Some video games don’t just sell copies; they go on to build entire lasting legacies. What starts as a single game release can snowball into sequels, spin-offs, movies, TV series, merchandise and more, turning a game studio’s original idea into somewhat of a cultural institution. Halo, Minecraft and Thor, albeit three very different games, have each proven how a single game can outgrow itself to become a hit franchise in its own right.
Thor
Thor is a really good place to start as it serves as a reminder that the beginning doesn’t necessarily have to be a video game. The Norse god of thunder was a comic book mainstay in the early days, with the franchise developing from there. He’s starred in his own video games and shown up in countless superhero team-ups on consoles, from LEGO Marvel to Marvel’s Avengers. That same larger-than-life mythology, lightning bolts, hammers, and all, has even made its way into the online slot game space, with titles like Power of Thor Megaways available to play at Betinia Casino and other leading platforms. It’s proof that a franchise doesn’t have to originate on console; it just needs a story big enough to carry and grow.
Halo
Halo redefined what a console shooter could be when it launched alongside the original Xbox in 2001. Master Chief’s fight against the Covenant wasn’t just a killer idea for Microsoft; it became the backbone of a franchise that spanned a dozen titles, novels, comics and a live-action Paramount+ series that brought Master Chief to the screen in a new way. What started as a single sci-fi shooter fast became one of the most renowned brands in gaming, with its own conventions and a thriving esports scene.
Minecraft
Minecraft took a completely different route to the top compared to other titles on this list. There was no marketing blitz, no publisher pushing it into stores, rather just a blocky sandbox built by one Swedish developer that word-of-mouth managed to help turn into the best-selling video game of all time. Since Mojang’s 2011 release, Minecraft has expanded into multiple spin-offs such as Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends, an animated series, merchandise, theme park attractions and a live-action feature film. Few franchises have managed to cross as many mediums while keeping the exact same look and feel that made it instantly recognisable in the first place.
Other Games That Went The Distance
Halo, Minecraft and Thor are far from the only members of this club. Super Mario was building his own multimedia empire from the 1980s, spanning games, cartoons and films. Pokémon turned a couple of Game Boy games into one of the highest-grossing franchises in history, and Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft became a movie star twice over. What links them all is genuine staying power. They all have strong central characters and storylines that can be continually reinvented and reimagined in multiple forms.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great video games that have been released over the years. Many of them have been single releases that turned out to be one-time hits. However, there are some releases that are just special. They serve as the foundation for a lot more, as seen by those titles mentioned above that have gone on to achieve success in multiple areas.
