Biggest Video Game Franchise Rivalries

The rivalry between the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat franchises began in the early 1990s when both fighting games were competing for players' attention in arcades. While Street Fighter was known for its balanced gameplay and deep mechanics, Mortal Kombat stood out with its controversial violence and fatalities. Both series continue to thrive, each with its dedicated fan base, but have coexisted without a definitive winner.

Guitar Hero and Rock Band were rival music rhythm games in the late 2000s. Both franchises allowed players to simulate playing instruments to popular songs. Guitar Hero initially focused on guitar gameplay, while Rock Band introduced a full band experience. The rivalry has since cooled down, with both franchises experiencing a decline in popularity.

In the early '90s, the rivalry between Nintendo's Mario and Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog was at the forefront of the console wars. As the mascots of their respective companies, they competed for market dominance. While Mario continued to be successful, Sonic's popularity waned. However, the rivalry ended when Sega exited the console market, and Sonic began appearing on Nintendo consoles.

The rivalry between Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport began in the early 2000s when Forza Motorsport was released to compete with the established Gran Turismo series. Both franchises are known for their realism and extensive car rosters. Gran Turismo has been a PlayStation exclusive, while Forza Motorsport is exclusive to Xbox consoles, making their rivalry an extension of the console wars.

The rivalry between Pokémon and Digimon started in the late '90s, with both franchises featuring creatures that could be collected, trained, and battled. While Pokémon has maintained its popularity and expanded into various media, Digimon's prominence has waned. Pokémon remains the dominant franchise, but Digimon still has a dedicated fan base.

World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV are two major MMORPGs that have been competing for players since the release of Final Fantasy XIV in 2010. While World of Warcraft was the dominant MMORPG for years, Final Fantasy XIV's successful relaunch as A Realm Reborn in 2013 gained it a dedicated following. Both games continue to release expansions and maintain active player bases.

The rivalry between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer dates back to the late '90s, as both franchises competed to be the best soccer video game. FIFA held the advantage with its official licensing, while PES was praised for its more realistic gameplay. Although FIFA has been more commercially successful, both franchises continue to coexist with their dedicated fan bases.

Need for Speed and Burnout were two racing game franchises that competed in the early to mid-2000s. Need for Speed focused on street racing and car customization, while Burnout emphasized high-speed crashes and destruction. The rivalry ended when Criterion Games, the developer of Burnout, started working on the Need for Speed franchise, effectively merging the two series' gameplay styles.

Resident Evil and Silent Hill were rival survival horror franchises in the late '90s and early 2000s. Resident Evil emphasized action and combat against bio-engineered monsters, while Silent Hill delved into psychological horror and atmospheric storytelling. Although Resident Evil has maintained its popularity with successful sequels and remakes, Silent Hill has not had a mainline entry since 2012, diminishing the rivalry.

Call of Duty and Battlefield have been competing for the first-person shooter market since the early 2000s. Call of Duty focused on fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay, while Battlefield emphasized large-scale battles and vehicular combat. Both franchises continue to release new installments, but Call of Duty has consistently outsold Battlefield.