Acquire Corporation has become synonymous with innovativestealth actionthat redefined ninja gaming for decades. The company practically invented the ninja genre through its original series Tenchu, which remains a popular nostalgic game. However, they have also worked on several other games that follow a completely different format.
Acquire Corp games will test your reflexes and tend to reward careful planning. They’re stealth games at their finest (and classical). Whether you love stealth games or are thinking about dipping your toe into the genre, here are some of their best games for you to check out.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership marked an unexpected new chapter for Acquire and was a huge departure from their usual stealthy ninja games. This is the sixth main installment in the well-loved Mario & Luigi series. You’ll take control of both Mario and Luigi in the game, completing quests in Concordia and solving puzzles along the way.
The game came out at the end of 2024 and received pretty positive reviews. It has an adorable pixel art style and interesting, turn-based combat. However, the general pacing of the game is a bit slow.
Way of the Samurai is one of Acquire’s older games, but it remains one of the cornerstones in its legacy. This game attempts to capture the feel of feudal Japan, but with several rather unconventional twists. You’ll navigate a branching narrative where your choices shape the world around you and determine how others view your honor and whether or not you receive redemption.
The game is a mix offast-paced combatand moral quandaries. The non-linear storyline and multiple endings make it worth playing multiple times, too.
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja revives Acquire’s original take on ninja stealth but in a fresh way. This game has seen a remake, but the original came out in 2005. Most players today will choose the newer version thanks to its polished visuals and rebalanced mission system.
This game lets you craft your own stealth strategy. You decide whether to use diplomacy, subterfuge, or lethal force to achieve your objectives. The sandbox design offers much more freedom than Acquire’s previous ninja-based titles and breaks out from the rather formulaic layout of their other games. It’s a solid place to start if you want to experience a traditionalstealth game.
Tenchu originally came out in 2003, though it has also been remade like many of Acquire’s other games. This game relies heavily on the Tenchu layout with a huge emphasis on stealth, though there is plenty of brutal fighting, too. The updated version of the game even comes with enhanced enemy AI to help make the experience even more immersive.
Every mission challenges you to harness the shadows and execute silent takedowns. The game’s narrative is solid, too, with plenty of betrayal and secret vendettas. It’s a bit predictable, but the narrative fits the stealth ninja gameplay well.
you may’t really talk about Acquire without talking about the game that put the develpor on the map: Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. Set in a mysterious feudal Japan, this classic 3D action title challenges you to navigate moonlit temples and shadowy alleys with stealth and finesse. Its innovative use of light and shadow mechanics and immersive atmospheric design laid the groundwork for modern stealth gaming.
It’s one oftheoriginal stealth games. Lovers of the genre today might want to take a look at it, even though it hails from a different era. It inspired a whole genre of games that use many of these traditional mechanics still today.
Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed flips the script on traditional JRPGs with its quirky, urban twist. It’s also a huge departure from Acquire’s usualstealth-ninja gameline-up, and one of the most recent games this developer has published. It’s set in Tokyo, where you’ll battle vampires in an intense (but humorous) mix of action and strategy.
Even if you haven’t played other Acquire games, this is one you should check out. It’s an entertaining blend of modern aesthetics and fast-paced combat, and had a pretty positive reception.
Octopath Traveler 2 takes everything we loved about the original and elevates it to a whole new level. With refined mechanics, dazzling high-definition pixel art, and even more intricate character arcs, this sequel invites you into a sprawling world where every decision shapes an epic narrative. It’s a blend of classic JRPG mechanics with fresh tactical combat and an extremely branching storyline.
It’s a game that somehow feels fresh and nostalgic at the same time. It’s a game for those who miss the golden age of gaming and want a very narrative-driven experience.
If you play any game by Acquire, play the original Octopath Traveler. It helped redefine modern JRPG narratives. You’ll play as eight completely different protagonists with their own goals and journeys. It mixes rich narratives with tactical combat, though the combat comes secondary to the atmospheric world and narratives.
The game’s open-ended exploration can keep you busy for hours, and the layered storytelling has earned acclaim (and a very dedicated fanbase). This title might be a huge change from Acquire’s original ninja games, but it’s a breath of fresh air.
