Game development can be a bit of a rough paper round, to say the least. With oodles of pitfalls to avoid and no guarantee that even the most polished projects will find an audience, the success rate is pretty low. So, to be a prolific game developer, you need to have something really special.
Developers that have that Midas touch don’t come along that often, and even those that do rarely produce enough big hitters to become a household name. But, among a sea of competitors, there are a few developers that serve as the best in class.
So, to celebrate those that step up to bat and hit exclusively homeruns, we have listed all the game Devs out there that simply can’t seem to produce anything other than smash hits.
10.
Tribute Games
Beat-Em-Up Brilliance
For those who aren’t super familiar with the work of Tribute, they are the studio that have been bringing arcade beat-em-ups back into vogue, and doing so with aplomb.
Whether it’s the Marvel ensemble cast, or the heroes in a half shell, there’s quite a solid line-up of button-bashing Beat-em-ups to choose from, and each walks that tightrope between retro nostalgia and modern polish expertly.
The success of Absolum perhaps takes the shine off what they have achieved ever so slightly, as they aren’t the exclusive home of classic fighters. But, I would wager that there are more fan service-filled fighters to come from this developer very soon.
9.
Larian Studios
CRPG Cream Of The Crop
This might be a little generous considering the limited catalog that Larian boasts, as well as the fact that Divinity: Eco Draconis exists. But, you can’t deny that Larian has been on a very hot streak for quite some time now.
Larian is, rightly so, categorized by many as the best CRPG developer around today, not only crafting a couple of world-beaters under the Divinity umbrella, but also producing Baldur’s Gate 3. A game so dense and replayable, it’s in the ‘best game of all time’ discussion.
Thanks to the strange mobilith reveal at the TGA’s this year, we now know that another Divinity epic is on the horizon, and if I were a betting man, I would heap all my savings on the likelihood that this one will be the best yet.
8.
Naughty Dog
Yet To Crash Out
Simply put, it would be pretty naughty of us not to have Naughty Dog occupy a spot on this list. They’re a staple of the industry, a staple of my childhood, and a developer with incredible longevity spanning decades.
Crash was the breakout star, but before long Jak and Daxter grabbed the torch, followed by Nathan Drake, and then Joel and Ellie most recently. Sure, some of the games are a little divisive and controversial. But you can’t deny, even if they aren’t for you, they are objectively excellent.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Project is the next big swing by Druckmann and the gang, and while I’ve never been much of an interstellar gaming fan, I think this could be the one that helps me find my place in the galaxy.
7.
Obsidian Entertainment
RPG Veterans
We’ve already mentioned a CRPG juggernaut, but while Larian may be the modern gamer’s champion, Obsidian has been there, done that, and has the catalog of games to prove it.
Within the CRPG space, you have top-tier outings like Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny that serve as modern day greats. But unlike Larian, Obsidian have been a lot more versatile in the RPG space, yet seemingly don’t have it in them to fumble the ball.
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You have first-person stunners like Fallout New Vegas, Avowed and The Outer Worlds to name a few. Plus, some eclectic oddities like South Park: The Stick of Truth and Pentiment.
In short, if you want an RPG done right, you hand over the reins to Obsidian, as those rolaplying veterans know their stuff.
6.
Supergiant Games
A Lesson In AA Consistency
Not many indie or AA studios can dream of being labelled as ‘prolific’. Mainly due to the odds against them even producing one game that cuts through the noise. Which is why the long-term success of Supergiant is something that needs to be studied.
From Bastion and beyond, this developer has managed to create back to back brilliance in video game form. Mainly focussing on top-down isometric hack and slashers, but also with a one-off foray into the world of fantasy sport.
Now that they have a sequel under their belt in the form of Hades 2, the sky really is the limit for this odds-defying studio. I have no idea what’s next for them, but what I do know is that, when the time comes, I’ll be playing it.
5.
ATLUS Games
JRPG Excellence
It took a little while for the world to truly take notice of ATLUS and usher this developer and their works into the mainstream of gaming. However, ever since Persona got the props it deserved as a series, everyone has been retroactively been discovering that ATLUS has been at the top of their game since day one.
Persona is the marquee series under the ATLUS umbrella, but there’s more than just this spicy Pokemon-esque life sim. You have the recent success of Metaphor Re:Fantazio, you have the underrated gem that is Unicorn Overlord, and you also have the one that started it all, SMT.
Square Enix is probably still numero Uno in the world of JRPGs, but ATLUS is for sure a close second. But, unlike Square, which has as many duds and delights, ATLUS simply does not miss.
4.
Sucker Punch
A Knockout Every Time
Longevity is sometimes about producing content frequently enough to remain visible and relevant. However, sometimes it’s just about picking your moments carefully. Which is something that Sucker Punch has always been able to do well.
Sucker Punch’s output essentially boils down to three series across three eras of gaming. Breaking out with Sly Cooper who served as one of the most recognizable Playstation mascots of the PS2 era.
Then, along came Cole McGrath and Delsin Rowe to inject a little spark into our lives. But for many, the magnum opus of Sucker Punch is the Ghost series.
Whether you prefer Tsushima or Yotei, the common denominator is that you’re guaranteed a jaw-dropping open-world adventure. One rich in narrative detail, and even richer with cinematic visuals.
3.
FromSoftware
You Died
When you’re a developer who single-handedly crafts a brand new and popular genre, that does grant you a great deal of grace. Not to mention the love of the gaming community forevermore. However, it also invites copycats to take a shot at the champ.
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So, it’s worth saying that, even with a slew of competent Soulslikes out there, FromSoft deserves all the credit in the world for remaining the top dog in the realm of brutally punishing RPGs.
The rap sheet makes for excellent reading, as, aside from perhaps Nightreign and Dark Souls 2, FromSoft has only produced ‘best games of all time’ contenders. Plus, even the lesser titles mentioned are still wonderful games in their own right.
Simply put, if FromSoftware are pushing out a Souls game, drop everything, pick up a sword and get ready for a horrible, punishing, unforgettable time.
2.
Rockstar
The Open World Blueprint
Okay, so provided you forgive the slip-up that was the remaster of the PS2 GTA trilogy, there’s very little that you can level at Rockstar when it comes to poor quality content, mainly because of their inspired open world blueprint, and their unparalleled attention to detail.
From top-down classics, to realistic sandboxes, and everything in-between, Rockstar has always produced the goods. Creating meticulously crafted, fleshed out, and often satirical and punchy worlds for us all to exist within.
Do we wish they could do what they do within a dev cycle less than a decade? Sure, we do. But, it always seems to be worth the wait, and when GTA VI finally rolls around, we reckon it’ll be another success story that raises the benchmark for all games that come after.
1.
Valve
Gabe Be Praised
They may not do trilogies, much to the chagrin of just about every Portal, Half-Life, and Team Fortress fan out there. But, putting that aside, you can’t help but love Valve. Even if the big quarterly Steam Sales leave us all penniless.
They not only gave us the most accessible hub on PC to play and purchase games. But they have also produced consistently excellent FPS titles ranging from mind-bending puzzlers, to co-op classics.
It’s rare that just about every game a developer produces ends up being a timeless classic that holds an audience across generations, but Valve make the impossible look easy. That’s no lie, even if the cake is.
