Highlights
- Monolith Productions has created a wide variety of games across different genres, including first-person shooters, psychological horrors, and multiplayer battle arenas.
- The Operative: No One Lives Forever, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, and Condemned: Criminal Origins are some of the standout titles from Monolith Productions, each receiving critical praise for their unique gameplay and innovative premises.
- Monolith Productions' first game, Blood, developed a cult following and set the tone for the developer's focus on horror elements in its subsequent titles like F.E.A.R.
While the specific video game that introduces a player to a certain developer is wholly subjective and dependent on all manner of uncontrollable factors, it is safe to say that Monolith Productions first appeared on gamers' radars with 2014's Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The developer has, however, been operating in the video game sphere since 1994 and has created a plethora of games across a wide variety of genres.
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Far from being stuck in just Tolkien's Middle-earth, Monolith Productions have delved into other existing IPs as well as built ideas up from scratch. With first-person shooters, psychological horrors, and multiplayer battle arenas under its belt, this developer has spread its influence across the video game landscape and received a positive response.
10 The Operative: No One Lives Forever
Set in the swinging 1960s, The Operative: No One Lives Forever is an FPS with a stealthy twist, allowing players to choose between loudly shooting their way through a level or sneaking through undetected. As the international espionage organization U.N.I.T.Y's first female operative Cate Archer, gamers are taken on missions across the globe to stop the terrorist organization H.A.R.M.
The mix of standard FPS and stealth gameplay along with the entertaining premise and groovy aesthetic, The Operative: No One Lives Forever places itself a cut above the rest when it comes to first-person FPS video games. Its quirkiness and innovation aside, it is hard to argue with the masses of "Game of the Year" awards given to the title by various press organizations.
9 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War
As of 2023, the sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War stands as Monolith Productions' latest video game release, with players returning to the shoes of undead Gondorian Ranger Talion and the spirit of Elf lord Celebrimbor as they build up an Orc army to combat Sauron. With new regions to explore and an updated "Nemesis" system, this 2017 third-person action-adventure gave fans more of what they loved.
Admittedly, Middle-earth: Shadow of War was slathered with some criticisms including a story that played fast-and-loose with the source material and the controversial implementation of microtransactions. However, the game ultimately won the majority of players over with its tight combat system and expansive regions to explore.
8 Condemned: Criminal Origins
In the city of Metro, the player character of Condemned: Criminal Origins, FBI agent Ethan Thomas, has been investigating a series of cold cases he believes are linked to a sudden rise in violent criminal behavior. After a series of events leads to Thomas being hunted by his colleagues, he finds himself plunged into a journey involving the occult, serial murder, and a mysterious man with mouth implants.
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With a psychological horror angle and a brilliantly crunchy melee combat system, this first-person survival horror is visceral in its violence and terrifying in its atmosphere and was received very well by critics. So much so was the critical praise for Condemned: Criminal Origins that it has been described as a forgotten classic of the survival horror genre.
7 Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Condemned 2: Bloodshot is part of an arguable exclusive group of sequels that take the positives from their predecessors while simultaneously addressing the criticisms of said games. Picking up where the first game left off, players control a down-and-out Ethan Thomas as he uncovers a cult's plot to transform people into homicidal maniacs utilizing sonic weaponry.
Overhauling the forensic system and deepening the melee combat system from the first game, Monolith Productions proved that it genuinely cares for the opinions of the player base and is committed to delivering a gaming experience that fans will love and enjoy. With Condemned 2: Bloodshot, the developer cemented its expertise in the survival/psychological horror genre.
6 Blood
In March 1997, Monolith Productions released its first-ever game in the form of the first-person shooter Blood. In this weird West chronological mash-up, players take the reins of recently resurrected gunslinger Caleb who is on a vengeful mission to destroy the dark god he once served.
Forgiving the irony, Blood is a game centered around the occult that developed somewhat of a cult following itself, with remasters and collections being subsequently released to allow fans to play the game on more modern systems. All in all, Monolith Productions' first foray into the video game sphere cemented its focus on experiences that put horror elements at their center.
5 F.E.A.R.
Taking inspiration from numerous sources (including The Matrix, Japanese horror, and the films of director John Woo), supernatural horror FPSF.E.A.R. sees players take control of a rookie member of the eponymous U.S. Army unit tasked with combating paranormal threats. Throughout the game, players are psychically assaulted by hallucinations, voices, and visions of a young girl in a red dress called Alma.
It is safe to say that F.E.A.R. is lauded as a prime example of FPS horror done right, with its intense combat and impressively adaptive A.I. received high praise from video game journalists. The game even spawned two expansion DLCs as well as a full sequel titled F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origins.
4 Aliens Versus Predator 2
Long before the film series Alien vs. Predator took off in 2004, a crossover between the two giant sci-fi franchises had already been established in a plethora of mediums. Already existing in the video game sphere in 1999 as Aliens Versus Predator, Monolith Productions was tasked with bringing the sequel to life.
With the ability to choose between three separate campaign experiences (one for each playable race) as well as an extensive multiplayer mode, Aliens Versus Predator 2 is an absolute treat for gamers whether they are fans of the franchise or of science fiction shooters in general. Whether tearing through marines as a vicious Xenomorph or tactical Predator or battling alien beasts as a human soldier, Aliens Versus Predator 2 can satisfy many preferences.
3 Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an innovative and expansive experience set in the fantastical Middle-earth of Tolkien's design. Cast as newly-undead Gondorian Talion, players are bonded with the wraith of Elf Celebrimbor, which grants him a host of ethereal powers to merge with his combat prowess as a Captain of the Gondorian Rangers.
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With a tight and engaging combat system reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games and a brilliantly complex "Nemesis" system that allows for organic storytelling, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor burst onto the scene and quickly won the hearts of gamers and critics alike. This game is considered a must-play for fans of both open-world action-adventure and the works of Tolkien.
2 Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division is a science-fiction FPS released by Monolith Productions in 1998 and deals with the clashing of two factions using mechanized exoskeletons in a futuristic setting. The game is also notable for its use of narrative choices given to the player, one of which has a large effect on the subsequent gameplay.
The dichotomy of Shogo: Mobile Armor Division comes with its almost universal critical acclaim and its lack of units sold. Despite being considered worthy competition to contemporary FPS games such as the renowned Half-Life, the game struggled to keep its head above water due to Monolith Productions' existence as a smaller company at the time. Still, Shogo: Mobile Armor Division proves that, even before the lofty heights of triple-A development, Monolith Productions was creating work that was bold, engaging, and innovative.
1 No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way
With a previous subtitle that has taken over as a main title, U.N.I.T.Y. operative Cate Archer returns to do battle against the forces of H.A.R.M. in Monolith Productions' sequel game No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way. Met with universal acclaim and the recipient of numerous accolades in the media, this game keeps the stealthy FPS gameplay of its predecessor while innovating and expanding in the form of new locations, gadgets, and AI patterns.
This quirky 1960s-inspired secret agent experience is one of the most highly rated Monolith Productions' games ever and, when considering the other IPs that the developer has had a hand in creating, one can begin to understand the sheer critical acclaim garnered by No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way.