While some video game publishers might have a rich and storied history behind their brand, others are, instead, an amazing amalgamation of features, influences, and modernity. This article is going to showcase one such particularly relevant publisher, and it's also going to offer a neat little list of some of the very best games they've published over the past few years. Today, we'll tell you about all the best THQ Nordic games we have available in store!

The thing about THQ Nordic, really, is that they're not a traditional AAA game publisher. Instead of focusing their efforts on overproduced cutting-edge gaming experiences, they dabble in experimental items and innovative titles. As impressive as THQ Nordic's collection of intellectual properties may well be, they're a far cry from, say, EA or Ubisoft. This isn't a problem, mind.

Over the past few years, THQ Nordic has absolutely cornered the AA market, and we're huge fans of what they've been doing since. From awesome - if janky - weirdness such as Biomutant, all the way to timeless classics such as Wreckfest. Trust us when we say that THQ Nordic truly has it all. But, before we delve into actual games, let us tell you what makes this particular company so interesting to us!

Check out the full THQ Nordic repertoire - right here at 2Game.

A Short History of THQ Nordic

As we already mentioned THQ Nordic is a reasonably new company. Formed and founded as 'Nordic Games GmbH' just over a decade ago, in 2011, as a game publishing subsidiary of the ominous-sounding Embracer Group, the company basically kickstarted itself into existence from the very bones of the old JoWooD Entertainment. Some of you may recall that name from European classics such as SWINE, Arx Fatalis, the Gothic franchise, and Spellforce titles. JoWooD sadly went under in the early 2010s, however, with all their assets eventually coming under the Nordic umbrella - so to speak.

The very same people that remember JoWooD also probably remember 'THQ' - an entirely different game publisher originally based in the US of A. The "real" THQ also went under in the early 2010s, much like JoWooD, with Nordic Games taking over their IPs, assets, and every other valuable bit of data back in 2014, during a property auction. Naturally, the 'THQ' trademark went over to Nordic as well, though certain bits and pieces of the former American THQ did sell off to other proprietors.

It wasn't until 2016 that Nordic Games finally changed their name to 'THQ Nordic', which essentially brings us to this very stage of the publisher's proverbial life-cycle. As we said - these guys are new, but not really. THQ Nordic is currently headed by industry veterans and specialists, and their recent acquisition spree includes a veritable wealth of developers and resources. Here are just a few of THQ Nordic's most valuable properties:

Companies featured above just barely scratch the surface of the treasure trove that THQ Nordic is currently sitting on. But, really, that's not the best part if you ask us.

What Makes THQ Nordic So Special?

Here's the thing - not every game needs to be an AAA-tier spectacle. Not really. That, however, doesn't mean that said game doesn't deserve to be made. This is precisely the niche that THQ Nordic has been specifically built from the ground-up to cover - AA and smaller AAA-ish productions. Some of our favorite gaming experiences ended up being janky AA titles, in fact, and THQ Nordic is one of the few companies that keep producing such games.

Since the mid-2010s, THQ Nordic has been hard at work assembling a truly massive portfolio of game developers, subsidiary publishers, and adjacent companies. As of 2021, they have access to some of the most famous IPs of yesteryear, including - but not limited to - the likes of Gothic, Desperados, Carmageddon, and Jagged Alliance. Now, it's also worth pointing out that they haven't yet really had the time to pivot all of their acquisitions into the desired directions. We fully anticipate for most of these IPs to make the headlines over the next couple of years, however.

So, what we've got here is a bit of an odd egg. THQ Nordic is - predictably - a European-centric game publisher. They direct and publish the sort of experiences many of us grew up on. Janky, rugged, hardcore, and incredibly imaginative. That's a thing we ought to treasure. Really, if for no other reason, then because someone has to do it. So why wouldn't it be someone with the pedigree required to actually pull things off?

Best THQ Nordic Games on PC - Top Picks

Wreckfest

If you ask anyone here at 2Game about Wreckfest, you're probably going to be told that it's unironically one of the best racing games ever made. We stand by that statement, too! This game builds on everything that made FlatOut such a success, and then makes it better! Downright unbeatable and incredibly enjoyable - a must-play for every racing game (and destruction derby) fan.

Darksiders Genesis

An argument could be made that any - and every - Darksiders game deserves to be on this list. And, fair point, we do agree with that. However, we wanted to pick a real standout title for this featurette, and it simply had to be Genesis. This awesomely fun isometric hack 'n' slash boils the franchise's action down to its absolute basics, and it's all the better for it. By all means, play all the Darksiders games, but if you're going to choose just one, make it Genesis.

Desperados III

Desperados III is awesome. A uniquely balanced squad-based stealth-focused real-time strategy game (we know, yes), this continuation of a true PC gaming classic is nothing if not a must-play. Now, we'll grant you that Desperados III won't be to everyone's taste. That said, if you've got even an inkling of an interest in any of the modifiers we opened this paragraph with, we think you'll love it to bits.

Biomutant

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Though an argument could be made that Biomutant missed its mark a tad bit, we enjoyed the game a whole lot. There's literally nothing else like it on the market, and following a few hotfixes, it's a stellar gaming experience that offers a bit of something for everyone. As long as you're okay with a bit of jankiness, we think Biomutant should be near the top of your list of games to play.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

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You know how most of the previous decade's MMORPGs sold its players on the idea of an epic, action-laden gameplay experience, only for them to turn into boring button-mashers really early on? Well, the re-released version of Kingdoms of Amalur genuinely delivers on that promise, albeit in a single-player package. Originally planned as yet another humongous online RPG, the game eventually morphed into something else entirely, and it's a lot of fun if you're into ARPGs.

Destroy All Humans!

Here's the thing - sometimes, you just really have to destroy every single human being in sight. Doubly so if you're a vicious, psychopathic alien! Destroy All Humans! is a stellar remaster of an ancient console classic - brought up to speed with novel gameplay ideas and vastly improved graphics. While some of its systems do look out of place in 2021, it's still a hell of a blast from the past, and a great deal of fun.

ReCore: Definitive Edition

We're not sure why ReCore isn't more popular on PC, but we can tell you right now that it darn well should be. This is a huge, sprawling exploration-based 3D Metroidvania that ticks all the boxes for an adventure-oriented gamer. Note, however, that it doesn't rely much on combat to drive its gameplay loop forward. Instead, you'll be chasing gadgets and exploring lands! We're okay with that, honestly.

Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

Here's a game that took us by surprise - Chicken Police is awesome. This narrative-focused (action) adventure puts you into the shoes of two rooster detectives on a crime-solving spree in a noir metropolis. As the screenshot featured above plainly shows, the whole thing is a ridiculous fever dream, but it's just so good that you won't be able to drop it once you start. Just give it a shot, and you can thank us later.

Final Thoughts

That about summarizes our thoughts about THQ Nordic! Do you agree? Disagree? Either way, feel free to let us know in the comments below.

The thing about THQ Nordic, really, is that they've got such an incredible array of IPs and options at their disposal. From novel Darksiders games - such as Genesis - all the way to stuff like Chicken Police. It definitely feels like there's a huge world of possibilities in front of this essentially youngling company. Truthfully, they're one of the publishers we keep a really close eye on because nobody else does what they do.

Now, if you'd like to hear more about THQ Nordic with practical game-specific examples, feel free to peruse the rest of the related content we've got on them. Here's a few example articles to get you started!

If, however, you're more interested in reading about other video game publishers, we've got you covered there, too. Just last week, for one, we spoke about Capcom, and we promise that there's more of these articles well on the way. Short slices of history are incredibly fun. Doubly so, if you bolster them with stellar game recommendations, wouldn't you agree? Either way - have fun!

While some video game publishers might have a rich and storied history behind their brand, others are, instead, an amazing amalgamation of features, influences, and modernity. This article is going to showcase one such particularly relevant publisher, and it’s also going to offer a neat little list of some of the very best games they’ve published […]