Retro is a term best used to describe something old, yet stylish, cool, and also still somewhat relevant. Retro games are huge today thanks to the nostalgia factor–more and more gaming companies like Capcom and Square Enix from Japan are exploiting our deep love for their franchises that we played for hours as kids, for them to be brought back in a shiny new HD engine.

However, it was quite different back in the day (late 1980’s, early 1990’s) when the gaming industry was truly blossoming. Fledgling game studious would rise and define the next evolution of games – id Software would pave the way for First Person Shooters with their groundbreaking Wolfenstein 3D and then Doom (If you are into some online casinos action with themes inspired by the retro games, you can check some reviews of Canadian friendly sites, with ample selection of mobile casinos and casino reviews included.).

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best and most influential game developers from the recent past that are still going strong or that have been closed, yet have still had a major impact for gaming in general. Game on!

BioWare

The famed Canadian game studio that has redefined the term RPG (role playing game) with classics such as Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights, ruled the 90’s RPG scene. Thanks to their incredible dialogue which is to this day their strongest trademark, great characters, expansive storylines, and fantastic universes, BioWare is a company that has raised several generations. Today they are part of EA’s empire and have been steadily releasing hit after hit with Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and other franchises in tow.

Blizzard

Blizzard is a juggernaut in today’s gaming scene thanks to their incredible franchises like World of Warcraft, Heartstone, and Diablo 3. But back in the day, they were a little known studio known as Silicon and Synapse. They worked on several smaller titles like The Lost Vikings, yet managed to garner huge interest for their work on their Warcraft RTS title. The studio soon established themselves as the RTS powerhouse on the market, with the sequel to Warcraft, their incredibly popular sci-fi game Starcraft, which helped launch the online multiplayer obsessed era, and of course, Diablo – the hack and slasher hit that captivated players with its story, incredible design, and endless grind.

id Software

John Romero and John Carmack are two titans of the FPS genre. The first was the visionary designer and the second, the tech geek who could make it all happen. Together they founded id Software – the studio that has been responsible for most of the virtual shooting of demons and enemy soldiers since their smash hits Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake have hit the scene. No other studio besides Valve have made such great strides for the first person genre, literally making it possible to move and shoot in a 3D environment. It is still kicking butt in 2016 with the upcoming new Doom game that is sure to also set the gaming world on fire.

Sierra Entertainment

One of the oldest game studios and publishers, Sierra Entertainment was founded in 1979 and have been with computer gaming from close to its conception. They are responsible for many retro titles that still hold much appeal to gamers, such as the King’s Quest series, Gabriel Knight, and many more, and have been behind the redistribution and support of Valve’s greatest hit – Half Life. While the company was officially absorbed by its parent company in 2008, it has resurfaced thanks to Activision Blizzard and is now re-releasing its older titles.

LucasArts

There’s no 90’s gamer who doesn’t recognize the logo of LucasArts – one of the most beloved gaming companies to ever exist. While their end was ultimately expected, this game studio literally captivated the hearts of millions of players thanks to a slew of memorable games like The Secret of Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Jedi Knight, and X-Wing.