Play Acclaim Showcase: A Nostalgic Giant Rises Anew

Acclaim Entertainment burst onto the gaming scene in 1987, quickly becoming a powerhouse in the industry during the 1990s. Founded by Greg Fischbach and Robert Holmes, the company made its mark by publishing blockbuster titles that defined an era, including arcade ports like Mortal Kombat, sports hits such as NBA Jam, and originals like Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Extreme-G. At its peak in the mid-90s, Acclaim was raking in hundreds of millions in revenue, capitalizing on the console wars between Nintendo and Sega. However, aggressive expansion, controversial experiments (anyone remember BMX XXX?), and a string of underperforming games led to financial woes. By 2004, Acclaim filed for bankruptcy, shuttering its doors and leaving behind a legacy of bold, often edgy gaming.

Fast forward two decades, and Acclaim is back—revived earlier this year under CEO Alex Josef with a fresh focus on supporting indie developers. This isn’t the same AAA-chasing behemoth; instead, it’s embracing small, but talented studios to publish diverse, creative titles. The revival culminated in the Play Acclaim showcase on September 10, 2025. They introduced nine indie games blending nostalgia with modern creativity.

Below, I’ve ranked the announced games based on my hype and excitement:

9. The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest

A 2D action platformer with some shmup sections thrown in as well, where you guide Fletcher through a labyrinthine prison filled with deadly traps, shadowy enemies, and high-flying bullet-hell sequences that demand precise timing and quick reflexes.

8. Ground Zero Hero

A weird, mutated survivors-like inspired by titles like Vampire Survivors, where you control a candy-powered hero in a chaotic post-apocalyptic world, dodging hordes of bizarre mutants while chomping on sweets to unlock over-the-top power-ups and escalating abilities.

7. Pixel Washer

A charming 2D game that easily draws comparisons to PowerWash Simulator. Instead, you’re cast as an adorable pig who wields many different advanced washing weapons to clean up pixelated grime across a variety of whimsical maps. It also seems to offer even more than just gaming Melatonin, the trailer also showed something of a boss fight against a giant, dirty dragon.

6. Grid Beat

A sleek data grid-themed rhythm action game that pulses with awesome music and mesmerizing visuals, challenging you to sync beats through digital dungeon landscapes. It was definitely one of the most unique games showcased and a great opener to the presentation.

5. Tossdown

Buckle up for this fast-paced isometric adventure where you step into the boots of a daring courier, sprinting through a destructible city while outrunning relentless heat-seeking missiles. Every run is a race against the clock to deliver packages in a city that is out to get you. adrenaline with split-second dodges, power-up grabs, and heart-pounding escapes that make failure feel like fuel for the next epic attempt!

4. Basketball Classics

Dive into pure nostalgia with this retro basketball sim that channels the golden NES/SNES era, complete with decades-spanning rosters featuring over 1,000 legendary players. You can play this game right now, but surprisingly, Basketball Classics launched on Steam back in December 2016. It’s now hitting consoles under Acclaim with hints of fresh content updates to bolster an already great game. With simple but deep mechanics, intense matchups, and endless replayability, this is a dream game for classic hoops fans!

3. Talaka

Get ready to explore a breathtaking 2D hand-painted roguelike starring a fierce Afro-Brazilian female protagonist in a world alive with mythical monsters from folklore—the sketch-like art style bursts with raw energy, inviting you into non-linear worlds of discovery, intense boss battles, and cultural depth that brings a unique flair all its own.

2. HyperYuki

Imagine the iconic style of Jet Set Radio colliding with the bombastic snowboarding rush of SSX and backed by an infectious soundtrack. That’s how you get HyperYuki. This game’s high flying stunts, stylish characters, and vibrant playgrounds are set to deliver an exhilarating, feel-good ride that captures the essence of 2000s extreme sports games with modern flair!

1. Katanaut

Out now and absolutely unmissable: This fast-paced, ultraviolent, space horror roguelike thrusts you into the role of a katana-wielding samurai in the void, slashing through aliens and mutated horrors on a desolate space station. Armed with guns, swords, and a slew of unique skills and items, every run explodes with visceral combat and swarms of sci-fi terrors.

Back in Action

After diving into the Play Acclaim showcase, I’m genuinely excited for Acclaim‘s future. This revival isn’t just riding nostalgia; it’s fostering fresh indie talent with diverse genres and ideas that feel innovative yet approachable. If they keep supporting these creative risks while maybe teasing classic IP revamps, Acclaim could carve out their space as a go-to publisher for small-scale, but bold adventures. If these games interest you, make sure to buy or wishlist them here. Here’s hoping this is the start of a new golden era.