10 Best Gaming Companies of All Time
Video games are a piece of entertainment history that may never go away. They help bring enjoyment to people’s lives and give them a way to free themselves from the daily challenges that plague their mornings, evenings, and nights. These games wouldn’t be as great if not for the companies responsible for producing them, though.
To celebrate gaming history, we’d like to acknowledge 10 of the best gaming companies today. While they all have their faults, it’s best to highlight those who put in the effort to make people smile.
Of course, let us know about our picks in the comments!
Nintendo
When it comes to making gamers happy, Nintendo is one of the best companies that come to mind. Nintendo isn’t entirely free of ridicule as they’re a bit behind on many fronts. They’re often criticized for their dated hardware, poor online services, and terrible policy decisions. Nonetheless, the company created many harmonious worlds for fans to explore.
From Super Mario Bros. to Splatoon, Nintendo’s delivered many fabulous games. Each title has rich lore, fun gameplay, and wonderful characters fans adore. Furthermore, Nintendo’s the king where handheld gaming is concerned. While their consoles have had their rough instances, Nintendo never fails to deliver a lackluster handheld device.
While the Nintendo Switch’s hardware is starting to reach its last breath, the console’s delivered some of the best titles imaginable. From Super Mario Odyssey to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s hard not to cheer Nintendo on with this beloved system. While they still have room to grow, Nintendo continues to put a smile on their fans’ faces.
PlayStation
PlayStation feels like the adult version of Nintendo. This company has better hardware, great software, and decent management. While some of their decisions haven’t vibed well with specific audiences, PlayStation delivers incredible games that’ll impress fans. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t explore all its properties to their greatest potential.
It’s hard not to come across PlayStation fans who are begging the brand to return to their colorful characters like Sly Cooper or Jak & Daxter. With the amount of success Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart received on the PlayStation 5, who could blame the fans for wanting PlayStation to explore its cartoon-like IP more?
Nevertheless, PlayStation still delivers worthwhile experiences. God of War: Ragnarok is a perfect example of a property that won the hearts of many gamers. It took Kratos and turned him into a loving, relatable father figure. With more fabulous games on the horizon, here’s hoping PlayStation can be more expansive with its dormant IP.
Xbox
Xbox or Microsoft is just as good as its competitive counterparts. They have a powerful console, and a wonderful subscription service, and feel like the underdog in the gaming sphere. While they have strong IPs like Halo and Gears of War, they don’t have much to show most of the time. The problem is the company lacks noteworthy IPs and fails to utilize the dormant ones they have up its sleeve.
For instance, Rare is an incredible developer to have at its disposal. Arguably, this company carried the Nintendo 64 during its heyday with titles like Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing, and others. For some reason, Xbox refuses to tap into their current developers’ potential. However, Xbox isn’t out of the running just yet.
With the acquisition of Activision and Blizzard underway, Xbox has the potential to make a comeback in the gaming market. We’ll have to wait and see how that pans out. Despite their issues, Xbox is a noteworthy company with a passionate following and a healthy ecosystem. Hopefully, they’ll continue to deliver memorable experiences that are worth fans’ time.
Epic Games
Epic Games is a fabulous development company that’s grown substantially in recent years. They’ve worked on fabulous titles like Gears of War and Fortnite, have a dedicated online store that delivers free games to consumers, and have a strong following. Regardless if you love or despise Fortnite for its effect on the gaming industry, you can’t deny the title’s overwhelming success over the years.
This is due to the game having reasonably priced cosmetics, battle passes, and excellent and addictive gameplay. While the Epic Games Store doesn’t offer as many valuable features as Steam, the online marketplace receives exclusive titles and deals that rival those you’d find on Steam. It still has room to expand, though.
Overall, Epic Games has embarked on quite a journey in recent years. Hopefully, they can continue improving their online store and strengthening their relationship with the audience they’ve gained for themselves.
Valve
Another game developer turned company is Valve. Valve has developed incredible titles, maintains a healthy online store, and even developed a handheld PC device to rival Nintendo’s latest system, the Nintendo Switch. This company knows its audience well and continues to excite them with every project they announce or business decision they make.
The games they developed in the past were magnificent. From Left 4 Dead to Portal, every title felt polished and had depth. The Steam Deck is an incredible device that allows you to play your Steam games on the go. Whether it’s something massive like Elden Ring or a small indie title like Undertale, you’ll be amazed by what this handheld PC device can pull off.
Overall, Valve is a great gaming company with its own share of faults and successes. Hopefully, they’ll continue to establish stronger connections with their audience and deliver experiences that are out of this world.
Sega
Sega was one of Nintendo’s biggest rivals during the arcade days. Although it may not be a console competitor like in its glory days, the company still dishes out incredible works for fans to enjoy. From the classic Sonic the Hedgehog series to the hilarious, action-packed adventures found in the Yakuza series, Sega is still delivering wonderful experiences for people to play.
Furthermore, the company’s more lenient toward fans creating works based on their properties. The number of fan projects and collaborations they’ve had with fans and developers alike are enormous compared to Nintendo. Although their mascots had a shaky track record when it comes to delivering great video games, Sonic still has incredible merchandise and films for fans to enjoy.
Capcom
Capcom is an incredible gaming company known for its fabulous properties like Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, and more. The company knows its fanbase well and often participates in community events, tournaments, and everything of the sort. If it weren’t for Street Fighter, arcades wouldn’t have been around for as long as they were.
The company’s maintained a solid track record with their titles, too. While some of its gaming properties have their share of faults, the company knows how to come back stronger than ever. Unfortunately, like other companies, Capcom doesn’t use all of its IP to its fullest potential. They’re some games from their catalog that feel too dormant and deserve to be resurrected.
These titles include Darkstalkers, Okami, and multiple others. It appears the company might revisit those games given that they released a new version of Ghosts ‘n Goblins a few years back. Regardless, Capcom is a compelling gaming company that knows how to appeal to most of its audiences.
Bandai Namco
If Capcom made it on the list, you’d better believe their rivals at Bandai Namco would too. While they’re known for manufacturing toys and collector’s products, the company has dabbled into video game creation. This company was founded by the merger between Bandai and Namco in 2005. Together, they’ve created some of the most memorable video game franchises of all time.
Pac-Man, Tekken, and the Tales series are among the most iconic, though. However, the company helped publish games like 2022’s Game of the Year winner, Elden Ring, and projects like Little Nightmares, Ni No Kuni, and more. The company’s also dipped its toes into hosting its fighting games in various tournaments and events.
If it weren’t for Bandai Namco assisting Masahiro Sakurai in crafting Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, it wouldn’t have been as beloved as it is today. They’ve assisted other developers with gaming projects in the past, too. With many solid properties and gaming projects under its belt, Bandai Namco is a force to be reckoned with.
FromSoftware
FromSoftware is responsible for crafting some of the hardest video games of all time. From the original Darks Souls all the way to Elden Ring, the studio’s known for releasing dark, medieval games that will leave a lasting impression on you. With its fabulous director Hidetaka Miyazaki at the forefront of some of its best titles, the company can’t do wrong in many fans’ eyes.
That’s not to say all their games were masterpieces. There are some titles that didn’t live up to fans’ expectations. Furthermore, their games won’t appeal to everyone. They’re slightly targeted toward those who adored the challenging games that cropped up during the retro console days. Fortunately, they’ve been able to achieve mainstream popularity with most of their hits.
This is all thanks to their dedicated following and great game direction. Even if you’re not a fan of the Souls-like sub-genre of games, many should appreciate what FromSoftware has done for the gaming industry.
Rockstar Games, Inc.
Rockstar Games, Inc. was once regarded as the greatest gaming company of all time by many people. They’ve delivered experiences that went against the grain and held a strong appreciation for their player base. While the company has dished out incredible titles in the past few years, they’ve made some shaky decisions that left fans’ torn.
From the horrid release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition to the consistent problems fans have with GTA Online, it feels like the company’s run into a tight dilemma for itself. Although fans can’t wait for them to reveal the long-awaited sixth entry of the Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar Games must prove themselves worthy of the immense praise they once received.
Problems aside, Rockstar Games has delivered many memorable and cherished gaming experiences in the past. From its quirky titles like Bully and Midnight Club to their iconic hits like Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto, the company has many ways at winning fans back in its favor. Hopefully, with all the controversy they’ve received in recent years, they’ll reclaim the followers they lost along the way.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best video game companies through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!