Summary
Since their debut entryTenchu: Stealth Assassins, Acquire has become somewhat known for its stealth games set in different periods in Japanese history, achieving further success with otherTenchugames andWay of the Samurai. Acquire has been known to co-develop with other companies, perhaps most notably working with Square Enix on theOctopath Travelerseries.
In 2024, they came under the ownership of Kadowaka Corporation, but have still worked onMario & Luigi: Brothershipwith Nintendo, among other projects. Branching out into other genres, art styles, and settings, the company has a wealth of must-play titles in its back catalog, ranked here by general popularity and influence.
10Rain
Visible When Wet
A PlayStation 3 exclusive,Rainis an adventure game witha unique gameplay mechanic. Players take the role of a young boy who must navigate the town as he searches for a mysterious girl, but they are invisible, and can only be tracked by using the rain.
Enemies in the town are also invisible, only giving away their presence due to the rain giving them form. Critics enjoyed the atmosphere and general melancholic feeling of the game, really drawing emotions from players, but the relatively short run-time of under five hours and the simple gameplay are not for everybody.
Taking place in 1878 at the fictional Rokkotsu Pass, players control a lone ronin called Kenji. Depending on the choices made,Way of the Samuraihas six potential endings, with importantdecisions impacting the gamefrom the very beginning.
Combat is a key part of the game, and there are over forty types of swords for players to wield, though only three can be carried at any time. Some key attributes affect the swords, such as sharpness and durability. TheWay of the Samuraiseries has gone on to be successful, but the first game is arguably still the best.
8Orgarhythm
Heavenly Rhythm
This PlayStation Vita exclusive has quite a unique premise, with a combination of god simulation, rhythm, and real-time strategy. Putting players in control of the God of Light, and commanding warriors who represent the elements of fire, earth, and water, the goal is to defeat the “Dark Tribe,” led by the God of Light’s brother.
The elements each have their respective strengths and weaknesses against one another, and matching the rhythm of the music will make the warriors stronger. If players are willing to persevere with this hidden gem, they will find the experience enjoyable, especially the spectacular boss battles.
7What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord!?
Holy Cult Classic, Badman!
A relatively unknown cult hit outside of Japan,What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!?isa PSP exclusivethat garnered two sequels. It’s an RTS that focuses on protecting the evil demon Lord Badman from a pursuing hero by digging tunnels and placing monsters in his way.
Players have a limited amount of “Dig Power” with their pickaxe, and it can be used to upgrade monsters, making the hero’s task more difficult. They can also attempt to rescue Lord Badman while the hero escapes. This quirky title is surprisingly challenging, but not frustratingly so.
One of the first mainstream stealth games, and one of the first games to use only 3D graphics,Tenchu: Stealth Assassinswas Acquire’s debut game. Set in Sengoku-era Japan, players control Rikimaru or Ayame, ninjas from the Azuma clan, as theymust remain undetectedand quietly eliminate enemies.
Across the eleven sandbox levels, players can select various items in their loadout, making for potentially unique playthroughs each time. AlongsideMetal Gear SolidandThief: The Dark Project,Tenchu: Stealth Assassinsset the precedent for the stealth genre and influenced many developers going forward.
Eager players did not have to wait too long to sink their teeth into more stealth action, asTenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassinswas released just two years after the original. A prequel, it follows the young Rikimaru or Ayame as they take on the villainous “Burning Dawn” group.
Emphasis is once again placed on stealth and trying to remain undetected while eliminating enemies silently. Critics generally felt that this was an improvement on its predecessor, and the inclusion of a Mission Editor allowed players to create their own scenarios and environments to play.
After the closure of AlphaDream, the developers of theMario & Luigiseries, many fans speculated about who would develop the next game. Nintendo chose Acquire to carry it on, and they did a fantastic job asMario & Luigi: Brothershipis one of the most critically and commercially successful in the series.
They decided to tweak the game slightly, making it entirely 3D and placing moreemphasis on explorationand teamwork. The vibrant art style and tweaks to the combat mechanics were particularly popular choices, and the story is surprisingly engaging for a game involving the mustachioed brothers.
3Kamiwaza: Way Of The Thief
Honor Among Thieves
Originally exclusive to Japan on the PlayStation 2,Kamiwaza: The Way of the Thieffinally made it to Western shores in 2022. Set in the Edo period and following an aspiring Robin Hood-style thief, Ebizo, players need tosneak around maps and stealto pay for medicine for Ebizo’s adoptive daughter.
Much likeWay of the Samurai, there are branching storylines that will have a big impact later on in the game depending on the player’s decisions, and the stealth mechanics are reminiscent ofTenchu. At times, the difficulty can seem unfair, but overall the game is enjoyable, varied, and quirky.
The first game developed in the graphical style known as HD-2D,Octopath Traveleris a JRPG set in the fictional land of Orsterra. Choosing from one of eight protagonists, and recruiting others at their respective starting locations, players must complete the four chapter arcs of each character.
The combat system is quite innovative, with a turn-based structure and the addition of “Break” and “Boost” points affecting damage inflicted on enemies or causing them to miss a turn. Some criticism came in for depictions of female characters, although a few reviewers did enjoy Primrose’s story.
Acquire’s best work comes in the form ofOctopath Traveler 2, which retains much of the charm of the first game, but adds even more. Combat and graphics are still much of the same, but they were both excellent to begin with, and the addition of unique day and night interactions was refreshing.
Taking place in the new world of Solistia, and with eight new protagonists to choose from, this time the game is set in a more industrial time period. Female characters were better represented, and overall, most critics felt that this entry in the serieswas superior to the first.
