Video game franchise

A Video game franchise is something that can be difficult to define, but as this is an encyclopedia, a common set of criteria must be laid down. Thus, the definition that is used at is "a set of video game releases that follow a common theme, often featuring the same brand, where the video games collectively take place across different places or times within the same video game universe".

Example
LEGO Rock Band can be considered to be part of the LEGO and Rock Band franchises; LEGO itself is not really a series, as its constituent member video games have wildly different themes and mechanics between each other, but games such as LEGO Batman, LEGO Batman 2 and LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham can be considered a series within the LEGO franchise. Rock Band can also be considered a franchise, as this game is not a direct entry in the line of Rock Band releases, but it thematically related to it.