Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios have published all manner of games over the years, primarily for their series of Xbox consoles. With their relatively recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft now owns a shocking number of franchises.
However, this topic will focus primarily on Microsoft’s older Xbox franchises. More specifically, these are all notable franchises with at least three mainline entries. From the still-running franchises ofHaloandGears Of War, to old trilogies such asCrackdownandFable, these are just a few of Xbox’s biggest franchises.
Taking place in a future dystopian police state,Crackdownputs players in the shoes of a super-soldier hunting down gang leaders in a violent city.Crackdownis somewhat of a sandbox, despite being a third-person shooter, allowing players to approach objectives however they like, in whatever order they see fit.
The game’s sequel,Crackdown 2, provided much of the same third-person action, but with advanced movement options and a mutant enemy faction known as the “Freaks.” Similarly toCrackdown 2,Crackdown 3kept to the formula of its predecessors. However,Crackdown 3’ssingle-player mode offers an arguably more modernized and streamlined version of the agingCrackdown 2.
This iconic trilogy of action RPGs takes place in the fantasy setting of Albion and the various ages of its existence. The firstFableentry took clear influence from classic Medieval imagery that’s reminiscent of the fantasy landscapes ofThe Lord Of The Rings. The secondFablegame, however, featured the addition of gunpowder to the setting, and an overall aesthetic that encompassed that of the “Age of Enlightenment”.
Fable 3took the series in a different direction, bringing the setting of Albion into an industrial age.Fable 3was, unfortunately for many, the last of the mainlineFablegames for a long while. However, thankfully, the iconic franchise is set to receive a fourth entry in the near future. AlthoughFableonly received three mainline entries, it included several spin-offs and small games in the form ofFable 2: Pub Games(2008),Fable Heroes(2012),Fable: The Journey(2012), and the free-to-play card game,Fable Fortune(2017).
This iconic series of dark and gritty third-person, cover-based shooter games is known for its downtrodden tone and grim setting. InGears Of War, players take on the role of a soldier fighting a losing battle against a race of horrific creatures that emerge from beneath the planet’s surface. The game’s stark and unique setting makes for a perfect action-game playground, andGears Of Warmaintains its serious narrative and spooky atmosphere throughout each entry. However, it could be argued that the earlier games did a better job, specifically the first three games of the franchise.
Overall, there are currently sevengames in theGears Of Warfranchise. Five of these games are mainline entries, most of which follow the story of the iconic protagonist, Marcus Fenix. It’s worth noting that many of theGears Of Wartitles are perfect for playing with a friend in two-player co-op, a feature that is becoming rarer in the modern-era.
With its first title,Halo: Combat Evolved,released all the way back in 2001and its latest title,Halo Infinite, released in 2021,Halois a franchise that has been around for quite some time. With over twenty years of entries,Halohas seen many fans come and go. All in all, theHaloseries has seen a total of thirteen games, though only six of those games are mainline entries.
However, spin-offs such asHalo 3: ODSTandHalo: Reacharenotable entries in the franchise. In fact, the latter entry sustained a solid multiplayer community for many years, furthered by its extensive level creator, Forge. Other spin-offs such as the twin-stick shooterSpartan Assaultand the on-rails arcade game,Fireteam Raven, may have fallen into obscurity, but provided uniqueHaloexperiences nonetheless.Halo 2andHalo 3are also notable entries for their online communities, and the campaigns of the first three games provide a satisfying and dramatic narrative journey.
This long-running seriesof slick racing games covers two sub-series of games:Forza Motorsport, andForza Horizon. Together, their Xbox entries comprise a total of thirteen games, fourteen including the standalone spin-off ofForza Horizon 2:Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious. These games are known for their slick, shiny visuals and solid mainstream racing gameplay.
Forzais known for bringing simulation racing games to the Xbox console, and has continued to uphold its reputation as a mainstream racing game with a high pedigree. Despite being an Xbox franchise,Forza Horizon 5is tremendously popular on Steam, as well, sporting over 150,000 user reviews, 88% of which are positive at the time of writing. In fact, for fans of racing games, it’s hard to go wrong with many ofForza’s latest entries.
