See Master thread for links to other countries threads and poll, read rules, and tell me which country should receive a thread next:
https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/249268/master-thread-favorite-games-from-different-countries/
Now we are moving to The Netherlands for the next poll. I think it is pretty obvious that the big player in the Dutch video game industry is Sony’s first party studio Gorilla Games, so they obviously have several titles in the poll. The other major developer is Triumph Studios. Besides those, some smaller studios and indie developers have had some success, though The Netherlands aren’t quite as successful in the indie-sphere as other European countries. Let’s discuss some of their games though!
Some notable Dutch developers and their games:
Guerrilla Games
This developer has been under the PlayStation first party umbrella since 2005, and has become one of their most prestigious studios. But Goerrilla games actually started as a developer for the Game Boy Color, most notably with Rhino Rumble. Their first attempt at a bigger project, Shellshock: Nam '67 was a flop, but they anyway got picked up by Sony soon after and was given the responsibility to create PlayStation’s Halo-killer Killzone. The notion that Killzone could even compete with Halo is laughed at today and perhaps even more so at the release. Nevertheless, Killzone developed into its own appreciated franchise and eventually Guerrilla moved unto another IP, Horizon, getting exceptional critical claim. Given the lack of any recent successes from original Halo developer Bungie, as well as the polarized reception of recent Halo titles, I think it is safe to say that Guerrilla Games had the last laugh!
Notable games:
Rhino Rumble
Killzone
Killzone Liberation
Killzone 2
Killzone 3
Killzone Shadow Fall
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Call of the Mountain
Lego Horizon Adventures
Triumph Studios
This Delft-based developer is one of the more consistently successful developers in the Netherlands with the strategy game series Age of Wonders dating all the way back to 1999. The action RPG Overlord and the sequel have also received massive acclaim.
Notable games:
Age of Wonders
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard’s Throne
Age of Wonders III
Age of Wonders IV
Overlord
Overlord II
Ronimo Games
While Romino Games did not handle any of the major ports of ‘de Blob’, it is important to remember that the founders of this team developed the freeware version of that puzzle game darling, while still university students. This indie game became a big hit on Wii and later other platforms. After forming Romino Games, they have had subsequent success with Swords & Soldiers, a real time strategy game and the MOBA Awesomenauts.
Notable games:
De Blob
Swords & Soldiers
Awesomenauts
Vlambeer
This indie developer really embraced the PS Vita of all things, they have however also made smaller title for most platforms. Ridiculous Fishing is likely their most loved game, but they have several critical successes.
Notable games:
Super Crate Box
Ridiculous Fishing
Luftrausers
Nuclear Throne
Two Tribes
While mostly succeeding in porting video games to new platforms, they have made some original titles too, like their debut Toki Tori, which was a hit as well as the more recent Rive. I also think Worms: Open Warfare 2 for the DS qualifies, it was developed in tandem with the PSP version (handled by Team17), and while Team17 probably had a lot to say about the overall direction of the game, I see no reason why Two Tribes wouldn’t have a say too, given that they are credited as sole developer on the DS version, and it even has some exclusive features.
Notable games:
Toki Tori
Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS version only)
Rive
Toki Tori 2
Arjan Brussee
The Jazz Jackrabbit games are attributed to the American developer Epic games and the lead designer Cliff Bleszinski is American, however the actual coding was almost single-handledly done by dutchman Arjan Brussee, who would also go on to crate Guerrilla Games. So I decided that these two games also qualify.
Notable games:
Jazz Jackrabbit
Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Other games to consider:
Tricky Towers
New Tower – Sparrow Night
Good Job!
Hoi
SpeedRunners
Halo Spartan Strike
Last edited by Vinther1991 - on 05 June 2025
