Considering the breakneck pace at which the video game industry tends to move, it is only natural that some great brands of the past stay right there, in the past. However, as much as these names are left untouched, they are by no means forgotten.
And as hardware and technology reach new heights multiple times a year, we can’t help but think about how an older game would look if it had the chance to be developed under these new circumstances. There certainly is a major demand for remakes and remasters, after all.
While we don’t know the answer to that, we can hope that the 10 gaming franchises below get their chance to make a comeback, if not for the money, then at least for the fans’ sake. Oh, and consider this your warning for some severe spoilers in some of these games.
1. Splinter Cell
Last seen in Splinter Cell: Blacklist in 2013, former NSA super agent Sam Fisher is in dire need of a comeback, and the current market justifies it. The brand itself is not forgotten, as we have an animated series called Splinter Cell: Deathwatch currently airing on Netflix, with a second season already confirmed.
Furthermore, despite not starring in his own game for 13 years, Sam Fisher himself has had many crossovers in the expanded Tom Clancy universe, making appearances in Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, and even as a playable character in Rainbow Six Siege.
The thing is, if he is such a pull for French publisher Ubisoft, why keep him “freelancing” in other brands? It is not like a secret agent would run out of global conspiracies to thwart, and given that Ubisoft is leaning heavily on this “brand crossover” approach, it would be really easy for them to take a cliffhanger from other games and create a new, unique adventure led by Fisher, maybe full of easter eggs for story-driven players.
The ball is in your court, Ubisoft. Your move..
2. InFamous
While not the first to do so, InFamous is probably the go-to example of “morality mechanics” in a single-player game. Seeing Cole MacGrath go from a small-time, recently powered neighborhood hero to a bona fide fighter was definitely a sight to behold, with Sucker Punch’s usual strong writing playing a major part in his very plot-twisty storyline. Sure, there was that whole thing about Delsin Rowe as the lead in InFamous: Second Son, but a new game that ties both ends of the franchise together, making both protagonists meet, would be something special.
Of course, there is a canonical question to overcome. Officially, Cole died at the end of the second game in the PS3 era, and while a flash of lightning on his maritime casket led to years of fan theories that he somehow survived, Sucker Punch has stated time and again that Cole is gone.
In fact, to drive that point home, a piece of DLC called Cole’s Legacy sees Delsin investigating the events of New Marais, finding Cole’s story and confirming that everything that happens in Second Son derives straight from Cole’s “Good” ending in the previous game, which, if you haven’t gathered by now, means he paid the ultimate sacrifice.
But Sucker Punch is also known to explore “what if” scenarios, and in at least one of those, Cole survives, stops being a hero, and becomes the very antagonist he once fought against, leading a revolution against humankind and turning into a villainous deuteragonist. That is a perfectly possible scenario to explore, if not a full retcon that revives the original hero.
As for the technology aspect, modern hardware can finally handle the emergent destruction and realistic particle effects required to make electricity or smoke powers feel impactful. The ability to see a city react dynamically to high-stakes combat would elevate the series to new heights. Players are ready for a superpower playground that feels both visually stunning and mechanically reactive.
And speaking of heroes turning villains…
3. Prototype
The last time players stepped into the role of a shapeshifting biological weapon was in 2012’s Prototype 2. Since then, the brand has been dormant, leaving its unique style of urban chaos entirely unfilled. The series was known for its anti-hero power fantasy, allowing players to traverse New York City with brutal efficiency.
In the first game, a confused Alex Mercer wakes up to his own body’s grotesque shapeshifting abilities, turning limbs into weapons and changing skin into armor, among other things. Driven by a desire to feed, he absorbs enemies for nourishment, while some key characters grant him extra abilities such as flight, super-speed running, and stealth, until he finds the ones responsible for his condition and brings them to justice (by “justice”, we mean chopping them down to less than atoms).
Or so we thought. By the end of the first game and the introduction to the second one, Mercer learns that he is, in fact, the biological weapon itself, and the real Alex Mercer was shot and killed while trying to cause the outbreak out of spite. Spoilable shenanigans and tie-in comics ensue, and by the start of Prototype 2, Jake Heller takes the lead, charged with the burden of ending a very villainous and ever more powerful Mercer.
A modern revival could utilize contemporary physics to make environmental interactions more chaotic and realistic. With the popularity of mature, high-stakes narratives rising, a story that explores the darker side of superhuman infection would be a major draw.
4. Golden Sun
It has been over fifteen years since the strategic turn-based magic of Dark Dawn was released, and despite the long hiatus, fans continue to express hope for a sequel that utilizes the series’ unique “Psynergy” magic mechanics. This RPG series was once a premier example of how to blend tactical combat with deep environmental puzzle-solving.
Fans remember the franchise for its enchanting storytelling and its requirement for players to use magic for world exploration. This dual-use magic system brought a layer of depth that many modern JRPGs have simplified, some of them overly so. A comeback would allow a new generation to experience the tactical satisfaction of manipulating the world to uncover hidden secrets.
Given the recent resurgence of high-quality turn-based RPGs (Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles being a prime example), the market for a polished, epic fantasy saga is substantial. A new entry on current systems would benefit from vibrant visuals and more intuitive controls while keeping the classic gameplay intact.
5. Mother/Earthbound
The cult classic RPG series concluded its narrative journey with Mother 3 in 2006, with quite literally the end of all things. While it is widely considered a masterpiece of the genre, the series creator, Shigesato Itoi, has indicated no interest in continuing the brand, or making games, for that matter. This has left a massive, dedicated fanbase longing for either a new entry or a modernized remake of the original trilogy.
The series is beloved for its irreverent humor, emotional narrative, and unique rhythm-based combat system. Its themes of family, loss, and social struggle remain incredibly poignant and relevant to today’s gaming audience. This series proved that RPGs could be deeply personal and socially conscious while remaining engaging.
A revival would tap into a powerful wave of nostalgia while offering a distinctive alternative to modern fantasy RPGs. Even a faithful 2D remake of the existing games would likely be received with immense enthusiasm by both old and new fans.
Furthermore, April 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Mother 3, and you just know the rumor mill has begun spinning again. While Nintendo has made no mention of any project involving the brand, it is worth noting that Itoi himself still manages its content curation, so who knows?
6. Bully
You knew this one was coming, right? Released in 2006 on the PlayStation 2, the controversial “GTA in high school” was exactly that, controversial, earning it a reputation that was further enlarged by the fact that many countries, my own Brazil included, tried to forbid it from circulating.
In this boarding school adventure, you take the mantle of Jimmy Hopkins, a problematic child who ends up enrolled by his uncaring parents in a school full of problematic children. This game remains a fondly remembered classic for its unique setting and story, and while a sequel was reportedly in development for several years, it was officially scrapped by Rockstar Games in 2019, much to the lamenting outcry of the company’s fans.
The franchise received praise for its strong characterization and the novelty of contending with local social hierarchies rather than traditional crime. No other game has managed to capture the specific coming-of-age tension and charm of navigating a school environment. Its return would offer a unique narrative perspective that is currently absent from the market.
A comeback today would allow for a much more detailed and interactive campus environment, leveraging modern hardware for deeper social simulation. With the trend toward highly detailed open worlds, a return to Bullworth could provide a more personal, character-focused experience.
7. Skies of Arcadia
While this is one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, most current-gen gamers fail to recognize it. Suffice it to say, Skies of Arcadia was notable for its colorful world and its tactical ship-to-ship combat, which added an extra layer of strategy to the traditional RPG formula. And the storytelling, the writing, this is, in my opinion, the one game that proved that SEGA was far more than the “House of Sonic”, thanks to a writing style that rivaled Square Enix in its heyday.
Now, this would make a lot of sense for a comeback today because the gaming industry is currently leaning back into “blue sky” optimism. Think less of gritty aesthetics like Final Fantasy XVI and more along the lines of Skies of Arcadia. There really is no better example.
This makes it the perfect time for an adventurous escape, full of colorful themes that offer a refreshing contrast to the grimdark or post-apocalyptic settings common in modern RPGs. A grand discovery-based adventure would feel truly unique in today’s gaming landscape.
A modern revival could bring breathtaking aerial vistas to life with unprecedented scale and beauty. Complex ship-to-ship battles would benefit immensely from updated tactical mechanics and cinematic presentation.
8. Lost Planet
I will take the mea culpa here. I played and reviewed Lost Planet when it originally came out in 2006. I hated it and I absolutely tore into it. Now older, wiser, and balder, I sometimes wish I could take some of that criticism back. The survival-horror-infused sci-fi of this Capcom series was last seen in 2013, and the entire franchise was defined by its extreme environmental survival mechanics and battles against giant alien Akrid. Since then, it has remained dormant while other survival titles have flourished.
Mechanically, this series is a perfect fit for today’s gaming landscape, which is dominated by extraction shooters and co-op survival games. A revival focused on surviving lethal weather while harvesting thermal energy, in a very summarized description, the “currency” of Lost Planet, would align with current player preferences. Add to it a co-op focus, but not exclusively co-op, Capcom, and the series would be a natural fit for modern online infrastructure.
In today’s tech, we have many games that explore the “weather hazard” concept, but Lost Planet was one of the first to properly give it meaning and impact. Every mission was not only a firefight with titanic aliens, but also a constant encounter with creeping tension, as the cold weather slowly drained your resources like a ticking timer that would kill you once it ran out.
9. Killzone
Face it, Sony. You do not have a strong first-person shooter right now, and you are in dire need of one. You should look no further than your own back catalog to fill this void. What are you doing with Killzone?
The gritty, industrial military sci-fi of the Helghast war was last seen in 2013 with Killzone: Shadow Fall. Since that time, the platform holder has lacked a prestige military sci-fi shooter in its lineup. The series was known for its heavy, tactical combat feel and its distinctive, dark aesthetic.
Nowadays, the PlayStation brand is largely dependent on multiplatform offerings or questionable live-service experiments like Concord. And we all know how that turned out.
Recent hits have proven that players still have a massive appetite for gritty, industrial space aesthetics and tactical squad-based combat. A return to the war against the Helghast would offer a serious alternative to the current arcade-focused shooter market. A modern revival could deliver a high-octane war story with cinematic fidelity that current-gen systems can fully realize. Updated physics and sound design would make every gunshot and explosion feel more visceral than ever.
10. Banjo-Kazooie
This iconic platforming duo has been largely absent from the spotlight since 2008’s Nuts & Bolts. While their inclusion in modern crossover fighters generated immense hype and proved their audience still exists, no new mainline project is currently in development. The series remains a cornerstone of the 3D platforming genre.
The collect-a-thon platformer is having a quiet renaissance, making this the perfect moment for a return to the classic formula. Fans have been begging for a “Banjo-Threeie” that focuses on whimsical, ability-based exploration without the vehicle-building of the last entry. The humorous and vibrant spirit of the series is a perfect fit for today’s market.
A comeback would benefit from the power of current systems to create more elaborate, seamless worlds filled with secrets and personality. A high-quality revival that captures the glory of the N64 originals would likely be a massive commercial success. The duo’s charm is timeless, and the industry is more than ready for their return.
Final Thoughts
The demand for these franchises is not just driven by simple nostalgia, but by a genuine desire for the mechanical depth and unique experiences they once provided. As we move through this so-called golden age of remakes and remasters, developers have a unique opportunity to marry cherished memories with modern technical power.
Reviving these ten brands would not only satisfy a dormant fanbase, but also help diversify the current gaming landscape, which can sometimes feel overly reliant on safe formulas and familiar structures. These series represent ideas that still feel fresh, even years later.
At the end of the day, it is not just about bringing something back. It is about doing it right.
