8 Action Games From Well-Known Developers That Went Under the Radar

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Every video game developer has to start somewhere. It’s just a fact of life.

FromSoftware, the creators of Elden Ring, have been developing games for a long time – even before that hit title, they made games like Lost Kingdoms. And it’s not just the big names – many well-known developers have created games you might have forgotten. For instance, did you know BioWare, famous for RPGs, actually made a Sonic the Hedgehog role-playing game for the Nintendo DS?

The video game industry is full of surprises – even the most successful developers have created games that many players have never heard of. This is especially true for action games, where big-name studios often have hidden gems in their back catalog.

8. King’s Field

FromSoftware’s First Game

Since I mentioned FromSoftware, this seems like a good place to start.

Their first game was King’s Field, an action role-playing game with a style reminiscent of the later Elder Scrolls series. Although critics liked it, it was only made available in Japan.

Like most games made by FromSoftware, this one is known for being challenging. Little did we know then just how difficult it would become!

7. MDK2

That Time Bioware Didn’T Make an RPG

Developer Bioware
Publisher Interplay Entertainment
Release Date March 29, 2000

BioWare is widely considered one of the greatest role-playing game developers ever. They’re famous for creating unforgettable titles like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect – games that fans cherish to this day.

MDK2 isn’t a classic BioWare title, but it’s still a game they made. It was actually quite fun to play, but its release only on the Dreamcast for a limited time unfortunately held it back.

A PS2 version was released in 2001, and a Nintendo Wii re-release in 2011.

6. Oni

Developed by Bungie, Published by Rockstar Games

I remember a PlayStation 2 game that really stood out to me when I was working at GameStop back in the mid-2000s.

Oni is an action game played from a third-person perspective, but it doesn’t quite reach the level of games like Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden. However, what really stood out to me wasn’t the way it played.

It was the game’s title that really stood out. Considering the companies involved – Bungie developing and Rockstar publishing – you’d think it would be amazing. But this was before either company became a huge success in the gaming industry.

5. The Warriors

Rockstar’s Cult Classic Game That’s Based on the Cult Classic Movie

The 1979 movie The Warriors is a beloved, stylish, and exciting cult classic. So, when Rockstar Games announced they were making an action-packed beat ’em up game based on the film, people were very excited.

I’m reminded of my time working at GameStop, where we used to play a trailer on VHS that featured Cyrus’s famous speech. Combine that with Rockstar’s usual style, and you had all the ingredients for a true fan favorite.

While PlayStation 5 owners can play the Warriors game originally made for PS4, Xbox users don’t have that same ability.

4. Blackthorne

Blizzard’s Long-Lost Platformer

As a long-time Blizzard fan, I always think about how they really found their style with Blackthorne. It wasn’t their very first game, but it’s the one that feels like a Blizzard game to me – the first one where you can really see what they would become known for.

This action platformer has a really cool and unique style, which helps it stand out from other games in the genre. However, that style hasn’t quite led to the same level of popularity as games like Lost Vikings.

Even so, it’s still fun to revisit Blizzard’s history and remember the good old days.

3. Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand

Produced by Hideo Kojima

Although not officially branded as a Hideo Kojima game, Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand was still created with his direct involvement.

Boktai is an action RPG for the Game Boy Advance with a unique feature: it uses the system’s light sensor as part of the gameplay. This fits perfectly with the game’s story, which centers around battling vampires.

Add in a dash of stealth action, and you have one of the more unique games you’ll ever play.

2. Shellshock: Nam ’67

Guerrilla’s Overly Generic Shooter

Man, I remember the 2000s – it felt like a flood of pretty similar shooters just kept coming out! There was something in the air, or maybe the water, that made it so easy for those games to get made and released.

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World War II isn’t the only setting for popular shooters. Vietnam-era games had a moment too. I really liked Battlefield Vietnam when it came out in 2004, but Shellshock: Nam ’67 was pretty forgettable.

That same year, though, Guerrilla would release another shooter that saw more success: Killzone.

1. Song of the Deep

Insomniac’s Action-adventure Published by…GameStop?

The period between when Insomniac finished making Resistance games and started developing Marvel’s Spider-Man was a bit unusual.

The collection includes a few Ratchet & Clank titles and the Xbox One game Sunset Overdrive, but it’s mostly filled with lesser-known or forgotten games.

Song of the Deep, a Metroidvania released in 2016 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, didn’t make a big splash when it came out. Interestingly enough, it’s probably best remembered for being published by GameStop.

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2026-05-03 19:40