10 Video Game Franchises That Could Receive Prince of Persia’s Treatment

As the years go by and more and more franchises emerge, long-established developers increasingly face the dilemma of choosing which IPs to dedicate the most resources to.

Today's high-production video games cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take many years to develop, which has significantly reduced release rates and, consequently, the regularity with which we see certain series.

If we add to that the extinction of numerous genres that used to be relevant but no longer are, the result is a graveyard of intellectual properties that have been dormant for a long time, and we don't know if they will ever be revived.

However, Ubisoft did something magnificent with one of its most beloved and unfortunate series, Prince of Persia, by creating Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and outsourcing The Rogue of Prince of Persia, so I invite you to read this article on ten video game franchises that could replicate Prince of Persia's rebirth.

10 Dragon Ball

Forced to Transcend Fights

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (2024)

Dragon Ball in video games has always been synonymous with the fighting genre, though I've been thinking for years that the animated franchise's extensive depth and history offer much more than what's currently explored.

While the main appeal of Akira Toriyama's work is undeniable, it's also difficult to refute that, even with how good Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero was, there's a sense of weariness and fatigue because the formula seems to have reached its limits.

Nevertheless, Dragon Ball's world is brimming with fascinating concepts beyond the main ones, with numerous eras converging (from dinosaurs to futuristic technologies) to create a vast array of mechanical possibilities of all kinds.

A gadget-based stealth game where you play as part of Capsule Corp staff, a Chrono Trigger-style JRPG where you play as kid Goku and his companions (unlike Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans), an open world where you're not part of the Z Fighters but still help fight evil... The opportunities are endless, even if Bandai Namco doesn't see it.

9 Devil May Cry

To Kill the Cravings

Devil May Cry 5 (2019)

Since Devil May Cry 5 became part of the best hack-and-slash titles in history, it didn't take long for fans to start clamoring for a sequel, which hasn't arrived even after all these years.

Capcom has numerous franchises under its belt, and while this one is among the most successful, it falls far short of what Resident Evil and Monster Hunter have achieved in terms of sales, making it increasingly difficult for them to focus on Dante and company.

Therefore, I don't think there's a better time than now for them, like SoulQuest or Slave Zero X, to leap to 2D action without losing the stylized and polished combat based on combos and aerial attacks, since indie developers have already demonstrated the formula is perfectly adaptable.

Unlike Dragon Ball, Devil May Cry's lore isn't deep enough to explore mechanical aspects far removed from action, though I think absolutely no one would refuse a smaller-scale project that momentarily kills the craving for Devil May Cry 6.

8 Mass Effect

Waiting for a Miracle

Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017)

Determining which genre the Mass Effect concept could be shifted to boost public appreciation for the IP, especially after the Andromeda debacle, is considerably more difficult than in previous cases, but BioWare must do something.

Expectations for the next main installment are low, especially given how many years have passed without any official announcements about the project, leading to the perception that it will likely suffer the same fate as the critically panned Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The Canadian studio, much like Ubisoft before Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, has amassed numerous releases with mixed receptions from the public, and Mass Effect hasn't been relevant since the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era.

I'd be lying if I said I had a clear idea of ​​what a spin-off of the IP would look like, yet I firmly believe an alternative project that plays it safe but has soul and identity would greatly help position the franchise in the minds of younger generations, since only those of us who are older have had the opportunity to play a good game in the series.

7 Tenchu

Dimensional Transformations

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (2008)

If there's one thing Mark of the Ninja proved to the world, it's that 2D stealth games based on ninjas work wonderfully well, so I think it's time for FromSoftware to follow suit and do something with Tenchu.

While I understand the Soulsborne formula has been more financially profitable than anything else in the world, and that Armored Core is Hidetaka Miyazaki's favorite child, the company would benefit considerably from reviving this icon of the stealth genre.

Miyazaki has repeatedly stated his intention to cultivate new leadership within the company, as demonstrated by Elden Ring Nightreign and Armored Core 6, so a modern Tenchu ​spin-off would kill two birds with one stone for the Japanese developer.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice briefly touched on the possibility, and titles like Aragami and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun showcase the depth to which ninjas can approach stealth, so it's definitely the best moment for Tenchu ​to return.

6 Asura's Wrath

A Misunderstood Gem

Asura's Wrath (2012)

Asura's Wrath is a one-hit wonder that was misunderstood in its time (even though the true ending was only available as DLC, which was awful). Now, Capcom has the opportunity to score a massive win with very little to lose.

Among all the franchises mentioned so far, none has as much room for growth as this one, especially from a gameplay perspective. The combat in the original game was, at best, forgettable, as its strength stemmed from everything else.

Through spectacular QTEs, a wonderful story, beautiful art, glorious mythological adaptation, unforgettable characters, and an incomparable soundtrack, it's a work of art with very little fun to be had, but the possibilities within its world are fascinating.

A Metroidvania like Guacamelee!, a roguelike like Absolum, a turn-based card game like Death Howl... Asura's Wrath has the thematic depth to do it all, and expectations would already be so low that it would be impossible for it not to surprise in a good way.

5 Splinter Cell

Ubisoft's Biggest Debt

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist (2013)

Ubisoft is one of the biggest players when it comes to disregarded franchises, with giants like Splinter Cell that seem to be in a vegetative state rather than on hiatus.

It's been over ten years since Sam Fisher has given us anything beyond collaborations with other titles, and the notion of ​​a main installment, which would be ideal, feels so distant that I can't help but think a spin-off is the most likely option.

It could be a conventional third-person stealth experience, jump to two dimensions with a non-realistic art style, allow for temporary protagonist changes, or explore the possibilities the genre delivers thanks to its rich history.

While I think a remake is more probable, I sincerely hope they look to the affection The Lost Crown garnered for Prince of Persia, especially considering Splinter Cell fans are among those who have suffered the most from the French company's neglect.

4 Mirror’s Edge

The Longing for Organic Parkour

Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016)

Electronic Arts has had a forgettable generation for countless reasons, and lacking a truly significant change of direction, I feel the first step to winning back audiences could come from Mirror's Edge.

While Faith's latest journey isn't particularly acclaimed, the series is held in extremely high esteem by the community, and there are even more people who miss it, given that no other major developer has dared to create a first-person platformer.

The genre doesn't offer many alternatives in terms of perspectives available to revitalize the formula through a spin-off, but a two-dimensional game with The Rogue of Prince of Persia's divine movement mechanics would be a marvel of biblical proportions, especially if they don't add combat or roguelike elements.

Ghostrunner, Neon White, and Bloodthief, to name a few, have been indie hits based on the lessons learned from Mirror's Edge, so it's time for Electronic Arts to acknowledge its influence and use that feedback to surpass itself once again.

3 Thief

Aged Shadows

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (2025)

It's no surprise Thief also makes an appearance on this list, considering the current state of the stealth genre, and despite Thief VR's existence, as the last attempt to keep the series relevant, targeted a niche audience that lacks the drive to revive it

However, much like Tenchu ​and Splinter Cell, the franchise has been absent for so long that a less ambitious but charismatic and passionate spin-off would do wonders to please its fans, who are numerous given it's the same line of games that shaped the entire genre.

Switching to a different camera perspective or changing characters, as seen in Thief VR itself, might be a gamble with limited financial returns, but it would follow Ubisoft's move with Prince of Persia, which wasn't driven by immediate expectations, but rather by paving the way for the future.

There may not be plans for another main Thief installment, though if there were, such an endeavor would be very difficult without improving and increasing public opinion about the IP through a more focused and secure project, since it must be remembered that stealth is not what it used to be, and this is also true in economic terms.

2 Dante’s Inferno

A Hope That Doesn't Die

Dante's Inferno (2010)

While God of War: Sons of Sparta might seem like a cautionary tale about which path not to take, a practically dead IP like Dante's Inferno, besides being quite missed due to its undervaluation at the time, could find its future by understanding what not to repeat from Sony's product.

The idea of ​​a 2D Metroidvania based on Visceral Games' mythological interpretation of the work is phenomenal, especially since the passage of time hasn't brought with it any other examples that depict Divine Comedy's inner workings with this same level of detail.

It's not just a new Dante's Inferno that's desired, but also more heartfelt adaptations of Dante Alighieri's creation, and the latest installments of long-running sagas like Prince of Persia, Castlevania, or God of War itself provide the necessary external learning to achieve a hit without having to experiment and fail until finding the right formula.

For many years, the franchise was seen as merely the least relevant clone of Kratos's travels, but that assessment has changed a lot over time, and any project bearing its name will be more successful than the original, making it a virtually guaranteed triumph.

1 Assassin’s Creed

Desperately in Need of a Change

Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025)

I believe Splinter Cell is Ubisoft's biggest debt to its audience, though I don't think any franchise could benefit more from Prince of Persia's recent experience than the one born from its lessons: Assassin's Creed.

For over a decade, the developer has tried everything to recapture the level of success and affection they garnered during the seventh generation of consoles, but their focus on market trends has painfully and considerably distanced them from what they once were.

Their titles continue to sell well; that's undeniable, though each new iteration of Assassin's Creed leaves a bitter taste, a lingering sense of defeat that no amount of cosmetic enhancements, historical periods, or graphical improvements can erase.

Thus, assuming Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will be a sales phenomenon, Ubisoft has the opportunity to understand it cannot survive on remakes or identical sequels indefinitely, and that a spin-off like The Lost Crown would generate the kind of trust its main installments can no longer garner.

The demise of Assassin’s Creed is guaranteed on its current path, and if the goal is for it to achieve the same longevity as franchises like Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, or Resident Evil, trying genuinely new things with the necessary level of production, attention to detail, and confidence is fundamental.