List of multimedia franchises originating in games, toys, and merchandise
Following is a list of multimedia franchises originating in games, toys, and merchandise.
In the following tables, the initial media through which the franchise characters or settings became known is shown in boldface. Only works of fiction are considered part of the series; a book or a documentary film about the franchise is not itself an installment in the franchise.
Franchises originating in video games[]
Including film and/or television works[]
| Franchise (creator) |
Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Attorney
(Capcom) |
yes | yes | no | Ace Attorney (2012) | Ace Attorney (2016-2019) | no | Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2005) | Stage play, soundtracks albums, drama CD, Figurines and various other merchandise |
| Alone In The Dark
(Atari SA, THQ Nordic) |
no | Life is a Hideous Thing (2002) | no | Alone In The Dark (2005)
Alone In The Dark II (2008) |
no | no | Alone In The Dark (1992)
several other sequels and reboots |
various merchandise |
| Animal Crossing
(Nintendo) |
no | yes | Dōbutsu no Mori (2006) | no | no | no | Animal Crossing (2001)
numerous sequels and spin-offs |
other merchandise |
| Angry Birds (Rovio Entertainment) |
yes | yes | The Angry Birds Movie (2016) The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) |
no | Angry Birds Toons (2013–) Piggy Tales (2014) |
no | Angry Birds (2009) several sequels and spin-offs |
theme parks, toys, food products |
| Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft Montreal) |
Assassin's Creed (book series) |
various | animated shorts | Assassin's Creed: Lineage (2009) (short) Assassin's Creed (2016) |
no | no | Assassin's Creed (2007) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
|
| Bayonetta
(Platinumgames) |
no | no | Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (2013) | no | no | no | Bayonetta (2009)
Bayonetta 2 (2014) |
Artbooks, Guidbooks, Soundtrack and other merchandise |
| Bomberman
(Hudson Soft Konami) |
no | Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden (1998-1999)
Bomberman Jetters (2002-2003) |
no | no | Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden(1998-1999)
Bomberman Jetters (2002-2003) |
no | Bomberman (1983)
several sequels and spin offs |
collectibles, toys, and numerous other merchandise |
| Borderlands
(2k Take-Two Interactive) |
yes | various | no | Borderlands (in production) | no | no | Borderlands (2009)
various sequels and spin-offs |
Soundtracks, Tabletop games, and various other merchandise |
| Call Of Duty
(Activision) |
no | various | no | Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish (2011) short movie | no | no | Call of Duty (2003)
numerous sequels, series and spin-offs |
Songs, Action Figures, card games and several other merchandise |
| Castlevania (; Konami) |
no | yes | no | no | Castlevania (2017-2021) | no | Castlevania (1986) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
action figures, collectibles, pachinko games |
| Chrono
(Square Enix) |
no | Dimensional Adventure Numa Monjar (1996) | no | no | Dimensional Adventure Numa Monjar OVA (1996) | no | Chrono Trigger (1995)
Chrono Cross (1999) |
Various Merchandise |
| Crash Bandicoot
(Naughty Dog, Activision) |
no | yes | no | no | Crash Bandicoot: No Use Crying
Crash Bandicoot Monster Truck Crash Bandicoot – Titan Idol Crash Bandicoot – Have Another (2007) web short series |
no | Crash Bandicoot (1996) | Action figures, toys, collectibles and various other merchandise |
| Dante's Inferno
(Visceral Games, Electronic Arts) |
no | yes | Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic (2010) | no | no | no | Dante's Inferno (2010) | |
| Darkstalkers
(Capcom) |
yes | various | no | no | Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (1997-1998)
(1995) |
no | Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (1994)
several sequels |
Soundtracks, art books and other merchandise |
| Dead Rising
(Capcom) |
no | yes | no | Zombrex: Dead Rising Sun (2010)
Dead Rising: Watchtower (2015) Dead Rising: Endgame (2016) |
no | no | Dead Rising (2006)
several sequels, spin-offs and re-leases |
Figure actions, soundtracks and other merchandise |
| Dead Space (Glen Schofield) |
2 novels | various | Dead Space: Downfall (2008) Dead Space: Aftermath (2011) |
no | no | no | Dead Space (2008) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
|
| Devil May Cry (Capcom) |
Devil May Cry novels | Devil May Cry manga series Devil May Cry comic book series |
no | no | Devil May Cry: The Animated Series (2007) | no | Devil May Cry (2001) several sequels |
|
| Doom (id Software) |
Doom novels | Doom (1996) | no | Doom (2005) Doom: Annihilation (2019) |
no | no | Doom (1993) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Doom: The Boardgame |
| Dota
(Valve) |
no | no | no | no | Dota: Dragon's Blood (2021- ) | no | Dota 2 (2013)
Artifact (2018) spin-off Dota Underlords (2020) Spin-off |
figure action, and numerous others merchandise |
| Dragon Age (BioWare) |
4 novels | various | Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (2012) | no | no | Dragon Age: Redemption (2011) | Dragon Age: Origins (2009) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
other media |
| Dragon Quest
(Square Enix) |
various | Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (1989-1996) and various others | Dragon Quest Saga – The Crest of Roto
(1996) Dragon Quest: Your Story (2019) |
no | Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (1991-1992)
Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (2020- ) |
no | Dragon Quest (1986)
Numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Yume wo Shinjite, several others merchandise |
| Far Cry
(Ubisoft) |
yes | yes | no | Far Cry (2008)
Inside Eden's Gate (2018) |
no | The Far Cry Experience (2012) | Far Cry (2004) | board game and others merchandise |
| Fatal Frame
(Koei Tecmo) |
Fatal Frame: A Curse Affecting Only Girls (2014) | Fatal Frame: Shadow Priestess (2014) | no | Gekijōban Zero (2014) | no | no | Fatal Frame (2001)
others sequels and spin-offs |
Zero4D attraction, pachinko games and others merchandise |
| Final Fantasy (Hironobu Sakaguchi) |
various | various | several | no | yes | no | Final Fantasy (1987) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
music |
| Fire Emblem
(Nintendo) |
no | various | no | no | Two animated OVA | no | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)
Several others sequels and spin-offs |
Amiibo Figures, Trade Card Games and Others Merchandise |
| Grand Theft Auto
(Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive) |
no | no | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Introduction (2004) short film | GTA 2 – The Movie (1999) | no | no | Grand Theft Auto (1997)
numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Soundtracks, guidebooks and others merchandise |
| Half-Life
(Valve) |
no | no | no | Half-Life Beyond Black Mesa (2011) | no | no | Half-Life (1998)
Half-Life: Opposing Force (1999) Half-Life: Blue Shift (2001) Half-Life: Decay (2001) expansion packs Half-Life 2 (2004) Half-Life 2: Episode One (2006) Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007) expansion packs Half-Life: Alyx (2020) |
Soundtracks, guidebooks and others merchandise |
| Halo (Bungie) |
19 novels | various | Halo Legends (2010) | no | no | Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2012) upcoming series planned |
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
music, board game, action figures other media |
| Hitman
(IO Interactive) |
no | no | no | Hitman (2007)
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) |
no | no | Hitman: Codename 47 (2000)
various others sequels and spin-off |
action figures and others merchandise |
| Kemono Friends (Kemono Friends Project, Mine Yoshizaki) |
various guide books | Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park! (2015–2017) Kemono Friends à la carte Kemono Friends 2 |
no | no | Kemono Friends (2017) Kemono Friends 2 (2019) |
no | Kemono Friends (2015–2016 mobile game) various other mobile games, Nintendo Switch game, arcade game |
Welcome to Japari Park (2018–present, net animation) two stage musicals, various music CDs, audio plays, Weiß Schwarz TCG cards |
| Kingdom Hearts
(Square Enix) |
Light novels and various guide books | Several manga | Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (2017) | no | TV series in development for the Disney+ | no | Kingdom Hearts (2002)
various sequels |
Toys, Figurines, clothes, jewelry, trade card game, soundtracks and various others merchandise |
| The King of Fighters (SNK) |
no | various | no | The King of Fighters (film) (2010) | The King of Fighters: Another Day (2005–2006) The King of Fighters: Destiny (2017) |
no | The King of Fighters '94 (1994) numerous sequels and spinoffs |
cds, collectible card game, pachinko games |
| Kirby (Masahiro Sakurai) |
no | Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives in Pupupu (manga 1995–2006) Various (manga) |
no | no | Kirby: Right Back at Ya! (2001–2003) | no | Kirby's Dream Land (1992) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Kirby Café, clothes, toys |
| League of Legends (Riot Games) |
yes | various | no | no | Arcane (2021) | no | League of Legends (2009) several spin-offs |
music, tabletop games, other media |
| The Legend of Zelda (Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka) |
various | The Legend of Zelda (manga) | no | no | The Legend of Zelda (1989) | no | The Legend of Zelda (1986) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
other media |
| Mario[1] (Shigeru Miyamoto) |
Nintendo Gamebooks | various | Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! (1986) | Super Mario Bros. (1993) | several | The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! | Donkey Kong (1981) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Music theme |
| Mass Effect | Mass Effect: Revelation (2007) several sequels |
various | Mass Effect: Paragon Lost (2012) | no | no | no | Mass Effect (2007) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
board games, action figures |
| Max Payne
(Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive) |
no | yes | no | Max Payne (2008) | no | no | Max Payne (2001)
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003) Max Payne 3 (2012) |
"Late Goodbye" song and others merchandise |
| Mega Man | Mega Man 2 | various | no | upcoming | Mega Man (1994–1995) MegaMan NT Warrior (2002–2003) Mega Man Star Force (2006–2007) |
no | Mega Man (1987) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
- |
| Monster Hunter
(Capcom) |
no | Monster Hunter Orage (2008-2009) | Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild (2021) | Monster Hunter (2020) | Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On (2016-2017) | no | Monster Hunter (2004)
numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Monster Hunter Hunting Card and several others merchandise |
| Mortal Kombat (Ed Boon, John Tobias) |
yes | Mortal Kombat (comics) | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) | Mortal Kombat (1995) Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) Mortal Kombat (2021) |
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1996) | Mortal Kombat: Konquest (1998) Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2011) |
Mortal Kombat (1992) numerous sequels |
collectible card game, live show, action figures |
| Pac-Man (Namco) |
no | yes | no | no | Pac-Man (TV series) (1982–1983) | no | Pac-Man (1980) numerous sequels |
collectible card game, live show, action figures |
| Persona
(Atlus) |
various | various | Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth (2013)
Persona 3 The Movie: #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream (2014) Persona 3 The Movie: #3 Falling Down(2015) Persona 3 The Movie: #4 Winter of Rebirth (2016) Persona 4: The Animation -The Factor of Hope- (2012) |
no | Persona: Trinity Soul (2008)
Persona 4: The Animation (2011-2012) Persona 4: The Golden Animation (2014) Persona 5: The Animation (2018-2019) |
no | Revelations: Persona (1996)
several sequels and spin-offs |
CD Dramas, Stage plays, Persona Stalker Club, Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade, musicals, action figures and numerous others merchandise |
| Pokémon (Satoshi Tajiri) |
yes | Pokémon (manga) | numerous | Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) | Pokémon (anime) | no | Pokémon Red and Blue (1996) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
collectible card game, collectible miniatures game |
| Prince of Persia
(Ubisoft) |
yes | yes | no | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) | no | no | Prince of Persia (1989) | Lego collectibles, and others merchandise |
| Ratchet & Clank (Insomniac Games) |
no | Ratchet & Clank: Bang Bang Bang! Critical Danger of the Galaxy Legend (2004–2008) Ratchet & Clank (comic) (2010–2011) |
Ratchet & Clank (2016) | no | no | no | Ratchet & Clank (2002) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
various merchandise |
| Rayman (Michel Ancel, Ubisoft) |
no | yes | no | no | Rayman: The Animated Series (1999–2000) | no | Rayman (1995) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
Toy |
| Red Dead
(Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive) |
no | no | Red Dead Redemption: The Man from Blackwater (2010) short film | no | no | no | Red Dead Revolver (2004)
Red Dead Redemption (2010) Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare expansion pack (2010) Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) Red Dead Online (2019) |
Guide Books, Soundtracks and others merchandise |
| Resident Evil (Capcom) |
various | various | Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008) Resident Evil: Damnation (2012) |
Resident Evil film series | no | no | Resident Evil (1996) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
various merchandise |
| Silent Hill (Konami) |
yes | Silent Hill (comics) | no | Silent Hill (2006) Silent Hill: Revelation (2012) |
no | no | Silent Hill (1999) numerous sequels |
various merchandise |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | yes | various | no | Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) | yes | no | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
OVA |
| Star Ocean
(Square Enix) |
no | Star Ocean: The Second Story (1998-2001) | no | no | Star Ocean: The Second Story (2001) | no | Star Ocean (1996)
several others sequels |
various Merchandise |
| Street Fighter | yes | Street Fighter (1993) Street Fighter (2003–2018, numerous manga) |
yes | Street Fighter (1994) Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) |
yes | Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014–Present) | Street Fighter (1987) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
card game |
| Tekken | no | Tekken Comic (manga) | Tekken: The Motion Picture (1998) Tekken: Blood Vengeance (2011) |
Tekken (2010) | no | no | Tekken (1994) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
|
| The Last Of Us | no | The Last of Us: American Dreams (2013) | no | no | no | The Last Of Us (in production) | The Last of Us (2013)
The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014) The Last of Us Part II (2020) |
Artbooks, Guidebooks and various others Merchandise |
| Tom Clancy's
(Ubisoft) |
various | various | no | The Hunt for Red October (1990)
several others films and short films |
no | Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018- ) | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (1998) several sequels and spin-off | |
| Tomb Raider | various | Tomb Raider (comics) | no | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) Tomb Raider (2018) |
Revisioned: Tomb Raider Animated Series (2007) | no | Tomb Raider (1996) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
amusement park rides, other media |
| Uncharted | Uncharted: The Fourth Labyrinth (2011) | Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
Uncharted: Eye of Indra (2009) Uncharted (2011) |
no | Uncharted Live Action Fan Film (2018)
Uncharted (2022) |
no | no | Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007) | Soundtracks and numerous others merchandise |
| Xeno
(Monolith Soft) |
no | no | no | no | Xenosaga: The Animation (2007-2008) | no | Xenogears (1998)
various others sequels and series |
Amiibo Figures and others merchandise |
| Warcraft | various | various | no | Warcraft (2016) | no | no | Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
tabletop games |
| Wing Commander (Origin Systems) |
various | no | no | Wing Commander (1999) | Wing Commander Academy (1996) | no | Wing Commander (1990) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
collectible card game |
| Zone of the Enders
(Hideo KoJima, Konami) |
no | no | Zone of the Enders: 2167 Idolo (2001) OVA | no | Z.O.E. Dolores, I (2001) | no | Zone of the Enders (2001)
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (2002) spin-off Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (2003) |
various merchandise |
Not including film and/or television works[]
| Franchise (creator) |
Literature | Comics | Video games | Other media |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Wake
(Remedy Entertainment, Microsoft Studios) |
yes | no | Alan Wake (2010)
Alan Wake's American Nightmare (2012) expansion pack |
soundtrack and others merchandise |
| Banjo-Kazooie
(Rare) |
no | yes | Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
numerous sequels and spin-offs |
action figures,toys, adn others merchandise |
| Battlefield
(DICE, Electronic Arts) |
Battlefield 3: The Russian (2011)
Battlefield 4: Countdown to War(2013) |
no | Battlefield 1942 (2002) | action figures and others merchandise |
| Bioshock
(Ken Levine, Take Two Interactive) |
yes | no | Bioshock (2007)
Bioshock 2 (2010) BioShock Infinite (2013) |
soundtrack, action figures, board games, clothes and others merchandise |
| Bloodborne
(From Software) |
no | various | Bloodborne (2015) | Card game, Board Game and other Merchndise |
| Contra
(Konami) |
no | yes | Contra (1985)
Several others sequels and spin-offs |
various merchandise |
| Crysis
(Crytek, Electronic Arts) |
Crysis Legion (2011)
Crysis Escalation (2013) |
yes | Crysis (2007)
Crysis Warhead (2008) expansion pack Crysis 2 (2011) Crysis 3 (2013) |
Board game, action figures and others merchandise |
| Darksiders
(Vigil Games,Gunfire Games) |
no | yes | Darksiders (2010)
Darksiders II (2012) Darksiders III (2018) Darksiders Genesis (2019) Spin-off |
Action Figures and others merchandise |
| Dead Island
(Techland) |
yes | yes | Dead Island (2011)
Dead Island Riptide (2013) expansion pack Escape Dead Island (2014) spin-off |
various merchandise |
| Destiny
(Bungie) |
yes | yes | Destiny (2014) | Artbooks, Guidebooks, Soundtracks, Cooksbook, and various others merchandise |
| Deus Ex
(Square Enix) |
Deus Ex: Icarus Effect (2011)
Deus Ex: Fallen Angel (2013) Deus Ex: Black Light (2016) Deus Ex: Hard Line (2016) |
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)
Deus Ex: Children's Crusade (2016) Deus Ex: The Dawning Darkness (2016) |
Deus Ex (2000)
Deus Ex: Invisible War (2003) Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011) Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016) |
Art Books, Guide Books and others merchandises |
| Diablo | various | various | Diablo (1996) Diablo II (2000) Diablo III (2012) |
|
| Dishonored | various | no | Dishonored (2012)
Dishonored 2 (2016) Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (2017) expansion pack |
Tabletop role-playing game and others merchandise |
| Drakengard
(Square Enix) |
various light novels and books | various manga | Drakengard (2003)
numerous sequels and spin-offs |
CD drama, soundtracks, musical band, stage play and others merchandise |
| Duke Nukem
(3D Realms) |
no | Duke Nukem: Glorious Bastard (2011) | Duke Nukem (1991)
several others sequels and spin-offs |
Action Figures, toys and others merchandise |
| The Elder Scroll
(Bethesda Game Studio) |
The Infernal City (2009)
Lord of Souls (2011) and several others |
no | The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994) | board games, tabletop role-playing games and several others mercahndises |
| The Evil Within | yes | yes | The Evil Within (2014)
The Evil Within 2 (2017) |
various merchandise |
| Fable
(Microsoft Studios) |
Fable: The Balverine Order (2010)
several others |
no | Fable (2004) | Music, soundtrack and others merchandise |
| Fallout | no | yes | Fallout (1997)
several others sequels and spin-offs |
tabletop wargame, board games and others merchandise |
| Five Nights at Freddy's (Scott Cawthon) |
various | trilogy graphic novels based on novels trilogy | Five Nights at Freddy's (2014) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
merchandise |
| Gears of War | Gears of War: Aspho Fields (2008) several sequels |
Gears of War (comics) | Gears of War (2006) Gears of War 2 (2008) Gears of War 3 (2011) Gears of War: Judgment (2013) |
board game |
| God of War | yes | yes | God of War (2005) several sequels and side games |
music |
| Guild Wars
(ArenaNet, NCSoft) |
various | no | Guild Wars (2005)
Several expansion packs and one sequel |
Artbooks, Guidebooks, soundtracks and numerous others merchandise |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | no | various | Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
Horizon Forbidden West (2022) |
Action figures, soundtrack and others merchandise |
| Ico | yes | no | Ico (2001)
Shadow Of The Colossus (2005) The Last Guardian (2016) |
Soundtrack, Artbook, Guidebook and various merchandise |
| Infamous | no | yes | Infamous (2009)
Infamous 2 (2011) Infamous: Festival of Blood (2011) expansion pack Infamous Second Son (2014) Infamous First Light (2014) expansion pack |
various merchandise |
| Just Cause
(Square Enix) |
no | yes | Just Cause (2006)
Just Cause 2 (2010) Just Cause 3 (2015) Just Cause 4 (2018) |
various merchandise |
| Killzone | yes | yes | Killzone (2004)
Killzone: Liberation (2006) spin-off Killzone 2 (2009) Killzone 3 (2011) Killzone: Mercenary (2013) spin-off Killzone Shadow Fall (2013) |
various merchandise |
| Left 4 Dead
(Valve) |
no | The Sacrifice (2010) | Left 4 Dead (2008)
Left 4 Dead 2 (2009) |
songs, figure action, music and others merchandise |
| Legacy Of Kain
(Square Enix Europe) |
no | yes | Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (1996) | Merchandise |
| Life Is Stranger
(Square Enix) |
yes | yes | Life Is Stranger (2015) | Merchandise |
| Metal Gear (Hideo Kojima) |
yes | several | Metal Gear (1987) numerous sequels and spin-offs |
other media |
| Metroid
(Nintendo) |
no | various | Metroid (1986)
numerous sequels |
Soundtracks and others merchandise |
| Onimusha
(Capcom) |
yes | yes | Onimusha Warlords (2001)
various sequels and spin-off |
Guide books, soundtracks and others merchandise |
| Portal
(Valve) |
no | Portal 2: Lab Rat (2011) | Portal (2007)
Portal 2 (2011) |
Board game, T-shirt, collectibles and others merchandise |
| Quake
(Id Software) |
no | yes | Quake (1998) | Guide books and others merchandise |
| Sekiro:Shadows Die Twice
(From Software) |
no | Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying (2020) | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) | Guide Books and various merchandise |
| Souls
(From Software) |
no | various | Demon Souls (2009)
Dark Souls (2011) Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss (2012) expansion pack Dark Souls II (2014) Dark Souls II: The Lost Crowns (2014) expansion pack Dark Souls III (2016) Dark Souls III: The Ringed City (2017) expansion pack |
Board game, guide books, card game and various others merchandise |
| Soul Calibur
(Bandai Namco Entertainment) |
yes | yes | Soul Edge (1995)
numerous sequels and spin-off |
Action figure, collectible cards, and various others merchandise |
| Splatoon
(Nintendo) |
no | various | Splatoon (2015)
Splatoon 2 (2017) |
Amiibo Figures, Music and others merchandise |
| StarCraft | yes | yes | StarCraft (1998 and later expansions) StarCraft II (2010 and later expansions) |
tabletop games |
| Suikoden
(Konami) |
yes | yes | Suikoden (1995)
several others sequels and spin-off |
guide books and various merchandise |
| Star Fox
(Nintendo) |
no | various | Star Fox (1993)
numerous sequels |
Amiibo Figures, Web video and others merchandise |
| Thief
(Square Enix Europe) |
no | yes | Thief: The Dark Project (1998)
Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004) Thief (2014) |
Merchandise |
| Watch Dogs
(Ubisoft) |
yes | yes | Watch Dogs (2014)
Watch Dogs 2 (2016) Watch Dogs: Legion (2020) |
Merchandise |
| Wolfenstein
(Id Software) |
no | yes | Wolfenstein 3D (1992) | guide books and others merchandise |
Franchises originating in board games, card games, tabletop games and role-playing games[]
| Franchise (creator) |
Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BattleTech (Jordan Weisman, L. Ross Babcock III) |
List of BattleTech novels | yes | no | no | BattleTech: The Animated Series (1994) | no | yes | Classic BattleTech wargame several other table-top games |
| Car Wars (Steve Jackson Games) |
3 novels | yes | no | no | no | no | Autoduel | Car Wars table-top game other table-top games |
| Cyberpunk
(Mike Pondsmith) |
List of Cyberpunk Novels | Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team (2020) | no | no | no | no | Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) | Cyberpunk tabletop role-playing game, Netrunner, Cyberpunk the CCG, CyberGeneration, The Arasaka Brainworm, Greenwar and various others role-playing and board games |
| Dungeons & Dragons (Gary Gygax) |
Dungeons & Dragons (novels) | Dungeons & Dragons (comics) | Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight (2008) | Dungeons & Dragons (2000) two sequels |
Dungeons & Dragons (1983–1985) | no | List of Dungeons & Dragons video games | Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game board games |
| Magic: The Gathering (Richard Garfield) |
several | several | no | no | no | no | several | Magic: The Gathering trading card game |
| Mutant Chronicles (Target Games) |
3 novels | yes | no | Mutant Chronicles (2008) | no | no | Doom Troopers (1995) | Mutant Chronicles role-playing game several table-top games |
| Shadowrun (FASA Corporation) |
several | no | no | no | no | no | several | Shadowrun role-playing game several other table-top games |
| Warhammer (Games Workshop) | List of Warhammer Fantasy novels List of Warhammer 40,000 novels |
Warhammer Fantasy comics Warhammer 40,000 comics |
Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie (2010) | no | no | no | Warhammer video games | Warhammer Fantasy Battle miniature wargame several other table-top games |
| World of Darkness (White Wolf Publishing) | several | yes | no | no | no | Kindred: The Embraced (1996) | yes | Vampire: The Masquerade role-playing game several other table-top games |
Franchises originating in toys, attractions and other media[]
| Franchise (creator) |
Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Toys, attractions and other media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.) |
no | yes | The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999) Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000) several TV specials |
Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (2004) Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015) |
The Alvin Show (1961–1962) Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983–1990) ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks (2010) |
no | yes | The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late); Alvin and the Chipmunks discography live stage show |
| The Amory Wars (Claudio Sanchez) |
Year of the Black Rainbow (2010) | several | no | upcoming | no | no | yes | Albums by Coheed and Cambria |
| American Girl (Pleasant Rowland) |
numerous | no | no | several | no | no | several | American Girl dolls |
| Barbie (Ruth Handler) |
numerous | yes | numerous direct to video | no | Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012–) | no | several | Barbie fashion dolls |
| BanG Dream! (Bushiroad) |
BanG_Dream! Star Beat (2016) | several | BanG Dream! Film Live (2019) BanG Dream! Episode of Roselia (2021) |
no | BanG Dream! (2017–2020) BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico (2018–2020) |
no | BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! (2017) | Live Concerts, Albums and various merchandise |
| Bratz (Carter Bryant) |
several | no | several direct to video | Bratz: The Movie (2007) | Bratz (2005–2006) | Bratz Design Academy (2008) | several | Bratz fashion dolls |
| Captain Sabertooth (Terje Formoe) |
numerous | several | yes | The Dream of Captain Sabertooth's Kingdom and several others | no | yes | several | Captain Sabertooth Stage plays |
| Care Bears (Elena Kucharik, Linda Denham) |
several | yes | several | no | several | no | several | Care Bears greeting cards various merchandise |
| Digimon (Bandai) |
Digimon Adventure Light Novel (2001) | several | 9 | no | 6 | no | several | Virtual pet Card game |
| G.I. Joe (Hasbro) |
no | G.I. Joe (comics) | G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) | G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) |
Various productions, beginning with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985–1987) | no | List of G.I. Joe video games | List of G.I. Joe action figure series |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) |
5 original novels (1979–1992) And Another Thing... (2006) |
yes | no | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) | no | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981) | several | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series (1978–1980) stage play |
| Lego (The Lego Group) |
several | no | The Lego Movie franchise; direct-to-video films | no | no | no | several | Lego building blocks; Legoland theme park |
| Lone Ranger (George W. Trendle or Fran Striker) |
The Lone Ranger (1936), and numerous others | various| | no | The Lone Ranger (1938 film serial); | The Lone Ranger (1966–1968) | The Lone Ranger (1949–1957); numerous others | The Lone Ranger (1991) | The Lone Ranger (1933 radio show) |
| Madea (Tyler Perry) |
Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings (2006) | no | Madea's Tough Love | numerous | no | House of Payne | no | I Can Do Bad All by Myself (1999) Numerous other stage plays |
| My Little Pony (Hasbro) |
yes | yes | My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) Various direct-to-video films produced in 2000s My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (2013) and two sequels My Little Pony: The Movie (2017) |
no | My Little Pony (1984 TV special) My Little Pony: Escape from Catrina (1985 TV special) My Little Pony (1986, part of My Little Pony 'n Friends anthology series) My Little Pony Tales (1992) My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (2010) |
no | yes | My Little Pony (toy line) |
| The Odd Couple (Neil Simon) |
no | no | no | The Odd Couple (1968) The Odd Couple II (1998) |
The Oddball Couple (1975–1977) | The Odd Couple (1970–1975) The New Odd Couple (1982–1983) The Odd Couple (2015) |
no | The Odd Couple (1965 stage play) |
| Patlabor (Headgear) |
yes | Patlabor: The Movie (1989) Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993) WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 (2002) |
The Next Generation Patlabor: Shuto Kessen (2015) | Patlabor on Television (1989−1990) | The Next Generation: Patlabor (2014–2015) | yes | Patlabor: Early Days (1988–1989 OVA) Patlabor: The New Files (1990–1992 OVA) Patlabor Concert Tour '92: Project Tokyo soundtracks, toys, model kits | |
| Pirates of the Caribbean[2] (The Walt Disney Company) |
Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow (12 books) Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court (5 books) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom |
no | no | Pirates of the Caribbean (film series) (2003–2017) | no | no | List of Pirates of the Caribbean video games | Disney theme park ride, beginning in 1967 |
| Strawberry Shortcake (Muriel Fahrion) |
yes | yes | several | no | several | no | List of Strawberry Shortcake video games | Strawberry Shortcake greeting cards various merchandise |
| Transformers[2][3] (Hasbro, based on two existing toy lines created by Takara) |
List of Transformers books | Transformers (comics) | The Transformers: The Movie (1986) | Transformers (film series) (2007–) | The Transformers (1982–1987); various series | no | List of Transformers video games | Transformers (toy line) |
See also[]
- List of fictional shared universes in film and television – many multimedia franchises are based in fictional universes
- List of public domain works with multimedia adaptations
- List of highest-grossing media franchises
- Media mix
References[]
- ^ Roger Parry, The Ascent of Media: From Gilgamesh to Google Via Gutenberg (2011), p. 317, ISBN 1857885708: "Along with associated feature films, comic books, and character merchandise, Mario has become a hugely valuable global multimedia franchise".
- ^ a b Harry J. Brown, Videogames and Education (2008), p. 41, ISBN 0765629496:
In one of the most celebrated ventures in media convergence, Larry and Andy Wachowski, creators of The Matrix trilogy, produced the game Enter the Matrix (2003) simultaneously with the last two films of the trilogy, shooting scenes for the game on the movie's sets with the movie s actors, and releasing the game on the same day as The Matrix: Reloaded. Likewise, on September 21, 2004, Lucasfilm jointly released a new DVD box set of the original Star Wars trilogy with Star Wars: Battlefront, a combat game in which players can reenact battles from all six Star Wars films. In 2005, Peter Jackson likewise produced his blockbuster film King Kong (2005) in tandem with a successful King Kong game designed by Michael Ancel and published by Ubisoft. In the last several years, numerous licensed videogame adaptations of major summer and holiday blockbusters were released a few days before or a few days after their respective films, including: all three Star Wars films (1999–2005); all five Harry Potter films (2001–2008); all three Spider-Man films (2002–2007); Hulk (2002); The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005); Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006); Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007); and Transformers (2007). These multimedia franchises have made it more difficult to distinguish the production of films and videogames as separate enterprises.
- ^ Marc DiPaolo, War, Politics and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film (2011), p. 39, ISBN 0786485795: "The multimedia franchise is bolstered by the imaginations of the Transformers fans that imbue the flimsy material with their own potent fantasies of family cars and household devices turning into robots".
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| Media lists |
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- Mass media franchises
- Cultural lists