Mario, Zelda, Pokémon — iconic gaming worlds.
6 quizzesGaming franchises are the cultural megaliths of the medium — universes that have outlived multiple console generations and become as instantly recognisable as any Hollywood character. Mario has been jumping since 1981 across dozens of games that redefined platforming, kart racing, and party genres. The Legend of Zelda has reinvented itself every decade, from Ocarina of Time's 3D template to Breath of the Wild's open-world revolution. These are not series — they are cultural institutions.
The pantheon is wide. Pokémon started as two Game Boy cartridges in 1996 and became the highest-grossing media franchise in history, ahead of Marvel and Star Wars. Final Fantasy redefined what stories games could tell. Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 200 million copies — more than the population of most countries. Call of Duty dominates yearly sales charts. Minecraft, sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion, has over 300 million copies sold and a cultural footprint that spans generations of children.
Every franchise has its secret sauce. FromSoftware built the "soulslike" genre around punishing difficulty and environmental storytelling. Rockstar perfected open-world immersion. Blizzard created entire subcultures around Warcraft and Diablo. This subcategory dives into the characters, mechanics, lore, and milestones of the franchises that defined modern gaming.
