Rare Games Collection
Founded in 1985 as Ultimate Play the Game, Rare Ltd. has established itself as one of the most distinctive British game developers in history. Acquired by Microsoft in 2002, this Leicestershire-based studio is renowned for its technical prowess and whimsical creativity, producing genre-defining titles across Nintendo and Xbox platforms. With a legacy spanning nearly four decades, Rare's games are celebrated for their colorful aesthetics, innovative mechanics, and quirky British humor.
Early Years & Nintendo Partnership
Rare gained prominence in the 8-bit era with isometric classics like Sabre Wulf (1984) and Knight Lore (1984), pioneering the "filmation" technique that created pseudo-3D visuals on ZX Spectrum. Their 1994 partnership with Nintendo marked a golden age:- Donkey Kong Country (1994) revolutionized 2D platforming with pre-rendered 3D graphics
- GoldenEye 007 (1997) defined console first-person shooters
- Banjo-Kazooie (1998) perfected the 3D collectathon platformer
Microsoft Era & Evolution
After becoming a Microsoft first-party studio, Rare diversified its portfolio:- Conker's Bad Fur Day (2001) pushed M-rated comedy boundaries
- Viva Piñata (2006) blended life simulation with strategy
- Sea of Thieves (2018) pioneered shared-world pirate adventures
Despite criticism during the Kinect era (Kinect Sports), Rare maintained its technical innovation with advanced water physics and AI systems.
Signature Style & Technology
Rare's games are instantly recognizable by:- Vibrant, exaggerated art direction
- Complex animation systems (e.g. Banjo's 800+ animations)
- Playful sound design and dynamic music
- Seamless open worlds (even on N64 hardware)
The studio developed proprietary engines like "BLAM!" for Perfect Dark Zero (2005) and the "SoT Engine" for Sea of Thieves.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
From creating the first "Teen" rated console game (Battletoads, 1991) to influencing modern game design (e.g. Sea of Thieves' emergent gameplay), Rare's DNA persists across the industry. Though smaller than in its 90s heyday, the studio continues crafting unique experiences while preserving its archive through Rare Replay (2015). As Xbox's longest-running first-party developer, Rare remains a testament to British creativity in gaming.
1993
Beat 'em upThe ultimate team-up featuring the Battletoads and Billy & Jimmy Lee from Double Dragon. This crossover beat 'em up combines both franchises' signature combat with co-op gameplay and exaggerated cartoon violence.
1991
Beat 'em upBrutal combo-based combat! Control Rash, Zitz and Pimple to rescue Princess Angelica from Dark Queen, battling through 13 punishing stages including the infamous Turbo Tunnel.
1988
RacingR.C. Pro-Am is a pioneering radio-controlled car racing game featuring isometric perspective racing with weapon pickups. Players compete in championship circuits while collecting power-ups and avoiding hazards.
1989
WrestlingWWF WrestleMania is a professional wrestling game featuring stars from the World Wrestling Federation. Players can choose from six WWF superstars including Hulk Hogan and André the Giant, competing in singles or tag team matches with basic grappling moves and signature finishers.
1993
Beat 'em upThe ultimate team-up beat 'em up featuring the Battletoads and the Double Dragon brothers joining forces against the Dark Queen and Shadow Boss. Combines the best elements of both franchises with four-player combat.
1994
Beat 'em upAn intense arcade beat 'em up featuring the radical Battletoads - Rash, Zitz, and Pimple - as they battle the Dark Queen's forces across chaotic alien worlds with exaggerated cartoon violence.
1994
FightingRevolutionary arcade fighting game featuring ultra-smooth digitized sprites, brutal combo systems, and announcer calls that became iconic. Introduces characters like Jago, Fulgore, and Spinal with unique mechanics like Combo Breakers.
1994
PlatformerRevolutionary platformer featuring pre-rendered 3D graphics that pushed the SNES to its limits. Play as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong to recover their stolen banana hoard from King K. Rool and the Kremlings.
1995
PlatformerDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is a platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. As the sequel to Donkey Kong Country, it follows Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong as they venture through various islands to rescue Donkey Kong from the villainous King K. Rool.
1996
PlatformerDonkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! is a 1996 platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The final entry in the SNES trilogy stars Dixie Kong and her toddler cousin Kiddy Kong as they search for the missing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong across the Northern Kremisphere.
1995
FightingKiller Instinct is a groundbreaking fighting game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the SNES. Known for its fast-paced combat, combo system, and digitized characters, it became famous for its 'Combo Breaker' mechanic and heavy metal soundtrack.
1993
Beat 'em upThe hyper-charged SNES remake of the original Battletoads, featuring enhanced graphics, new levels, and even more brutal difficulty. Control Rash, Zitz, or Pimple through chaotic co-op beat-'em-up action with vehicle sequences that will test your reflexes.
1993
Beat 'em upA crossover beat 'em up featuring both the Battletoads and Double Dragon teams uniting against the Dark Queen and Shadow Boss. Play as 5 characters with unique moves across 7 action-packed stages.
1999
PlatformerThe Kong family's first 3D adventure featuring five playable characters, expansive worlds, and the revolutionary Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak requirement. This collectathon masterpiece pushed the N64 hardware to its limits with its massive open environments.
The definitive Bond experience. Play as 007 through film-inspired missions with silenced PP7, remote mines, and the iconic Golden Gun in revolutionary 4-player split-screen.
2001
Action-AdventureRare's outrageously mature N64 swan song featuring a drunken, foul-mouthed red squirrel. Packed with vulgar humor, pop culture parodies, and groundbreaking context-sensitive controls. NOT for kids.
1998
PlatformerBanjo-Kazooie is a platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game follows bear Banjo and bird Kazooie as they attempt to stop the witch Gruntilda from stealing Banjo's sister Tooty's beauty. Players explore nonlinear worlds to collect musical notes and jigsaw puzzle pieces.