While countless video games are released every year, there are some franchises that act as tent poles for the whole industry. These long-running and beloved series like Halo, World of Warcraft, and Assassin's Creed have been around for years (or in some cases decades), and are as synonymous with video games as Marvel now is with films. Across their frequent installments, some of these enduring series can lose their way a little, providing diminishing returns in the pursuit of giving fans something fresh and different. The Assassin's Creed franchise now totals twelve main games with the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla in 2020, and it's fair to say not all of them have been gems.