18 Most Addicting Video Game Franchises of All Time
By Kris Kucza
Video games can be addicting, there's no disputing that. Other video games can be extremely addicting. The kind that makes you focus solely on one game for an extended period of time. The kind that makes you forget about all other games while you're playing it. The kind that requires persistence and a grind to fully engross yourself in it.
Or, it's just a game you can't put down. Or a game you just open your phone and play every day on your way to work.
These are the 18 most addicting video game franchises of all time.
18. DayZ
The precursor to the battle royale craze and the superstar of the survival genre, DayZ may not have the same player base it once had but it's still one of the most addicting games of all time.
Originally a mod of Arma 2, DayZ eventually became a standalone game. If you missed the boat on the DayZ hype, the game is now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
17. 2048
Everyone's initial experience with 2048 was mostly the same. You get the grasp of the objective, you connect a couple boxes, and then you lose...but then you start a new game.
Once people understood the algorithm to 2048, the addictive nature came into play. It was all about high scores and nothing more.
16. Guitar Hero/Rock Band
"One more song! One more song! One more song!"
Creating your own encore performance at home was never easier than with Rock Band or Guitar Hero. Guitar Hero kicked things off, but Rock Band incorporated your friends to create your own home studio.
Countless riffs and broken kick pedals later, these two musical franchises hold a special place in the gaming world.
15. PUBG
PUBG might not be as popular as Fortnite in terms of player base, but it's still one of the most addicting games. It offers a different take on battle royale, opting for a more realistic and combat-intensive approach.
The best part about PUBG? It's only getting better and better as development comes along. Just ignore those pesky bugs for now.
14. GoldenEye 007
The king of Nintendo 64 FPS split-screen experiences, GoldenEye 007 is just one of the greatest games of all time. Based on the James Bond film of the same name, GoldenEye 007 created the FPS craze. The PP7, the Golden Gun, Oddjob's hat, those were some of the iconic weapons from the classic.
13. Halo
Try to think of a more addicting feeling in console multiplayer than trying to hit 50 in a Halo 3 playlist? That's right, you can't.
Halo is one of the most prolific franchises of all time, so the addictive part was to be expected. Whether you're trying to beat a campaign on legendary, create the ultimate map in Forge, or just simply destroy people, Halo was the game to play in the late 2000s on Xbox.
12. The Elder Scrolls
Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls is one of the most popular RPGs of all time. Skyrim, the most recent entry, has been remade and re-released more than one game should, but the replay factor is insane. Exploring new areas, playing downloadable content, even just buying the game on a different platform, The Elder Scrolls remains an addictive game to this day.
Oh, it also has an MMO too...
11. Super Smash Bros.
The epitome of a four-player fighting game featuring fan-favorite characters from Nintendo and other franchises, Smash's addictive nature doesn't go unnoticed. Whether it's N64, Melee, Brawl, Wii U or Ultimate, there's always a new battle to be had with Smash. It's just about stopping yourself after the 20th or so to take a break.
10. Pokemon
With a tagline like "Gotta catch 'em all!", how could the Pokemon franchise not be on a list of the most addicting games of all time?
The grind to fill up a Pokedex was one of many attributing factors to Pokemon's success. Battling and trading with friends, collecting gym badges, evolving and training your own Pokemon, being a Pokemon trainer is one of the most time intensive games ever.
9. EverQuest
The original addicting MMO, EverQuest players fell into a pit once getting invested into its online world. Such is to be expected with MMO players who play that extra bit to unlock armor or complete a quest. No one could predict just how addictive MMOs would become, let alone EverQuest.
8. Grand Theft Auto
Once Grand Theft Auto III came out and changed the open world sandbox genre forever, it was bound to become one of the most addictive games ever. Fast forward to Grand Theft Auto V, which has a popular online mode, GTA remains to this day one of the most addicting games ever.
7. The Sims
Name a more iconic past time than messing around with your Sims.
Okay, it might not be up there with some of gaming's most addictive, but The Sims gave people the control they wanted over other peoples lives. Start and end relationships, create a life, buy a house, the options were endless.
6. Tetris
There's not much to say about this entry. It's Tetris. People should know how addicting it is just by its name. One of the original games where beating your high score was a major accomplishment, Tetris stands the test of time as not only addicting, but as an influential creation.
5. Candy Crush Saga
We've all been there. You're commuting to work, or you're on a long car ride. Your only source of entertainment to kill time is your smartphone. What's the number one game everyone goes to?
If you didn't answer Candy Crush Saga, you're lying to yourself. It may not be the first ever addicting phone game, but it is sure the one that wears the crown.
4. Call of Duty
The king of the first-person shooter genre since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, it was the cause of late nights in high school for many teens. The grind for weapon camos, the next prestige, that insane no-scope, very few games pale in comparison to the addictive nature of Call of Duty.
The latest entry, Black Ops 4, even introduced a battle royale mode. Blackout only increased the franchise's replay value and is trending upward as a game.
3. Fortnite
It's the most popular battle royale game quite possibly ever. The thought of a game toppling it in terms of popularity is enticing, but something unimaginable in today's landscape.
Epic Games' Fortnite is a unique twist on the genre, allowing players to farm materials and build structures. It's a BR game meets Minecraft. No one could've predicted how popular it would be come, let alone how addicting it is.
2. Minecraft
It's number two on the list, but it very well could be number one. Speaking from experience, no game sucks you in for hours like Minecraft does.
Logging on at 7 p.m, building and mining turns into a eight hour session and it's 3 a.m. The amount of creativity, custom servers, and overall fun makes Minecraft one of the most addicting games ever.
1. World of Warcraft
Was there any doubt? When the original World of Warcraft released in 2004, it changed the MMORPG landscape forever. Seven expansions later, the most recent being Battle for Azeroth, WoW still has a stranglehold on the market and shows no signs of ever slowing down.