Acclaim

Acclaim Entertainment was a pivotal force in the video game publishing landscape from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, known for bringing numerous arcade and licensed titles to home consoles.

Founded in 1987, Acclaim quickly established itself as a major publisher during the 8-bit and 16-bit console generations, particularly on Nintendo systems. They were especially notable for acquiring the North American publishing rights to many popular Japanese game franchises and bringing them to Western audiences.

Key achievements and notable franchises include:

• Mortal Kombat series (North American publishing rights)
• NBA Jam arcade sports games
• Turok: Dinosaur Hunter on Nintendo 64
• Extreme sports titles like Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX

While Acclaim ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2004, they played a significant role in shaping the video game market during the SNES and early 3D console eras. Their aggressive licensing strategies and willingness to take risks on unique game concepts made them a memorable publisher for many gamers of that generation.