Some game series stay in their lane forever. They release sequels, maybe a remake, and that’s it. Others? They just kind of explode. They show up as movies, board games, merch, weird novelty items, and sometimes even as totally different types of games you’d never expect.
Here are a few of the biggest franchises that didn’t just stick to one format but managed to jump into new ones, without losing what makes them special for true millennial fans.
The Sims
The Sims is one of those franchises that almost doesn’t belong to any specific category anymore. Sure, it’s a life-sim, but it’s also a social experiment, a dollhouse, a design tool, and sometimes just a chaos simulator.
With more than 200 million sales and a mountain of expansions, it’s easily one of the most versatile gaming brands ever created. It’s branched into mobile games, collaborations, branded content, and pretty much everything else except a movie (though we might get even that soon enough). Because the whole idea is so flexible, The Sims fits into new formats better than most franchises ever could.
Pokémon
Pokémon is basically everywhere at this point: games, cards, movies, clothes, cafés, and the list goes on. With nearly half a billion games sold, it’s one of the most recognisable pop-culture worlds ever created.
Its growth outside the original Game Boy titles happened naturally: spinoffs, apps like Pokémon GO, and collaborations that reach more than gaming. Because the Pokémon universe is already so big, transforming it into different game types is surprisingly easy, and fans happily follow it into every new space.
Mario
Every time you think Mario has done everything, he shows up doing something new. Racing? Check. Sports? Check. RPGs, party games, 2D platformers, 3D platformers, he’s done them all, yet the franchise still feels fresh.
Mario sits at almost 900 million sales, making it the biggest video game franchise ever, but what’s even more impressive is how well it adapts. Some series struggle outside their main genre, but Mario seems to thrive anywhere he lands.
The Goonies
Some franchises stick around because people can’t bear to let them fade, and The Goonies is definitely one of those. It’s quotable, iconic, and full of that ‘80s adventure energy that’s still so charming today.
That nostalgia gave it a whole new life in digital gaming adaptations, and also made it big as a series of online slots games, which proves the strength of the franchise. The film’s treasure-hunting vibe basically writes half the game mechanics for you.
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed is the most recent big franchise to cross over and maybe the most interesting. The franchise has evolved from stealth-focused historical adventures to massive open-world games.
Its worlds are rich, dramatic, and iconic, so it’s no surprise Ubisoft partnered with Games Global to create four story-driven slot games, and while nobody knows what they’ll look like yet, the universe offers endless options.
Valhalla could lend its Viking battles and longship voyages. Mirage brings ninth-century Baghdad. And Black Flag? Well, people would play anything with Edward Kenway on it. Who doesn’t love pirates? The franchise has sold over 200 million games, so its crossover into new formats feels like the next natural step.
Monopoly
Last but definitely not least: the board game that entertains and causes arguments all over the world. Monopoly has survived almost 90 years and hasn’t slowed down, partly because it’s so easy to reinvent. Every city gets its own edition, every pop-culture brand gets a themed version, and eventually, it’s jumped over into digital games too.
Once it made the move online, the transition into slot-style adaptations was surprisingly smooth. The board layout, the characters, and the tokens all translate into mechanics without losing the classic Monopoly feel.
Final Thoughts
All of these franchises figured out the big secret: build a world people care about, and they’ll follow it anywhere. Across platforms, genres, decades, and even entirely different kinds of games, these show just how big a great franchise can really become.