Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog was established in 1984, and its first game was a simple educational title called "Math Jam". Years later, with the hugely successful Crash Bandicoot series, Naughty Dog ventured into 3D platformers. Those games were far from masterpieces, but they represented a significant improvement over much of Naughty Dog's previous work. Then there was Jak and Daxter, a slightly grittier, more mature (with plenty of humor) series that also emphasized 3D platforming. It did, however, scale things up by adding more open environments and more complex storylines.

Then there was Uncharted, which became one of the most popular third-person shooter franchises. Excellent exploration mechanics, a compelling story, solid character writing, entertaining stealth, and intense combat characterized the series. Each game in the series adds layers of polish to previous successes, both in terms of graphics and core gameplay mechanics. Many consider The Last of Us series, despite having only two games so far, to be Naughty Dog's magnum opus. Plenty of games tell emotional stories, but the campaigns in The Last of Us 1 and 2 are among the most believable and heartbreaking ever seen in a video game.

Detailed Information:

Founded: September 27, 1984
Genre specialty: Story-driven action-adventure/third-person shooter
Notable franchises: The Last of Us, Uncharted

Website: naughtydog.com