* DivorcedInstallment: The first game started development as ''VideoGame/{{Descent}} 4''. When Descent's developer Parallax split into Outrage and Volition and ''Descent 4'' fell into DevelopmentHell, Volition recycled the [=GeoMod=] technology, anti-gravity vehicle sections, Mars setting, and protagonist intended for ''Descent 4'' into ''Red Faction''.
* DummiedOut: A pre-release demo for Red Faction has Shrike and Molov be voiced by different actors, Shrike is crazy, the HUD is different and some of the weapons have different models.
* ExecutiveMeddling: The original plans for ''Armageddon'' (''Red Faction: Crusade'' at the time) had no plans to involve Aliens until THQ forced them to.
* FollowTheLeader: Some have criticized ''Red Faction: Armageddon'' for taking a lot of cues from Microsoft's ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' and [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA's]] ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' franchise. It also takes some cues from ''Singularity''.
* FranchiseKiller: After a successful revival with ''Guerilla'', ''Armageddon'' received a lukewarm critical reaction and sold so poorly that THQ stated that they no longer had plans for more ''Red Faction'' games. Koch Media pointedly did not acquire the rights to the ''Red Faction'' series when they purchased Volition after THQ's bankruptcy. However, the rights were eventually bought by Nordic (now renamed THQ Nordic) and they re-released the first two games digitally for the [=PS4=] and a remaster of ''Guerilla'' for Xbox One, Play Station 4 and PC.
* TheOtherDarrin: Averted in ''Origins'' and ''Armageddon'', where BigBad Adam Hale (the only recurring character) is played by the same guy in both the movie and the game, and his in-game character even looks like an older version of the actor.