10 Criminally Underrated Video Game Developers

As the people responsible for the interactive experiences we love so much, video game developers are the industry’s backbone.

These studios composed of tens of thousands of talented workers are the ones who create the games we talk about endlessly on these lists, so giving them credit is always important.

However, many companies don’t get the admiration their quality deserves, whether because they belong to a niche genre or people don’t associate their titles with their brand.

Therefore, to pay tribute to these brilliant enterprises that need more recognition than they get, here are ten criminally underrated video game developers.

10 Spiders

A Growing Quality

Many studios have created an identity around FromSoftware’s teachings, but few have gone as far as Spiders.

While limiting them to their latest releases would be reductive, the growth they’ve experienced from Bound by Flame to Steelrising is a testament to their passion for the A-RPG genre.

Likewise, Of Orcs and Men is an under-the-radar classic that captivates fans of medieval fantasy worlds, despite having obvious shortcomings.

Ahead of the upcoming release of GreedFall 2: The Dying World, I think it’s a perfect occasion to appreciate the development of Spiders, who continue to grow to a limit only they will decide.

9 Cyanide Studio

Bizarre and Funny

As a big stealth fan, I find it impossible not to put Cyanide Studio on this list.

Just because of their work with Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness, I feel like the developer has gone more unnoticed than it should, as it has nothing to envy of the genre’s greats.

If you add the Blood Bowl franchise, their participation in Of Orcs and Men, their work with cycling video games, and the atmospheric Call of Cthulhu, I genuinely think they are very interesting.

Cyanide is also far from perfect, but thanks to their creativity and constant attempts to do things differently, I would say they deserve recognition.

8 Giant Sparrow

Video Games Are Art

Walking simulators are one of the most underrated and neglected genres in the video game industry, which explains why Giant Sparrow is not more popular.

Otherwise, The Unfinished Swan and What Remains of Edith Finch would be more than enough to position the studio among the most prominent in the independent sector.

The narrative skill and ability to convey feelings are immaculate, as they make you feel like a core component of their worlds and connect with their characters in a unique and special way.

I’m not one to cry much over video games, but I recognize Giant Sparrow has the ability to destroy me emotionally every time I remember their titles.

7 Owlcat Games

A Pure RPG Developer

Since the more classic side of RPGs isn’t quite popular, I understand why Owlcat Games flies under the radar.

However, as fans of the genre will know, the Pathfinder series is an absolute marvel, offering two of the purest CPRG experiences you can find on the market.

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They walked so today’s blockbusters could run.

Despite the studio being well-known within the niche, I feel the genre’s limited media reach has prevented it from reaching a larger audience, though it deserves it.

Maybe in the future this style of game will become more popular or the developer will try their luck with a more accessible approach, but in any case, Owlcat Games is great.

6 Flying Wild Hog

Visceral Games At Their Peak

I’ve been saying it for years, and by the looks of things, it seems I’ll never stop, but Shadow Warrior is one of the most overlooked series.

As a result, Flying Wild Hog is also criminally underrated, both for its superb flagship trilogy and for the other notable releases they have.

As the creators of the interesting Trek to Yomi and the great Evil West (one of the best AA games out there), Flying Wild Hog has been putting together years of quality, but they just can’t seem to win the masses’ hearts.

Still, I don’t know the first person who has played one of their games and not felt completely eager to continue to see what else the developer has to offer, and I hope that sentiment is replicated even more.

5 Red Candle Games

Masters of Range

Numerous indie developers can make the list of underrated teams, but few have the range of Red Candle Games.

Besides creating two superb horror games, as both Devotion and Detention are wonderful and create sensations the big productions would love to, they are also responsible for the magnificent Nine Sols.

As one of the best metroidvanias of recent years, their latest release alone is enough to make them more highly regarded than the average.

Switching from one genre to another with such quality is rarely seen in the industry, and I think it guarantees them additional recognition due to how difficult the feat is.

4 Digital Sun Games

Creating Games Truly Worth Playing

As their motto suggests, Digital Sun Games is a small indie studio “creating games truly worth playing”, and I think that sums up my opinion of their work perfectly.

With each new release, the team has proven its ability to approach different genres with extraordinary imagination and intelligence, producing robust games in different playable and artistic styles.

Above all, I think Moonlighter is their highlight given its roguelite prominence, but The Mageseeker and Cataclismo add an enjoyable variety to their catalog that exemplifies their talent and adaptability.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is on the way, and I believe Digital Sun Games will make a leap in popularity that truly reflects the excellent care they put into each game.

3 Croteam

Shooters and Puzzlers

If both the Serious Sam and The Talos Principle franchises are underrated, there’s only one way to describe their developers at Croteam.

While the former is a historical classic of shooters and the latter is a modern classic of puzzlers, players hardly know the names of their creators.

Perhaps veterans of video games can recognize them thanks to the huge number of installments Serious Sam has, but that’s not enough given its track record.

Yet, if I have to be honest, the main reason for placing it here is The Talos Principle 2. Being one of the best puzzle games ever, the fact that we’re not talking about Croteam every day is disappointing, though its merit goes beyond its latest gem.

2 Gunfire Games

Literally From The Ashes

While I’ve always believed Darksiders 3 is noticeably underrated, Gunfire Games’ work with the Remnant series is what most supports my arguments about their undeniable talent.

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Becoming one of the most recommendable cooperative series of today, Remnant: From the Ashes and Remnant 2 are among the genre’s best representatives.

They are also the creators of the Chronos series and have multiple interesting forays into virtual reality, such as From Other Suns and Herobound Gladiators. These don’t excite me to the same extent as the first ones mentioned, but they further broaden the developer’s journey.

Now that Darksiders 4 is a reality, I don’t accept anything less than indescribable hype for its release, as Gunfire Games has forged a tremendous path that supports them down to the last detail.

1 Deconstructeam

The Best Storytellers

As of today, it isn’t easy to find a studio that tells better stories than Deconstructeam, one of the best developers of narrative-driven games.

From their first game to their last, this small team has delivered many of the most memorable adventures I have had the pleasure of playing.

I’m genuinely surprised at how little support their titles get in light of their consistent excellence. Gods Will Be Watching, The Red Strings Club, and The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood are three masterpieces of point-and-click adventures.

I have faith that Deconstructeam will receive the popular support it deserves. In terms of stories, characters, art, and music, few independent developers can match their level.

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