Most video game developers have a specialty that they’re known for. Platinum Games are the masters of fast-paced, combo-heavy action games. Arkane has built a name for itself in stealthy immersive sims. BioWare has established a reputation for sprawling narrative RPGs with romance options. These are only a few examples.
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Some developers, however, have managed to branch out of their established genres and not only have succeeded at the challenge but managed to produce work as good as, or even better than, the games they were already known for. These developers made genre-hopping look effortless and established themselves as masterful chameleons.
10Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly is an interesting case. They’re mostlyknown for real-time strategy titles, almost exclusively working on theTotal Warfranchise. They haven’t branched out much, but the one time they did, they created a classic game in a genre with absolutely no resemblance to strategy games.
Alien Isolation, released in 2014, came from Creative Assembly despite the studio having no experience with survival horror. Despite this, they managed to nail theAlienaesthetic so effectively and made encounters with the xenomorph so tense and uncomfortable that it instantly won over horror fans everywhere. Sadly, they haven’t repeated this since, but it’s possible that their upcoming FPSHyenascould see them mastering a third genre if all goes well.
9Level-5
It’s hard to pin down exactly what Level-5 are best at. They’re arguably best known for theProfessor Laytonseries of casual puzzle games, but they also have a ton of critically acclaimed RPGs under their belt too. Whether it’s their work with Sony on games likeDark CloudorRogue Galaxy, theNi No Kunifranchise, or their work onDragon Quest, they’ve quietly established a solid reputation in the genre.
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That’s not all though, as they’re also responsible for the belovedInazuma Elevenseries of soccer-based RPGs. While the RPG elements certainly fit their other games, half the gameplay of these titles is soccer, much like an anime version of theFIFAseries, meaning they’ve also mastered sports games too.
8Rare
Rare had a reputation back in the 1990s for being an unstoppable developer, responsible for some of the N64’s most beloved and critically acclaimed titles, and even better, they were great in multiple ways. BetweenBanjo-KazooieandGoldeneye, they proved their ability to simultaneously produce classic 3D platformers and first-person shooters within the space of only a few years.
While their output following Microsoft’s acquisition was relegated to Kinect-based sports games that weren’t well received, Rare has since managed to claw back their reputation withSea of Thieves, an online pirate game that’s won over gamers looking tosail the seven seas with their friends, adding yet another genre to their skill set.
7Sucker Punch
Sucker Punch made a name for themselves on the PS2 with theSly Cooperseries, which already took two genres popular at the time – 3D platformers and stealth games – andcombined them to superb effect. Since then, they’ve done a great job reinventing themselves with each generation of PlayStation.
On the PS3, they turned their attention to chaotic superhero open-world action with theInfamousgames, and on the PS4 they eventually took the open-world formula and built a samurai game with methodical combat and stealth inGhost of Tsushima. It’s clear that Sucker Punch is not a company interested in sticking too long in one place.
6Insomniac
Another Sony studio, Insomniac, proved themselves early on as masters of the 3D platformer genre with theSpyro the Dragonseries on PS1. On the PS2, they added third-person shooter elements to the genre and createdRatchet & Clank, a series that persists to this day with the PS5-exclusiveRift Apart.
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That’s not all though. During the PS3 era, Insomniac successfully turned their hand to horror-themed first-person shooters with theResistanceseries, while more recent years have seen them deeply involved with open-world superhero games thanks toSpider-Manon the PS4. With more Marvel games on the way and a continued interest inRatchet & Clank, it’s clear they want to stay known as a studio with a diverse catalog of games.
5Naughty Dog
A third Sony studio, Naughty Dog’s journey is similar to Insomniac’s. They created the iconicCrash Bandicootgames on PS1, which would eventually lead to the creation of theJak & Daxterseries on PS2. That series evolved over time, turning from a simpleMario 64-style 3D platformer into a combination of open-world, driving, and third-person shooter.
Naughty Dog would later expand their horizons even further, withUnchartedbeing predominately an action-adventure title with third-person shooter elements baked in, whileThe Last of Uswas full survival horror with an emotional narrative. Hopefully, this isn’t the end ofNaughty Dog’s surprise shifts in genre, as it’s always exciting to see where they go next.
4Team Ninja
Team Ninja is the master of meticulously crafted action games in a number of different genres. While theDead or Aliveseries isn’t quite as revered as other fighting game franchises, it’s still one of themore consistent ongoing fighting gamesto this day.
However, they’ve also shown themselves to be masters of brutally hard combo-based action games with theNinja Gaidenreboot series, and of action RPGs that effectively challenge FromSoftware to their crown with theNiohtitles. They’ve even turned their hands to Metroidvanias and horror by providing assistance on theMetroidandFatal Framefranchises.
3Bandai Namco Studios
Bandai Namco’s internal development studio has produced a wide range of games. One of the more famous of these isTekken, one of the more iconic fighting game franchises out there, but they’re also known for producing the critically acclaimed JRPG franchiseTales, as well as countless well-received licensed anime games.
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They’re so good at swapping between genres that they’ve also shown up working for other publishers to produce an even wider range of titles. The fact they developed the photography gameNew Pokemon Snapfor Nintendo is proof of how out there they can get.
2Nintendo
Nintendo’s internal studios are known for producing a ton of high-quality games and some of the most iconic franchises in gaming. They also produce a wide range of game types, fromMariotitles to theZeldaseries. Titles likeStar FoxandPikminhave also seen them branch out into rail shooters and real-time strategy too, always with a unique Nintendo twist.
While most of the differing series come from different teams, the super chillAnimal Crossingseries andthe fast-paced shooterSplatoonare developed by the same team, proving that even within the same team, Nintendo is capable of producing a wide range of games.
1Capcom
Capcom’s internal teams have not only produced games in a vast range of genres, but they’ve also somehow managed to make many of them some of the most iconic franchises ever. Two of these are even genre-defining.Street Fighterhas served as the basis for all fighting games that followed it, whileResident Evildefined and even named the entire survival horror genre.
It doesn’t stop there though, as games likeDevil May Cry,Monster Hunter, andMega Manhave all come from within Capcom, all of them beloved by many, and each of them in a completely different genre. With fighting games, survival horror, character action, action RPGs, and 2D platformers, it’s clear thatCapcom is a master at whatever they turn their attention to.
