	28 years, 4 months
Qix	Qix October 1981	Qix++ December 9, 2009	Taito	28 years, 2 months
Twinbee	TwinBee March 5, 1985	Line GoGo! TwinBee May 20, 2013	Konami	28 years, 2 months
Mario Kart	Super Mario Kart August 27, 1992	Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit October 16, 2020	Nintendo	28 years, 1 month
Momotaro Dentetsu	Momotaro Dentetsu December 2, 1988	Momotaro Dentetsu 2017: Tachiagare Nippon!! December 22, 2016	Konami	28 years
Civilization	Civilization September 1991	Civilization VI: Gathering Storm February 14, 2019	Take-Two Interactive	27 years, 5 months
Shining	Shining in the Darkness March 28, 1991	Shining Resonance Refrain July 10, 2018	Sega	27 years, 3 months
Yoshi	Yoshi December 14, 1991	Yoshi’s Crafted World March 29, 2019	Nintendo	27 years, 3 months
Star Soldier	Star Soldier June 13, 1986	Star Soldier for GREE June 20, 2013	Konami	27 years
Metal Max	Metal Max May 24, 1991	Metal Max Xeno April 19, 2018	Enterbrain	26 years, 10 months
Babylonian Castle Saga	The Tower of Druaga June 1984	The Labyrinth of Druaga January 13, 2011	Bandai Namco Entertainment	26 years, 7 months
Mortal Kombat	Mortal Kombat October 8, 1992	Mortal Kombat 11 April 23, 2019	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	26 years, 6 months
Fortune Street	Itadaki Street: Watashi no Omise no Yottette March 21, 1991	Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary October 19, 2017	Square Enix	26 years, 6 months
Microsoft Solitaire	Microsoft Solitaire May 22, 1990	Microsoft Solitaire Collection November 12, 2016	Xbox Game Studios	26 years, 6 months
Mystery Dungeon	Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon September 19, 1993	Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX March 6, 2020	Spike Chunsoft	26 years, 5 months
Doom	Doom December 10, 1993	Doom Eternal March 20, 2020	id Software	26 years, 3 months
The Elder Scrolls	The Elder Scrolls: Arena March 25, 1994	The Elder Scrolls: Blades May 12, 2020	Bethesda Game Studios	26 years, 1 month
Gradius	Gradius May 29, 1985	Gradius the Slot July 2011	Konami	26 years, 1 month
Bubsy	Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind May 1993	Bubsy: Paws on Fire! May 16, 2019	Billionsoft	26 years
Xevious	Xevious January 29, 1983	Xevious Resurrection January 29, 2009	Bandai Namco Entertainment	26 years
Samurai Shodown	Samurai Shodown July 7, 1993	Samurai Shodown June 25, 2019	SNK	25 years, 11 months
Punch-Out!!	Punch-Out!! December 1983	Punch-Out!! May 18, 2009	Nintendo	25 years, 5 months
Ninja Gaiden	Ninja Gaiden October 1988	Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z March 27, 2014	Koei Tecmo	25 years, 5 months
Goemon	Mr. Goemon May 1986	Ganbare Goemon Pachisuro 2 September 2011	Konami	25 years, 4 months
Tex Murphy	Mean Streets January 1, 1989	Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure May 7, 2014	Big Finish Games	25 years, 4 months
Kid Icarus	Kid Icarus December 19, 1986	Kid Icarus Uprising March 22, 2012	Nintendo	25 years, 3 months
Pokémon	Pokémon Red and Blue February 27, 1996	New Pokémon Snap April 30, 2021	Nintendo	25 years, 2 months
SimCity	SimCity October 3, 1989	SimCity BuildIt December 15, 2014	Electronic Arts	25 years, 2 months
Need for Speed	The Need for Speed August 31, 1994	Need for Speed Heat November 8, 2019	Electronic Arts	25 years, 2 months
Test Drive	Test Drive June 6, 1987	Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends July 3, 2012	Atari SA	25 years
Panzer Dragoon	Panzer Dragoon March 10, 1995	Panzer Dragoon Remake March 26, 2020	Sega	25 years
Worms	Worms November 17, 1995	Worms Rumble December 1, 2020	Team17	25 years

See also

• List of best-selling video game franchises
• List of best-selling video games
• List of video game franchises
• History of video games