sometimes you can't play older games from certain franchises cause well, the games are kinda shit. But sometimes we have amazing franchises that endure the test of time.

Here's my top 3.

First, Mario. It's the definitive answer (I think)

Second, Zelda, for obvious reasons

Third, Persona... the best RPG franchise, it's  better than Pokemon and Final Fantasy... come at me.

what about you.

I use to have so many but many fell.

Right now it is just Mario, Zelda and SMT as well.

I'm thinking Resident Evil and Final Fantasy here. Also a more obscure entry, Ace Attorney.

Mario games basically never age. The only exceptions are the original for the outdated gameplay and 64 for the simple graphics

Besides the ones already mentioned, Mega Man and Civilization.

true but you can do that with story-driven franchises like Smt/Persona cause the games are not connected. Other examples: Bioshock (although there are references) Final Fantasy, Mother, GTA and Uncharted.

This is actually tough because for one reason or another, some GDLK franchises are exempt from this criteria. For example, I find NES Metroid too obsolete to play when Zero Mission exists. That said:

Sonic the Hedgehog - I can play 2 and 3 but always get bored halfway into the first game.

Mega Man 8bit - Talking 1-6 and 9-10. I favor some over others but really, pop in any and I'm making my way to Wily.

Wario Land - Anyone who's played these games know what's up.

Pokemon SM and Breath of the Wild have ruined me on their respective series(3D Zelda at least).

I was thinking this before playing the game but every zelda game is so different in some aspects that I can enjoy most of them without thinking "this one is better than this one"

but I understand what you're saying.

Final Fantasy or Mario, of course they have some weaker games but overall consistent quality. Currently replaying ff6 :D

Okay cool. I don't need to explain then, haha.

Twilight Princess will always be my jam no matter what.  It does so many things that enriches the series; it's not the most original game but if a game was ever "epic", Twilight Princess is the zenith.