The best franchises making a comeback in 2025 and beyond

3 months ago, by Thibaut

Some major video game franchises have been gone for several years! Fortunately, publishers have decided to revive several of them in response to strong demand from fans. In 2025 and beyond, iconic franchises from our medium (and pop culture in general) will be making a comeback. Sometimes, sagas remain “dormant” for a very long time due to commercial failure or simply because their studio has moved on to other projects. In any case, let's take a look at some of the must-have franchises that will be arriving on consoles and PCs in the near future.

We have to start with the already unmissable Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set to grab all the attention when it is released in May 2026. It will be almost 13 years after the launch of the fifth installment that this sequel will reach us. Players will be able to immerse themselves in a realistic, lively Vice City, rich in activities. Not to mention the multiplayer mode, which should provide content for the title for many years to come. The GTA franchise is now much more than just a series of video games. It is a cultural phenomenon that is sure to generate billions of dollars in revenue for Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive. We can undoubtedly expect a huge wave of excitement when GTA VI is finally released after what has seemed like an interminable wait!

But before we think about 2026, 2025 has some great comebacks in store. Players have already been able to rediscover Mafia: The Old Country almost nine years after a third installment that proved very disappointing. For this new game, Hangar 13 has opted for caution, choosing a more linear structure and a shorter narrative experience. This doesn't detract from the quality of the game, which is a worthy successor to a previously much-loved saga. The same is true of Silent Hill f, which will be the first completely new installment in 12 years. This time, Konami will transport us to a Japanese city in the 1960s. Once again, this is a new setting in the history of this horror saga, which had run out of steam with a series of lower-quality games. While some questions remain ahead of its September release, this new Silent Hill looks quite promising.

Still on the subject of big comebacks, we must of course celebrate the upcoming arrival of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Announced in June 2017, this FPS has kept us waiting for eight long years. Our patience should be rewarded, however, as the title looks great on Switch and especially on Switch 2. We've also had to be patient for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which will finally be released in October. The same goes for one game that's a cult classic already - without even having been released. Team Cherry's latest title will be available September 2025 on consoles and PC, and it's safe to say that the team took its time to deliver a complete, visually stunning, and above all very affordable experience for just over €20. 2025 will be considered a historic year, as this sequel to Hollow Knight will have taken seven years to reach us. Commercial success is therefore expected, even though the saga is currently only known for a single game.

Then, apart from GTA VI, other franchises will be making a comeback in what promises to be an exceptional year in 2026. Capcom has decided to revive its Japanese action-adventure franchise with Onimusha: Way of the Sword. However, the publisher has completely revamped the game, modernizing the gameplay and visuals and adding a touch of modernity. Playground Games will have its work cut out with Fable. The RPG series originally designed by Lionhead will be rebooted by the studio behind Forza Horizon. Suffice to say that this new installment will be closely scrutinized. Finally, James Bond, the most famous secret agent, will take us back to his youth with 007 First Light. This production promises to be ultra-ambitious from the creators of Hitman.

So, a large number of licenses will be returning very soon. We haven't been able to list them all, as some games don't have a release date yet. We're thinking, for example, of Mass Effect 5, The Elder Scrolls VI, The Witcher IV, and even Okami. Video games are a beloved medium for these big comebacks, which are frequently requested by players. Even today, there are still countless abandoned franchises just waiting to be revived. Uncharted, inFamous, Banjo-Kazooie, F-Zero, and even Resistance have disappeared... But other franchises such as Rayman and Splinter Cell will soon be back for our viewing pleasure!